I thought there was already a Heinlein thread, but I can't find it.

I have been reading Stranger in a Strange Land. It's been fairly disappointing. Why is this guy such a big name? The novel's quite trashy.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Grand,

Stranger didn't do much for me either. Try Starship Troopers or Time Enough for Love.

There's a much more in depth thread about it somewhere else. I know that when i read Stranger at your age, it was important to me

The characters are SOOOOO two-dimensional, though.

I read some of his short stories when I was young enough to ignore author names. Sometime in high school I found Expanded Universe, and I went on a crusade to find everything he'd ever written. Which is quite a trick from out here in the boonies.

Heinlein's rep comes mostly from the later stuff, which isn't bad, but weird, and tinged with bitterness. Jubal Harshaw IS Heinlein, he feels that he's just cranking out crap (He describes his early shorts as "stinkers") but people keep buying the stuff.

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question: I saw there's a book on CD of Citizen Of The Galaxy by Heinlein. I haven't heard of that one, is it any good?

There you are, Heinlein thread!

quote:

Originally posted by GMZoe:
question: I saw there's a book on CD of Citizen Of The Galaxy by Heinlein. I haven't heard of that one, is it any good?

Citizen of the Galaxy is early Heinlein, the kind were a bright kid comes of age, no sex or anything. I like it.

I think Citizen of the Galaxy is the best of his "bright kid comes of age" stories (good description, Zoneseek).

I really liked the first half of Stranger. I prefer Time Enough for Love.

But really, if you only read one Heinlein book, read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Hugo winner. Classic.

mmm... really good book

god, my giant 'Heinlien's Future History Stories' paperback, complete with timeline, might have been falling apart... but i wish i'd brought it with me here

quote:

Originally posted by Uskglass:
I really liked the first half of Stranger. I prefer Time Enough for Love.

I read both of those in the last year or so...was Time Enough for Love a series of books?

Because it seemed unfinished to me...ended right when Dora (the real one) DIED

*rereads last page, scans all the codas* nope. It ties everything up fairly well: *spoilers! The end in fact*don't listen to me I don't know what I'm talking about
Did your copy have all 589 pages?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GMZoe,

Hmmm...It was a library loaner...

I bet it was only half since it was unabridged on audiocassette...

I'll have to hunt around for the other half...

Thanks for checking though!

When I was a kid, I read Number of the Beast and was highly unimpressed. I picked up a used copy, and read it again.

Still unimpressed.

Moon is a Harsh Mistress might be my favorite book ever, though.

Here's info about the book on tape. It was released as part one and part two.

(btw, every time I see your avatar, I keep thinking you're Nyssa. It's because both your handles start with 'N' and my first impression of her was Dr.Who fan based on her name)

Just be glad I don't change my avatar to this, then you'll be really messed up!

I am a Doc Who fan... Should I change my avatar to Nyssa?

And didn't Heinlien do that book with the guys who pray. I can't recall the title... War in 2010 or something?

I read Stranger when I was much younger and don't remember a lot about it, other than it showed what a sham religion is (my favorite kind of book!) and a bunch of free love stuff (also not bad). I have it on my bookshelf and keep meaning to reread it through older, and hopefully wiser, eyes. A couple of years ago I read Time Enough for Love and I think it is much better. If you read Stranger and didn't like it, don't let it deter you from reading some of his other works.

quote:

Originally posted by Tongster:
When I was a kid, I read Number of the Beast and was highly unimpressed. I picked up a used copy, and read it again.

Still unimpressed.

Moon is a Harsh Mistress might be my favorite book ever, though.

Number of the Beast is pretty bad, basically four people arguing in a lifeboat, nattering on about every little thing. But the Envoi bit at the end is fun, reminiscent of Neil's meta-stories.

There's some odd slow pacing in Heinlein's late work, possibly due to illness. I know that Heinlein planned to cut down on I Will Fear No Evil, but it was printed whole.

quote:

And didn't Heinlien do that book with the guys who pray. I can't recall the title... War in 2010 or something?

Revolt in 2100, also not very good.

I liked Revolt in 2100.

When it comes to Heinlein, I have one rule: Don't read anything written after 1975.

The protagonist in Revolt in 2100, whatshisname, well, he's such a white-bread blah. Maybe it would be more interesting to an American, since the premise is that it wouldn't take much for the US to go irrational and become a theocracy. But other Heinlein books have more interesting takes on religion, there's Farnham's Freehold and Job: A Comedy of Justice.

While many of Heinlein's early protagonists resemble the Boy Scout Batman, they have convincing quirks and distinguishing features. All I remember of the Revolt in 2100 guy is the ominously propaganda-seeming illustration on the cover.

Podkayne of Mars spoiler[Should Poddy have died or not?]