Double Star

I've finally read a Robert Heinlein novel. Although Philip K. Dick's harsh words for Heinlein in one of his novels had long turned me against him, Heinlein's Double Star is a rather engaging novel about political intrigue in a distant future. Dealing directly with issues of authority, xenophobia, and inter-species harmony, Double Star features an actor, Lorenzo Smythe, hired to impersonate the visionary politician, Bonforte, who is for political inclusion of non-humans in the Empire, free trade, and civic virtues. In short, Bonforte and his political ideals seem to resemble the political ideals of Heinlein himself. Indeed, for a short spell, I was reconsidering the accusations of fascism and racism against Heinlein, but it would seem he oscillated between racial inclusion and reactionary views. Nevertheless, in this novel, despite the sacrifices of Lorenzo to attain the political vision of Bonforte, and in spite of its basis on the deception of an actor portraying Bonforte, one sees Heinlein's didactic and optimistic science fiction tale as less reactionary or fascist. Indeed, while not much of anything actually occurs in the novel, one is overwhelmed by the degree to which Lorenzo identifies with Bonforte and develops into him, making the predictable conclusion more emotionally satisfying. Of course, Heinlein is sophisticated enough to not resolve the moral dilemma of this story, nor oppose the power of charisma and irrational attachments in political affairs, which makes this more nuanced than science fiction's earlier wave of utopian futures.