Rating: 
Summary: The moon's Declaration of Independence from Earth!
Review: A delightful science fiction novel set on Earth's moon,
with technical tips on how-to-start and win a revolution,
just in time for the 300th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence. Lead characters include the moon's master computer, newly self-aware, and the humans who molded its sense of humor and established it as the head of the revolutionary movement. Heinlein is at his best with vibrant personalities and good science, and the enduring 21st century phrase,"TANSTAAFL!" (There ain't no such thing as a free lunch!) My repeated requests to hundreds of bookstores around the country for this long
out-of-print book has to be one of the contributing factors to its release in hardcover.
Rating:
Summary: One of Heinlein's three finest novels
Review: I rank this among Heinlein's three absolutely magisterial novels (the other two being _The Door into Summer_ and _Double Star_).I'm not altogether sure why it's regarded as a "libertarian" novel; although Heinlein was indeed calling himself a libertarian by the time he wrote it, there's nothing much here by way of a principled case for liberty. But it sure is some great storytelling. It's 2076, see, and Luna is a penal colony (rather like Botany Bay). Projections indicate that it's losing natural resources at such a rate that it will become uninhabitable within a small number of years. So it's time to reenact the American Revolution. But this time it's led by computer repairman Manuel Garcia O'Kelly Davis, "rational anarchist" Professor Bernardo de la Paz, rabble-rousing rebel Wyoming Knott, and a HOLMES IV computer named Mycroft who happens to have become sentient. Okay, the technological projections aren't the most accurate (even for Heinlein, who didn't average all that well anyway). But man oh man, what a story. And it's narrated by Mannie himself, in a thick Lunar dialect that owes a lot to Russian (and, one suspects, to Anthony Burgess's _A Clockwork Orange_). Heinlein does a wonderful job here, keeping the tone just right throughout the entire novel and never drifting into obscurity. Heinlein made his original reputation with brilliant short stories, but this novel is one of the reasons he kept it. Nearly forty years after it was written, it's still on the shortlist of the best SF ever. Don't miss it.
Rating:
Summary: politics, families, computers...and it's fun, too!
Review: I care deeply about the English language, especially proper grammar. If you asked my friends and family, I suspect they might even use the word "fanatic" to describe me. Therefore, believe me when I say the non-standard English in "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress" is not hard to understand after a few pages, and that it is integral to the characterization of Mannie and Lunar society. There are times and places for linguistic purism. This is not one of them. Computer technician Manuel Garcia O'Kelley Davis is a free citizen of a Lunar penal colony, run for Earth's benefit. He discovers the master computer (it manages telephones, newspapers, electricity, air supply, etc.) is sentient, names it Mike, and befriends it/him. In his efforts to humanize Mike, Mannie introduces the computer to Wyoming Knott, a fiery member of a flawed revolutionary organization, and to Professor Bernardo de la Paz, a lovable rational anarchist. With Mike's help, they determine that under current management policies, famine will strike the Moon. Being Loonies, they gamble on a revolution. A real one. One pleasure of this book is learning about Lunar society, which Heinlein creates with great attention to detail. (Hence the language.) The other great pleasure is watching the revolution develop. The propaganda, misdirection, government machinations, and ingenious weapons (yes, throwing rice can be deadly - if you throw from the Moon!) are marvelous. I didn't notice much overt characterization, but by the end of the book, I cared about these people; I had traveled a long way with them. "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" contains libertarian, or anarchist, philosophy, but one purpose of science fiction is to present challenging ideas. Whether or not you agree with the Loonies' political philosophy, or are offended by some of their social structures (such as their forms of marriage) I defy anyone not to sympathize with their quest for freedom. Note: While I find Heinlein's obsession with female bodies a bit annoying, and while he uses some sexual stereotypes, any society where a woman, as he says, "calls tune," and a man has to dance to it, can't be all bad!
Rating: 
Summary: Misses as often as it hits, but always thought-provoking
Review: The problem with Heinlein's novels, especially those written in his glory years, is that they appear quiantly old-fashioned and even (sometimes) simplistic to the modern reader. This is, of course, a result of the fact that science took direction and speed that no science fiction author could foresee. But because Heinlein is such a technical writer, it's more pervasive in his work. Having said that, you have to admire the sheer audacity of a novel like "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress," which discusses, among other things, the advantages of dictators over duly elected presidents, interplanetary war, and the economics of hunger.
The story: The Moon is a penal colony where convicts are transported. Because of the difference in gravity between the Moon and Earth, this is a practical life sentence. By the same token, the convicts' children are also trapped on the Moon. One such child has grown up to be a standard Heinlein jack-of-all trades named Manuel. He happens to be the best computer trouble-shooter on the Moon, so when the main climate and control computer becomes sentient, Manuel is the first to discover it. Man and computer then find themselves immersed in the politics of the Free Luna groups, where the rapidly maturing sentient machine (now calling himself Mike) takes a leadership role in planning the overthrow of the hated Lunar Authority. The Authority is a monopoly-holding, Earth-controlled entity that controls all aspects of Lunar life (air and water, all trade, all security, enactment and enforcement of laws, etc.) When two of the Authority's policemen rape and murder a native Moon resident, the revolution is joined.
