Robert A. Heinlein's Space Jockey is a gripping short story that offers a realistic and human perspective on space travel. First published in 1947, this tale explores the challenges faced by commercial space pilots in a future where spaceflight has become routine but remains physically and emotionally demanding. The story follows Jake Pemberton, a seasoned pilot navigating the vast emptiness of space while balancing the pressures of his job with the strains of family life back on Earth. As he embarks on another journey between the Moon and Earth, Heinlein masterfully captures the technical precision required for space travel, blending hard science fiction with deep human emotions. Jake's struggles—ranging from workplace politics to the longing for his wife and child—make him a relatable and compelling character. Through Space Jockey, Heinlein presents a vision of spaceflight not as a distant fantasy but as an extension of human ambition and resilience. His detailed portrayal of life aboard a spacecraft, complete with the physical toll and psychological burdens of space travel, adds authenticity to the narrative. This edition enhances Heinlein's vivid storytelling, making Space Jockey an engaging listen for both science fiction enthusiasts and those interested in the human side of technological advancement. It remains a timeless exploration of duty, sacrifice, and the inevitable push toward the stars.

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Commentary (stories not included). Pages: 30. Chapters: -All You Zombies-, By His Bootstraps, -We Also Walk Dogs, The Roads Must Roll, The Man Who Sold the Moon, If This Goes On-, The Long Watch, It's Great to Be Back!, Blowups Happen, Requiem, The Black Pits of Luna, Logic of Empire, Delilah and the Space Rigger, Misfit, The Menace from Earth, Coventry, Gentlemen, Be Seated!, Life-Line, The Green Hills of Earth, Ordeal in Space, Searchlight, -And He Built a Crooked House, Our Fair City, Waldo, Magic, Inc., Future History, Solution Unsatisfactory, The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag, The Year of the Jackpot, Nothing Ever Happens on the Moon, Gulf, The Man Who Traveled in Elephants, Lost Legacy, They, Goldfish Bowl, Jerry Was a Man, Poor Daddy, A Bathroom of Her Own, Let There Be Light, Space Jockey, Elsewhen, Project Nightmare, Free Men, Water Is for Washing, Tenderfoot in Space, Columbus Was a Dope, Sky Lift, Destination Moon. Excerpt: Waldo (1942) is a short story by Robert A. Heinlein originally published in Astounding Magazine in August 1942 under the pseudonym Anson MacDonald. It is available in the book Waldo & Magic, Inc., as well as other collections. This story is not related to the story "Magic, Inc." other than both stories being about magic in one form or another. The essence of the story is the journey of a mechanical genius from his self-imposed exile from the rest of humanity to a more normal life, conquering the disease myasthenia gravis as well as his own contempt for humans in general. The key to this is that magic is loose in the world, but in a logical and scientific way. Waldo Farthingwaite-Jones was born a weakling, unable even to lift his head up to drink or to hold a spoon. Far from destroying him, this channeled his intellect, and his family's money, into the development of the device patented as "Waldo F...