This Paperback Book item from Ace was reviewed on 9-Oct-2008.
Search ISBN:0441854575 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag 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 Science Fictio . Related topics: General. Heinlein, Robert A.. ( H ). Authors, A-Z. Subjects. Books. Paperback. Heinlein, Robert A.. ( H ). Authors, A-Z. requestid: 55587425-e4b2-4d85-b341-d40e5fadaf26
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1) Paperback Book The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag by Ace. This is also called 6xH, which isn´t an exciting title, and the full explanation looks like Johnny Quick´s magic superspeed formula :-
"6xH is considerably greater than other collections by "Brand X" authors (often squares).
Or, for the mathematically-inclined: 6xH=(f+sf)´nh
6xH>X2"
A group of stories headed in the fantasy direction, with Zombies the best.
Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag : The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag [SS] - Robert A. Heinlein
Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag : The Man Who Traveled in Elephants - Robert A. Heinlein
Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag : All You Zombies - Robert A. Heinlein
Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag : They - Robert A. Heinlein
Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag : Our Fair City - Robert A. Heinlein
Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag : And He Built a Crooked House - Robert A. Heinlein
Memory job is for the Birds, critically speaking.
2.5 out of 5
Show animals.
2.5 out of 5
Self-seduction time.
4 out of 5
Protest destiny.
3 out of 5
Whirlwind collection.
3 out of 5
Tesseract dwelling dodgy in earthquakes.
4 out of 5
2.5 out of 5¤ 2) Paperback Book The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag by Ace. This collection of Heinlein stories includes stories that originally appeared in various pulp magazines during the ´40´s and
50´s. These are not RAH´s usual type of story, there are no resourceful adolescents, exotic aliens, or mischievious multicentarions to be found here. Instead these tales are darker, more macabre that RAH´s more well known style.
The first, and longest selection, THE UNPLEASANT PROFESSION OF JONATHAN HOAG, concerns a man, Hoag, who cannot remember what he does during the day. He hires a private detective team to follow him to discover what he fears is his shameful secret. What they discover is something far different that any of them ever could have imagined.
THE MAN WHO TRAVELED IN ELEPHANTS involves a traveling salesman and his wife who have happily traveled across the country for years until death separates them, at least briefly.
"ALL YOU ZOMBIES" is the most ´typical´ Heinlein in the book and concerns time travel and paradoxes, rather reminiscent to THE DOOR INTO SUMMER.
THEY is the most disturbing tale of the group. The hero is insane or perhaps not.
OUR FAIR CITY is a charming bit of urban fantasy, in keeping with THE STAR BEAST.
"AND HE BUILT A CROOKED HOUSE" the final selection, is a chilling story about other dimension and is perhaps a forerunner to THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST.
For serious RAH fans this is a very interesting book, showing facets of his writing that are not often seen. Fans of specific parts of his work, say the juveniles or the Future History stories would probably be disappointed. Those new to RAH´s work should be aware that these are not very representative of the rest of his work. Fans of the TWILIGHT ZONE, or THE OUTER LIMITS will be right at home.¤ 3) Paperback Book The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag by Ace. Much of Heinlein´s early writing was tied to his envisioned Future History, but he had a few stories that didn´t fit into that mold, stories that frequently showed a different side of Heinlein, a more mystical, musing, fantastical side than what appeared in his standard science fiction fare. The stories here are part of this very different group.
"The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathon Hoag" first appeared in the Oct 1942 edition of Unknown magazine, as by "John Riverside" (one of about six of Heinlein´s pseudonyms). Mr. Hoag has a problem: in the evenings he finds a curious reddish residue under his fingernails, and no memory of what he was doing during the day to get that residue. So he hires a husband and wife team of detectives to follow him around and find out what is really going on. The trail leads to non-existent 13th floors, some very shadowy characters who are part of the Order of the Bird, and a conclusion that reality really isn´t what we think it is. Some good suspense, reasonable characterization, but the final answer that Heinlein presents may leave you feeling a little let down, and I had difficulty believing in the scenario.
"They", first printed in the April 1941 issue of Unknown, is a minor classic. Here is paranoia run rampant; the main character just knows that everything around him is just a setup meant to keep him ignorant of the true state of the world. Of course, it´s only paranoia if such a belief is incorrect... One of his better early stories.