Heinlein makes so many bold predictions in his novels that it's no wonder some of them come true. For example, he correctly identifies India and China as becoming the most powerful countries in the world. He also gives us vigorous political debate on the nature of democracy, government, the free market, and tyranny. He also sets up an ingenious weapon system that takes advantage of the huge gravity-well difference between the Moon and Earth.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of misses as well. I don't mind them so much if there are natural reasons for them (i.e. depending on scientific facts that weren't known at the time). Unfortunately, there are a number of annoying and unecessary scientific gaffes that detract from my enjoyment of the novel. The most annoying is his use of statistics. Mike keeps a running tally of the odds on winning the revolution, but for some reason the odds keep getting worse as the revolution progresses. This doesn't make any sense because, by definition, the longer something is successful, the higher the probability that the ultimate outcome will be reached (because they have been continuously eliminating potential pitfalls as time has progessed). Almost as annoying is the constant overestimation of the difficulties of computerised calculations. Here's a computer with enough capacity to become sentient, yet he has difficulty plotting the tragectory of what are essentially artificial meteorites. My trusty scientific calculator has more than enough computing power for that simple job! It's not that Heinlein couldn't foresee the advent of the integrated circuit, it's that he apparently believes a 3-mass (one of which is negligibly small) motion problem is a heavy-duty computer calculation.
There are other events that caused me to shake my head in dismay. The very idea that a few of 1/6th gravity-raised kids could beat up a recently-arrived Earthman is ludicrous. The Earthman would be able to snap those kids' bones like twigs. Another example - an essentially unarmed mob of Moon people (a total of 3 guns between them) somehow destroy an entire platoon of assault-rifle armed Earth soldiers. Say what? If modern history has taught anything, it's that professional Western soldiers employing modern weapons will obliterate untrained mobs. A modern example is the American intervention in Somalia (the "Black Hawk Down" story, where the U.S. Marines inflicted 500:1 casualty ratios). Heinlein obviously wouldn't know about that, but he would have known about Cortes and British colonial wars where regular soldiers easily demolished and obliterated any irregular opponents who tried to stand toe-to-toe and fight.
But maybe I'm being too harsh. Heinlein's strength has always been his political and philosophical musing, pushing readers to think and challenge their own assumptions. In this book he espouses communism and the idea that government is too important to be left to chance (i.e. - if elections are necessary, they should be rigged). It would have been very interesting to know how Heinlein would have incorporated the recent revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia - would they have altered his view on what is required for a successful revolution? Therefore, although I only gave the book 3 stars, I still recommend it. It is not the best Heinlein I have read, but the controversial and thought-provoking narrative are likely to enlighten and enrage simultaneously. And that's what we read Heinlein for, isn't it?
Rating: 
Summary: Fun, but pretty brain-dead.
Review: It's sexist, it's simplistic, it's kind of fun. Heinlein creates his fantasy world, where people without good manners are simply killed, society thrives without any government, and revolution is easy, fun, and mostly bloodless. Women are to be whistled at and are supposed to appreciate it and twirl for the guys. There's a whole range of wildly impractical marital arrangements which seem to work flawlessly. Also, there's a nearly omniscient machine which helps the revolution. Very convenient.
Oh and the science! Did you know that farming in sub-terran tunnels is so cheap on the moon, it somehow makes economical sense to ship food to Earth? Somehow, farming in tunnels on Earth would be MUCH more expensive. Huh?
Still, if you want to turn off your brain and imagine that you can overthrow the government with a computer, a professor, and a blonde at your side, this is your book!
Rating:
Summary: A Tongue-in-Cheek Guide to Revolution
Review: I don't read very much fiction, but make an exception for this book which I reread every 5-10 years. On one level it's a delightful story of a revolt by the inmates of a penal colony on the moon. On another level, it's a rather tongue-in-cheek guide to planning and conducting a Libertarian revolution against the authority of the State, complete with a description of the many pitfalls one might encounter.
The story centers around four madcap characters who form the executive cell of the revolution: Mannie, the apolitical computer technician, Wyoming, the beautiful, blond, and sometimes illogical revolutionary, Professor de la Paz, the always logical Libertarian theorist and revolutionary, and Mike the self-aware master computer who controls the entire infrastructure of the lunar colony.
Heinlein develops a description of the lunar social mores that flow logically from the fictional origins and setting of the colony. For example, the vast majority of males among the convicts results in unconventional marriage patterns. Similarly, the lack of a formal justice system on the moon results in a self-administered ad hoc legal system for resolving disputes among residents. Heinlein writes in a self-invented form of Pidgin English (with strong influences from Russian and Australian-English) designed to reflect the multi-national origins of the lunar colony.
