03/11/2025
Having read Stranger in a Strange land and finding it to have gone off the rails near the end, I wanted to try what most people consider the best of Heinlein. This is a solid book, with a few criticisms. First, the beginning felt tacked on with how Manuel meets Wyoming. I think it more has to do with Heinlein’s treatment of woman which always feels so dated to me. Second is a lot of the book is passive and can go on for long periods of time. Like the explanation of how all the cells are going to work. I felt at times like I was listening to a story being told to a congress. But, even with that said, the dialect and consistency in the characters I super enjoyed. I found the poly family structure fascinating and most importantly, Mike. The computer is really the most intriguing part of the whole story. The end was a punch to the gut in a way I didn’t expect. Which, I don’t know, I think is pretty amazing that a character that is so pivotal to the success of the story, yet is just a computer, like, that made it for me and what I think cements this as a classic.
Some of my favorite phrases were dinkum thinkum, and of course TANSTAATFL or there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch. I might have to try out a few other titles after this one given this was a fun read.
