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122nd out of 2,946 books
—
12,400 voters
Friday
Engineered from the finest genes, and trained to be a secret courier in a future world, Friday operates over a near-future Earth, where chaos reigns. Working at Boss's whimsical behest she travels from far north to deep south, finding quick, expeditious solutions as one calamity after another threatens to explode in her face....
Paperback, 384 pages
Published
June 17th 1997
by Del Rey
(first published 1982)
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Robert Anson Heinlein…shame on you, sir. W…T…everwomanhating…F were you thinking when you wrote this drivel?
Friday is, in my irritated opinion, the most offensive and childishly ridiculous female protagonist since Russ Meyer and Roger Corman teamed up to co-direct Planet of the Nympho Bimbos Part II: Attack of the Soapy Breast Monsters.**
** Not a real film, so don’t bother searching Amazon for it.
Pardon my soap boxing, but this is a despicable pile of misogynistic shit that should have been d...more
Friday is, in my irritated opinion, the most offensive and childishly ridiculous female protagonist since Russ Meyer and Roger Corman teamed up to co-direct Planet of the Nympho Bimbos Part II: Attack of the Soapy Breast Monsters.**
** Not a real film, so don’t bother searching Amazon for it.
Pardon my soap boxing, but this is a despicable pile of misogynistic shit that should have been d...more
The first few pages had me thinking "Wow, when the old goat isn't preaching his agenda of communal polygamist living and actually TELLS A STORY, he makes you remember how good he is at it!" Then he promptly settles in for about 100 pages of agenda and leaves most of the potential that this character had to fizzle. Even though Friday is just another incarnation of Heinlein's typical horny-bimbo-with-a-Ph.D. dream girl (and there's nothing wrong with that), her artificial person status, ninja-like...more
24 likes
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This book is an old friend of mine. I originally picked it up after seeing the cover art and reading the description in Michael Whelan's "Worlds of Wonder" - a book of his art. It was the first Heinlein I'd read.
When I first read this book, Friday was among the first female action heroines I'd run across. She was smart. She was sexy (er... almost to excess), she was tough, and, I thought, still feminine. Subsequent readings dimmed that a bit. Friday is a good attempt to create a believable femal...more
When I first read this book, Friday was among the first female action heroines I'd run across. She was smart. She was sexy (er... almost to excess), she was tough, and, I thought, still feminine. Subsequent readings dimmed that a bit. Friday is a good attempt to create a believable femal...more
I have my suspicions about Heinlein's women. Friday seems the embodyment of them all.
Nov 22, 2011
Terence
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Terence by:
The cover (obviously)
Shelves:
sf-fantasy
I read this in high school (the cover really helps these star ratings). If I were to reread this today (which I have no desire to do), I would give it 2 stars, mostly for the ending ((view spoiler)).
Addendum (11/22/11):
Upon further reflection and in light of the comments below, I'm revising my rating to 2 stars: Get past chapter one and ignore the ending a...more
Addendum (11/22/11):
Upon further reflection and in light of the comments below, I'm revising my rating to 2 stars: Get past chapter one and ignore the ending a...more
3 likes
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(written 5-05)
Yyyyyyeah! Loved it. Heinlein sure knows how to write a good story, even if his female characters are always bi-curious sex maniacs in favor of free love with multiple partners. For an artificial person, Friday seems pretty damn human. I liked the mystery in the plot and just how bad-ass she was.
"I did not offer to pay the Hunters. There are human people who have very little but are rich in dignity and self-respect. Their hospitality is not for sale, nor is their charity." 178
"A re...more
Yyyyyyeah! Loved it. Heinlein sure knows how to write a good story, even if his female characters are always bi-curious sex maniacs in favor of free love with multiple partners. For an artificial person, Friday seems pretty damn human. I liked the mystery in the plot and just how bad-ass she was.
"I did not offer to pay the Hunters. There are human people who have very little but are rich in dignity and self-respect. Their hospitality is not for sale, nor is their charity." 178
"A re...more
Not my favorite Heinlein book, and not his best, but certainly not the worst. After The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, much of his works started becoming a little redundant in their characterizations ('good' women are always super smart and sexy and love to fuck, 'good' men are always brave and strong, both have frontier ideals and want a free society of people just like them who all fuck each other without jealousy and live in group marriages) and a little slower in their plot machinations (they spe...more
I had a review, but the browser ate it. In brief, late-period Heinlein about a secret agent who has unlikely erotic adventures while navigating a libertarian dsytopia. The plot exists mostly to just string together action and sex scenes, and while the bones of the setting are interesting, it doesn't match up to fleshed out details of Heinlein's better work. Oh brain eater, why do you have to hit my favorite authors?
