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Summary: The Moon is a Great Bombing Platform
Review: Don't get in a fight with the government of the moon; they might drop rocks on you. Big rocks, going really fast. Even if the government is a group of rebels determined to bring decent government to a former penal colony, and their main weapon is the self-aware computer calling itself 'Mycroft Holmes.' Heinlein's prophetic book may be the first to suggest a computer could control a tv screen. We robots think 'Mike' is the coolest character in all SF....
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Summary: One of the Classics
Review: I believe that the book, "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress," is one of the best books ever written. It not only is enterntaining to the reader the the use of ingenious caracters that the reader can really connect with, it is a fun book to read. I really like books like this one that make you think while your reading, and there is also suspense with every turn of the page that you make. I believe this is an awesome book that everyone should have the pleasure to read.
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Summary: Not to be missed
Review: Forced to pick a favourite book by Heinlein, one of my favourite writers, I would have to choose this one. Even leaving aside the (not inconsiderable) benefit of the excellent explication of solid political philosophy in the book, it's a great read.First of all, the entire book is written in Lunaspeak. This pigdin English certainly takes some getting used to at first but one is able to read it after a chapter or so without even noticing. How simple it seems until you stop to consider the effort involved in accomplishing such a feat. And there's no doubt that Lunaspeak is vital to the success of the book. Then there's the story: fun and important both. Hugely entertaining, so you don't notice that you're also learning something. As usual, Heinlein has populated the book with richly drawn and highly entertaining charcters who matter to the reader as individuals. The highest compliment I can pay a book is that I'm sorry when it ends b/c I want to spend more time with the people in the book. Having read it numerous times, I'm still a bit sad every time I get to the last page b/c my time with these people is done. How much more difficult it is to accomplish this task - very few writers, even good ones, ever even approach it. Heinlein did it consistently and this is no exception. To do so while also acheiving so much else makes this the best of his impressive collection of work.
Rating: 
Summary: That Moon Mistress Book
Review: This was a great book. The story was interesting and the war waged with Earth is very neat. The characters are a little dull except maybe the Prof. The language is a bit of an annoyance for the first chapter or so, but it doesn't hurt the story.
Rating:
Summary: the another american revolution
Review: Another masterpiece. The science was there and the characters were entertaining especially Mike. Most importantly is that Heinlein gave us another story that was both exciting and thought provoking. The price of freedom and independence as well as the importance of having it. Very similar to the american revolution with the british being Earth(but more directed at North America).
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Summary: Heinlein's best
Review: I love this book, I think with a very few exceptions, it's the best book I've ever read (the exceptiona are Ender's Game and Stranger in a Strange Land). Heinlein, through the meduim of an intellegent computer and some rather odd people and situtaions gives us new insight into humanity. The computer learning aabout humour, (something Heinlein focuses on both in this and in Stranger) teaches us about the way we see something as funny. As always Heinlein pulls you in from the first page and doesn't let go.
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Summary: A lifetime fan considers this Heinlein's best
Review: I've been reading Heinlein since the sixties, and as far as I know have read everything he ever wrote that reached the mainstream press. I consider this his best work. It is a combination adventure story and philosophical treatise. Heinlein is always thought-provoking, but this one and "Stranger in a Strange Land" do that better than any of his other works, I believe. By the way, if you've seen the term "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch" or its abbreviation TANSTAAFL, you should know that this book is the original source for that phrase.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not great.
Review: I came into my reading of Robert Heinlein's novel, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, with rather high expectations. Heinlein's esteemed reputation in the science fiction field is by itself justification to garner such exceedingly high expectations. Aside from this though, I've heard from many sources that this is Heinlein's masterpiece, better even than his world-famous (although I think somewhat overrated) Stranger in a Strange Land. In fact it was even voted to be the greatest of all sf books to ever win the hugo award, beating out Frank Herbert's Dune, the aforementioned Stranger, Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness, and Walter Miller's A Canticle for Leibowitz, respectively. Hmm. Seems to me that Heinlein has beat out some pretty stiff competition After reading the novel, however, I think it fails to live up to such an honor, and is, I believe, the inferior of the works of the other author's mentioned. Not that it is a bad book, really. Heinlein has done a masterful job of showing such us how a revolution as he describes might actually take place, and on this level I think the book is thoroughly believable and works very well. His technical descriptions of life on the moon and the AI known as Mike show that Heinlein knows his stuff as far as science and, to a certain extent, sociology are concerned. All this leads to a book that is both enjoyable and thought provoking. Why, then, my disappointment? Well, if you look at those other books which Heinlein's book beat out in the ballot (disregarding Stranger), they are books that are filled with humanity. They have something to say about people, both as individuals and societies. They are, indeed, what we might call literature, or at least attempts at literature: what we might call serious fiction. You can probably understand now why I came away from the book a little disappointed. I went in expecting a true piece of art (for how else could it be said to be better than, say, Le Guin's novel?) and came out with the realization that this is nothing more than a good book (what a shame!). It does have a few fresh insights, but nothing as far as insightful symbolism or depth of characterization that we see in the other works. It is what we might call popular fiction. All in all, it was an enjoyable book, but not what I would call the greatest sf novel ever.
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Summary: Inspirational and intelligent, great sci-fi work.
Review: While the theme of "Stranger in a Strange Land" seemed to be more towards world peace, "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" is a futuristic tale of the Moon's population revolting against the earth to gain its own independance. While Heinlin is well known for his keen political sense, he also displays his in depth knowledge of human nature throughout the novel. It's no wonder this one is already a classic.
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Summary: TANSTAAFL
Review: If you like science fiction and were born before Armstrong walked on the moon, then you've already read this book. For those who fit outside this restraint... READ THIS BOOK! If you don't have the 15 bucks to buy your own, I'll send you mine. ;-) We've all seen movies that we can watch over and over again - now read a book you can read over and over again. It's a brisk read... all of the characters are well developed... the theories are sound... the plot and motives have passion. Heinlein will leave you begging for more... after all, we are all a little loonie. Free Luna!
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