[JURB]

I am a fan of Heinlein's work for the most part, but his latter stuff...well...is execrable. Often, Stranger in a Strange Land is cited as his best work (as it caused quite a stir amongst the counter-culture); but, frankly, I found it rotten: boring, didactic, and morally suspect. Anything after that, aside from being bad fiction, is just plain creepy. Still, I think The Moon is a Harsh Mistress to be the pinnacle of Heinlein's talents and one of the best science fiction books of all time.

[redrock]

"The Moon is a Harsh Mistress"

One of my favourites.

redrock

[Neanderthal]

"I am a fan of Heinlein's work for the most part, but his latter stuff...well...is execrable. Often, Stranger in a Strange Land is cited as his best work (as it caused quite a stir amongst the counter-culture); but, frankly, I found it rotten: boring, didactic, and morally suspect. Anything after that, aside from being bad fiction, is just plain creepy. Still, I think The Moon is a Harsh Mistress to be the pinnacle of Heinlein's talents and one of the best science fiction books of all time."

I agree with you on "Moon" and also somewhat on "Stranger." "Time Enough for Love" might be his best.

[E Rocc]

Often, Stranger in a Strange Land is cited as his best work (as it caused quite a stir amongst the counter-culture); but, frankly, I found it rotten: boring, didactic, and morally suspect.

If you thought Stranger was "morally suspect" don't read Time Enough for Love or anything after it.....LOL.

Heinlein was simultaneously one of my main libertarian-conservative influences and my main agnostic influence. He espoused conservative principles without the priggishness, and libertarian principles without the naivety.

-Eric

[Lancey Howard]

re: your post #9

I agree completely.
I barely made it through 'Stranger', but it was the book that transformed Heinlein, in the public eye, from a "young adult" author to a bona fide novelist who could make sci-fi palatable for adults by throwing a little sex in there.

As far as I'm concerned, books like Starship Troopers, Double Star, The Door Into Summer, Tunnel In The Sky, The Puppet Masters, Fifth Column, and a dozen or so more from that era were Heinlein's masterpieces. Most of his stuff after and including 'Stranger' didn't measure up, in my opinion.

[Mike Darancette]

Still, I think The Moon is a Harsh Mistress to be the pinnacle of Heinlein's talents

I agree - some of his later work was written as by a woman from a woman's viewpoint.

[tortoise]

Often, Stranger in a Strange Land is cited as his best work (as it caused quite a stir amongst the counter-culture); but, frankly, I found it rotten: boring, didactic, and morally suspect.

I too found Stranger in a Strange Land to be mediocre. My personal favorite, though, was Time Enough For Love. Great book.

[PatrickHenry]

I think The Moon is a Harsh Mistress to be the pinnacle of Heinlein's talents and one of the best science fiction books of all time.

Should be:
I think The Moon is a Harsh Mistress to be the pinnacle of Heinlein's talents and one of the best science fiction books of all time.

[stands2reason]

Never liked SIASL, had to read it in school....one of the few of his I've read is one of my favorite novels: Job: A Comedy of Justice. I can't get into heavy-duty sci-fi, so the Lazarus Long series has scared me off, but I don't know what else to read of his. Any suggestions? Can The Moon is a Harsh Mistress stand alone or is it part of a series?

[infowarrior]

Still, I think The Moon is a Harsh Mistress to be the pinnacle of Heinlein's talents and one of the best science fiction books of all time.

For the social, and political insights alone, it should be required reading by anyone who considers themselves educated...

the infowarior