Frank has more common sense, and is more practical. I noted that Jim is the intuitive, impetuous one. Willis is a Martian creature, a "bouncer" who looks like a hairy basketball, but a bit smaller, who at various times has different appendages that appear when needed. The protagonist, Jim Marlowe, journeys with his friend, Frank, and Willis, his "pet", across Mars. And the descriptions of the various types of Martian creatures that the earthlings co-exist with are vivid and interesting. The setting and the culture of earthlings living on Mars is portrayed very well as the plot unfolds, as opposed to a lot of exposition setting up the story. I liked the story of a young man who is willing to challenge the officials in his school in order to protect his family and his way of life. However, I agree with this assessment on the first page of the edition I read by the Chicago Tribune: "Readers young and old will enjoy this fast moving adventure novel." Many of the books Heinlein wrote in this period (through the 1950's) are described as juveniles and were originally aimed at teenagers. Red Planet, first published in 1949, is about the adventure of a young boy (in his early teens?) living on Mars who leaves his boarding school to return to his parents.
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