Rating: 
Summary: Great Promise, Sinks Under Own Weight
Review: I purhased this book along with a host of other Sci-Fi books as I wanted to really get into the genre. This is significant because for all intents and purposes, "Stranger In A Strange Land" is NOT a science fiction book. It is more of a fictional drama, with aspects of the book an extremely-thinly veiled criticism of organized religion.The story revolves around a human being who was taken in by the Martian race and taught to think and behave like a Martian. The human hero is then brought back to Earth and has to 'learn' what it means to be human. Many interesting statements are made about some of the norms and mores human beings have with regards to their interaction with others. However where the book starts to fall apart is when a pseudo-religeous church is introduced into the book, and from that point on (about half way through), the book stops being sci-fi alltogether and simply turns into the author's diatribe against organized religion. Many terms used to describe the 'church' in the book are first introduced in a circus paradigm -- displaying the contempt the author seems to feel about the subject. Over all, the characters are pretty well developed and the story doesn't have too many confusing points. It flows rather well, but by the reader is left wondering, "How did this story end up here?" For all the hype, I do not think this book lives up to expectations, but it does offer some interesting insight as to how humans might react if/when we meet a species from another planet. Worth the read? Maybe, as long as you know what you're getting before you jump in.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT book, and then it ended.
Review: I really enjoyed this book, until the last few chapters.
It's as though Heinlein said to himself "well, 400 pages is plenty, now I'll just slap on an ending"
and he had some very...strange uh... comments I didn't particularly appreciate.
Other than those few things, it was definitely a Five star book. By the way, the story is about a man who has lived his entire life on Mars, was brought up by aliens, the whole works. An expedicition to Mars finds him, and returns him to Earth, where he's got to do deal with all sorts of things like learning to breath, speak english, and understanding women ( something impossible on Mars, females mate, lay eggs and die) And he's got do deal with the fact that he is a very, very, rich person, the Owner of Mars!
Rating: 
Summary: Actually, more a visionary Utopian novel vs. Sci-Fi novel.
Review: I first read Stranger in 1968 when I was 14 years old. Although not at all sufficiently prepared either in terms of my knowledge of their Bible, philosophy in general or the tenants of ethics and morality to come anywhere near to appreciating the work, it nevertheless made quite an impression. I read it again during my college years and, while better prepared to think about and understand the various religious, moral, et. al., underpinnings of the book, I'm sure I still missed a lot. A few weeks ago I reread the book--and have since reread it again. I may be close to really grasping all the intricacies of the novel. In many ways this was an epic undertaking by Heinlein. It covers a lot of ground and involves a lot of deep, complex, contentious ideas. In my youth I read it and thought the book answered a lot of questions. In my college years I came to understand that the book really contained no answers but raised a lot of interesting questions to which, of course, I had all the answers. Today, firmly entrenched in middle age, I'm thinking perhaps I've come to the point where I have to admit I don't know the answers, but I really do admire the questions. Stranger in a Strange Land is the story of Valentine Michael Smith, the only human survivor of the first manned mission to Mars. Born on the journey to members of the crew, Mike, as he's known, was saved by the creatures that inhabit Mars in this story and raised by those entirely non-human entities. Mike's existence is discovered when a follow-up mission arrives at Mars and he is "returned" to Earth. Mike may have human form, but he is an alien in every sense of the word. Such a creature would be sure to be at the vortex of a media maelstrom regardless of any other considerations, but Mike's situation is exacerbated by the fact that. Because of a pact entered into be the crew of the original mission, he is heir to all those folks worldly goods-and is enormously wealthy. Moreover, due to a peculiarity of the space equivalent of international law, he is regarded as the "owner" of Mars, the sentient creatures inhabiting the planet notwithstanding. (Sort of like the position of the Indians in the new world after Columbus). A nurse at the hospital where Mike is, essentially, imprisoned on his return to Earth helps Mike escape to the retreat of an eccentric writer, doctor and social critic, one Jubal Harshaw, who acts as Mike's mentor and protector till he's ready to strike out on his own. Once he does so, he becomes the messianic leader of a "new" religion (cult?). The book has richly developed, incredibly appealing characters. It has a complex and wide-ranging plot. But what the book is in essence is a platform for posing a lot of legal, political, philosophical, moral and religious ideas and/or questions using the device of Mike's alien presence, powers and naiveté as the focal point of expression of those ideas and/or questions. And, in the end, the book is much more an exercise in visionary Utopian expression than any sort of science fiction story. And I believe it is that fact that has given this book the long legs and contentious history is has enjoyed. This sin't a book everyone will like, but it is a book everyone should read.
