1964 hardback edition

Orphans of the Sky is a 1951 science fiction novella by Robert A. Heinlein, consisting of two parts: "Universe" and "Common Sense." The two parts were originally published as a two part serial in Astounding Science Fiction magazine in 1941. "Universe" was also published separately as a Dell book in 1951. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (584x851, 95 KB) Summary Orphans of the Sky copyright 1963 by Robert A. Heinlein. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (584x851, 95 KB) Summary Orphans of the Sky copyright 1963 by Robert A. Heinlein. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... A novella is a short novel; a narrative work of prose fiction somewhat longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. ... Heinlein autographing at the 1976 Worldcon Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988) was one of the most influential and, at times, controversial authors of hard science fiction. ... Astounding Stories was a seminal science fiction magazine founded in 1930. ...

In the novella, the gigantic, cylindrical generation ship Vanguard is cruising pilotless toward a distant solar system, inhabited by a crew that has forgotten their origins over time and lapsed into superstition. Most crew members lead a simple bucolic life of farming, never venturing to the upper decks where the "muties" (mutants or mutineers) dwell. One day, Hugh Hoyland starts exploring and finds the astonishing secret of the ship's purpose. A generation ship is a hypothetical type of starship that would travel much slower than light across great distances between stars (see interstellar travel). ... Presentation of the solar system (not to scale) The solar system comprises the Earths Sun and the retinue of celestial objects gravitationally bound to it. ... Agriculture (a term which encompasses farming) is the art, science or practice of producing food, feed, fiber and many other desired goods by the systematic raising of plants and animals. ... A mutant (also known to early geneticists as a monster) is an individual, organism, or new genetic character arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is a sudden structural change within the DNA of a gene or chromosome of an organism resulting in the creation of a new... Mutiny is the crime of conspiring to disobey orders that the mutineer is legally obliged to obey, for example by crew members of a ship. ...

The Vanguard is the sister ship of the New Frontiers, the ship stolen by the Howard families in the story Methuselah's Children. This ship and the aftermath of this story are mentioned in passing in the novel Time Enough for Love. Methuselahs Children is a 1941 science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein. ... Time Enough for Love is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1973. ...

Printings

• Hardcover, 1964 G. P. Putnam's Sons
• Hardcover, January 2001, ISBN 1588810070
• Paperback, December 2001, ISBN 0671318454