Double Star vs The Windup Girl: Which Should You Read?

Both live on shelves: Hugo Award Winner, Long Now Manual for Civilization, Science Fiction, Fiction

Cover of Double Star

Double Star Robert A. Heinlein · 1956 ★★★★☆ 3.9 159 pages · ≈ 2 h 57 m · Light Find on Amazon

vs

Cover of The Windup Girl

The Windup Girl Paolo Bacigalupi · 2009 ★★★★☆ 3.8 365 pages · ≈ 6 h 46 m · Moderate Find on Amazon

The verdict

Ratings are close: 3.9 vs 3.8 — either is a safe pick by score.
Double Star is the quicker read — about 2 hours vs 6 for The Windup Girl.
Double Star is the easier read (Light), The Windup Girl more demanding (Moderate).

Side by side