Rating: 
Summary: A definitive sci fi work
Review: I can't help but scratch my head when I see people who found the book interesting enough to read, then come away bashing it. Don't get me wrong, everyone has a right to their opinion....however, mine is that if you found this book to be severely lacking, then you should stick to guys like Clancy, Hemingway, or perhaps Jack London...ie, the ones who throw a lot of action in there in case you quickly tire of dialogue that is thought-provoking vs simply "entertaining."I consider this is one of the best sci fi books by one of the best sci fi authors ever. Period. If you are interested in more than lightweight, zap-em-up Star Wars-type yarns and enjoy a book which provides as much or more food for thought vice action, get this book (in fact, this applies to pretty much any Heinlein work). You may really like or really hate what he say at any given moment, but he will throw a lot at you. He's not for the meek of mind. Of course, that doesn't mean if you dislike him, you're stupid..... I think. ;)
Rating: 
Summary: Another good one
Review: Let me start out by saying that there have been few books in my experience as strange as stranger in a strange land. I am sure that it was very controversial back in 1961. It is also interesting to note that what is happening today in the Christian church has its parallels in this book. Doesn't it seem that some churches are just places where people show up to watch the football game? I totally Grook this book and Valentine Michele Smith.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT read!
Review: This is one of the best books I have read, of any genre. Usually, I don't read sci-fi, and I wouldn't classify this novel as a sci-fi novel, but my mom thought I might like to read it. Being on a camping trip with nothing else to do, I gave it my full attention, and soon found that I loved it.
Everything Heinlein expresses in this book is just amazing, and makes you think about your life, and the messed up world we live in. He promotes free sex, cannibalism, and other "immoral" things, but presents them in humorous and thought provoking ways, so they seem innocent, and almost right. This "twisted" view of the world is what I loved the most about this book.
Unlike other people, I don't think Heinlein is "bashing organized religion". Mike's "thou art God" bit is basic (even though it may not be obvious) stuff from almost every religion. The Fosterite church is supposed to be a farce, and copies some notorious religious groups, but Mike bases his own religion partly on it, letting us accept these radical beliefs (this is my point of veiw as an atheist).
My favorite point to ponder in the whole book is why we laugh. After I read the section where Mike realizes why humans laugh, i had to put the book down to think, and I didn't find many situations humorous for days afterwards.
Jubal is probably my favorite character in fiction, with his stright-forward, pragmatic views on everything. For some inspiration, read the section where Ben and Jubal talk about some of Rodin's sculptures.
The only faults I found with this book were the total change in plot tone from the first part of the book to the second part, which might throw some readers off, and the 2-dimensions of some of the characters. The philosophies and points to ponder are the true stars of this book, though, which is why it's become one of my favorite books, the first one I usually recommend. I'm on my third time in 2 months through it, and still going!
Rating:
Summary: Thrilling read
Review: A thrilling read with an intriguing main character in Valentine Michael as well as a great companion (Jubal) through whose intelligent, skeptical eyes I felt Heinlein was really telling and interpreting the narrative. Stranger has a sense of scope, as we see Michael transformed from a nearly helpless "babe" physically to a polished, mass-media darling preacher. The "high-minded" science fiction aspect is key to the novel as Heinlein uses his stranger and his attempts at understanding humanity to emphasize the flaws in our society. It never becomes overbearing or preachy, but the zealously hedonistic and somewhat smarmy society that results from following Michael's ideas seems as flawed as our own. I'm unsure if I'm to interpret Michael's world as the answer to our problems or simply a lifestyle with an alternative set. Without turning this into a critique or a plot summary, it boils down to an interesting narrative, a few deeper meaning details (e.g. the scenes in heaven) that didn't really work for me, but in general a highly intelligent person engaging in skilled storytelling and sharing of his thoughts.
Rating: 
Summary: I don't grok it.
Review: Stranger in a Strange Land seems to be Heinlein's personal soapbox for airing his unresolved conflicts about religion, sex and the world in general. Maybe it was revolutionary 40 years ago, but it doesn't hold up very well. It's the Playboy Philosophy meets the Jetsons, filled with WWII and '50s slang and references. Heinlein doesn't talk to his readers, he talks AT them. I'm guessing Heinlein's ideal woman was a really hot overgrown highschool girl rapturously listening to him pontificate. And why do I have the strong impression Heinlein had to be the smartest guy in every room he entered? A strange land, indeed.
Rating: 
Summary: Heinlein floods earthly religions with poison Martian air
Review: Hardly a science fiction novel as advertised, the much-adored/abhorred 1961 novel Stranger In A Strange Land is a didactic exercise against man's ignorance and narrow-minded and terrestrial tunnel vision. Undefiled and unencumbered by environmental prejudice osmosis, Valentine Michael Smith returns to earth and is immediately feared and revered - by the establishment and ordinary folk respectively. The course is not hard to predict hence. The ideas and the rage against human doctrines are. Heinlein preaches heavily and at will, while the book shows its age; the points made though are still valid and topical. "God is in all of us" and religion is nothing more than a collection of charlatans and shysters. The sexual references, towards the end, are controversial to this day yet mostly on target.
And, no surprise, mankind targets the messenger when medium and target collide.
Rating:
Summary: I Grok It
Review: After I read this book I could not help but agree that the criticism of modern organized religion was right on. Looking at this from the point of view of an atheist the "thou art god" that mike teaches to his water brothers made sense. We are the engineers of all the great buildings and some of the not so great social instituitons that our species came up with, not some great being in the sky that cannot be seen, but must be felt in the soul. I came away from this expeirience feeling that we are all god and we must learn to get along. A good read do not pass it up.
Rating:
Summary: Truly Awesome
Review: I read this book a while back, after I started reading a lot of Timothy Leary's stuff. I've also read some other Heinlein, and I'll admit I'm not a fan of all his work. That being said, let me tell you that this book is awesome. However, it's not exactly a Hard Sci-Fi book with data and cool descriptions of high tech stuff. Basically this is a philosophical/sociological text which uses SF to illustrate its points. It goes on at length about the evils of Organized religion, and some people have marked the book down because of this. Frankly, I marked the book up for it: Heinlein's right on target on the subject (regardless of how much the average American doesn't want to hear it). If you read this book you won't be sorry, even if you don't agree with everything Heinlein says. BUY THIS BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: Stranger In A Strange Land
Review: This is possibly one of the most unique sci-fi/fantasy books that I have ever read. This is coming from a 15 year old who read this book for an English assignment. However, despite your age, sex, etc... I can assume that if you like sci-fi, this will be a find for you. Through Mike and Jubal, Heinlein paints a web in which you will question life as you know it. You will begin to 'grok' new meanings in society and of life itself. I would definately recommend this book to anyone, as long as you don't mind decently sad endings and don't get too uptight about religion. I shall leave you with one of my favorite quotes, "Waiting is."
Rating:
Summary: A Martian Character Study
Review: Michael Valentine Smith is a human that was born during a journey to Mars and raised by Martians. His upbringing gave him both a Martian perspective on the world and certain inhuman abilities. When he arrives on Earth he is naïve and clueless about human culture, which could have gotten him into some serious trouble if it weren't for a group of faithful friends. The story follows Smith as he learns about human culture, teaches his friends about Martian culture, and slowly combines the benefits of both cultures. It has its suspenseful moments, but it is mostly a character study.
This is an excellent science fiction novel. The characters are wonderfully complex and lovable, and the plot is interesting and enlightening. I loved this book and I think anyone who likes science fiction would also love it.
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