On the plus side, all characters are of legal age, and I don't recall any relativ...more
On the plus side, all characters are of legal age, and I don't recall any relativ...more
2 likes
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Sep 16, 2007
Monk
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Die Hard Heinlein Fans
Shelves:
sci-fi,
world_builders
For the guy who wrote Starship troopers, I expected a lot better.
It seems apparent to me that Heinlein was stuck in the sixties and didn't really seem to like women all that much or really think much of them.
The story had a lot of aspects worthy of liking, but I found the main character to be somewhat irritating. The book contains several merits that are worth noting. The concept of the creche children, artificial persons made for myriad purposes, was interesting. Though genetically superior to...more
It seems apparent to me that Heinlein was stuck in the sixties and didn't really seem to like women all that much or really think much of them.
The story had a lot of aspects worthy of liking, but I found the main character to be somewhat irritating. The book contains several merits that are worth noting. The concept of the creche children, artificial persons made for myriad purposes, was interesting. Though genetically superior to...more
Heinlein's age really shows in this one. The most noticeable things about Heinlein's later works are his twin obsessions with free love and breakfast. This book features several pointless sexual encounters and equally pointless detailed descriptions of breakfasts. While the sexuality can come off a bit "creepy old dude" the breakfasts are entertaining, well described slices of an old man's true joys extrapolated into his story. I really would only recommend this one for those with previous Heinl...more
I admit it. I'm a Heinlein junkie. I'm not sure if there is a rehab or a self-help group out there for me, but even if there was one, I'm not sure if I would even want to go to it. It's Heinlein after all! I've read everything from his lesser-known earlier works like "Orphans in the Sky", to his Juveniles like "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress", to his Lazarus Long series, even is famous "Stranger in a Strange Land", to even his non-fiction work. And although I love them all, I must say, that Friday...more
Friday is an unusual book. The central conflict keeps changing, and seemingly-huge plot points go repeatedly unresolved. This had the odd effect of making it feel like reading a biography—meandering and incohesive—even though chapter by chapter it’s quite suspenseful and exciting.
First it’s a futuristic James Bond-esque sexually-charged spy-thriller, which is what I expected when I picked up the book. (I did NOT expect the jarringly casual sexual violence. Not for the squeamish.)
Suddenly it jum...more
First it’s a futuristic James Bond-esque sexually-charged spy-thriller, which is what I expected when I picked up the book. (I did NOT expect the jarringly casual sexual violence. Not for the squeamish.)
Suddenly it jum...more
I last read this book exactly 30 years ago (when it came out). I was 13 and it could really have affected my nascent sexuality, but even at 13 I didn't feel like Friday was female.
On this re-read, I tried to cut Heinlein some slack; perhaps he was making her voice so awkward on purpose, to highlight how out-of-sync she was as an AP raised in a creche and working in a job that discouraged interpersonal relationships.
Or he just wasn't able to write women.
I've since heard that he was suffering mini...more
On this re-read, I tried to cut Heinlein some slack; perhaps he was making her voice so awkward on purpose, to highlight how out-of-sync she was as an AP raised in a creche and working in a job that discouraged interpersonal relationships.
Or he just wasn't able to write women.
I've since heard that he was suffering mini...more
I read "Friday" many years ago, and only because I forgot to send back the monthly card for the book club I was in and this was a default selection! Yet it stays in a level of memory that is easily retrievable. The main character, Friday, is the kind of heroine that always captures me--strong, resourceful, brave--the kind of woman protagonist I strive to create in my own books.
The thing that continues to amaze me is how prophetic it is, considering it was published in 1982. The world is a diffe...more
The thing that continues to amaze me is how prophetic it is, considering it was published in 1982. The world is a diffe...more
Cominciamo con la solita lamentela: per quale motivo uno deve prendere un romanzo che si intitola “Friday” (che altri non è che il nome della protagonista) e tradurlo con “Operazione domani”? Giuro, a volte vorrei capire che logica viene utilizzata, ma immagino che sia la stessa applicata agli “Occhi del cuore” dal regista René (citazione da Boris, non si fosse capito).
Dopo questo piccolo sfogo parliamo del romanzo, l'ennesimo viaggio nella geniale mente di Robert Hanson Heinlein.
Quart'ultima op...more
Published by Dh Audio in 1982.
Read by Samantha Eggar
Duration: approximately 3 hours.
