Stranger in a Strange Land

Author - Robert A. Heinlein ... [Goo?] [Posters]

This Paperback Book item from Ace Trade was reviewed on 4-Nov-2008.

Search ISBN:0441788386 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. Stranger in a Strange Land Reference Book. Classifications : General Heinlein, Robert A. ( H ) Authors, A-Z Science Fiction & Fantasy Subjects Books Paperback Heinlein, Robert A. ( H ) Authors, A-Z Science Fiction & Fantasy Subjects Books General AAS Heinlein, . Click the following link to view the cover of Stranger in a Strange Land.

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1) Paperback Book Stranger in a Strange Land by Ace Trade. This book was a strange, fantastic trip, and is definitely one of Heinlein´s best books. Unlike some of his other novels, the sex in this book actually fits in better. There are many points about religion and humanity brought up in this book, and many things to think about/chew on. The ending threw me for a total loop, but after a while, it made sense to me. If you´re looking for a fantastic read, pick up this book!¤

2) Paperback Book Stranger in a Strange Land by Ace Trade. Somehow when male writers try to think outside the box, it so often tends towards something Darren Roy Mack might dream up. A second data point is the Rocheworld series, which makes a real attempt at being Hard-SF yet the sexual subplot-line seems almost tongue-in-cheek it´s so over-the-top.
What with the amazing performance of the Mars landers, from a robotic viewpoint colonizing the universe seems almost a solved problem. To add the human part of the equation, though, I recommend a step back - read "The Selfish Gene", eschew Group-Selectionist-Idiocy, and REALLY think outside the box...
I see that the Wikipedia write-up on Mack steers clear of detailing Mack´s taste for couples-style-swinging as the root cause of his ultimately disastrous relationship with Charla, but as I recall this was the point where his train left the tracks, so to speak.¤

3) Paperback Book Stranger in a Strange Land by Ace Trade. I was surprised and impressed with the depths to which Heinlein probes fundamental questions about what it means to be human. By asking big important questions from the perspective of someone completely unfamiliar with humanity, Heinlein gets right to the difficult topics and does an excellent job of probing them without getting too bogged down in academic argument. Very insightful, and the story and characters do not seem dated or jaded in any way. It feels as though it could have been written just last year.¤

4) Paperback Book Stranger in a Strange Land by Ace Trade. "Stranger in a Strange Land" by Robert Heinlein was written at the peak of his writing abilities. This novel was, I believe, his best selling book. I rate this among my ten best reads. Heinlein actually affected the pop culture of the sixties with this novel. This is one case where even the critics of the time in the Sunday Afternoon Newspaper, mostly, raved over a science-fiction novel.

There are stretches of text where Heinlein seems to go on and on, but they are pertinent and worthwhile (as is the ´act within an act´ in Shakespear´s Hamlet).

While this is an adult novel with adult themes, it is relatively mild along those lines by the standards of 2008. However, Heinlein always had an ability to upset prudes, fundamentalist Christians, and other easily upset folks and that side of him does show in this novel.

Read this book. It is captivating.



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5) Paperback Book Stranger in a Strange Land by Ace Trade. Robert Heinlein´s Stranger In A Strange Land is one of those books I´ve had on my need to read list for nearly twenty years. The problem is I´ve never been a big sci fi fan, at least in terms of writing. Due to the power of image over word sci fi is the one genre where the nostrum of the film never equaling the book is untrue. The prime example of this is 2001: A Space Odyssey, where Arthur C. Clarke´s book, while arguably great, pales to Stanley Kubrick´s film, even though both works evolved collectively.

The novel has been hailed not only for its tale, but being a sort of guide to the 1960s morés, written by a notoriously politically conservative figure in Heinlein. Published in 1961 the story is about a human raised on Mars who becomes a Messianic figure, yet unlike the Christ myth the novel never quite makes certain whether its Messiah is good or evil....Still, the book is a very good read, an example of a good idea and solid narrative leading to excellence. A little more realistic characterization, and a trimming of some excess tropes would have made it a great book. The single most obvious example would have been the fleshing out of Mike´s motives- not all, but some. On the other hand it could be argued that the whole of the book, much like Ursula LeGuin´s The Lathe Of Heaven, is a fantasy- the only question is whether it´s Mike´s, Jubal´s, or the Old Ones´ fantasy. In that case Mike´s blandness is the vicissitude of dream- strange, but a land we all know.¤

6) Paperback Book Stranger in a Strange Land by Ace Trade. One of the greatest science fiction novels ever published, Stranger in a Strange Land´s original manuscript had 50,000 words cut. Now they have been reinstated for this special 30th anniversary trade edition. A Mars-born earthling arrives on this planet for the first time as an adult, and the sensation he creates teaches Earth some unforgettable lessons. "A brilliant mind-bender."--Kurt Vonnegut.¤

7) Paperback Book Stranger in a Strange Land by Ace Trade. Stranger in a Strange Land, winner of the 1962 Hugo Award, is the story of Valentine Michael Smith, born during, and the only survivor of, the first manned mission to Mars. Michael is raised by Martians, and he arrives on Earth as a true innocent: he has never seen a woman and has no knowledge of Earth´s cultures or religions. But he brings turmoil with him, as he is the legal heir to an enormous financial empire, not to mention de facto owner of the planet Mars. With the irascible popular author Jubal Harshaw to protect him, Michael explores human morality and the meanings of love. He founds his own church, preaching free love and disseminating the psychic talents taught him by the Martians. Ultimately, he confronts the fate reserved for all messiahs.

The impact of Stranger in a Strange Land was considerable, leading many children of the 60´s to set up households based on Michael´s water-brother nests. Heinlein loved to pontificate through the mouths of his characters, so modern readers must be willing to overlook the occasional sour note ("Nine times out of ten, if a girl gets raped, it´s partly her fault."). That aside, Stranger in a Strange Land is one of the master´s best entertainments, provocative as he always loved to be. Can you grok it? --Brooks Peck¤

Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 2-Dec-2008, 0441788386072742016953, 510-510-510-960-890-860-640-8

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