Questions About The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, please sign up.

Answered Questions (13)

is it kind of strange sometimes i can't understand words when Manuel is speaking , some phrases seems to me not fitting ?

Amber Manuel is a native speaker of Russian. Remember his "other grandmother was Tatar, born near Samarkand, sentenced to re-education on Oktyabrskaya Revol…moreManuel is a native speaker of Russian. Remember his "other grandmother was Tatar, born near Samarkand, sentenced to re-education on Oktyabrskaya Revolyutsiya, then 'volunteered' to colonize in Luna." The way he speaks reflects that, like the way he never uses articles like "a" or "the." Russian doesn't have them, and so Russian speakers stereotypically leave them out when speaking English. Heinlein uses Manuel's speech patterns to continually remind you that he's not a native English speaker. Like for example, when Mike asks about a joke and says, "Not funny?" and Manuel's answer is "Very not." That's a very Russian way to phrase it, and a native English speaker would probably never say, "very not." And he throws in a few actual Russian words here and there, like "bolshoi," to make it a little clearer. (less)

flag

I find it very strange that e-book versions of "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" are not currently available. Any idea about what's going on? Amazon doesn't provide an answer although many have asked the question in forum.

Stephen The Audible book (Blackstone) is marvelously read with near perfect characterizations. I have listened to it many times in the car.

flag

I'm a little confused about Manuel's family when he first explains it to Wyoming. It seems most of Luna, including Mannie, have a polygamous family (multiple husbands), but people still marry into their own family? Do they not avoid inbreeding?

Marcia La Vine They avoid it, because most girls do not marry into their own families. Girls on Luna are the creators of families most of the time, by marrying one o…moreThey avoid it, because most girls do not marry into their own families. Girls on Luna are the creators of families most of the time, by marrying one or several young men. If you recall, Mimi was the head of Mannie's family, as were the eldest wives prior to her, leading back to the first wife and her husbands. It was a special situation that allowed the youngest wife to join the family, and not a common occurrance. This is explained only because she was a child within the family first, then because of circumstances that actually prevented any risks of inbreeding, she was allowed to join as a wife when she "graduated" from childhood. (less)

flag

Has there been any film based on this book?

Johnny As of 2022, no, there doesn't seem to have been any... yet.…moreAs of 2022, no, there doesn't seem to have been any... yet.(less)

flag

I read the fist few pages of the book and the unique language/slang already irritates me a lot. Is the whole book written like that?

Matt Reardon It is a little shocking early on, but as the book advances he tones it down a little as you also slowly get used to it.
It's funny that it's never real…moreIt is a little shocking early on, but as the book advances he tones it down a little as you also slowly get used to it.
It's funny that it's never really mentioned in the book specifically. They never label or really refer to their different speech style and Loonie vocab. The Terrans and Prof definitely do not talk like that.
My grammar/proof reading alarms were firing on all cylinders throughout the book for sure, but I still very much enjoyed the book. A somewhat slower, detail heavy, dry-ish style admittedly, but extremely well done in my opinion.
Bravo Heinlein(less)

flag

Load 5 more questions

Unanswered Questions

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more