Rating: 
Summary: Yes the science is bad but...
Review: God I hate political correctness! Listen, other races are different because of very discernable genetic reasons. Recognizing this simple fact DOES NOT MAKE ONE A RACIST. To dismiss this book simply because you find it impossible to accept that some device may one day be able to determine race without human intervention simply astounds me. I don't want to get into a rant on this but...(let me simply state that one of the most imprecise "instruments" of detection (ie. the human eye) can detect race in a fraction of a second). That being said I have to admit that the science of this book is bad (it was handed to Heinlein by Campbell) and the cultural/racial ideas are inflammatory (again they were handed to Heinlein by Campbell). But Heinlein took what he was given and crafted a very satisfying novel out of it. It may not be one of his best books ( but then Heinlein's best are among the very best in all of literature, not just science fiction) but it is a very solid story and well worth spending the 2-3 hours required to read it well.
Rating: 
Summary: REFRSHING READING
Review: Heinlein was given this story concept by an editor, who had it from a writer who was unable to develop the idea. Heinlein brought this story his traditional determined, ernest characters -- and an awful lot of jingoism and racism. Far from his best -- Sixth Column is only worth the time if you are a Heinlein completist.
Rating: 
Summary: I have to question the conclusions of some of these readers.
Review: I do not think that Heinlein in any way meant to promote a racist viewpoint. This conclusion comes from a careless reading of the novel and knee jerk reactions to some of the racism presented in the novel.
If anything Heinlein seems to criticizing racism and any subtle government encouragement of racism. Early in the book, one of the characters states,
"But from my standpoint they are simply human beings, who have been duped into the old fallacy of the state as super entity".
The citizens of the PanAsian Empire are not the only ones that have been duped; it is clear that we ourselves our products of deception by our own government. White superiority was encouraged in the forties and to an extent is still encouraged in our minds. Those who think that modern day military men would not speak as the ones in the novels do, are wrong. The majority of people in the US are white; the majority of politicians are white. For politicians. it benefits them to encourage the idea that whites are superior in order to keep them in power. This is why every election year, blacks are reminded that they are victims and can get no where without a white man in office interceding for them.
Finny';s comment on a racial inferiority complex is an astute observation not blantant racism. Just as the white culture sometimes encourages a stifling superiority complex, it has in other cultures, created an inferiority complex , a desire to one up arrogant white people by showing them they are just as good. Much of the focus in the idealogy in the Communist Revolution in China, was on creating a viable alternative to Western culture just as good if not better than Western Culture. They wanted something that was an unique product of Asian will, in no way similar to the culture of arrogant Westerners(a reputation we probaly rightly deserve). This is not mindless racism, but a conclusion reached by examination of modern Asian history.
As reviewers have stated previously, Heinlein's point is that our fears stem not from any different biological differences, but from differences in culture. His other point is that no matter how different a culture, there is always one thing similar in all cultures- that of assumed superiority. The whites and PanAsians in the novel are both guilty of that.
In the end however, the human spirit transcended all races and rose to the occation , for as someone pointed out, the hero was not white, nor was he wholly asian. He was not a champion of any cause held by one race, but was a hero because he adhered to a cause that should be held in high esteem by all...he helped his fellow man regardless of race.
Heinlein's simple message is that racist fear is not productive or rational. It quite simply is stupidity of the highest order.
Just a few other commentaries I have.
I'm surprised that no one mentioned that the hero, Mitsui was married to a black woman. Quite a revolutionary idea for 1941.
That makes me further question how anyone could determine that Heinlein was promoting racism. Do not give in to knee jerk reactions I take it that some of you rather pretend racism does not and never did exist instead of having an open and honest dialogue about it. That is not a solution. That only ensures that racism will grow in our collective concious and rear its ugly head in the future when we have long forgotten about it and the grief and horror it caused.
Another bit of commentary...Heinlein's prediction that Asia would become a major player on the world chess board in the future was a pretty accurate prediction. All Asian countries are rapidly growing, politically, militarily and economically. Though it is far in the future, Asia will one day be able to challenge Western dominance if it continues to proper the way it has been currently.
As for my last commentary, I find Heinlein's reflectioons on the state of US Intelligence to be quite amusing especially in light of recent events. On page 17 of the paperback, Heinlein states," A rediculously inadequate militarry intelligence had been the prime characteristic asa power all through its history.The most powerful nation the globe had ever seen-but it had stumbled into wars like a blind giant."
My how little things change. Heinlein was quite the astute observer of history.
Rating:
Summary: No classic, but a fun read none the less
Review: If you're looking for an introduction to Robert A. Heinlein's vast corpus of fantastic science fiction, don't read Sixth Column, read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. If you're a Heinlein junkie who's read all his other stuff and you want a quick, fun read covering the typical Heinlein themes (the able man, war, gee whiz technology, "long live democracy"), then you'll definitely want to pick up this book.The basic premise is: the USA has been invaded by "PanAsians," and the government effectively destroyed. Having subjugated India, the "PanAsians" know how to tie down the USA--lots of labor camps, citizen registration and public executions as punishment for any rebellion. But they also have learned not to interfere with their subjects' religion(s). One small military base, a research laboratory, has escaped destruction; luckily the plucky soldiers have an able commander and lots of technology the invaders simply can't match. From there, it's just a matter of time. The reader gets to watch how these men build a movement, screw with the "PanAsian" leadership, and eventually free the USA. Of course the technology is hokey and the dialog can be a bit offensive, but it's realistic (yeah, I think slurs are allowable if they're marching your family off to the labor camps). This book was written in 1949 and reflects some of the paranoia that Heinlein later gave voice to in Expanded Universe. But, it's a fun, quick read and if you like Heinlein, you'll probably like it. It's no classic, but not every book can be.
