Podkayne of Mars, published in 1963, was the first of Heinlein's novels to feature a female protagonist. Heinlein seems to have made a conscious attempt to portray a more well-rounded woman's view of the world than he did in previous works. Intelligent, resourceful, and ambitious, Poddy in many ways resembles the young male heroes of Heinlein's earlier fiction. In some respects, her character is more compelling than those of Heinlein's earlier protagonists because of the added obstacles she faces—she is a young woman who wants to succeed in a male-dominated profession. On the other hand, Poddy is drawn to more traditional female roles, such as flirting and child-care.

Poddy's mother is portrayed as attractive and nurturing, but also as a master engineer of heavy construction who has been decorated for her outstanding work. From her mother, Poddy inherits ambition, but also a conflicting desire to...