Time Enough for Love by Robert Heinlein

Title: Time Enough for Love

Author: Robert Heinlein

Publisher: 1973

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 589

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Well-rounded Reader - Science Fiction; ebook; Lucky No. 14 - Chunkster; Chunkster Challenge

Lazarus Long is so in love with life that he simply refuses to die. Born in the early 1900s, he lives through multiple centuries. Time Enough for Love is his lovingly detailed account of his journey through a vast and magnificent timescape of centuries and worlds. Using the voice of Lazarus, Heinlein expounds his own philosophies, including his radical (for 1946) ideas on sexual freedom. His use of slang, technical jargon, sharp wit, and clever understatement lend this story a texture and authority that seems the very tone of things to come.

Recommended by J as it is one of his favorite books.  I had previously read Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Have Spacesuit-Will Travel, and Starship Troopers.  And while Heinlein isn't my favorite author, I have enjoyed most of his writings.  J has been bugging me to read this one for almost two years.

And I can't say that I loved it.  I think part of my problem was the conversational yet not conversational tone.  I didn't always feel like Lazarus was speaking to me.  The switching back and forth pulled me out of the stories.  As to the characters, I really liked Lazarus.  A very fun and interesting guy.  The rest of the characters in the present day I could take or leave.  There were more filler than true characters.  The stories were interesting, but sometimes a little hard to follow with the deletions and edits.  This is definitely a tome of Heinelin's personal philosophy more than a true novel.  It was interesting, but not my favorite.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein

Title: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

Author: Robert Heinlein

Publisher: 1966

Genre: Scifi

Pages: 518 (ebook version)

Rating:  4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Genre - Scifi; Monthly Key Word - February; Ebook; Bingo -- 4 from TBR

How I Got It: We own it

It is a tale of revolution, of the rebellion of the former Lunar penal colony against the Lunar Authority that controls it from Earth. It is the tale of the disparate people--a computer technician, a vigorous young female agitator, and an elderly academic--who become the rebel movement's leaders. And it is the story of Mike, the supercomputer whose sentience is known only to this inner circle, and who for reasons of his own is committed to the revolution's ultimate success.

My third Heinlein book and I dare say the easiest book, at least on the surface.  We have a story of revolution on the moon.  Easy right?  Sure, the first part is easy.  But then we get into more discussions of politics and governmental theory.  What constitutes a good government?  How should we rule?  From there things go from bad to worse.  Revolution is hard, ruling is even harder.  I liked the political discussions above all else.  The storyline and characters are good, but Heinlein excels when characters discuss political philosophy.  Those conversations are what kept me engaged in the book.

As to the style, it took me awhile to get used to the gramatical structure.  There is a mix of English and Russian and an omission of "the" throughout most of the book.  This points to an evolution of language on Luna separate from Terra.  I like the style, but sometimes found myself wanting to "correct" the language.

Just remember: TANSTAAFL!

Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein

Title: Starship Troopers

Author: Robert Heinlein

Publisher: Ace Science Fiction 1959

Genre: SciFi

Pages: 264

Rating: 4/5 stars  Movie: 2/5

Reading Challenges:  Scifi; Mount TBR; Book2Movie

How I Got It: I own it!

In one of Robert Heinlein's most controversial bestsellers, a recruit of the future goes through the toughest boot camp in the Universe--and into battle with the Terran Mobile Infantry against mankind's most frightening enemy.

J's initial assessment is that I needed to read this before reading The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.  According to him, it's a political philosophy treatise in disguise.  And I agree completely.  The summary above is really only a tiny part of the book.  Interspersed with stories of boot camp and the war with the Bugs, we get discussions of philosophy.  Throughout the book, I lived for those parts.  At times, I found myself skimming a bit, but then a good paragraph would pop up.  Some of my favorite passages:

"Nothing of value is free. Even the breath of life is purchased at birth only through gasping effort and pain. . . . The best things in life are beyond money; their price is agony and sweat and devotion . . . and the price demanded for the most precious of all things in life is life itself--ultimate cost for perfect value."(pg. 93)

