Books written by: Robert Heinlein (The Grandmaster)



Robert Heinlein: Starship Troopers (NOT the movie)

As stated above, you can correctly assume that I was greatly dissapointed with the "blockbuster" movie. Although the movie is loosly based on the books characters and background history, which incidently made it such a great read, it lacks the imiganation and grit that Heinlien used to write the book.This novel was first published in 1959, and has gone through numerous printings. From the movie promos I've seen, the title may be about the only thing it and the book have in common.
This Hugo-winning novel is one of Heinlein's best, and it's been quite unfairly attacked by people who don't seem to know how to read. Starship Troopers is truly a classic, though it stands out from Heinlein's other work in several ways. It includes what may be the most realistic and workable of the alternate government styles he's ever considered. It's also more a story of personal growth and a tale of the major exploits of a war a light-hearted adventure.
While it does have combat scenes, the book is (at it's heart) about the impact of the military on society and the indivual. Starship Troopers is one of the all time great Sci-Fi/Military novels ever written, in my opinion. The depiction of military life and the true insight into DUTY will touch anyone who reads it. The theory of service for citizenship is intriguing as well, I wonder what percentage of today's youth would volunteer for service under those conditions. Heinlein was one of the few authors who could capably and consistently make a novel both exciting and thought provoking.

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Robert Heinlein: Stranger in a Strange Land

"Stranger In a Strange Land" is literature - and by literature I mean something which inspires thought no matter how many times it is read. I first read Stranger In A Strange Land in the 1980's and I've reread it on numerous occasions. I was 16 the first time and I'm 30 now and it still brings old memories together with new insight. To those who have read RAH'S books and enjoyed them as I have may I recommend this as his masterwork . To those who've read "Stranger" and feel they need to criticize every nuance of it I say GROW UP! This is a classic and any comparisons to the real world are an immature effort at finding fault with something you'd have a heck of a time coming close to . Sorry about the lecture

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Robert Heinlein: Farnham's Freehold

If you're not used to Heinlein's writing style, then this may not be the best book for you. However, if you've read his books before, add this to your list! I must say that I was taken aback by the negative reactions to this book that I've read. FF is a gritty read about when the crap hits the fan and how the take-charge type of leader thet is Farnham gets his family through the aftermath. This book hits the ideas of racism, slavery, and survival at all costs. I would not reccomend this book for people who only want a good story, or who can't understand that drastic times call for drastic measures. However, if you are the type of person that understands that survival of the human race is the only universal moral, then this is the book for you.


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Robert Heinlein: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

How depressing it is to go back to the books of our youth -- the ones that inspired us to take on new challenges and believe the world would amount to something -- and find that now, living in the future, we are no closer to those goals. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, one of Robert Heinlein's finest works, makes me long for the days when the moon was a welcoming mistress. Now she appears to be a lost one. The story, of revolution and liberty on the moon, is a fresh and evocative update of the American Revolution. The freedom that the Loonies want, and the price they pay to get it, has clear parallels throughout history. Even to this day the world continues to get swept up in revolutionary fever every decade or so. The main characters, Manuel, Wyoh, Prof, and Mike (the oh-so-human computer) jump off the page with their attitudes writ large and their hearts wide open. They represent the pioneering spirit that has characterized the second generations of former penal colonies (cf. Australia, America) throughout time. You plunge headlong into the action with them and want success. You can hear the music playing and see the flags waving (although flags have some problems in no atmosphere) as their revolution perks right along. Yet, ultimately, you come away from this novel with a great longing. We are no closer to colonizing the moon now then we were thirty years ago. It can be reasonably argued that we are further away today then we were then. All the glory, and all the pain that the heroes endure exists just outside your grasp. We are also no closer to the grand Libertarian (or,as Charles Murray terms it "libertarian") freedom that Manny and co. fight so hard to attain. The USA marches forward, and Heinlein's ideals and ideas touch many of us, but the Moon is a distant Mistress still. And, freedom is as elusive as ever.

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Robert Heinlein: The Door into Summer

The real charm of this book is that its heroes, human and feline, are so personable. This book taught me to love cats. Pete is a great feline and Dan Davis is a delightful, if unlikely, hero. The story, written very quickly, is very tight and has integrity and real heart. And once again I cried as I read the final pages. It's intriguing to find how much of the "real" future RAH saw in 1956: electronic banking, phone cards, drafting machines (now programs in computers) and "autosecretaries". This is one of the best time travel novels ever! Written in 1956, it takes place in 1970, and then in 2001. This book has it all with tantalizing character development and plot lines. Contains all the modern literary elements, including mystery, betrayal and resolution of a love story.

This was the first Heinlein I ever read, and in my opinion one of his best. I usually end up rereading it every year of so. I have read it many times and will continue to do so. I just wish some publisher would market an acid-free paper, hardbound edition so I wouldn't need to keep buying the soft cover editions when I wear them out.


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