Abridged
Many years ago, in the early 80s, I was a devoted reader of all things Heinlein. Somewhere along the way I guess I lost interest (I don't remember), but I found this audiobook version of Friday and thought I'd re-live the old days a bit.
From the product description on the back of the box I did not remember having read the book, but soon enough, I vaguely remembered the plot a bit. So, how was it re-visit...more
Read by Samantha Eggar
Duration: approximately 3 hours.
Abridged
Many years ago, in the early 80s, I was a devoted reader of all things Heinlein. Somewhere along the way I guess I lost interest (I don't remember), but I found this audiobook version of Friday and thought I'd re-live the old days a bit.
From the product description on the back of the box I did not remember having read the book, but soon enough, I vaguely remembered the plot a bit. So, how was it re-visit...more
Mr. Heinlein does it again... he foresees a future that would be hindsight after it happened to most of us. In a world of corporate greed, the world has been divided up into 'corporate states' and a war breaks out between the corporations vying for political control of whatever is left of the nations.
This story is a lonesome treatise by a bio-engineered beauty named Friday who has been taught from birth that she is not human, she's property. Her 'owner' and (secret) father, owns and operates a...more
This story is a lonesome treatise by a bio-engineered beauty named Friday who has been taught from birth that she is not human, she's property. Her 'owner' and (secret) father, owns and operates a...more
This book is an old, old friend. I've read it at least a hundred times since middle school, and it changes with every stage of my life.
As a young teen girl, Friday seemed naughty, daring, courageous, and well, just a kick-ass female protagonist who made me want to re-evaluate all my parents' values and assumptions. A courier and artificial person, raised in a creche, Friday has some attachment issues, but battles her way through plot twists and turns. Even my young self realized the free-love an...more
As a young teen girl, Friday seemed naughty, daring, courageous, and well, just a kick-ass female protagonist who made me want to re-evaluate all my parents' values and assumptions. A courier and artificial person, raised in a creche, Friday has some attachment issues, but battles her way through plot twists and turns. Even my young self realized the free-love an...more
Originally published on my blog here in August 1998.
Somewhat unusually for Heinlein's later work, Friday contains no characters shared with any other novel or short story. It's heroine, a girl named Friday, is a special courier; she carries the sort of messages that require skills associated with the likes of James Bond to get them through.
The novel begins halfway through an assignment, with Friday recently landed from a flight to Nairobi and attempting to shake off following agents. She returns...more
Somewhat unusually for Heinlein's later work, Friday contains no characters shared with any other novel or short story. It's heroine, a girl named Friday, is a special courier; she carries the sort of messages that require skills associated with the likes of James Bond to get them through.
The novel begins halfway through an assignment, with Friday recently landed from a flight to Nairobi and attempting to shake off following agents. She returns...more
2 likes
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Asking me to pick my favorite Heinlein is like asking me to pick my favorite friend. My favorite changes depending on my feelings, my life at that moment, and probably a heap of things I don't even notice.
I loved science fiction and fantasy from an early age, but the heroes I found were almost entirely male. Females were either supporting characters or props.
Friday is tough, independent, brave, and makes things happen. She wrestles with insecurity, but it never keeps her from taking action. At...more
I loved science fiction and fantasy from an early age, but the heroes I found were almost entirely male. Females were either supporting characters or props.
Friday is tough, independent, brave, and makes things happen. She wrestles with insecurity, but it never keeps her from taking action. At...more
If this book had been written by a different author, I think it could have been very good. And at first, it was pretty good--but then Robert Heinlein, being Robert Heinlein, had to start in with nonconsensual sex, polyamorous relationships, Freudian matriarchs, and all this other crap that totally bogged down the storyline, and made me go WTF. Are you for cereal??!
Friday is the kind of woman most nerdy guys seem to fantasize about: she doesn't take any crap, she's super strong and can kick serio...more
Friday is the kind of woman most nerdy guys seem to fantasize about: she doesn't take any crap, she's super strong and can kick serio...more
This is one of my all-time favorite Heinlein novels. Friday is a wonderful heroine - not one-dimensional, and so on.
The world that Friday lives in was echoed slightly in Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash (another all-time favorite novel of mine). In Friday, the protagonist is an artificial person ("AP") with enhanced reflexes and intelligence. She is a highly trained courier: "it WILL get through."
There is one rape scene which can set one off a bit, but I found it to be accurate to the story: in cont...more
The world that Friday lives in was echoed slightly in Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash (another all-time favorite novel of mine). In Friday, the protagonist is an artificial person ("AP") with enhanced reflexes and intelligence. She is a highly trained courier: "it WILL get through."
