Review: Stranger in a Strange Land
Of all the Heinlein novels on my to-read list, Stranger in a Strange Land was described to me as the oddest one. The conservative, militaristic Heinlein managed to a write a novel that became the gospel for the Hippie Movement of the 1960s. It also stands as one of the more controversial social science fiction novels of the 20th century. It lives up to the reputation.
First some historical context: the book was published in 1961 before the Vietnam War and the cultural revolution that took place back at home. The Cold War was near its most intense with both sides building missiles at a break neck pace. American society was very conservative, built on Christian values and civic tradition. Sex was considered dirty and inappropriate for polite conversation let alone public discourse.
Enter Robert Heinlein and his Stranger in a Strange Land.
Michael Valentine Smith was born and raised on Mars, adopting their language and cultural values as well as certain amazing abilities. He returns to Earth as a part of a cultural exchange program. As he learns more of his human side a few things become clear, Martians don’t have two genders, and obviously no monogamous family structure. They practice cannibalism, euthanizing those who cannot thrive. They are also telepathic and capable of incredible feats of telekinesis, akin to the Phoenix in X-Men.
Smith finds Earth a strange place. To him, there seem to be so many formalities and rules for regulating conduct between individuals. He also finds wrongness, what we would call criminal intent. The political and legal system are foreign to him because Martians are incapable of deception or doing wrongness. Any wrongness is detected by others and the Old Ones. As a result, all criminality is strangled in the crib.
The most interesting difference is Smith’s attitudes towards sex. At first he sees it as a practical biological activity for reproduction and fails to see why there is so much discomfort on the topic. As he learns more about humans, and hence himself, he concludes that sex or “growing closer” is a very powerful way for people to bond with one another, aside from reproductive purposes. Smith’s telepathic and other mental abilities give him certain special skills in the art of kissing and lovemaking. The women around him become enamored with him, enjoying growing closer with him. It sounds suspiciously similar to the premise of a late night Cinemax movie.
Rules and mores that restrict growing closer are the problem. Smith sees them as a obstacle to love, happiness, and the seeking of truth. To accomplish all these things, our prudish attitude towards sex must be discarded. Smith forms a new religious sect of polyamorous nudists.
The Smith sect directly contradict traditional Judeo-Christian views on monogamy and marriage. In the book, Heinlein tries to play off polygamy as historically common and that Christianity’s monogamous requirement is some exception. In reality, all three Abrahamic religions as well as most Hindu sects have long preferred monogamy. Where polygamy was practiced, it was often to satisfy the sexual desires of a king or warlord with a harem of female slaves. A true free love society where men and women voluntarily form polyamorous relationships is hard to find.
Judeo-Christian values impose Commandments on adultery and coveting thy neighbor’s wife. They are God’s law but also serve important functions for social harmony. One of the biggest causes of violence and homicide is infidelity. It is believed humans cannot easily share love without intense feelings of jealousy.
Clearly, Heinlein was a contradiction. He was conservative in terms of strongly supporting limited government, individual freedom, and a strong sense of patriotism. Yet his novel became the “playbook” of the Hippie movement, which is associated with the left. It did not sit well with him.
He was likely aggravated that hippies believed free love was all you needed for such a religious society, completely ignoring the other essential elements. Smith’s new polyamorous sect are very intelligent, well-educated, hardworking (believe it or not), and fabulously wealthy. It isn’t for just anyone. There is an initiation that involves a level of self-awareness and emotional maturity, which is accomplished by simply learning the Martian language as well as certain other initiation rites (life-altering sex).
Naturally, the flower children fixated on the sex without attaining any new knowledge. Instead they dropped acid and listened to odd music.
Smith’s Martian free love utopian society thrives due to his incredible telepathic and telekinetic powers, as well as the wealth he inherited. Heinlein avoids providing solutions to the practical and emotional problems of his free love society by giving its members super powers. Soon the men and women in the group learn these super powers as well. It allows them to manipulate their body, cure diseases, and telepathically communicate with one another. Knowledge is learned instantaneously.
In a sect of super humans, just about any social structure would work.
As a child of the 90s, much of the book is antiquated or irrelevant to me. While the country remains dominantly Christian, sexuality is not the taboo it used to be. There is a good case that Heinlein’s ideas have become more prominent in America today, aside from the free love Hippie movement. Sexuality is often discussed openly in public forums, women dress much more provocatively, and we are very close to legalizing gay marriage across the country. Traditional views on sex and marriage are in decline. Stranger in a Strange Land is not nearly as controversial or culturally relevant as it was in 1961. It is an important piece of sci-fi and cultural history but if it were published today it would be perceived as outrageously sexist and boring.
The political and religious rants in the book are self-indulgent and largely unpersuasive. Smith’s close friend Jubal Hershaw is a libertarian who strikes down one straw man argument after another. While those around him argue for traditional values, they are not articulate or thoughtful. The conversations are boring and loaded with sexist comments. Jubal is a real misogynist. Gillian’s comment on rape would start a riot today.
While there are some fascinating aspects to the novel, there are parts that are very dull. Smith is omnipotent, minimizing the drama. Jubal is transparent as the voice of Heinlein. The book also has numerous scenes that are gratuitous. Women kissing everyone, walking around naked, making love to numerous men, and enhancing their own physical beauty by simply thinking about it.
This book should be read with historical context in mind. Otherwise, younger readers may find it odd and repulsive.
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