Paperback, 304 pages
English language
Published Oct. 23, 2006 by Baen.
Fiercely independent Farnham has known for years that the end was coming, and he was ready. When nuclear war strikes during dinner, Farnham shepherds his neurotic wife, codependent adult son, college daughter and her friend into his bomb shelter. What he hadn't counted on was the force of the nuclear strike tearing the very fabric.of time itself and catapulting the whole family into an alternate future where they are not alone. Written at the dawn of the Cold War, this novel rather heavy-handedly explores what might happen if our America were no more. Heinlein's Libertarian views and his mingled contempt for and admiration of beautiful women are on full display as this family faces a dystopian future where black people now run everything.
I am taking a guess on the date I read it since I mentioned reading it in my journal, but I barely mention it. This is definitely not Heinlein's best by any shot. Hugh's character is extremely dislikable, and overall, it is not a good novel. There are other works that would give a better sampling of Heinlein's talent. Skip this one.
