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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Engineered from the finest genes, and trained to be a secret courier in a future world, Friday operates over a near-future Earth, where chaos reigns. Working at Boss's whimsical behest she travels from far north to deep south, finding quick, expeditious solutions as one calamity after another threatens to explode in her face....
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Robert A. Heinlein was one of the greatest science fiction writers of the century and won the coveted Hugo Award on several occasions. He died in 1989.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is, quite simply, one of my favourite books of all time. Friday is a 'combat courier' with a big secret. She's a genetically engineered person, at a time and in a society utterly hostile to her nature and existance. Alongside the action this book is a sweet study on the importance of having a family (biological or otherwise) and a long hard look at the ugly face of prejudice. The prose can be a little dated at times, but that's perhaps half the charm - that such a forward looking novel (socially as well as technologically) could have been written in such a style.
Oh, and this book has the best opening page I have ever come across in my life. Just read it!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Heinlein is great, although sometimes a little bit paternalistic vis-a-vis women... This book is about a very strong female character's desperate struggle to be accepted in a very decadent society, that rejects her as non-human
Dialogs are witty and smart, and the book is a great introduction to Heinlein's libertarian philosophy (which goes further than politics, to include family structures, sexuality, etc.)
One of the best Heinlein IMHO...
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Meet Friday, a futuristic vision of the world might look like. Prejudices are still abundantly apparent with some directed in quite familiar directions (the racism shown by Friday's extended family) and some in more novel ways - prejudices against artificial persons, and unfortunately that is exactly what Friday is. Born in a laboratory and raised in an crèche Friday is a courier, arguable the best at what she does, she operates in a world where sexual freedom has reached a crescendo but unfortunately this liberation has not quelled the natural human bloodlust but in this world the enemies aren't always countries, the major corporations have a lot to answer for.
The story line of the book itself takes the form of Friday's memoirs as she seeks to make sense of the actions that have occurred both around her and too her. She seeks to justify her humanity - or indeed lack of it - as she fumbles through the world on a seemingly hyper efficient wave of energy that is drastically undermined by the lack of faith Friday has in her seemingly perfect abilities.
Underneath it all Friday is an insecure as the next man.
I wasn't overly enamoured with the actual thread of the story as although it is impressive that Heinlein saw all these technological advances in communications would come about but as I am someone who is living in an age where these are more ever apparent that element of the story had little effect. As well as this even though I was fascinated with Friday I did also struggle with her - to me she is almost an attempt at the perfect female from a male point of view, she is attractive, athletic, feisty yet deeply insecure and almost in need of "saving". The paradox Heinlein puts forward is blamed on her upbringing but I didn't really buy that.
Yet for all that I found the book utterly fascinating, it wasn't that I cared what happened to Friday per se I just wanted to enjoy the ride of how ever she would get there. I wouldn't call this a masterpiece but it is certainly interesting and it may very well drive me to explore more of Heinlein's books.
The story line of the book itself takes the form of Friday's memoirs as she seeks to make sense of the actions that have occurred both around her and too her. She seeks to justify her humanity - or indeed lack of it - as she fumbles through the world on a seemingly hyper efficient wave of energy that is drastically undermined by the lack of faith Friday has in her seemingly perfect abilities.
Underneath it all Friday is an insecure as the next man.
I wasn't overly enamoured with the actual thread of the story as although it is impressive that Heinlein saw all these technological advances in communications would come about but as I am someone who is living in an age where these are more ever apparent that element of the story had little effect. As well as this even though I was fascinated with Friday I did also struggle with her - to me she is almost an attempt at the perfect female from a male point of view, she is attractive, athletic, feisty yet deeply insecure and almost in need of "saving". The paradox Heinlein puts forward is blamed on her upbringing but I didn't really buy that.
Yet for all that I found the book utterly fascinating, it wasn't that I cared what happened to Friday per se I just wanted to enjoy the ride of how ever she would get there. I wouldn't call this a masterpiece but it is certainly interesting and it may very well drive me to explore more of Heinlein's books.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Reasonable read
This is basically a good read. As usual with Heinlein you have an entertaining story which is examining some fundermental societal views on topics such as sexuality and racism. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. S. P. Middleditch
A study in the need to belong
I was motivated to read this work having read a reference to it in an essay by Asimov in his collection 'Gold' and
having never previously read any of the work by this, one... Read more
having never previously read any of the work by this, one... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mr. Timothy W. Dumble
Un-Person or Super-Person?
Genetic engineering is one of the hot buttons of today. Part of the debate about it centers on just how much tinkering should be allowed on the human genome. Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2007 by Patrick Shepherd
Thoroughly absorbing
Friday Jones is a combat courier... and an artificial person. That is, she was conceived through genetic engineering. Read more
Published on 20 May 2005 by S. Hill
Tacky.
I've read three other Heinlein novels so far and I found this the worst of the bunch. It's infected with the same irritating free-love bunkum as Gene Roddenbury's original Star... Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2005 by mad_mushroom
Heinlein at his best...
One of my favorit books, Friday is a story of an artificial woman, who works as a delivery agent in a secret goverment agency and trying to survive in a world that descriminate... Read more
Published on 28 April 2002
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