The sentiments expressed in this view mirror my own:
However, I wasn’t happy with the end result. I really liked the way Robinson played into the overall world view that Heinlein constructed in his Future History timeline in the 1950s. The line marriages, the technology, and the major events are all here.
Robinson doesn’t stay content in playing with Heinlein’s world, though. He throws in his own views of the current Iraq War and advocates freeing up certain aspects of the current drug laws. Reading about characters using drugs or advocating their use in what reads like a juvenile Heinlein novel was disturbing to me. It also spoiled the whole gee-I’ve-just-found-a-new-Heinlein-novel-I-haven’t-read feeling the book was going toward.
I love Heinlein. I love Spider Robinson. Spider was NOT channeling Heinlein when he wrote this.
I’d like to see this same Heinlein material given to another writer to see whet he or she could do with it.
Original post by here
For a piece of amazing writer’s mimicry, “Variable Star” is a fascinating book. It made me cry that RAH is no longer with us. However, it didn’t make me want to become a Spider Robinson reader because whenever the living author intruded, I shuddered. I never really liked Robinson’s works or his love affair with Canada–who beyonf B.C. borders really cares? In the end, Robinson is little more than the high skilled “Rich Little” of SF. Beyond that he has lost his own voice as a writer. Why plunder a dead man’s chest for personal advancement? Blame Robinson and all the greedy RAH profiteers. The old man would be very pissed I am sure.