I was 11 or 12 when I first read this. I have not been without a copy of this book since. I am 75 now, and still read this book occasionally. I gave it to my daughter in hopes that someday she may pick it up. I find that reading out loud changes the focus of literature and sharpens its sense and poetry. I discovered this when reading passages of Walden to a girlfriend and discovered Thoreau's sense of humor; which has nothing to do with Heinlein as an author, but a lot to do with the music of language. Thank you, Mr. Nimoy for this exposition
Every time I read or hear this story I get emotional. Heinlein's best short story in my opinion. Did you know there was a Riesling award for Sci-Fi poetry?
I was a boy living in Appalachia when I first read this. I felt the power and emotions described so well in other comments here. But for a boy living in a shotgun house up on Poverty Hollow, it held a hope of tomorrow that can scarce be felt today. Not only of worlds uncounted, of life unlived, but of another space, a space for my kind. You see, it reassured me that there would be a place in space for the working man. That it wouldn't all be just for the rich, the brilliant or the lucky. That none need be left behind in the Great Expansion. It told me the future would always have need for the hands and hearts of the Builders and Doers, not just the Dreamers and Believers. It spoke of the pyramid workers, and the temple carvers, and the concrete pourers damming the river's wild flow. The Thinkers think, and the Doers do. This has always been the Way of Man. But unlike the author, I see no closure in returning to my birthplace to die. Where er'e my bones should fall, that will mark my final claim. As a child of the Universe, the whole expanse is my forty acre wood. While the souls who stroll chartreuse beaches 'neath an amber sky will not remember my face, yet in truth I will walk there, inside their souls, just as others have walked inside of mine.
Growing up in the 70s I heard many SF writers and fans if the time mention the influence and impact 'Green Hills' had on them. When I finally read the story sometime in my late forties, it was very different from what I had expected; I wasn't what you would call disappointed, rather - I cringe to admit this - I was unimpressed...I didn't see what the big deal was. But the story has always stayed with me and now I find I am adapting it into a one act play fused with Bradbury's 'All Summer in a Day'. Spending hours with Rhysling (augmented by Nimoy's exemplary reading of the story) has altered my opinion tenfold and, like many who have commented below, its hard to listen to this recording without becoming very emotional.
I was 11 or 12 when I first read this. I have not been without a copy of this book since. I am 75 now, and still read this book occasionally. I gave it to my daughter in hopes that someday she may pick it up. I find that reading out loud changes the focus of literature and sharpens its sense and poetry. I discovered this when reading passages of Walden to a girlfriend and discovered Thoreau's sense of humor; which has nothing to do with Heinlein as an author, but a lot to do with the music of language. Thank you, Mr. Nimoy for this exposition
Every time I read or hear this story I get emotional. Heinlein's best short story in my opinion. Did you know there was a Riesling award for Sci-Fi poetry?
I saw it awarded more than once at Minicons in the late 90s
Great stuff. I could listen to the late great Leonard Nimoy's voice all day.
I was a boy living in Appalachia when I first read this. I felt the power and emotions described so well in other comments here. But for a boy living in a shotgun house up on Poverty Hollow, it held a hope of tomorrow that can scarce be felt today. Not only of worlds uncounted, of life unlived, but of another space, a space for my kind.
You see, it reassured me that there would be a place in space for the working man. That it wouldn't all be just for the rich, the brilliant or the lucky. That none need be left behind in the Great Expansion.
It told me the future would always have need for the hands and hearts of the Builders and Doers, not just the Dreamers and Believers. It spoke of the pyramid workers, and the temple carvers, and the concrete pourers damming the river's wild flow.
The Thinkers think, and the Doers do. This has always been the Way of Man.
But unlike the author, I see no closure in returning to my birthplace to die. Where er'e my bones should fall, that will mark my final claim. As a child of the Universe, the whole expanse is my forty acre wood. While the souls who stroll chartreuse beaches 'neath an amber sky will not remember my face, yet in truth I will walk there, inside their souls, just as others have walked inside of mine.
you are a poet, I hope you have a happy life.
Beautiful words. I hope that you are a writer for your gift is sorely needed in this world.
I still get tears from this. Listening to Leonard Nimoy doubly so
Of al the classic SF readings on this channel, Nimoy’s Heinlein readings are the best.
R.I.P. LEONARD NIMOY. WE LOVE YOU FOREVER!
his songs will live on .....
And I read the "give me one last landing" verse was spoken by an Apollo astronaut.
Apollo 15 mission, right after they named a crater for the space bard
Talk Leonard, talk!
Good work collecting all these audiobooks. You deserve more subs. I’ve subscribed anyway.
Great voice
Growing up in the 70s I heard many SF writers and fans if the time mention the influence and impact 'Green Hills' had on them. When I finally read the story sometime in my late forties, it was very different from what I had expected; I wasn't what you would call disappointed, rather - I cringe to admit this - I was unimpressed...I didn't see what the big deal was. But the story has always stayed with me and now I find I am adapting it into a one act play fused with Bradbury's 'All Summer in a Day'. Spending hours with Rhysling (augmented by Nimoy's exemplary reading of the story) has altered my opinion tenfold and, like many who have commented below, its hard to listen to this recording without becoming very emotional.
This was on a cassette in the public library
I could listen to Spock narrate all day
The needs of the many…
Can be sated by capitalism and personal liberty.
Outweigh the needs of the few ❤
Needs more ads 🙄
Astragators . Alley gators