"Our Fair City" first appeared in the Jan 1949 issue of Weird Tales, and is an out-and-out fantasy, with an intelligent whirlwind used as an instrument to bring down a corrupt city government. Mildly amusing but a pretty slight effort.
"The Man Who Traveled in Elephants" was apparently written in 1948, but didn´t get published till Oct 1957 in Saturn magazine. When I first read this, I thought it was a totally unremarkable, very quiet story, detailing a man and his wife who travel to all the various county/state fairs; the sights, sounds, and exhibits of such affairs. By the end of the story it is clear that this is the man´s version of heaven. Reading this again, I begin to wonder if this story is actually a key to Heinlein´s personal beliefs about both the hereafter and the reasons for living, and the story is actually quite charming and heart-warming.
"...And He Built a Crooked House" first appeared in Feb 1941 issue of Astounding; as such it´s the earliest work in this collection. It´s all about an architect who designs and builds an ´exploded´ three-dimensional version of a four-dimensional tesseract, then has it collapse into a real four-dimensional house when one of California´s innumerable earthquakes strikes. A minor piece, though it will warp your mind a bit, and has some historical interest as the street where this house was supposedly built is the one Heinlein was living on when this was written.
"...All You Zombies" is the newest story here, first published in the March, 1959 issue of Fantasy & Science Fiction. It´s also, for my money, the best and most inventive story of the bunch, and possibly the ultimate in time-travel stories. Starting from a bartender listening to one of his (male) customers complain about how tough life is in the "True Confession" writing racket, it proceeds to be the complete answer (at least for one person) to the question of the beginning of everything and to the inherent paradoxes of time travel. Warning: this is not a children´s story, some of the situations described within it probably make it unsuitable for anyone younger than mid-teens.
As a group, these stories are a mixed bag. They show inventiveness in plot and theme, are all at least reasonably well written, but some cross the line of believability, others make too minor a point to be really good stories. Still, a very different set of stories from what some call the greatest science fiction writer, ever.
--- Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)¤ 4) Paperback Book The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag by Ace. "The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag". If that´s not an eye-grabbing title, I don´t know what is. Unfortunately, the text within the covers doesn´t quite live up to it. Jonathan Hoag remembers the mornings, and he remembers the evenings, but he doesn´t quite remember what he does for a living during the day. To solve this mystery, he hires two private detectives to tail him and report his movements to him. The more they try to do so, the more confusing and seemingly impossible phenomenon they encounter. This novella keeps you reading just to see how Heinlein will wrap up all the contradictions in the end. Unfortunately, he doesn´t. There is a conclusion that provides some metaphysical food for thought, but it´s not really a satisfactory explanation of everything that happened. "The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag" does boast distinctive characters, and crisp, clean, believable dialogue.
The other flagship story in this collection is "And He Built a Crooked House". The story of an architect who won´t take no for an answer and a suburban couple who get trapped in one of his designs, this little exercise in cleverness will delight the mathematically minded with its musings on higher dimensions and lower intellects. The rest is a hodgepodge. "They" is an initially intriguing exploration of paranoia, but the ending doesn´t punch the way Heinlein wants it to. "Our Fair City" is an amusing but not particularly thought-provoking tale about a miniature tornado that gets involved in politics. "All You Zombies" is yet another pointless time-travel story.
Lastly there´s "The Man Who Traveled in Elephants". One of the master´s more unusual stories, it explores the life of a quirky elderly couple who travel around attending county fairs. The point is to suggest that Heaven will be a carnival, complete with cotton candy and a parade of elephants. With no real science fiction component, it gives us instead an unusual take on finding your purpose on Earth. But for some reason I found it strangely unsatisfying in the end. Regardless, below average Heinlein is still above average fiction.¤ 5) Paperback Book The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag by Ace. Its very dated but its great sci-fi! I especially loved the last short story in the book, it was a real mind bender. I highly recommend this book.¤ 6) Paperback Book The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag by Ace. Robert A. Heinlein, the celebrated author of Stranger in a Strange Land, interrupts the lives of two ordinary people for a terrifying night-ride alo ng the interface between reality and . . . our world. "One of the grand masters of science fiction."--Wall Street Journal. Reissue.¤ Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 6-Nov-2008, 04418545759780441854578, 7X0-750-030-220-500-411-8 |
