Podkayne of Mars: Her Life and Times was published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons in 1963 and is Heinlein’s final juvenile-adjacent novel — and his most controversial within that category. Podkayne “Poddy” Fries, a teenager born and raised on Mars, narrates her first trip to Earth via Venus in a diary-like voice that is bright, optimistic, and occasionally naive. Her younger brother Clark is a sociopath — a child genius who views other people as objects to be manipulated. The trip involves political conspiracy, kidnapping, and an explosion.
The controversy centers on the ending: Heinlein’s original draft killed Podkayne; his editor insisted she survive. The published 1963 edition has her survive in a coma; the “restored” ending (published later) has her die. Heinlein’s intended point — that her parents’ neglect was responsible for her death, and that a society that warehouses its children will lose them — is clearer with the original ending.
The Ending Controversy
The editorial intervention that saved Podkayne’s life was one of Heinlein’s lasting grievances. He believed the death was essential to the novel’s argument: that parents who abdicate their responsibility — farming children out to institutions while pursuing careers — bear the consequences. The “restored” edition, published posthumously, contains Heinlein’s original ending and Clark’s chillingly analytical diary entry about his sister’s death.
Collecting Podkayne of Mars
First edition (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 1963): Boards with dust jacket.
Approximate market values:
- Fine in dust jacket: $300–$800
- Very good: $100–$300
- Without jacket: $30–$80
Value trajectory (2016–2026): Moderate appreciation.
Projected values (2026–2036): Fine copies should reach $800–$1,500.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ending should I read? Read both. The published ending is more hopeful; the original is more powerful. Together they illuminate the editorial politics of 1960s science fiction publishing.
Is Podkayne a feminist character? She is one of the first female narrators in science fiction, but her characterisation was criticised by feminist readers (including Heinlein’s wife Virginia) for her passivity compared to the male characters in his other juveniles.