Rating: Summary: THE BEST 40 YEAR OLD SCI-FI BOOK EVER READ. Review: THIS BOOK SHOWS HOW AN INNOCENT PERSON CAN GET SCREWED OVER JUST BECAUSE HE WAS HONEST. VALENTINE MICHAEL SMITH IS JUST WHAT THIS WORLD NEEDS. IT TAKES A MARTIAN TO SHOW EARTHLINGS HOW TO LIVE. THANK YOU ROBERT A.HEINLEIN, WHEREVER YOU ARE.
Rating: Summary: The only thing I can say is know your statistics Review: This book was 4.5/5 when last I checked. There is no possible way that if you polled those readers who have read many of Heinlein's other books, or Hugo watchers, or those readers who are scifi specialists with specific tastes -- cyberpunks, techno buffs, socio-political buffs, other-worlders, etc., that you would get past 3/5. Caveat emptor: this book has serious potential to annoy unless you know you like Heinlein's FULL range of novels.
Rating: Summary: The book that accidently inspired the counterculture... Review: Heinlein here is trying to offend and shock(as he said later).Writing in the late 50's,he tries to call into question as many accepted "truths",customs,values etc. as he could think of... He combines this with his usual propulsive and rhythmic writing style and his gift for imagining and creating "real"future societies. Heinlein's most famous and influential book(I don't think he would be pleased),this novel was an icon in the youth culture of the sixties. Read "Starship Troopers" for the "real" Robert Heinlein--and anything written before the seventies is worthwhile--after that,advancing age and illness ruined his writing--although his later books sold better than his classics of the forties,fifties and sixties...
Rating: Summary: This book DID change my life... Review: But only because it was the first great book I read. I got me questioning convention. If you are a young or new reader to SF this is one of the best books you could possibly read. PERIOD...
Rating: Summary: Opened my eyes to the world of Sci-Fi Review: I am not a Sci-Fi reader for all practical matters. This book was offered by a friend after I had inquired to whom his favorite author was. He told me in great detail the story of how the content of this book was so far ahead for its time that the editors butchered it and would not let Heinlein publish any other way. The unjust and closed-minded censorship that was apparent was the key motivator in my reading this uncut version. I found it to be an excelent story and a wonderful commentary on religion, government/politics, and sexual revolution that I have read to date. I would highly recommend this book to any sci-fi fan, for it has that flair, or otherwise, it may recruit you as it did I.
Rating: Summary: One of the most incredible books ever Review: The first Heinlin book I read was Starship Troopers, and it wasn't bad, so I decided to pick up another Heinlin novel, Stranger in a Strange Land. This is the BEST book I have ever read! It made truly love science fiction. The characters I feel are great, the plot is very well done, I just could not put this book down! If you are looking for a great book, this is it.
Rating: Summary: Its a Classic - Ummmmmm NOT! Review: I just can't get over the popularity and praise this book has received, after struggling so much myself to finish it. A lot of peoples' reasoning behind loving this seems to be based on the book changing their lives or making impact on the way they think. Although Heinlein in his typical fasion touts his imaginative philosophy through the words of his characters, his base story is very poor, unimaginative and completely un-exciting. The whole point in reading a sci fi book is for some enjoyment too, not just to grow mentally. For those of you touting its philosophical glory, I suggest going and reading Dianetics or some other books that are pure scientific philosophy. Other authors and Heinlien himself have done far better jobs at writing stories that both entertain, and teach the reader new theories or ways of thinking about things. (ie. in starship troopers at least while Heinlein is touting his philosophy on the necesity of war amongst others, he is also weaving an exciting, imaginative backdrop or what some people call a story). Examples of this are Asimov and L. Ron Hubbard. While I don't mind Heinleins overbearing need to tout philosophy, it would be nice to enjoy it along the way. As a devout reader of Sci Fi and Fantasy, I, like most Sci Fi readers, want a imaginative exciting story. That is the point of this type of book. For those of you interested in a good Sci Fi novel I don't recommend this one. Its insulting at best IMHO. I don't want to rip too much, as Heinlein did have some interesting ideas about how the future would look on earth, but very few. The martians and their civilization are hardly touched upon (although admitedly the way they think is touted throughout the book). That aside there are several patheticly weak imaginative ideas in the book. I found it very hard to believe that such an alien way of thinking would develop on a planet so close to our own and their is absolutely no sign of this civilization before we go there (considering their powers etc). The martians are almost omnicient in their mental powers but take centuries to work out fairly simple decisions that a human would do in an hour (for those of you wanting evidence of the inconsistency). I can not believe that a gay person or woman would not be offended by the book. The point at which I almost burned the damn book is when the former leaders of a religious cult (like the heavens gate cult but more popular) turn into angels after being murdered and are up in heaven talking about the next order of business, like a scene out of some 'b' comedy spoof on angels. This happens after a great deal of the book has been wripping on and into religions, especially cults. Am I as an intelligent reader suppossed to take this seriously? Heinlein shows throughout the book how ridiculous and consistent so many religiouns are and have been throughout the ages, but then the evil cult leaders of one of these 'typical' religions go to heaven to work as angels? Even if this is some pitiful attempt at humour its not funny. For those of you who say, "well the first half or two thirds of the book is good"... So what. The book should be good throughout or it isn't a good book. A book with so many problems should never be considered a classic, and I don't see how it possibly ever became so popular. (maybe all the hippies bought it?) Finally, I was going to say how offensive Heinlein's portrayal of %99 of the people on this earth are. The ONLY truly intelligent character not of mars in the book was Jubal (the old man character whom I am sure is a figment of Heinlein himself). Unfortunately, heinleins opinion of humanity may be correct as this book IS considered a classic and still has a 4.5/5 star rating. (How I am still wondering...)Of to read some good books that are actually entertaining...
Rating: Summary: Thought-provoking and a Heinlein masterpiece Review: This book lives up to it's label of masterpiece. I read it after over-looking it who knows how many times. I enjoyed it immensley throughout and even though I didn't agree with all the philosophies presented throughout the book, I liked to read them and looked at them with an open mind. Yes, the ending was dissapointing, but it was a welcome and believable change from every "happily-ever-after" story that are so common. "Stranger in a strange land" is a book I would reccomend for anyone, but only if you are prepared to not take it lightly and give it the attention it deserves, even if it is not your "type" of book or don't agree with all it portrays. Pick this book up the next time you stop at your local library.
Rating: Summary: By far one of the greates Sci-Fi books ever written!!!! Review: Take a step back from the reality that you think is yours and look at the world through the eyes of a man from Mars. A man who is a man in body only. In mind, thought, and experience he is a martian. And see what sorts of funny and crazy things this animal called Man does.
Rating: Summary: One of RAH's best Review: I've read many of Heinlein's books since picking up Starship Troopers a cuople years ago. Stranger in a Strange Land is perhaps his greatest work, but has tough compitition for that title from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Heinlien is the master of his genre and he clearly proves it with Stanger. Younger reader's may find the story boring because it lacks the action and adventure in some of Heilein's other novels. If you find boring, come back to it when your older and find adventure stories all the same. In closing I would say that this is a must read for sci-fi fans. RAH is the Grand Master of science fiction.
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