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'The best of his many books and the best in the genre'
(Washington Post ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.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.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
50 of 52 people found the following review helpful
By Simon Brooke
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
I'm not for a moment going to try to defend the literary merit of Heinlein's work. This is, truly, a dreadfully badly written book, a book which cries out for harsh editing. And yet I felt it necessary to write a review to counterbalance those which precede me here, because, although this is a bad book, it's a truly great bad book. It's a book that anyone interested in twentieth century popular culture should read, and a book which will remain the subject of serious literary debate long after all the Booker Prize winners are forgotten.
The reviewers who say this book is too long are right. The reviewers who say it's badly written are right. The reviewers who say it is sexist are... missing the point. Yes, one of the protagonists, who seems to be Heinlein's alter ego, is astonishingly misogynist.
But that's part of why this novel is interesting. It's a visceral satire on the values and mores of Middle America of its day - and, given that Middle America changes only slowly, it still reads true of Middle America today. Sarah Palin might burn it - and has good reason to fear it.
It's a book stuffed with ideas, many of which are very funny; and it's a book with, despite its surface misogyny, a very interesting exploration of gender relations and gender politics which still bears reading. Overall, I strongly recommend that - if you've any interest in a literature of ideas, in the tradition of satire in English letters - you read this book. It's the very best dreadful book you will ever read.
The reviewers who say this book is too long are right. The reviewers who say it's badly written are right. The reviewers who say it is sexist are... missing the point. Yes, one of the protagonists, who seems to be Heinlein's alter ego, is astonishingly misogynist.
But that's part of why this novel is interesting. It's a visceral satire on the values and mores of Middle America of its day - and, given that Middle America changes only slowly, it still reads true of Middle America today. Sarah Palin might burn it - and has good reason to fear it.
It's a book stuffed with ideas, many of which are very funny; and it's a book with, despite its surface misogyny, a very interesting exploration of gender relations and gender politics which still bears reading. Overall, I strongly recommend that - if you've any interest in a literature of ideas, in the tradition of satire in English letters - you read this book. It's the very best dreadful book you will ever read.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By wintermute
Format:Paperback
I have taken months to read this brick of a book - I have wondered whether going for the edited version would have been a better bet. I haven't read anything by this author before, but dialogue, characterisation, and plot pacing would not seem to be strong points of this book. It does have some interesting ideas (communication of concepts being more powerful than materials, the importance of trying to understand a thing before passing judgement on it, etc.) but these are telegraphed, and not subtle in a way which would be expected of an "allegorical" work.
Overall it is hard to review the book without comment on the story itself, which seems to have been the only reason for the book's contentiousness. Whilst the basic evolution of the "stranger" of the title from innocent to messiah is nothing new, the actual change happens quickly, almost between chapters, and at first is hard to swallow. There a few digs at contemporary establishments, but nothing more interesting.
The author is plainly an "ideas" author who ought to leave the wordsmithing to someone more accomplished (the work of Neil Gaiman I would place in a similar bracket - intriguing but barely readable). His views come over through most of the story - in that respect only it is similar to "brave new world" which would have worked better as an essay of opinion rather than sci-fi.
The biggest trouble is that the author's views have not aged well (most memorable point in case is where a female character comes to the realisation that rape "is the woman's fault, nine times out of ten" which made me slightly fearful about what recommendations amazon might suggest when I logged in again...) and his female characters in general are one-dimensional, mostly there to please or else be gawped at by the male characters. The dialogue would often seem more suited to pulp fiction (the genre, not the film) with early sections sounding oddly reminiscent of raymond chandler novels and later sections are plagued by throat-clearing (one central character seems to start each section of speech "Mmmm..." from about halfway through and more and more characters seem to do it back to him).
So, did I like it? Not really. It was an effort to finish, which good writing never is. Whilst I'm sure the fans of this book would be aghast and suggest I re-read to "grok to fullness", I can't be bothered. But I'm happy with, and take full responsibility for that decision. Which seems to be Heinlein's point all along.
Overall it is hard to review the book without comment on the story itself, which seems to have been the only reason for the book's contentiousness. Whilst the basic evolution of the "stranger" of the title from innocent to messiah is nothing new, the actual change happens quickly, almost between chapters, and at first is hard to swallow. There a few digs at contemporary establishments, but nothing more interesting.
The author is plainly an "ideas" author who ought to leave the wordsmithing to someone more accomplished (the work of Neil Gaiman I would place in a similar bracket - intriguing but barely readable). His views come over through most of the story - in that respect only it is similar to "brave new world" which would have worked better as an essay of opinion rather than sci-fi.
