TUNNEL IN THE SKY. [ ACE 82660.]

US,12mo p/back,1st edn thus.FINE.No owner inscrptn,and no price removal (95c) to cover.Bright,crisp,clean,sharp-cornered, glossy, colour pictorial artwork by Steele Savage,illustrated front cover with yellow+white lettering; with negligible shelf-wear to edges and corners - no nicks,tears or splits present.All edges coloured; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners.US,12mo p/back, 1st edn thus,7-253pp [paginated] includes XVI(16) chapters; plus [unpaginated] critics' reviews,contents list/table and to the rear,3pp publisher's advert.
Mankind has reached the stars,but not via hyperdrive,or slowboats,or any other non-Einsteinian concept.Instead,an accidental discovery has enabled us to warp space directly from the Earth's surface,making that point congruent with one on a world circling another sun.With new frontiers opening every day, students,even at the high school level,are trained in the arts and crafts necessary to survive in a strange environment.The final examination will consist of one week on an unsettled world, alone.
ANY planet,ANY climate,ANY terrain.To pass the course,all that is required is that one be alive when gated back to Earth.This is the story of a group of young people taking that exam,but when time is up,there is no recall.They are stranded somewhere,with only the basic survival equipment they brought along.And they must tame a world!
After author's debut children's SF (Rocketship Galileo - see my book ID rja918621) followed by 'Space Cadet'(1948), 'Red Planet'(1949),'Farmer in the Sky'(1950),'Between Planets' (1951),'The Rolling Stones'(1952 - titled 'Space Family Stone' in the UK issue),'Starman Jones' (1953),'The Star Beast'(1954), another couple (1955-6) and 'Citizen of the Galaxy'(1957). The last 3 named regarded as his best and finest of that genre.
Between the years 1943-46 Heinlein published no fiction, but in 1947 he expanded his writing in two new directions: selling a number of short stories to The Saturday Evening Post and other "slick" magazines,and he published a juvenile SF novel 'Rocket Ship Galileo' (1947) which was the first in a series which is the most important contribution any writer made to Children's SF.
This title is one of his several poplar novels for the juvenile market,on which George Pal's competent film, Destination Moon (1950),was based and which was also scripted by RAH.His early reputation was quickly established with a number of effective stories in 'Astounding Stories' (which became 'Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact' in 1960.) using pseudonyms 'Anson MacDonald' and 'Lyle Monroe'.
Encouraged by one of the magazine's many editors, namely John W. Campbell** - search my SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY catalogue for examples whilst under this magazine's editorship, during his 'Astounding' period, Heinlein embarked on a 'Future History' series into which many of his tales could be conveniently slotted.
Please contact seller @ rpaxtonden@blueyonder.co.uk ,because of the lighter weight of this item for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas customers - BEFORE ordering through the order page!
** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIR postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. 2/3rds of standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving long before the quoted 42 days - but not always. **