On a philosophical level, Heinlein develops the economic underpinnings of the lunar revolution based on international (Earth-Moon) trade, comparative advantage and finite resources. He also explores the contradictions inherent in a State that can commit acts that would be considered crimes if committed by an individual.
Heinlein also weaves into the plot some attributes common to many revolutions in actual history, both before and after his time. By destroying the old order, revolutions create a very brief period of instability in which many changes can be implemented. However, this window of opportunity for radical change closes very rapidly and a new order quickly assumes power which it immediately seeks to consolidate and perpetuate. For example, the initial 1917 Russian Revolution (in February) was hijacked in the "October" Revolution by the Bolsheviks who imposed a tyranny far worse than the Tsars. Boris Yeltsin's early liberal advisors (Gaidar, Chubias, Feodorov) were absolutely right to immediately free prices and privatize state assets after the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union; these changes probably could not have been made later.
In The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Heinlein stays focused on the plot and does not allow the philosophy to become ponderous and overbearing. In contrast, in several of his other books, he seems to forget part way through the book that there was a plot.
Rating:
Summary: One of Heinlein's finest novels
Review: In this Hugo Award winning novel, the Moon is a penal colony in the 21st Century. Earth's castoffs, criminal and political, are given a one-way ticket to Luna. Due to the rapid physiologic changes their bodies have undergone, returning to Earth quickly becomes impossible. They, and their descendants, are governed by the harsh Lunar Authority. Even those people who are nominally free live lives of virtual slavery since the Warden controls all business on Luna. Controlling many of the systems necessary to maintain life on this colony (air, water, sewer, traffic, communications, accounting, etc., etc.) is a highly evolved computer system, nicknamed Mike by the computer technician contracted to provide maintenance. Manny has discovered that Mike has become self-aware and has developed a sense of humor. Unfortunately, Mike's sense of humor is not tempered by the understanding that comes from personal experience. To Mike, overpaying someone by ten million billion dollars would be equally as funny as turning off the air supply to the entire colony. Recognizing the potential danger in this scenario, Manny strikes a bargain with Mike and begins a project to explain and classify different types of humor to the curious computer. Manny also realizes that although highly intelligent, Mike is lonely. He has no one besides Manny to speak with, something Manny resolves to rectify.
At Mike's request, Manny attends a political meeting, actually a revolutionary rally, that takes a violent turn for the worst. Manny finds himself on the run with one of the meeting organizers, a woman named Wyoming Knotts. Forced to hide out, Manny contacts Mike for assistance. One thing leads to another and before he realizes it, Manny is involved with the revolution Wyoming is advocating. It quickly becomes apparent that having access to the main computer system on Luna will definitely be an advantage! With an aging Professor providing political experience and acting as the figurehead of the revolution, Manny, Wyoming and Mike form the nucleus of a group that will forever change the way Earth and the Authority deal with Luna.
Heinlein describes a society that has developed from very unsavory beginnings. Customs and mores are quite different from those we may be accustomed to but they've proven to work in Luna's society. Even the speech patterns and jargon are different, but it's not too difficult once you get a feel for it. Heinlein creates a colorful "language," blending together all the different elements representative of the conscripted people sent to Luna. The action is fast-paced and the political ideas Heinlein presents merit further thought. Heinlein's characters are quite human (even the computer!). They are not perfect, in fact their flaws are what make them human, but they are strong and likable individuals who continue to grow and evolve throughout the story.
Rating: 
Summary: Classic reading?
Review: I finally got around to reading this 'Classic', and what a let down. I love Science Fiction, and I don't let the fact that it talks about outdated technology turn me off a story, but when a story is simple and the characters shallow, I have trouble taking a liking to it.
Mannie gets involved in a revolution, a life changing decision, quite easily, no real intrinsic motivation there, just one meeting. The Professor seems to have all the answers and the Computer can handle everything. Really, is this the stuff of a good story?
Daniel Upton explains it better than I can, so I won't repeat his comments. It's just not a good story - how did it become a Hugo-Award winner?
Rating:
Summary: Earth is a odd Mistress
Review: A great mixture of world history and social extrapolation set in a simple physics potential that will define the space race of the 21st century. The computer concept is more real now as the internet expands in complexity. Heinlein's push on social norms may be more relevant now than when it ws released. This is my favorite book. A <winner/> !!!!
Rating:
Summary: ...others have said it better.
Review: I read this book when I was 14 years old, in 1966. It forever hooked me on Heinlien, Science Fiction, and Libertarianism... although I didn't know it was called Libertarianism for another 20 years. Just one of the best SF novels of what I like to call the "classical" period in science fiction... mid 50's to mid 70'
s, when the science was factual, the situations fanciful, and the social commentary was urgently trenchant.
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