After an encounter with UFOs, an electricity linesman feels undeniably drawn to an isolated area in the wilderness where something spectacular is about to happen.

Hoping to alter the events of the past, a 19th century inventor instead travels 800,000 years into the future, where he finds mankind divided into two warring races.

Set in the future, the story follows a young soldier named Johnny Rico and his exploits in the Mobile Infantry. Rico's military career progresses from recruit to non-commissioned officer and finally to officer against the backdrop of an interstellar war between mankind and an arachnoid species known as "the Bugs".

穷困潦倒的演员洛伦佐以为自己找到了一个挣大钱的好机会。当他弄明白自己要扮演的竟然是大人物邦福特时，已经没有退路可选。 邦福特是整个太阳系鼎鼎大名的政治家，他所领导的“扩张党”一直在追求太阳系各文明的平等与和睦。现在，他的政治对手绑架了他。如果他不能参加火星人的“接纳”仪式。地球人与火星人的关系便将遭到彻底破坏。 天才的洛伦佐不得不扮演这一危险的角色。并顺利被火星人“接纳”。但这并不是大结局，两种政治势力的角逐才刚刚拉开帷幕。洛伦佐必定经受更惊心动魄的考验。 《双星》情节曲折、结构精巧、语言风趣，充分展现了海因莱因的敏锐才思，是科幻小说有史以来最棒的作品之一。