A Robert Heinlein book aimed at youngsters, The Star Beast is the tale of John Thomas XII and his apparently dimwitted pet Lummox, the star beast, who is as long as a house, as tough as a tank, and has about 34 limbs. Things turn tricky when Lummox's people come to find lummox on earth - and "he" turns out to be a "she", the hereditary ruling queen of her people.