Farmer in the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein, first published in 1950, is a classic young adult science fiction novel set in a future where Earth is overcrowded and humanity is beginning to colonize other worlds.
The story follows Bill Lermer, a teenage boy who emigrates with his father from a densely populated Earth to Ganymede, one of Jupiter’s moons, which is being terraformed for human settlement. Eager for a fresh start and a chance to build something new, Bill faces the harsh realities of pioneering life: extreme cold, dangerous conditions, limited resources, and the struggle to cultivate alien soil.
As Bill adjusts to life in the colony, he grows from an adventurous boy into a capable and responsible young man. The novel explores his journey through hard work, personal loss, and the challenges of creating a sustainable future on a hostile world.
Combining Heinlein’s characteristic attention to scientific detail with themes of self-reliance, resilience, and frontier spirit, Farmer in the Sky presents a vision of space colonization grounded in realism and optimism. It won the Boys’ Life Award and remains one of Heinlein’s most enduring juvenile novels, illustrating the values of determination and adaptability in the face of the unknown.
