By far, the best book that I have ever read.

books:


	• Stranger in a Strange Land Robert A. Heinlein Ace Trade, 1991 - 528 pages average customer review:based on 536 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A Very Dated Dud.

"Stranger in a Strange Land" became a bestseller when it was published in 1961. Now it is considered a science fiction classic. I must admit that the book's revered status is a complete mystery to me. I've searched reviews and essays for some insight, and I have yet to find an explanation of what readers find meaningful in this book. As the story goes, Valentine Michael Smith was the sole survivor of the first manned mission from Earth to Mars. Born and raised on Mars, by Martians, he was discovered as a young man by the second manned mission to Mars. Brought back to Earth, Michael knows nothing of human ways so is at the mercy of people who may be more concerned with his substantial inheritance than with his well-being. When a flirtatious nurse named Jill Boardman fears for Mike's safety, she absconds with him to the home of iconoclastic Renaissance man Jubal Harshaw, where Mike receives an eccentric education in humanity.

I can understand why "Stranger in a Strange Land" made waves in 1961. Its advocacy of "free love" presaged the sexual revolution and shocked the sensibilities of the post-War bourgeoisie. But controversy does not imply profundity. Mike's radical sexual mores seem either silly or simply irrelevant today. The book portrays sex as passionless communion anyway. It could hardly be less appealing. I don't know what Heinlein might be trying to say beyond this critique of conventional social mores, but Jubal is always made to articulate Heinlein's ideas through dialogue. Jubal's conversations are little more than a patchwork of treatises. That's just bad writing. "Stranger in a Strange Land" was edited down to 160,000 words before it's original publication. The version I read was the "uncut" 220,000-word manuscript, which has a lot of extraneous material and fails to create any dramatic tension after Part One. If the shorter version isn't better, it would at least be breezier.

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A bit of a disappointment

Before I review this I must state that this is the first book I have ever read that fits into the science fiction genre.

This book really is a vehicle for Heinlein to critique organized religion, sexual attitudes and hangups and general all around human nature that uses science fiction as a backdrop. Not that I disagree much with what he was getting at but this was a lot to read just to make those points. The story itself was somewhat entertaining but I felt like it was building up to something great and it never really happened. Not that it was bad but it was still a bit of a disappointment.

I do see how Stranger in a Strange Land was such a controversial book given the time that it was released but like most stuff that caused big controversy 40, 50, years ago when you read it now it wouldnt raise an eyebrow by todays standards.

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Not my favorite Heinlein

I picked up this book after reading, and enjoying (once absolutely ADORING) some of his other works.

Honestly, I had a hard time getting into it. Once I was into it I was underwhelmed for many of the reasons already stated here.

If you've read this and no other Heinlein, pick up The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. This is absolutely one of my favorite books of all time and, in my humble opinion, a much better book.

Entertaining and Idealistic

This idealistic sci-fi novel by Robert Heinlein is well worth reading. It's the story of Valentine Michael Smith, a naïve and innocent young man born to astronaut parents and raised by Martians. Returning to Earth at the age of 20, Smith explores human morality and the meaning of love. He is under the guided protection of Jubal Harshaw, a loveable old grouch who takes on a major role. Smith founds a church that advocates free love while teaching the psychic talents of the Martians. Smith and for that matter Heinlein promote free love and brotherhood, while taking a critical view of organized religion and authoritarianism.

This book was considered controversial when it was published in 1961, and it influenced many persons attracted to the counter-culture lifestyle of the 1960's - sadly it may have also inspired Charles Manson. The book is occasionally unsympathetic towards women, but it remains a moving read.

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By far, the best book that I have ever read.

This book was the best! It startes out with the first mission that man to Mars, which fails. Then, they send another ship twenty years later, which finds one of the crew of the first ship still alive on Mars. He was a baby at the time of the first launch, so is now about twenty. This man, Valentine Michael Smith, was to be remembered on in history. The second crew takes him back to earth, therefore making him a Stranger in a Strange Land. This book follows him as he goes throuth the painful acts of learning human customs. In the beginning he is held captive by the government in a Hospital, until he is rescued by his very first sight of Women. Jill Boardman takes him to the writing celebrity Jubal Harshaw's house. There he learns human customs. After a while of this he is sent, by Jubal, out into the world. This follows Smith's life as he goes from Magician to religious preacher. Please try to forget everything that you beleive in now as you read this book, and you will enjoy it. And for all you aethists out there, this book is good for you too, I should know. Some kind of sexist views toward Girls from Heinlein here, but only if you look at it in a certian light. Over-all a very good book. I would give it more stars, but they don't have that option. I highly recomend getting this book; I have read it at least 50 times already. Get and read this book and try to forget all that you beleive about politics and sex and right and wrong and God and touchy subjects like those, and it will rearange your life. I have already learned how to appreaciate the inevitable, like death. And this book deals with death too. Well, have a good read.

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