Rating: 
Summary: Maybe Heinlein's Best
Review: 'To Sail Beyond the Sunset' is a tribute to the master who wrote it. 'Sunset' tells the story of Lazarus Long's mother, Maureen Johnson. While the bookends of this story are very definatly science-fiction, most of the novel, with a few exeptions, reads very much like a straight autobiography- and is all the richer for it. Only a talent like Heinlein could create such a character, strong-willed and free-spirited, and tell her story with wit, charm, and no small human emotion. Also amazing is the way in which Heinlein ties in events from another of his great novels, 'Time Enough For Love.' The two stories involve time travel and are told from different perspectives, 'Sunset' from Maureen's and 'Love' from Lazarus'. If you are a fan of Heinlein and his wonderful ability to create characters, worlds, and philosophies, this novel will not fail to entertain. 'To Sail Beyond the Sunset' is simply one of the greatest science-fiction novels ever written.
Rating: 
Summary: The last book. . .
Review: . . .written by the master of 20th century Science Fiction. "To Sail Beyond The Sunset" tells the story of the mother of one of the most popular of Heinlein's characters, the incomparable Lazarus Long. What makes this book unique is the way it ties together threads from his early "Future History" stories as well as many other of his popular novels. Truly, it is an example of his "multiverse" theory of storytelling and existence. The book has it's downsides: some of the threads are tied together rather thinly and unbelievably -- and ever present is the extremely "relaxed" attitudes about sex that seemed to permeate his later novels. I first read this novel before Heinlein's "Future History" stories -- then, re-read it some years later. It's amazing how much more I got out of the book the second time.
Rating:
Summary: A fitting epitaph to a great man's work
Review: In reading this book, Heinlein's last, I was absolutely blown away. It is arguably the broadest work Heinlein produced, but in many ways it is also the quietest and most subtle. Part sci-fi, part autobiography, part social history, _To Sail Beyond The Sunset_ offers in great detail what _Time Enough For Love_ and _"The Number of the Beast ..."_ only hinted at: Maureen.
We first met Maureen Johnson Smith when Lazarus Long, assuming the name "Theodore Bronson," visited his childhood home and subsequently fell in love with his mother. Our next visit with Mama Maureen came in _"The Number of the Beast..."_ when Hilda, Zebbie, Deety, and Jake all joined forces to rescue her from an oncoming 18-wheeler. It was almost too much, getting only this brief glimpse of her, because the next book she was featured in, _The Cat Who Walks Through Walls_, badly underused her character.
This is exactly what I had been waiting for. It was a chance for me not only to meet up with some of my favorite characters (including Lazarus Long, Pixel the cat, and the Boondock gang) but also to gain new perspective on one of Heinlein's most interesting, and most human, characters.
Much of the narrative here concerning Maureen's autobiography is reputed to be an autobiographical account of Heinlein's own childhood and life experiences. Whether based on actual events or not, Maureen's life seems almost frighteningly real. It is a strength, and not a weakness, that most of this book does not intend to be science fiction: the narrative is based mostly on the life of a very unusual woman.
A richly woven novel full of beautiful and poetic vignettes, _To Sail Beyond The Sunset_ is a novel to be read and cherished. Not only does it flesh out Maureen, but it also brings together his "Future History" short stories and other favorite characters. _To Sail Beyond The Sunset_ is an absolute must read for all lovers of science fiction, and a special treat for Heinlein's fans. His last work is indeed a fitting epitaph for a long and distinguished career.
Rating:
Summary: Heinlein's last story
Review: Although many people have mentioned that Heinlein had lost his touch as he got older, I found that his talent remained the same. He still tells a damn good story. To Sail Beyond The Sunset is one such story. Many fans of Heinlein associate him with one of his chief characters, Lazarus Long (Woodrow Wilson Smith). When I read Methuselah's Children, I became fascinated with the Howard Families. Time Enough For Love cemented that fascintation. And I always wanted to know who were those remarkable parents who raised such a character (who if I met in real life I would probably hate). To Sail Beyond The Sunset anwered that question for me. I find the life of Maureen Johnson to be intersting and a good read. The book really is one of Heinlein's best. And that is all i got to say about that.
Rating: 
Summary: A disappointing swan song...
Review: As a RAH fan, I was tremendously disappointed with this outing. Long, droning, self-indulgent, this work is devoid of the insightful social commentary and gripping story-telling that marks most of his books. If you read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and The Cat Who Walks Through Walls, and have to hear more about the characters, then pick up a copy, but be warned; the dross you have to get through makes the update hardly worth it.
Rating:
Summary: One of the 5 best Heinleins - A tale of a life full of joy !
Review: Chronicling the life and loves of Maureen Johnson ( Mother of Lazarus Long ), this is unarguably one of the best Heinlein has ever written. Most of it ( about two-thirds ) is written in the first half of the 20th century, which in Heinleins opinion was one of the most wonderful times in history. In this tale about his charming, smart and sexy heroine he succeeds well in enthralling the reader. However, some prude souls may be shocked by the rather loose mores of Maureen, who succeeds in hiding her healthy sexual appetites from the snoopy and stuffy communities she lives in. She is Heinleins Ideal of a Woman, smart, witty, always active and willing to learn, enjoying her life to the fullest. The book gets a bit disorganized near the end, but has been one of the 10-20 best books I have ever devoured.
Rating:
Summary: Beyond Excellent!!....
Review: How to say what this fine book is. It has taken everything that he had written and tied them all together and gave them such a final closing! Bravo!!
Rating:
Summary: A very solid Heinlein book
Review: I found this book to be very enjoyable. It ties in some looseends very well and it is a good final installment in the FutureHistory series. The story of Maureen Johnson to me was captivating and was a fun read. ...not all science fiction needs to be hard. If you want books like that you should go else where. However this book is a book on the human condition with science fiction as just a back drop which Heinlein does very well. All I can say is that you should read this book if you are a Heinlein fan or interested in a book on the human condition. END
Rating: 
Summary: Don't bother.
Review: I gave up. It took 198 pages before anything substantial of a science fiction nature occurred. Till then it's almost all the biography of one woman's sex life. Which would normally excite me, but enough is enough.
Rating:
Summary: Robert, did you really go?
Review: I guess I will have to be classified as a lover of both the young and old Buddy Boy. As I read about Mama Maurene, I got the essential feel of the old Kansas City that I grew up in. I know the people in Thebes Missouri, and I know the people that Maurene lived around. He was right on for the times and the place. And I would like to meet this lady anytime, anyplace, anywhen. My favorite character, though, is Ira Johnson. RAH showed us just where Lazerus/Lafe/Woodrow/Corporal Bronson got all those pithy sayings. I really like that old man, and I hope that he lives somewhere in the World of Myth. You have to read Grumbles from the Grave to fully understand RAH. There you find out about Virginia, may she live forever, and why you should always enclose a stamped self addressed envelope. It was my most fervent wish that RAH had completed the Gospels by writing of Ira. I was greatly disapointed when I found that it did not happen. I hope, in vain probably, that someone can take up the challange, and put the capstone on this series by properly treating Ira.
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