Stranger in a Strange Land question

I first read it when I was twelve, and Kara is right. In the first part, the ideas he had for what the future would be like were really cool. Later on in the story, he might as well have been writing about his own time. Like she said, it's not a rip-roaring space adventure, or what I thought it was going to be, like a psychological intrigue thriller.

Even the unexpurgated version does not have anything X rated. Mostly, it's just expanded versions of stuff like Jubal and other characters talking about their views. There is a lot of sex talked about in the book though, but when characters actually have sex, it's not described except very circumspectly at Michael's first time.

I think the first part is good for kids in that it opens your eyes to the fact that things go on behind the scenes in government, religion, etc. The flag-waving patriotism and holiness of our so-called leaders are not what they appear to be. Jubal also provides a good intro to comparative theology and even a kind of post-modernism where he tries to explain to Duke that the Martians have different ethics and morality than humans. On the other hand, Heinlein's attitude towards women and sex is plumb awful and he's against gays. Much of the second half of the book, where Mike and Jill hit out on their own and then start their own church, can be infuriating.

I would say that it is definitely worth your while, but remember that Mike's ideas are as wrongheaded as those of the Fosterites he seeks to supplant.

Gabe

As a mom, I would say if you're in high school, you are ready for this book. Younger than that & it will be difficult for you to digest/interpret the ideas in the book that are so well explained in the other comments.

This book introduced me to the word 'grok', that alone was enough for me to feel it was worth it.

I read it when I was a teenager, a looong time ago. Definitely a classic. I will have to look up the newer version, interesting.

Citizen of the Galaxy was my introduction to SciFi too!

Despite my angry reaction to one part, its "clunkiness" w/ regard to future gadgets, its sexism, and its heavily period affected sensibility, it is worth the read.

Be prepared, however, to be frustrated at some point.

For more, see my review, if you would like. Sorry about not posting here; but, I try to refrain from repeating myself.

Good reading!

it is puerile rubbish. a must read, though, if you are into sci-fi.

Part 1 is perhaps one among the best I've ever read, for any book! The excitement and tension that Michael creates among various people - politicians, well wishers, media - is very well captured. Also the build up created using how he has a huge amount of inherited wealth, his legal status as an earthling VS martian, his importance to a possible further 'legal' acquisition of martian territory ... all brilliant!

Somewhere in part 2 we come to know that he is a superhuman with powers that would make Stan Lee blush. Frankly from there on the whole story goes downhill. The lengthy monologues (reminiscent of long boring speeches by the main characters in Atlas Shrugged) are a bit overdone. The whole legal/political setup is abandoned and from thereon it reads like a religious savior ascending to his throne.

I read the book when I was in junior high and thought it was a great read. When the expanded version came out many years later I tried reading it and I couldn't quite get back into it. It could of been I had to much going on at the time though. I intend to reread the expanded version again sometime this year, but to be honest I would recommend the older version to anybody reading it for the first time.

I would give it a giant miss.

I rank this book #2 on my list of favorite science fiction novels. THE MOTE IN GOD'S EYE ranks #1 in my view. I greatly prefer the short version of STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND. (My brother likes the long version better.) When Heinlein made cuts to shorten the work, it got better, in my opinion. If I have to cut 10,000 or 30,000 words from my own novels, I hate doing it, but years later I prefer the short version. On re-reads, I skim over the last third of STRANGER; once Smith and Jubal win against the government, the novel slowly falls apart for me. Heinlein is not for everyone; he is not Politically Correct - in 1961 he was pushing the limits. My second favorite Heinlein novel is probably FARNHAM'S FREEHOLD. @hg47

I do not think this is a very good book (controversial, I know), so I would not recommend anyone to read it. However, from talking to a friend who read it when younger and then re-read it recently, it is probably best read when you are a teenager, as you will not be old and cynical like I am then. So you are probably the right age for it.

