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Have you read anything by Robert A. Heinlein? What do you think of him?
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At the risk of being beaten by rabid hoards of Heinlein lovers - and there are many, including my husband - I have read a couple of his novels and found them wanting.
The last straw was "I Will Fear No Evil." Synopsis: rich man in a pretty rough society is dying, beautiful secretary dies, he has his brain transplanted into her body. So what is the rest of the book devoted to? Whether he can become pregnant by himself. Not whether he can retain his wealth and identity, or even prove his health and sanity. No.
Oddly, one of his more ham handed satires "Starship Troopers" is my favorite. It's as subtle as a chainsaw, but sometimes I enjoy the courser point.
He has great quotes in his books. He has named concepts for our society (There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch). But I'll spend any time I would have used reading another Heinlein novel on Mahalo Answers, thanks.
The last straw was "I Will Fear No Evil." Synopsis: rich man in a pretty rough society is dying, beautiful secretary dies, he has his brain transplanted into her body. So what is the rest of the book devoted to? Whether he can become pregnant by himself. Not whether he can retain his wealth and identity, or even prove his health and sanity. No.
Oddly, one of his more ham handed satires "Starship Troopers" is my favorite. It's as subtle as a chainsaw, but sometimes I enjoy the courser point.
He has great quotes in his books. He has named concepts for our society (There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch). But I'll spend any time I would have used reading another Heinlein novel on Mahalo Answers, thanks.
source(s):
Heinlein. I Will Fear No Evil, Starship Troopers
Heinlein. I Will Fear No Evil, Starship Troopers
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I know, I know, she's not crazy about Heinlein. But bbrookin had a well thought out answer.
Thank you for your answer. Heinlein was certainly not subtle. I admit it, I loved "I Will Fear no Evil", the more outrageous the better.
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I really loved Stranger in a strange land. Its pretty deep and you may have to go back over the previous page and read it again(like i did) but its worth it. Whats nice is you can go to audible and download the audiobooks if your into that. Audible actually has some great readers on there but nothing beats the paper in your hands.
Thank you for your answer. I used to do audio books when I drove around all day and fixed computers, but I'm a home body now.
Starship Troopers, even though -- like bbrookin said -- lacking subtlety, is definitely a novel that I recommend. I haven't read anything else from him, so that's about all I can offer.
Thank you for your answer. A lot of Heinlein fans did not like the movie. I did and I thought that Heinlein would have too.
I agree, morriss003. Starship Troopers, the movie, was fun. It did justice to the book, too - it was just as "unsubtle."
Funny, just this morning I listed Heinlein as my favorite author in another thread :). Some of his work are true scifi masterpieces - Stranger In A Strange Land, Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, Starship Troopers. Others are just....nice. It's hard not to read the stories of Lazarus Long and not wish you could live that life, surrounded by people who love you so much they won't let you die.
And some are so very bad that it makes you wonder if Heinlein had a brain tumor when he was writing them.
He did. Or, at least, he had some issue going on that limited the flow of blood to his brain.
And some are so very bad that it makes you wonder if Heinlein had a brain tumor when he was writing them.
He did. Or, at least, he had some issue going on that limited the flow of blood to his brain.
Thank you for your answer. I have an old copy of the Past Through Tomorrow. I treasure it.
He's my favorite author. I have to be careful recommending him to anybody else though ... you have to have a Libertarian bent to truly enjoy his works.
The early juveniles are great reads, lots of fun for teenagers (mine is plowing through them).
Everybody should read Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Starship Troopers and Stranger in a Strange Land. Moon and Starship because the are interesting views on citizenship, sacrifice and freedom. Stranger because of it's historical significance.
His later works were self indulgent and betrayed a fear of death, avoid them unless you are a true fan.
The early juveniles are great reads, lots of fun for teenagers (mine is plowing through them).
Everybody should read Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Starship Troopers and Stranger in a Strange Land. Moon and Starship because the are interesting views on citizenship, sacrifice and freedom. Stranger because of it's historical significance.
His later works were self indulgent and betrayed a fear of death, avoid them unless you are a true fan.
Thank you for your answer. "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" is one of my favorites.
I really groked Stranger In A Strange Land. It affects me to this day that it comes up in sessions with clients often.
I love you.
I love you.
Thank you for your answer. Yes, it was great. If I remember correctly, this was the book in which the question was asked, (the following is a recollection), "What is the color of that house?" and after studying it she answered "The house is white on THIS side." I never forgot the meaning of that.
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