@jenmarin @pluralistic I don't recall many fathers in RAH novels. The most prominent is the father in "Have Space Suit, Will Travel."

The action of "Starman Jones" is set off by the boy hero running away from home to escape from an abusive stepfather. The boy hero doesn't make a big deal out of it emotionally because it's not that kind of novel. Still, the stepfather is explicitly violent, controlling and probably an alcoholic too.