A disappointment. I understand why it caused a stir upon publication, but I don't think it aged well.

Heilein's intent was by turns obvious and opaque. Maybe his quasi-religious/metaphysical themes seemed more original to readers of his day, but even allowing for that - all the other stuff - the paternalistic chauvinism borderline misogyny, the laser focus on sex (he get points for expressing both homophobia AND homoeroticism in one book, though,) the ideas about gender, the Americentrism,) not to mention the dated ideas about science, space, and the future - is distracting from his Big Message.

Even so, my biggest complaint is that the book was simply dull.

Perhaps I just do not grok it fully.


Big Spring, Texas
Libby Ebook - Nashville Library
June ( )

One of the classic sf novels, this impressed me when I read it long ago and is on my list to reread. ( )

Strong, sensitive story about a 'stranger' who comes to earth and finds how to live here.
I later learned that many fans of Heinlein did not like this novel, which helped me understand why I couldn't really get into any of the other books of his that I tried to read. ( )

The original version rocks, but don't waste your time on the unabridged version...it proves that the job of the editor is often monumental and under-appreciated.

Good sci-fi; as good as Dune, most PKD, Neuromancer, Asimov. Maybe a little stiffer than all those names besides Asimov but not to an annoying extent. Worth reading.

AB ( )