The Rolling Stones (novel): Difference between revisions

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A well-loved YA novel written by [[Robert A. Heinlein]] and published in 1952, '''''The Rolling Stones''''' follows the adventures of the Stone family, primarily through the viewpoint of fifteen year old red-headed troublemakers Castor and Pollux. Together they finagle their father, beleaguered script writer Roger Stone, into purchasing a space ship for a family outing through the solar system. [[Hilarity Ensues]].

{{quote|'''Pol:''' Pull me in, you red-headed moron!

'''Cas:''' Don't call me "red-headed!" }}

* [[The Medic]]: Dr. Edith Stone, M.D. (Roger's wife), is a classic example of this. Easy-going on everything else, she is ''draconian'' on enforcing proper medical procedure and the Hippocratic Oath. At one point she politely but firmly ignores her husband's objections when she volunteers to transfer to a ship {{spoiler|that is suffering from a viral plague that has already killed their ship's surgeon.}}

** When the ''Rolling Stone'' arrives at the asteroid colony, the family's only intent is to sell their cargo, stay long enough to pick up a load of high-grade from the miners, and spend some time taking a rest. That intention lasts exactly five minutes, because the colony has no doctor and has just discovered that the ''Stone'' has a qualified M.D. on board. Edith issues a flat ultimatum -- she ''will'' ensure that every person who asks for her services is given the best medical treatment she can give them. Roger is barely able to negotiate a compromise in which a) Edith's clinic will be set up in the town hall/general store, not the ship and b) she will not be obligated to do house calls save in gravest emergency.

* [[Twin Switch]]: Pulled by the twins when Pollux attended the same math class in school twice. Castor paid the price later when he had to catch up on his studies.

* [[Yamato Nadeshiko]]: Edith Stone skirts this. Outwardly she's the quiet, solid center of family with seemingly no strong opinions and who seems to have given up on her career as a doctor when she married. On the other hand Cas and Pol note that no family argument is decided until she weighs in, and that she has ''never'' failed to get her own way in the end.

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Works by Robert A. Heinlein]]

[[Category:Young Adult Literature]]

[[Category:Science Fiction Literature]]

[[Category:Literature]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rolling Stones (novel), The}}