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Book I've Ever Read
Review: Offering a fresh look on human behavior and human sexuality, Heinlein's book makes you think that HE is the Martain, with his seemingly neutral veiw on the human race. Heinlein shows incredible insight into all of our lives, stating that the greatest blessing bestowed upon humans is that of male and female, something we all take for granted. An Incredible masterpeice that will be appreciated by anyone who reads it. From politics to religon to sexuality, Heinlein's got it all covered. Magnificent.
Rating:
Summary: Hands down one of the best ever.
Review: Quite simply, this is one of the top five books I have ever read. It is not often that I find a book that I can't put down. The great test of a book is its desire to be re-read. I'm on round 6 and counting.
Rating:
Summary: A must read.
Review: This book is not for everyone. If you have iron-clad religious and social values that are cast in stone and you can't tolerate new viewpoints on these, don't buy this book. If you'd like to look at our society from the outside viewpoint of a man from another planet, even if you have to re-evaluate the way you look at things, you will enjoy this book inmensly. This book was ahead of it's time when it was published and I dare say it's still ahead of it's time today. So take your time with it and read it carefully. Read between the lines and absorb it all. You may have to read it a couple of times to see all there is to see... If you are going to read only one book this year, read this one.
Rating:
Summary: Stranger not for Strangers.
Review: Stranger is a classic Sci-fi novel, in my opinion one of the best ever writen, but it's not for those unfamiliar with Heinlein.
It's a long book, with large amounts of dialogue. The charactors don't do much, for most of the book they stay in the same house without even leaving the grounds. That is not the appeal of Stranger. To enjoy this novel one must cast aside all the conventions and ideals that have been bred into them from a young age, and try to view this novel as Michael Valentine Smith(the man from mars)saw Earth.
That, in my opinion, is very hard to do and you need to trust the author in order to grok (understand in fullness) all that is being said.
Don't start this book without that trust, or you will be dissapointed.
Try the Moon is a harsh mistress, or Podkanye of Mars, then read this. It's a mind altering substance.
Rating: 
Summary: Starts off great but...
Review: I absolutely was hooked for the first 2/3rds of the book... But by the time I was 2/3rds of the way through I was getting very tired with the author on his soapbox beating up organized religion. Heinlein's preachiness (sp?) is the same reason why I didn't like Starship Troopers. The author doesn't know when to stop and realize his point is taken. Granted I read the unabridged version so some of the content others wouldn't have been burdened by I did get burdened by. I was disappointed because I felt the beginning had lots of suspense and intrigue but then the book eventually took a turn towards seeing see how a person can "restructure" (degenerate is a better word) their moral behavior in an immoral world. Therefore, I didn't love the main characters by the end because there wasn't anything left to like about them.
My two cents worth.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Thought-Provoking
Review: This is one of those stories that will leave you awake at night asking yourself "Is everything that I ever knew wrong?". Its that challenging. Heinlein rightly deserves the mantle of "Grand Old Man of Science Fiction". Though this book does not necessarilly display his forte but his investigations of the human culture is most thought-provoking. Though it may seem from the other reviews that this book preaches a brand new philosophy, Ill tell you that it doesn't. Heinlein asks questions so obvious it makes you wonder why you never asked them yourself! The story challenges the basic fiber of "culture" and "morality" in a fashion that can only be deemed as "innocent". And these questions are the most provocative of all. A must read, not just for philosopher ... and soul-searchers, but for anyone who considers himself of open mind.
Rating:
Summary: ...despite ugly flaws
Review: I liked Stranger in a Strange Land. I guess I take the bad with the good. Many people have written about the sexism, homphobia, and overbearing machismo of Heinlein's writing. I couldn't agree more. These flaws make it difficult to recommend this book, but I still do. What Heinlein does is ARTICULATE his ideas. He does this extermely well, making him more understandable than many sci-fi writers. Heinlein uses Jubal Harshaw to help make concrete sense of Mike's ideas, which are,(admit it), more sophisticated than "free-love->sexism->fascism!". The essential point of the book is easy to grasp, and although the pretense and arrogance of the author aren't much fun, any strong minded person need not feel threatened by these problems. The book is good for it's ideas more than its execution. Give it a chance.
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