Between Planets

Robert A. Heinlein’s juvenile novel Between Planets first appeared in serial form in Blue Book magazine in 1951 under the title “Planets in Combat,” and was released in hardcover later that year by Scribner’s as part of his series of young-adult science fiction books.

The story follows Don Harvey, a student pulled out of his New Mexico high school mid-term by his scientist parents, who want him to join them on Mars. The headmaster suspects they are removing him from a potential war zone, where his loyalties might be questioned.

Plot summary

Following his parents’ instructions, Harvey visits an old family friend, who asks him to deliver a ring to his father. Both are arrested by security forces. Harvey is released and given back the ring after it is inspected; he is told the friend died of “heart failure,” and only later realizes that any death can be described that way.

Harvey takes a shuttle to an Earth-orbiting space station, which serves as a neutral transport hub. On the way, he befriends a Venerian “dragon” named Sir Isaac Newton—a nickname given by humans—who speaks English through a portable device but is not a physicist.

When colonial forces capture the station in a surprise raid, most passengers are sent back to Earth, but a few join the rebels. Harvey, born on Venus, claims Venerian citizenship, and Sir Isaac vouches for him. He tags along, which proves fortunate: the rebels destroy the station to stir trouble for Earth, and the returning shuttle, its radios disabled, is mistaken for a booby trap and destroyed by the military, killing everyone aboard.

On Venus, Harvey finds his Earth money worthless. A banker lends him funds, asking him to pay it forward. He works washing dishes for Charlie, a Chinese immigrant who runs a small restaurant, and befriends a young woman named Isobel while trying to message his parents. Communication with Mars is cut by the war.

Harvey settles in to wait, but the war arrives: Earth sends forces to crush the rebellion, destroying Venerian ships and routing ground troops. Charlie is killed resisting occupation. Harvey is captured and questioned by a security officer eager to get his ring, but Harvey has given it to Isobel for safekeeping and doesn’t know her whereabouts. He escapes before drug interrogation and joins the Venerian guerrilla forces.