Robert A. Heinlein

First printing, one of the most beloved of Heinlein's tales of space for young readers, featuring the science prodigy and tomboy Peewee joining the boy hero Kip on his adventures.

• Robert A. Heinlein (American).
• New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, [1958].
• [10], 276 pages.
• Ink owner name and address on half title. 
• A.9-58[MJ] on copyright page.
• In original unclipped ($2.95) yellow, red, and black pictorial dust jacket designed by Ed Emschwiller.
• Bound in original orange cloth, space suit-clad person stamped in black on front board, spine lettered in black, purple night sky endpapers.

Have Space Suit reads in its earliest chapters like a mix between Dahl's Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and its sequel, Charlie and The Great Glass Elevator – though it was published before both. Young Kip must navigate a series of space obstacles by his scientific know-how and practical can-do attitude, with the help of little Pee Wee, only ten years old but a genius who can do interstellar mathematical calculations in her head. This book is remarkable in Golden Age science fiction for avoiding romance between the two (primarily through their age difference), though Pee Wee does occasionally have to scold Kip for the inefficiencies his ideas of chivalry create at times. Heinlein's final science fiction novel aimed at a juvenile audience, it was nominated for a Hugo and considered by many to be his best in that category. It was originally serialized in the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction the same year. While Heinlein's juveniles aren't read as much anymore (this one really should be), the jacket art of Have Space Suit remains iconic.

Clute & Nicholls, Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, 555.