Rating: 
Summary: Excellent read!
Review: SIASL is one of the best books I've ever read. It is not only humorous, but has many theological and philosophical comments and ideas. It prompts thought, and it prompts the reader to look at themselves... I read this book on a whim (after reading Job: A Comedy of Justice), and found it to be one of my all-time favorites. Valentine Michael Smith is not /too/ good, not /too/ bad- he's human...With commentary on politics, media and hypocrisy (just note the prescient view on media vultures!), it's a great book for curling up- Especially if you can read books for their ideas, and not assume they were all written last month :)
Rating: 
Summary: strange...
Review: At first, this book seemed intreasting, but as it progressed it turned dull. It also had some weird themes that were very 60's that I couldn't relate to. It became to preachy, which RH doesn't carry out very well. I wouldn't recommend reading it.
Rating: 
Summary: What a waste of imagination, and time
Review: WHAT A WASTE! Heinlein writes 226 wonderful, imaginative pages about a human born and raised on Mars and his return to earth. There is now a New World order called the Federation that behaves like a repressive banana republic. They plan to eliminate the Man from Mars because he threatens their plans to own and colonize the red planet. There are flying taxis landing on rooftops, and video telephones, and waterbeds. Michael Smith is the Man from Mars and he has to learn about earth. Because of his genetically superior parents, and his superior upbringing in a nest on Mars, Michael has the powers of a super hero. He can make guns and men disappear when he senses the “wrongness” in them. Of course, he senses the rightness in the main characters. He has no inhibitions when it comes to .... He is fascinated with religion and philosophy. He has complete control over his body, and can discorporate (die) at will. So what does he do. He tries his hand at being a magician, and ends up as an evanglist. Unfortunately this book is 438 pages long. Unfortunately, Heinlein’s imagination failed him when it comes to women, ..., science, and religion. Unfortunately, Heinlein didn’t write well when he wrote this book. Others reviewers have picked up on the sexism of the statement, “Nine out of ten times, if a girls gets ..., it’s partly her fault.” But, there are so many more examples. Other reviewers have picked up on Heinlein’s “cookie cutter” characters. I agree. Other reviewers have called this book an “adolescent ... fantasy.” I agree. Heinlein groks free love, nudity and water brothers. All that is missing from the 1960’s is the word groovy. Perhaps it is replaced by grok. Others have called it a diatribe against religion. I agree. His main character, Michael mimics the Christ, but resembles Charles Manson. To read this book and enjoy it, you have to forget the SCIENCE in science fiction. I just couldn’t do it. There are so many books, and so little time. I suggest that you do not waste yours reading this one
Rating: 
Summary: An important work of science fiction you should read.
Review: The cover of the current publication of this book boasts "The most famous science fiction novel ever written." Hogwash. Nonetheless it is a very important book and did become a sort of cult phenomenon in its own way. Here's why: taking the simple premise of a human born on Mars and raised by Martians, Heinlein extrapolates a thorough introspective on humanity, in particular later in the book of mankind's religious views. At times the book is absolutely hilarious which helps to relieve the stabbing philosophical assertions. The story line twists and turns and goes in unexpected directions. If you have the time and the inclination, read it.
Rating:
Summary: The pinnacle of Heinlein
Review: No collection of Heinlein, much less Sci-Fi would be complete without this book. One of his best!
Rating:
Summary: The world's best writer stumbled
Review: Without a doubt, Heinlein was the greatest science-fiction writer of all time. Starship Troopers, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, The Green Hills of Earth -- all brilliant classics. Stranger in a Strange Land is the most boring SF novel I've ever read, though. In this book, NOTHING HAPPENED (sex excepted). Starship Troopers begins with the line, "I always get the skakes before a drop," and doesn't stop moving until the last page. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is an enthralling, exciting war story, too. In Stranger, people sat around and talked. Sometimes they had sex. A few people got killed by magic. NOTHING HAPPENS IN THIS BOOK. Read the above mentioned Heinleins; not this one.
Rating:
Summary: Please read an earlier Heinlein
Review: This really is not a very good Heinlein book, probably his second or third worst depending on how you like "I will fear no evil" and "The number of the beast". Of his later books only Friday and The Cat are good unless you are a die hard Heinlein fan (which I have been for 30+ years). I just reread Stranger hoping I was too young when I first read it, but it seems even worse now. Stick with the early Heinlein adventures and save these weird ones for later.
Rating:
Summary: Underrated at Amazon
Review: This is one of Heinein's most famous works, and as such, I doubt that I can contribute any worthwile commments in addition to what's already been said. Nevertheless, I'm quite surprised at the overall average customer rating of only four stars. As a pure sci-fi piece it earns five stars hands down, considering the time of its publication. Seen as a work of literature, with respect to its social content, any attempt to bring the book down from its (well-earned) five star pedestal is testament to a person's narrow-mindedness rather than Heinlein's fault. The author's only "fault" is his bold attempt to challenge the very foundations (relegious, political, sexual, etc.) upon which our society is based -- and seeing as how our society is far from perfect (or else you wouldn't need to lock your house at night), I don't see how that can be deemed a fault.
Rating:
Summary: The land was just a little too strange for me...
Review: When I read this book I was pretty much just glad to finish it. I know this is supposed to be the most popular book of Heinlein's career and I know many would say that it was the best book for science fiction ever. Personally, this book did nothing for me. And I did try to put myself in the mindset of an audience in 1961 - when the book was written. It just did not work for me. I know he was trying to make sociological statements here and when you get around the lackluster story and the cardboard characterization I can see some grains of things in the book that I like. The basic theme of the book is about an alien (well, actually a human but one raised with an alien mindset) who comes to Earth and tries to impart what it sees as essentially latent in the human race but unrecognized in practice. The last part of the book was actually the most interesting as far as espousing the ideas from a sociological point of view as well as showing how a massive cultural change would have to take the form of a religion - even if the cultural change eschewed much of what religion had to say. The book actually had some interesting concepts and, if presented in a different fashion, might have made this a much better read for me then it was. Now, perhaps had I actually read it in 1961 with the concomitant cultural values of the day - perhaps things would have seemed different. But, somehow, I doubt it. Obviously, if you are a Heinlein fan - this is the cream of the crop. If you are not, I might still recommend it but I recommend you look at some of his other works that are not so geared to making a statement - for example, "The Puppet Masters" or "The Door Into Summer."
Rating:
Summary: A book filled with so much
Review: I am a person who reads only books that are written in a way that I can't put it down. I read this book several years ago and finally got it again. This will make you laugh, cry, and maybe understand quite a bit about yourself by looking through the eyes of another. A must read for all!
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