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t_f's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bperl's review against another edition
2.0
Heinlein flirted with madness before, but he goes full-bore crazy here. Despite his signature rapid-fire and intelligent dialogue, this book is unable to rise from the slime Heinlein has forced its head into.
Theology is the main candidate for Heinlein’s discontent here. A human raised on Mars by Martians is brought back to earth and encounters human society. He groks not (a word that has entered the sci-fi parlance proper). Men aren’t happy with religion because they aren’t happy being themselves, says the Man from Mars. He proceeds to preach a new method, disguised as a new religion. And boy, is it ever a new one! Cannibalism, orgies and licentiousness, telekinesis, miracles, and pantheism are all wrapped up in a “Thou art God” epithet.
I despise Heinlein’s approach, not only for the obvious, but because he refuses to field considerations other than his own. Any objections based on any semblance of a moral code are responded to with the coy “what moral code? You’re only unhappy because you’re not having a threesome right now.”
How this became a classic is beyond me. Hedonism is one thing, but don’t tell me that it’s the healthiest possible spiritual exercise. It’s just a poor excuse for your excesses, and reveals nothing but your own intellectual shortcomings.
Theology is the main candidate for Heinlein’s discontent here. A human raised on Mars by Martians is brought back to earth and encounters human society. He groks not (a word that has entered the sci-fi parlance proper). Men aren’t happy with religion because they aren’t happy being themselves, says the Man from Mars. He proceeds to preach a new method, disguised as a new religion. And boy, is it ever a new one! Cannibalism, orgies and licentiousness, telekinesis, miracles, and pantheism are all wrapped up in a “Thou art God” epithet.
I despise Heinlein’s approach, not only for the obvious, but because he refuses to field considerations other than his own. Any objections based on any semblance of a moral code are responded to with the coy “what moral code? You’re only unhappy because you’re not having a threesome right now.”
How this became a classic is beyond me. Hedonism is one thing, but don’t tell me that it’s the healthiest possible spiritual exercise. It’s just a poor excuse for your excesses, and reveals nothing but your own intellectual shortcomings.
mattp3's review against another edition
5.0
There's a good reason this book is considered one of the great works of the century. One of the few examples of a truly alien culture explored 'in fullness'. Shame about a few of the outdated sexual and gender opinions of the author upon which much of the social interaction is based. '61 was a different time, as they say, but this story is and will remain timeless.
gcgulick's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't "grok" this book. I was a bit surprised it was his most famous one.. I enjoyed JOB: A Comedy of Justice a lot more. Some elements of the philosophy I can appreciate, but there was a lot that just didn't resonate well with me. Also every female character was subservient or docile, in one part one of the characters stated something along the lines of "9 times out of 10 women invite rape when it happens to them" I don't know, I just didn't get it.
andieevalee's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
avesmaria's review against another edition
3.0
I've been meaning to read this book for a while and finally borrowed a friend's copy.
I've heard people talk about the way that Heinlein writes female characters and now I understand what they mean - there's a very dated, 70's male/female dichotomy going on that is a little distasteful and unflattering to both sexes in its stereotyping. my thoughts -
I thought the plot was entertaining, the writing style was fun to read and witty, and the ideas were interesting. Heinlein writes snappy, hilarious dialogue, which I really enjoyed, because it's a bit of a pet peeve of mine when sci-fi novels are filled with descriptive text and wooden, unrealistic speaking. It's not earth-shatteringly profound in its ideas, but a fun read nonetheless. Much of the plot revolves around the role of religion in people's lives during the hypothetical future in which the book is set, and it's really eerie to read Heinlein's depictions of charismatic evangelical churches and compare them to their startlingly similar present-day equivalents.
I've heard people talk about the way that Heinlein writes female characters and now I understand what they mean - there's a very dated, 70's male/female dichotomy going on that is a little distasteful and unflattering to both sexes in its stereotyping. my thoughts -
I thought the plot was entertaining, the writing style was fun to read and witty, and the ideas were interesting. Heinlein writes snappy, hilarious dialogue, which I really enjoyed, because it's a bit of a pet peeve of mine when sci-fi novels are filled with descriptive text and wooden, unrealistic speaking. It's not earth-shatteringly profound in its ideas, but a fun read nonetheless. Much of the plot revolves around the role of religion in people's lives during the hypothetical future in which the book is set, and it's really eerie to read Heinlein's depictions of charismatic evangelical churches and compare them to their startlingly similar present-day equivalents.
adholmes3's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0