Orphans of the Sky

1964 hardback edition

Orphans of the Sky is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, consisting of two parts: "Universe" (Astounding Science Fiction, May 1941) and its sequel, "Common Sense" (Astounding Science Fiction, October 1941). The two novellas were first published together in book form in 1963. "Universe" was also published separately in 1951 as a 10¢ Dell paperback. These works contain one of the earliest fictional depictions of a generation ship.

Characters and story

At the beginning of the story, the gigantic, cylindrical generation ship Vanguard, originally destined for Proxima Centauri, is cruising pilotless through the interstellar medium as a result of a mutiny that killed all the piloting officers. Over time, the descendants of the surviving loyal crew have forgotten the purpose and nature of their ship and lapsed into a pre-technological culture marked by superstition, wherein the word "Ship" is become a synonym of "cosmos", so that "To move the ship" is considered an oxymoron, and references to the Ship's "voyage" are interpreted as metaphor. They are ruled by an oligarchy of "Officers" and "Scientists", whose head is the putative heir of or successor to the original captain. Most crew members lead a simple illiterate life of agriculture, seldom or never venturing to the "upper decks" where the "muties" (an abbreviation of "mutants" or "mutineers") dwell.

The 1951 Dell printing of "Universe"

The story centers upon an intelligent and curious young man, Hugh Hoyland, who is early in adulthood selected as an apprentice of the Scientists, who ritualistically perform the technical tasks operating the Ship (such as entering trash into its energy-converter for lighting and environmental control) while ignorant of their true functions. On a mission to hunt muties, Hugh is captured and becomes the slave of Joe-Jim Gregory, the two-headed leader of a powerful mutie gang, who later reveal the Ship's true nature and purpose to Hugh.

Having become convinced of the Ship's true purpose, Hugh convinces Joe-Jim to complete the Vanguard's mission of reaching its intended destination (preserved in fable as "Far Centaurus"), and returns to the lower levels of the Ship to convince others to help him; but is arrested by his former boss Bill Ertz and sentenced to death. While in his cell, Hugh persuades his old friend Alan Mahoney to enlist Joe-Jim's gang in rescuing him; and sometime after having been rescued, reveals the proof of his assertions to Bill and Alan. Bill then goes to convince the captain's aide, Phineas Narby, to join Hugh's effort.

Inspired by one of Joe-Jim's books, The Three Musketeers, the protagonists create swords superior to any weapons present in the lower Ship and and overthrow the Captain, later to install Phineas as Captain, Joe-Jim as Vice-Captain, Bill as Chief Engineer, and Hugh himself as astrogator. When Phineas is secure in his position, he launches an attack to rid the Ship of muties once and for all. Joe is killed in the fighting; whereupon Jim sacrifices himself to hold off their pursuers long enough for Hugh, Bill, Alan, and their wives to retreat to a lifeboat left by the Ship's builders, wherein they leave the Ship and land on the inhabitable moon of a gas giant, which they explore and colonize.

Reception

Avram Davidson described Orphans as "a modern classic," praising "the magnitude and magnificence of Orphans' concepts" despite expressing disappointment in "the limitations of its conclusion"^[1].

Links to other Heinlein stories

The Vanguard is the sister ship of the New Frontiers, the ship stolen by the Howard Families in the story Methuselah's Children. The later novel Time Enough for Love briefly mentions the rediscovery of the moon 2000 years later by the larger human civilization, finding the survivors' descendants in a few thousand highly intelligent hunter-gatherers.

Radio adaptation

"Universe" was also performed as a radio play on the NBC Radio Network programs Dimension X (on November 26, 1951) and X Minus One (on May 15, 1955). This version has several drastic changes to the story, especially in its conclusion wherein Hugh is killed showing the crew of the Vanguard the true nature of the Ship.

See also

• Non-Stop (originally titled Starship) by Brian W. Aldiss
• Captive Universe by Harry Harrison
• "Proxima Centauri" by Murray Leinster
• "The Book of the Long Sun" by Gene Wolfe
• "Pandorum"

References

1. ^ "Books", F&SF, October 1964, pp.37-38

External links

• Orphans of the Sky publication history at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• Audio transcription of "Universe" as performed on NBC's X Minus One at OTR Network.