Variable Star
Robert A. Heinlein and Spider Robinson
Tor, September 2006, $24.95
ISBN: 076531312X

Leaving Ganymede to seek his dream as a successful musician and composer, Joel Johnston meets Jinny Hamilton on earth side; they fall in love, but he is broke and must choose between a family with his beloved or his musical quest. Jinny rejects his either or theory, as she informs him that she loves him and that she is the granddaughter of the wealthiest person in the solar system. Knowing he loves her not her money, she explains how his future will be.

Heartbroken and betrayed, a drunken Joel leaves earthside and Jinny as he refuses to give up on his dream. He travels to start fresh on the new colony planet Brasil Novo 85 outside the reach of her grandfather. However, galaxy wide catastrophe beyond anything, even of biblical proportions changes his quest from musician dreams to survivor.

This is an interesting collaboration, as Spider Robinson brings his view of the future, and merges that seemingly contradiction with that of Robert A. Heinlein into a delightful coming of age science fiction tale. The storyline is a journey on several levels, as the hero tries to find himself on an emotional plane while wallowing in doubt, and soon is in the midst of a survivor adventure. Though Joel's adjustment from runaway musician with a broken heart to calamity champion seems too easy, fans of both authors will appreciate the tandem's fine futuristic thriller.