Rating: 
Summary: The only book I ever threw away
Review: Incredibly stupid plot, ridiculous technology, blatant racism, silly cardboard persons. The worst book I ever read.
Rating:
Summary: Is this the worst Heinlein book ever?
Review: Or is Farnham's Freehold the worst? Tough call.
I love Heinlein's work, have read ALL of the stuff that was in print when he died (not so much of the stuff published posthumously); and I absolutely cannot recommend this book. Read anything else by him, anything at all.
(But especially The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, The Door Into Summer, Double Star, Have Spacesuit Will Travel, The Past Thru Tomorrow future history stories, the stories collected in The Fantasies of Robert Heinlein, Time Enough For Love, any of the juvies, etc etc etc)
I read somewhere this isn't even his idea; that Heinlein wrote it from a story outline by (I think) John W Campbell, even though he had reservations about it. Skip this one. Or come back after you've read a bunch of his other work, and can see this in the context of his career.
Rating:
Summary: REFRSHING READING
Review: The SIXTH COLUMN is one of Robert Heinlein's earliest works and reflects the fears and concerns of the time period he wrote the book. I found it a refreshing change from the goose-stepping conformity mind-set that is so much part of science fiction today. The story is told with feeling and conviction and the plot is fast-paced and complex, but not hard to follow, much like the novel "The Falin Crisis." America is conquered by a limited nuclear attack and then invaded by Asian that Heinlein refers to as Panasaians, which is probably meant to refer to China. Considering the growing threat the China represents in the 21st century this book is actually far-sighted and revlevant to the times we live in today. Heinlein reveals a unique insight into the cultural divide that the world faces today, and threat of the "Clash of Civilizations" that we must deal with in the 21st century. In ways the SIXTH COLUMN is like the movie, "Red Dawn," and has the quality of a good old-fashion war movie. If you like your books politically correct - then stay away from it. But if you enjoy a good read, then Heinlein's SIXTH COLUMN is for you.
Rating:
Summary: An Early, Unpolished, Unsophisticated Heinlein with Flaws
Review: This is one of Robert Heinlein's earliest works (1949) and the reader can tell in several ways. First, the writing is somewhat simplistic for Heinlein. Second, the science aspect is weak and has a quasi-magical feel to it. Third, there are cultual aspects (racism, sexism, militarism) that were part of the American mindset right after World War II and right at the onset of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. These aspects are now outdated, anachronistic, and unpleasant to read at times. The publication of the book also coincides with mainland China becoming Communist, which was perceived as a huge threat to America. Despite these weaknesses, the story is told with feeling, it moves rapidly, and it has some complexity to it. If you're already a Heinlein fan, I would definitely recommend "Sixth Column". If you've not yet read any Heinlein, I would not start with "Sixth Column". "Time Enough for Love" or "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" would be better introductions to Heinlein.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting idea, but take with a grain of salt
Review: This was Heinlein's first offering, written in 1941 (according to the book jacket). Surprisingly, it's much better than some of his later works. The story involves the members of a top-secret military research installation that come across a new superweapon on the same day the United States (and all her allies?) capitulates to an invasion force from the "Panasians," a deliberately vague term for a supernation presumably consisting of present-day China, Korea, Mongolia, etc. The story involves the method of implementing the new weapon while minimising casualties amongst the civilian population. The chosen method will sound familiar to those who have read Heinlein's magnum opus, Stranger in a Strange Land. The scientists set up a new religion, recruit new soldiers from their flock, and organise a secret army that way. This is certainly an unorthodox method to raise an army, and it is this consistent sideways thinking that keeps Heinlein's books fresh and interesting after all these years. The aforementioned superweapon has the ability to pick victims by race, based on the belief at the time (now thankfully debunked) that different races have significantly different DNA. The book is certainly racist - all people of the "Asian" race are considered the enemy, with the exception of one (!) Sino-American who is the exception that verifies the rule. First Nations people and African Americans are never mentioned, as if they don't exist. But readers must remember that this was written at a very different time in a very different USA, so take it with a grain of salt. Thus, it's an interesting and enjoyable read, especially for a debut novel, if you can overcome the racist aspects.
Rating: 
Summary: Made Me Squirm in My Seat...
Review: This was my first Heinlein novel, and I have since been warned that it was a poor introduction, so I'm giving that warning to you all as well. This was one of his earliest, and definitely not his best. Don't let that turn you off to a fine writer. All that said, a lot of things in this book made me squirm. It was published in 1949, shortly after World War II, so some of the racist elements are as understandable as they can be to someone in the new millennium. However, I still squirmed quite a bit over the secret weapon that spares only whites and such. Some anachronisms in early sci fi are quaint. That one certainly isn't....
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