"War is not violence and killing, pure and simple; war is controlled violence, for a purpose. The purpose of war is to support your government's decisions by force. The purpose is never to kill the enemy just to be killing him...but to make him do what you want to do. Not killing...but controlled and purposeful violence. But it's not your business or mine to decide the purpose of the control. It's never a soldier's business to decide when or where or how—or why—he fights; that belongs to the statesmen and the generals. The statesmen decide why and how much; the generals take it from there and tell us where and when and how. We supply the violence; other people—'older and wiser heads,' as they say—supply the control. Which is as it should be." (pg. 63)

Movie version:

So the creators of the movies took about 10 pages of the book and created a whole B style science fiction movie.  It's not absolutely horrible, but it buries all of the interesting points about morality, citizenship, war and franchisement in crazy action sequences and a love story.  Plus there is really some bad acting throughout this movie.  The leads are just so flat.  I did enjoy Sergeant Zim and Mr. Rasczak, but that's really about it.  Definitely not a movie that I will ever own.  Thank goodness Netflix had it on instant streaming.  (And the sequels are even worse)

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

Title: Stranger in a Strange Land

Author: Robert Heinlein

Publisher: Ace 1991

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 528

Rating:   5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Science Fiction; A to Z - H; My Years - 1991; Mount TBR

How I Got It: I own it!

One of the greatest science fiction novels ever published, Stranger in a Strange Land's original manuscript had 50,000 words cut. Now they have been reinstated for this special 30th anniversary trade edition. A Mars-born earthling arrives on this planet for the first time as an adult, and the sensation he creates teaches Earth some unforgettable lessons. "A brilliant mind-bender."--Kurt Vonnegut.

Overall this book was amazing.  I can see why J and others have been hounding me to read it.  Usually, I can speed through a book, getting lost in the world.  With this one, I found myself having to go back and reread passages to grasp what was transpiring.  Heinlein has overlaid so many stories and so many messages into one book.   There's passages about religion, philosophy, psychology, science, political science, gender and sex, and many more topics.  I loved the variety of each chapter.  It's taken me some time to get through it (and I don't understand it all yet) and really come away with a couple of new perspectives and confirmations on some others.  My only caution to others is that it is a dense book.  I encourage others to read it, but it probably isn't the best introduction to science fiction and Heinlein.  You might want to start with Have Spacesuit-Will Travel or Ender's Game.  Either one is a bit lighter on the science and philosophy.

Most thought provoking passage:

"Jubal, are you telling me that I ought not to criticize the administration>  When they're wrong?  When I know they're wrong?"  "Nope.  Gadflies such as yourself are utterly necessary.  Nor am I opposed to 'turning the rascals out' -- it's usually the soundest rule of politics.  But it's well to take a look at what new rascals you are going to get before you jump at any chance to turn your present rascals out.  Democracy is a poor system of government at best; the only thing that can honestly be said in its favor is that it is about eight times as good as any other method the human race ever tried.  Democracy's worst fault is that its leaders are likely to reflect the faults and virtues of their constituents--a depressingly low level, but what else can you expect?  So take a look at Douglas and ponder that, in his ignorance, stupidity, and self-seeking, he much resembles his fellow Americans, including you and me... and that in fact he is a notch or two above the average.  Then take a look at the man who will replace him if his government topples." (page 232)

Have Spacesuit Will Travel by Robert Heinlein

Title: Have Spacesuit Will Travel

Author: Robert Heinlein

Publisher: Gallery 2005

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 341

Rating:    4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Science Fiction

My first J recommended science fiction book.  And it was definitely a fun read.  The main character, Kip, was very likable as a young man dreaming of going to the moon.  He spends the first third of the book trying to realize that dream, and when something else happens, he must change his dreams.  I found the first third thoroughly enjoying.  I was right there with Kip trying desperately to figure out how to go to the moon.

And then the book changes dramatically.  All of a sudden other forces intercede into his life.  The change was abrupt with almost no transition.  My brain took a few pages to catch up with the events.  It wasn't a bad change of events, just unexpected for me.  The rest of the book is Kip's journey into strange new lands.  My favorite part of the book had to be the "trial."  Very interesting how the facts and opinions are laid out.

Overall a very enjoyable book.  It was a good introduction into my science fiction challenge.  On to the next book...