The Cat Who Walks Through Walls

Robert A. Heinlein

Richard Ames is having dinner with Gwen Novak on the space station Golden Rule when a man approached him and is killed before they have a chance to talk. The body is whisked away before Gwen has returned from the ladies room. The next morning they get married just before they are banished from Golden Rule. By the time they finally get off the station and back to Luna they are both accused of murdering six people on the space station.

Once on Luna Richard learns his bride is more than he first realized. Although she had already admitted to being a grandmother, she tells him she is older than he thinks. He has trouble believing it until she is able to pove it. Soon he meets her family and friends in a place far from Luna. Then he learns why Gwen first sought him out. She needs him to help rescue a Lunda founding father. But neither had counted on falling in love. And Richard had no clue what was involved.

The Cat Who Walks Through Walls is one of Robert A. Heinlein's last novels. The narrative is dated but the story is strong. Gwen is a mixture of strong woman and the softer woman still expected at the time. All the women in this book are very strong, more than was the norm in the 80's when this was published. Gwen stays in charge throughout the book, even when they prepare a team and take a military group to Luna for the rescue.

This book is best read after reading many of Heinlein's earlier, popular novels. Characters from The Rolling Stones, Stranger in a Strange Land, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, and Time Enough for Love play important roles in the story. Heinlein wanders into time travel and alternate realities in The Cat Who Walks Through Walls. While not superb Heinlein like some of the aforementioned, this novel is fun. Again, don't read it if you haven't read other books by Robert A. Heinlein because you won't appreciate it as much. But once you have, enjoy this.

Notice: Suggestive dialogue or situations

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