After 1,000 people read this...

[reindeer]

Heinlein's book, Red Planet, is about a boy: Jim, and his basketball-shaped alien pet/friend: Willis. On reading it, I got deja-vu. Similar characters are in another story, possibly not with the same names or author. In that tale, the alien outlives the human; and, at the end, says to his descendents: " Yes. I knew your grandfather. He was my best friend!". Please tell me the name of the story and/or author. I figure it'll take at least 1,000 people reading this before someone has an answer.

[Urlik]

sorry I can't help, but I expect J.D.W. will know.

I just have to say that Red Planet is a great read.

did you spot Lazarus Long?

[Overread]

hmm something similar was in an X-files episode

[Urlik]

I'm just wondering if it might be Dark Side of the Sun by Terry Pratchet

now I know what my next book will be

[Teresa Edgerton]

Thread moved to Book Search.

[Taltos]

Could it be - Heinlein The Star Beast - where alien, who was a family pet initially, at the end thinks something about "humans are so difficult to rise properly" and the "beast" was brought to earth by main characters grandfather IIRC.

[Joel007]

I don't think the Dark Side of the Sun has that kind of thing in it, but read it anyway

[Delicious]

Sound interesting... let's see what would happen.