| | Comment from (2003-03-08) |
| One of the greatest authors of the 20th century and arguably the greatest science fiction author ever.
His novels were very well written and his most famous novels contained very heavy political, social and moral themes that are still applicable and important today. Heinlein challenged his characters greatly and, as a result, challenged himself and his readers in a similar fashion. His novels range from standard 'pulp' sci-fi early in his career to boundary pushing, controversial and highly charged works later in his career.
Stranger in a Strange Land is a rambling and heavily philosophical novel about what it means to be human. Often considered a "counter-culture" or "hippy" novel as a result of its philosophical/spiritual content, the depictions of communal living and 'free-love' and a radically anti-establishment tone, Stranger in a Strange Land became a powerful classic. This story of the Mars-born human man named Valentine Michael Smith (the Man from Mars), Stranger in a Strange Land does not so much endorse the American "counter-culture" of the 60s and early 70s as it uses it as a back-drop or a setting. This novel had a profound impact upon American culture and was definitely one of the most influential science fiction novels of its time. Stranger in a Strange Land is notable for being the origin of the term "grok," which found a small niche in American culture and slang and is still used by certain people even today.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is a masterful novel full of political and social speculation and imagination. Imagine the moon as a penal colony. After many years as a "dumping ground" for those being banished from earth (primarily, but not exclusively political prisoners), the inhabitants of Luna (known as 'loonies') have formed a vastly different culture, social system and economic system than their counterparts on Earth. Lead by a growing population of "free" citizens who are descended from prisoners, the 'loonies' begin to resent and rebel against the 'government' imposed by Earth to oversee the prisoners and continue to supervise the forced labor which the prisoners are subjected to.
As an idealistic and spirited rebellion begins to form, a sentient computer named "Mike" makes his presence known and befriends the protagonists of the Heinlein's story.
Another novel by Heinlein with a significant impact on American culture, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress serves both as a blue-print for a rebellion and as a philosophical inquiry into just how much of an impact our environment has upon our social systems and our moral codes.
Intentionally written with abnormal grammar and heavy slang, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress can be unsettling at first glance but quickly immerses the reader fully in its world and its style. This novel is much more straight-forward in terms of plot and is also much shorter in length than Stranger in a Strange Land and thus gets my recommendation as the novel to read first. |
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