Review: Methuselah's Children by Robert A. Heinlein

Methuselah’s Children by Robert A. Heinlein

This is the book that introduces one of Heinlein’s most famous characters, immortal Lazarus Long. It opens up with a plot that has the classic Heinlein feel. The existence of tens of thousands of members of the extremely long-lived “Howard Family” has become public knowledge and their extremely tolerant society has decided to throw out their constitution, capture, torture, and study these people out of the belief that they must have a secret to their longevity other than good genes. (The truth is that they have been marrying for longevity for centuries, but no one wants to believe that.) So roughly the first half of the novel is devoted to how the family can survive this sudden persecution.

 

The second half of the novel was not quite as interesting and fast moving. Having escaped into space, Heinlein uses the opportunity to explore two opposite lifestyles—one of total conformity and the other composed of lotus eaters. Unsurprisingly, Heinlein’s heroes don’t like either choice, but it’s always fun to watch Heinlein bring us to that conclusion.

 

I don’t think this is one of Heinlein’s great novels like The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, or Stranger in a Strange Land, or even my personal favorite, Double Star, but it’s a good example of classic Heinlein.