Rating: 
Summary: A Classic of its times, but still pertinent today
Review: 4 stars on average over 190 readers isn't bad at all! And most of the problems seem to be over the rather unenlightened views of rape ("Nine times out of ten, if a girl gets raped, it's partly her fault") and homosexuality ("I grok a wrongness") but hey he did write it in the 60s and every generation blasts the past one. Colourful characters (Jubal being a favourite fast talkin' lawyer - one of those irritating as hell types) and some rather interesting insights about nature/nuture, what makes a human being (laughter and sex), a satyrical poke at religions and an insight into hippy culture. Don't be disappointed by the lack of "science" - its not thtat kind of tale. Tends to focus more on human reactions to something as mind-blowing an topsy-turving as the Man from Mars. A great entertaining read.
Rating:
Summary: Well, I liked it!
Review: It seems that people either absolutely love this book or absolutely hate it. I fall in the former category. In some ways, the book reminds me of Brave New World, although it is much happier and gives a much better picture of the world. Other people seem to complain about how chauvinistic the book is. Well, I'm not only female but I'm sixteen, and I _know_ a lot of what he said shouldn't be listened to. If you can let that interfere with your enjoyment of the book, then there are an awful lot of other books (like, say, anything written by Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Forster, Hardy, James, Joyce, Dickens, etc., etc.) that you shouldn't read, either. I don't mean to compare it to them, but one has to understand the mentality of the time. The book made me think (even the chauvinistic statements) and I believe that is what it is supposed to do.
Rating:
Summary: Regardless of opinion, this book still stirs controversy.
Review: While I am not quite yet an "old one," I read this early on in the 20th century. It still seems to provoke a wide range of thinking, as should any good book. While by today's standards it may seem somewhat tame, in the early sixties it had timeliness and political place. Publishers worried over the controversy of Heinlein's ideas. If this novel makes you think any thing at all it has achieved it's purpose. It took me many, many years to truly understand the meaning of "Grok." May all water brothers and sisters pass on that "Loving is and always will be." We seem to have forgotten this message in the late 90s. In the meantime, remember waiting will be fullfilled. Pass this novel on when you're finished.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring... I mean BORING boring
Review: After reading this book and "I Will Fear no Evil" (which I couldn't even finish), I don't think I will ever read one of Heinlein's books again. It was a complete waste of my time, but of course, that is my opinion...
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, A Real Gem!
Review: I found this book at a friend's house and started reading it, within ten minutes I couldn't put it back down! It isn't perfect, for example Robert Heinlein is DEFINITELY a male chauvenist, but it is above average. I expecially liked the stuff about the martian religion. I didn't really like the way the martians were going to destroy earth. It's too stereotyped. I prefer to think of aliens being rather more humanoid in their actions. All in all it was a good read.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best SF books ever written.
Review: This is perhaps one of the most "personable" SF novels ever written. Although SF, it deals with personal feelings, human relationships and man's tired attempt to become more than he is. Michael Smith is what everyone would secretly like to be - innocent, strong, dedicated and loving. A truly engrossing and enjoyable read.
Rating:
Summary: Sci-fi classic? Hardly!
Review: I have just about finished this book and I am having immense trouble getting through the last few pages. I, like many others, started reading this book because of its "Classic"-ness. The following line from the newest Ace version of the book was spoken by Jill, a major female character: "Nine times out of ten, if a girl gets raped, it's partly her fault." What the heck is that?!?! How could ANY responsible author write such trash?!?! I almost put the book down...into the garbage can, but for some reason I didn't. This book is horribly dated and just oozes chauvanism out every pore. Even the strongest females are weak and subservient. It is disgusting reading a supposed sci-fi author who has been canonized by so many putting out trash like this. Why don't you just give John Norman the Nebula or Hugo while you're at it?
Rating: 
Summary: No science involved. Good enough for fantasy, though.
Review: OH, COME ON! Even for when this book was published, the things described would have been called purely absurd by scientists. I can dig that whole 'grok' thing, but the spirit beings on mars, and the ridiculous way in which the martian guy acts are purile crap. Good writing style for the first half, and JUST interesting enough to keep me reading, which is the only reason I gave this two stars instead of one. That religion that the martian guy starts is just a farcical rendering of one of those 'age of aquarius' hippy cults, interesting because it was written in '61. The man has no character, and his girlfriend is much more interesting, though there wasn't enough done for her. How can anybody say this is a great novel, let alone the greatest, let alone the greatest SF, when there isn't any science in it! And the second part just devolved into detached, confusing, and hollow narrative that I've mostly already forgotten, thank god. Heinlein fans, don't get mad, cause I loved Sixth Column, its just that this one is crap.
Rating:
Summary: E.T. slams head-on into culture shock
Review: A human raised on Mars has to learn how to be an Earthman right from scratch--fortunately he has an acerbic old sage and a nice girl to teach him. Notable here is a scene during a trip to the zoo, in which monkeys mistreating each other gives him a window into human nature. This book drew a "cult following" among flower-child types, but Heinlein is very successful at looking at human behavior from the objective viewpoint of a fictitious "outsider". The chapters about hero Mike's "messianic" period are a bit much, a mixture of Robert Rimmer and Kahlil Gibran. But the rest is just so great that I can't bring myself to lop off any of the stars!
Rating:
Summary: Ethics vs. Heinlein- An Epic Struggle
Review: Stranger in a Strange land is a counterpoint, a view of our ethics and conventions through the mind of one not raised by our standards. It shows the limits of sexual and physical jealousy and presents a view to how humanity should approach the future. A srong novel, from opening lline to finish, and thoroughly readable. It is no wonder that this is a classic of science fiction.
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