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wildweasel105's review
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Heinlein gives the reader a glimpse into the possibility of a social and political revolution carried out by the former penal colonists on the Moon...but this futuristic plot could easily have analogies drawn between certain political struggles in today's world. A fascinating story overall!
knatreads501's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Infertility, Sexism, and War
kaylamarch's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Sci-fi has never been my favorite genre. I loved parts of this and had a hard time keeping my eyes open through others. I loved the characters and a lot of the basic plot, but did not care for the long scientific explanations. I understand that that’s just part of a science fiction book and I think Heinlein wrote it really well, it just wasn’t for me.
xentrrix's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jaminup's review against another edition
5.0
Having worked for and with libertarians for the past nearly 4 years, I have been told time and again how essential Heinlein's seminal work was to my political and philosophical development. Having finally read it, I can attest they were right. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress may be a book from decades ago, but its teachings remain as salient as ever.
Dealing with a penal colony on the moon with minimal oversight, Heinlein provides us with a unique blank slate to explore concepts of society and spontaneous order. The colonists of the moon have developed their own culture, with rules and mores not seen in any culture on Earth. A society in which women hold the ultimate authority in choosing a mate and running a household, where husbands can be divorced and dismissed at will with no formal processes. There is very minimal crime, and what crime there is tends to not be of the violent variety, for violence is punished with community sanctioned death, and everyone knows it. While some aspects of this society may seem archaic and others too bizarre and foreign for our sensibilities, Heinlein weaves a story of a society that on a whole functions quite peacefully.
On the flip side, what little authority does exist on Luna, exists only to rob the people and the land of its resources for the benefit of those on Earth who have been unable to manage their own. The people farm or mine resources and sell them at government determined rates for currency that the government determines the value of, while forcing the people to purchase vital resources back from the government at also rates they have determined. A free market exists where the people can circumvent authority rules. And in that, they thrive and do a much better job at managing their resources than the authority can.
The book also offers wonderful insights into the psychology of fermenting a revolt, organizing insurgent/revolutionary groups, and war/diplomacy. By giving us the barren playground of the moon to experiment with, Heinlein succeeds in exploring many aspects of what we currently assume to just be absolutes and monoliths in our life. And as always, the lesson to be learned is "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch" (TANSTAAFL).
Dealing with a penal colony on the moon with minimal oversight, Heinlein provides us with a unique blank slate to explore concepts of society and spontaneous order. The colonists of the moon have developed their own culture, with rules and mores not seen in any culture on Earth. A society in which women hold the ultimate authority in choosing a mate and running a household, where husbands can be divorced and dismissed at will with no formal processes. There is very minimal crime, and what crime there is tends to not be of the violent variety, for violence is punished with community sanctioned death, and everyone knows it. While some aspects of this society may seem archaic and others too bizarre and foreign for our sensibilities, Heinlein weaves a story of a society that on a whole functions quite peacefully.
On the flip side, what little authority does exist on Luna, exists only to rob the people and the land of its resources for the benefit of those on Earth who have been unable to manage their own. The people farm or mine resources and sell them at government determined rates for currency that the government determines the value of, while forcing the people to purchase vital resources back from the government at also rates they have determined. A free market exists where the people can circumvent authority rules. And in that, they thrive and do a much better job at managing their resources than the authority can.
The book also offers wonderful insights into the psychology of fermenting a revolt, organizing insurgent/revolutionary groups, and war/diplomacy. By giving us the barren playground of the moon to experiment with, Heinlein succeeds in exploring many aspects of what we currently assume to just be absolutes and monoliths in our life. And as always, the lesson to be learned is "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch" (TANSTAAFL).
cellardoor10's review
4.0
I think this one might be my favorite Heinlein so far? Honestly not a super high bar for me, though.
sjkuzma's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
bearenda's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0