It is worth reading. I read it when I was about 13, and that was probably too young. I'm going to agree with RK-ique above and say its probably best for someone in their late teens or early twenties.

The best sci-fi ever written

I read this back in the mid to late 70's when I was a teen because it was a classic and liked it a lot. Then I re-read it maybe 15 years ago for a discussion group. At that point I found it extremely dated and didn't hold up so well. Typically Heinlein can be pretty sexist as some have mentioned above. Heinlein was a genius for the mid-20th century maybe not so much for the beginning of the 21st. Read him in context as a classic and you should be able to appreciate the genius. But you'll probably be yelling at him for his prejudices as you read as I did.

I read this on a flight to Australia when about 20. It is a classic and while some of the themes are adult a mature teen should not have any problem with it.

I read this as a teenager (14 or so) and again a few months ago (40+ years later). It reads much better as a teenager although that is true of most books as they are never as good read much later in life. I think that's a function of becoming more cynical and realising as you get older, just how ill read you are!

I would agree with Will that "The Moon" is worth a read. Starship Troopers tends to divide opinion?

Not for kids!!!
This is a real perve book, (lets be real here) sex is literaly playing a major part on all chapters, so I would recommend to young adults (20 onwards) not even teens should read it as it goes beyond their basic understanding of sex. Sex here is a psychological element, more than just their cha-pooom quickie after class.

Age recommended: (20 onwards)

This is classic SF which depicts women as sexual objects. Probably not worth reading in this day and age, unless you have the imagination of a 12 year old boy.

I think I read it for the first time when I was 16 or so. Loved it. Just read it earlier this year, I am now 29, even better than I remembered. Some things made more sense. Just a better appreciation of the plot and characters I would think. Another good one to try by him is "The Moon is Harsh Mistress," or "Starship Troopers."

A new release? I need to check that out. But I read the dusty paperback not long ago. This is a classic exploration on human nature and I think mature-minded high school age beyond will grasp the intent.

I found the book very compelling when I first read it as a teenager (over 40 years ago) I recently reread the new release and it was much better. I think some of the between the lines issues were more apparent to my seasoned mind. The new release also has a lot of text that was, for lack of a better word, censored by the publisher. overall it is an excellent book from a master.

This is definitely a young adult book (15 - 30). Any younger and you miss what Heinlein was trying to do. Any older and you are likely too jaded, or too experienced, making the book seem a bit silly. Keep in mind, as mentioned above, that it was written in a time with very different mores.

"Stranger in a Strange Land" is a classic in the SF field. Don't expect an action-packed space thriller; this book is an often slow-moving and sometimes divergent exploration of a theme. It's the story of a young man raised by aliens, completely unfamiliar with human culture, who is brought back to earth. Here, he tries to make sense of human customs, beliefs, and worldviews. Heinlein uses this device to point out a lot of our collective inconsistencies and absurdities, as well as our human strengths.

Some aspects of the book are dated (Michael was raised by Martians), but some still hold up well, including some of the social commentary. Still, this isn't a book I would recommend for a first venture into SF -- or even a first venture into Heinlein. (Try "Citizen of the Galaxy" for the latter.)

You don't say how old you are, but this is definitely not a book for young readers -- especially since they released the author's original unexpurgated version. Heinlein wasn't afraid to challenge the sexual mores of the late 50s and early 60s, including monogamy, and there are a number of sexual scenes. Conservative and/or religious readers may find the book uncomfortable as well, particularly scenes exploring the excesses of a fictional religious sect and the founding and growth of Michael's own religious group, which fuses elements of Martian and human beliefs. Some readers may find these scenes and ideas disturbing, objectionable, or even blasphemous.

If you have no trouble remembering that what you're reading is fiction, and none of the issues I mentioned above bother you at all (or you're willing to deal with the discomfort), you may find the book interesting. Or, like some readers I've spoken with, you may find the initial premise interesting, but think that Heinlein didn't know when to stop -- the book does drag on for quite a while!