Stranger in a Strange Land in Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library

Jan 10, 2009 Liz rated it liked it · review of another edition

I decided, recently, that it was time to buckle down and start reading classic science fiction. Heinlein landed first on the list (possibly because I saw it first) and I don't regret reading him. I am, however, rather annoyed that I had to finish the book.

The first two thirds of the story was astounding and the chronicles of how someone who was human and not human at the same time was trying to make sense of a world for which he has no reference or comprehension was amazing.

And then Mike became ...more

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Jun 22, 2009 Frank Taranto rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction

I've read this book about 10 times and still really enjoy reading it.
Heinlein's opinion of religion as espoused by Jubal Harshaw always fascintes me. I was not as affected in my 50's as I was in my teens, but being a doubting christian has been a part of my life for a long time now.
Valentine Michael Smith is an interesting character who looks at earth and it's society with an outsider's viewpoint after being raised on Mars by Martians. Because of his background, he has powers that normal humans ...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Lindsay rated it it was ok

Shelves: scifi-fantasy

While the overall story is interesting, it mainly serves as a wrapper to heinlein's discourses on politics, religion, sex and culture. While some of these tangents are interesting (particularly for placing the writing of the book at the intro to the 60s), other tangents are dated or overlong detracting from any story flow. The best sci-fi can be a great adventure while at the same time providing commentary on our society, this book does little subtly and leans too far away from story. ...more

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