The biggest trouble is that the author's views have not aged well (most memorable point in case is where a female character comes to the realisation that rape "is the woman's fault, nine times out of ten" which made me slightly fearful about what recommendations amazon might suggest when I logged in again...) and his female characters in general are one-dimensional, mostly there to please or else be gawped at by the male characters. The dialogue would often seem more suited to pulp fiction (the genre, not the film) with early sections sounding oddly reminiscent of raymond chandler novels and later sections are plagued by throat-clearing (one central character seems to start each section of speech "Mmmm..." from about halfway through and more and more characters seem to do it back to him).
So, did I like it? Not really. It was an effort to finish, which good writing never is. Whilst I'm sure the fans of this book would be aghast and suggest I re-read to "grok to fullness", I can't be bothered. But I'm happy with, and take full responsibility for that decision. Which seems to be Heinlein's point all along.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There are at least two editions of this book: the shorter one originally published in the early 60s, with significant cuts imposed by the publishers, and a much longer one published by Heinlein's widow after his death. I read the latter.
Because it's Heinlein, there's politics here: just as with The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress and Starship troopers there's emphasis on personal responsibility; and like in The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, there's lots on freedom from interference by the state and sexual freedom with lots of polygamy. Heinlein clearly doesn't trust politicians, saying in this book that they're all primarily interested in power over their fellow man for its own sake, as opposed to using their positions and power for good. He is, perhaps, somewhat naïve in saying that one politician in particular can be trusted with money because he's only interested in power - because money is a great tool for getting, maintaining, and abusing power. It's no coincidence that modern politicos get more generous with their budgets as elections approach!
The book also has a lot to say about religion. It's not entirely negative, treating it as being a useful tool for some to "achieve enlightenment" but not a necessary tool. It certainly doesn't have much good to say about our contemporary religions.
Finally, as a stylistic note, the vast bulk of the story is presented as dialogues between characters, including that which I sometimes slate other books for - expository dialogue. Here though, I didn't even notice that that's what was going on, thus proving that in the hands of a competent writer, this method can work just fine.
You should read this book.
Because it's Heinlein, there's politics here: just as with The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress and Starship troopers there's emphasis on personal responsibility; and like in The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, there's lots on freedom from interference by the state and sexual freedom with lots of polygamy. Heinlein clearly doesn't trust politicians, saying in this book that they're all primarily interested in power over their fellow man for its own sake, as opposed to using their positions and power for good. He is, perhaps, somewhat naïve in saying that one politician in particular can be trusted with money because he's only interested in power - because money is a great tool for getting, maintaining, and abusing power. It's no coincidence that modern politicos get more generous with their budgets as elections approach!
The book also has a lot to say about religion. It's not entirely negative, treating it as being a useful tool for some to "achieve enlightenment" but not a necessary tool. It certainly doesn't have much good to say about our contemporary religions.
Finally, as a stylistic note, the vast bulk of the story is presented as dialogues between characters, including that which I sometimes slate other books for - expository dialogue. Here though, I didn't even notice that that's what was going on, thus proving that in the hands of a competent writer, this method can work just fine.
You should read this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
more please
One of my alltime favorate sc fi authors have this in paperback and have reread it several times
please issue more from this author for the kindle
please issue more from this author for the kindle
Published 1 month ago by carole brown
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simultaneously beautiful and awful
I first read Stranger in a Strange Land whilst at uni studying English Literature and could not have been more scathing at the time. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Robin White
3.0 out of 5 stars
A chauvinistic sex fantasy with genuine pearls of wisdom
First thing, I have to respond to other reviewers who mention the quality of the writing. In fact, I don't find the writing that bad, but simply that this version of the book... Read more
Published 2 months ago by D. Doyle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant Stranger!
Read this when I was a young man. Reading it now it seems even better. Heinlein genius will live forever...
Mmarsh55@talktalk.net
Mmarsh55@talktalk.net
Published 2 months ago by Mr M J Marsh
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not my Heinlein's favourite but still a great novel.
Clash of cultures in a casual SF context. The contraposition of martian and terrestrial culture exposes their discrepancies. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Babbens
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Story
I read the book years ago and it is still it on the shelf but it will be easier to take on holiday in the Kindle.
Published 3 months ago by Jim Wood
2.0 out of 5 stars
More acclaimed than it's worth, in my opinion
I started reading this book from infamous Heinlein a while a go.
I have been quite disappointed. Read more
I have been quite disappointed. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Sleep Mode
3.0 out of 5 stars
This is not the uncut version
This Blackstone audiobook is the "as published" version, read from an Ace paperback published in 1987. The full, uncut text was not made available until 1991.
Published 5 months ago by David Homfray
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Old Friend
Another chance to read a book from my youth, still provokes my thoughts and challenges my assumptions. Worth every penny.
Published 5 months ago by Renard Subtil
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Sifi classic
This book is on every read list for Si-fi. Deservedly!
Well written as relevant now as it was when written, it moves along and has the advantage of being the original... Read more
Well written as relevant now as it was when written, it moves along and has the advantage of being the original... Read more
Published 6 months ago by R. A. Harris
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