Orphans of the Sky

I've been enjoying some of Heinlein's early works, but didn't like this one as much. The premise is one of those mind-blowing science fiction ideas: a generation starship travelling so long that the descendants of the original crew have forgotten they're on a ship, and think it's the universe, and the protagonist gradually awakens some of them to the truth. But I found the treatment disappointing: not enough reflection on the cosmic implications of the theme, and too much "action" (i.e., fighting). I wish Arthur C. Clarke had done this idea instead. I was also put off by the portrayal of the few women characters as chattel owned by the men.