There is one rape scene which can set one off a bit, but I found it to be accurate to the story: in cont...more
Let me begin by stating clearly that this book should only be read by adults. There is no graphic sexual scenes, but rather an attitude of permissiveness that should be carefully managed for younger readers. Mr. Heinlein wrote this book back in the early 80's, and he was seeing clearly the way things just might one day be, if we are not careful. I really did love this book and its heroine. She is a powerful protagonist. I really did come to love her. And I particularly loved what she came to be...more
Phenomenal story. The ending (view spoiler) was fine.
I do not at all agree with some reviewers that would describe the book as misogynistic, or that Friday is merely a man with [boobs] (although I have not yet...more
I do not at all agree with some reviewers that would describe the book as misogynistic, or that Friday is merely a man with [boobs] (although I have not yet...more
I just couldn't get into this book. I sort of started reading it because so many other people had said they were shocked by the content. I can see why people would be turned off this book based on its content - but honestly, I just found it to be really ... boring. I couldn't get into the character and I didn't really enjoy the writing style. Maybe I'll try and finish it someday, but for now it's going on the 'will not finish' shelf.
For years, I had blamed Denise Richards for the fact that the movie of Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers was such a turkey. Heinlein's Double Star was also required reading for my Political Science class in college.
So I picked up the book Friday. It was strangely disappointing.
Friday is a courier - entrusted with carrying objects - super secret objects - from one part of futuristic dystopian world to another. After her return to work headquarters, Friday is kidnapped, raped and tortured. - ye...more
So I picked up the book Friday. It was strangely disappointing.
Friday is a courier - entrusted with carrying objects - super secret objects - from one part of futuristic dystopian world to another. After her return to work headquarters, Friday is kidnapped, raped and tortured. - ye...more
First off, I want to say that I read this book in Spanish so it had a bit of a different impact on me than it would in English. That being said, I loved this book. A cyborg living in a world with anti-cyborg bias, Friday's adventure is more about her compelling inner journey of self discovery than any of the adventures she goes through.
Reading some of the other reviews, I noticed a lot of people critique Friday's overt sexuality and polyamory, but I think it's refreshing to see a smart woman wh...more
Reading some of the other reviews, I noticed a lot of people critique Friday's overt sexuality and polyamory, but I think it's refreshing to see a smart woman wh...more
This book was a bit of a ramble. A loose story line coupled with a childlike perspective of what a 'strong' female main character should be like makes for an underwhelming experience -- especially for someone who actually catches the subtle intelligence buried in Heinlein's stories. Most readers will likely react from surface impressions and come away from this one either bewildered or most likely disgusted. Friday, the protagonist, certainly has a strong presence but because of her early indoct...more
For my entire adult life, and a bit back before becoming an adult, I have walked to the “Science Fiction” section of the book store and seen this book lurking there. The cover with the unzipped jumpsuit, “Ooh, silly me, is that my right breast?” has always vaguely piqued my attention. But never quite enough to inspire me to actually purchase the thing. There are, after all, Boris Vellejo covers not too far away, and those are going to draw my eye and empty my wallet faster when I’m looking for s...more
I closed this book when I got to the part where Friday thought, "since she was going to be raped anyway, she figured she'd lie back and enjoy it".
Now I don't exactly expect realistic or well written female characters from the golden age of science fiction. But that was too much. If the book had other things going for it, maybe, maybe I would have finished. But it doesn't. Friday is pretty much a hot femme bot/teenaged fantasy dream girl who's sent around to spy and do stuff. It's not a unique or...more
Now I don't exactly expect realistic or well written female characters from the golden age of science fiction. But that was too much. If the book had other things going for it, maybe, maybe I would have finished. But it doesn't. Friday is pretty much a hot femme bot/teenaged fantasy dream girl who's sent around to spy and do stuff. It's not a unique or...more
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Robert Anson Heinlein was an American novelist and science fiction writer. Often called "the dean of science fiction writers", he is one of the most popular, influential, and controversial authors of "hard science fiction".
He set a high standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of literary quality. He was the first SF writer to break into mainstre...more
More about Robert A. Heinlein...
He set a high standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of literary quality. He was the first SF writer to break into mainstre...more
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“A dying culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. Lack of consideration for others in minor matters. A loss of politeness, of gentle manners, is more significant than is a riot...”
—
205 people liked it
“I don't see why human people make such a heavy trip out of sex. It isn't anything complex, it is simply the best thing in life, even better than food.”
—
53 people liked it
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Jan 25, 2013 05:26am
updated Jan 25, 2013 04:26pm