Rating: 
Summary: A slow-moving vehicle
Review: Whereas conflict may be a hard-to-grok human concept for Robert Heinlein's Man from Mars--the hero of his 1960's sci-fi classic, Stranger in a Strange Land--in fiction it is essential. In writing this novel Heinlein has forgotten a most important rule--that conflict is the driving force of any good piece of fiction. Because of this oversight Stranger in a Strange Land comes to a sad and screeching halt after Michael is kidnapped/rescued from the hospital by Jill. Once he is safely lodged at Jubal's home the conflict between him and Earth's powers-that-be takes a backseat, the tension becomes slack, the plot meanders, boredom ensues. And this only 60 some pages into the novel! Even the events that occur after Mike and Jill leave Jubal's nest are devoid of conflict: their unsuccessful career as circus performers, the burning down of their "church," the predictable crucifixion of Mike by the angry mob. None of these events seem to matter to any of the charcaters and so can't possibly matter to the reader. There's no tension and thus no opportunity for catharsis. The reader is left feeling empty and unfulfilled. Even more unfortunate is that the provocative and insightful ideas that Heinlein tries to convey about communication (human and otherwise) and about relations between beings (human and otherwise) are hopelessly bogged down in this muck of non-action. Heinlein, in using fiction as a vehicle for these thoughts, has forgotten the importance of keeping that vehicle moving forward, ever forward. I suppose some readers will try to defend Stranger in a Strange Land along more clever lines--that Heinlein perhaps purposefully crafted a seemingly aimless plotline to mirror the Martian concept of "waiting is." I have no idea if this was Heinlein's intention or not, but as a human reader geared for drama I found Stranger in a Strange Land a slow-moving disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: An Exploration Of Human Psychology from a Martian Viewpoint
Review: A Stranger in a strange Land, Is a Fascinating exploration into what people are and how we tick, Heinlien character 'Mike' sees the human race from the perspective of one who was a human raised by martians, a much older and wiser race than ours, and the resulting chaos when Mike tries to intrude humanity to a martian concept : Peace.
Rating:
Summary: best book i've ever read!
Review: this book changed my life. i loved everything about it. eamil me to talk about it.
Rating: 
Summary: Charming and amusing, but a little dated
Review: Martian refugee Valentine Michael Smith changes from hilarious weakling, to sex god to, well...to god over 400 pages! In the interim we see a little too much of the amusing but unlikely Jubal Harshaw, who runs a palatial residence staffed by virtual slaves on the back of romance writing! (He shelters the refugee from chasing police.) We also get to here too much 60s claptrap about religion and morality, and too many "speeches to camera" by the characters.
I absolutely loved the opening section of the book (before the omnipresent Jubal takes over) when the Martian is adjusting to Earthly language and emotions, as he gets accustomed to the thick air and high gravity. The rest is readable and sometimes fun. But I'm disappointed since I wanted to be able to recommend this as a crossover novel for non SF reading friends. But it just isn't good enough or tight enough. Maybe it's these 50,000 words that have just been reinstated!
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Science Fiction Novel Ever
Review: Why won't anybody make this book into a movie
Rating:
Summary: The penultimate Heinlein book
Review: Valentine Michael Smith, orphaned on Mars by the first expedition, is raised by the Martians. He is brought back by the second expediton after he is of age. His Martian upbringing alternately challenges and delights all of the persons of the Earth he encounters. This book willl either delight you or outrage you. It must be "grokked" to be understood.
Rating: 
Summary: Would not have finished except stuck on a plane.
Review: I picked up the book because I was interested in the premise, but reading the book drained any interest out of me. If you can get past the sexism (one female character says 90% of women who are raped are partly responsible) the story is OK. But once it dives off into the religious end forget it. Heinlein has some good ideas but there is so much else to trudge through that I could never suggest someone else read this. I think I read in one review it was one of the few best pieces of sci-fi. If it is I'm giving up sci-fi. Go read Asimov or Gibson.
Rating:
Summary: Recomended
Review: A really interesting and challenging book, I strongly recomend it. Maybe it changes your life. I think it is a true piece of art. If you want to share your thoughts about it, please mail me.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Yarn.
Review: I enjoyed this book, as I enjoy seeing the world from different viewpoints not necessarily my own. If you're the kind of uptight, neonatal, feminazi, politically correct, oh so enlightened nobody matters but me, person so prolific in todays society you should stay away from this book, and from Mr. Heinlein's work especially. But, if you can accept a story with a willing heart and an open mind, you might just get something out of it. It's a good story. Take what you will from it. When I find myself judgeing someones work too critically, I always remember what Mr. Heinlein wrote himself: "They are just stories; meant to amuse and written to buy groceries." Do you Grok?
Rating:
Summary: No Way to Treat Women or Maritans
Review: I was very disappointed in this book and I couldn't wait to finish it. I was tempted several times to give up in the middle, but I read so many positive reviews, I wanted to push on to see what I was missing. I conclude that I am not a fan of science fiction, although I love the movies of the 1950s. I found the story line (plot) to be rather confusing. There was too much philosophical preaching and innane comments by Jubal and his cast of players. I felt sorry for Michael and wished more of his character had been developed. The book was very long and jumped to places that didn't make sense to me. Much of the language and attitude toward women is completely unacceptable.
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