Stranger in a Strange Land is the Catcher in the Rye of SF

io9 ^ | Jan 31, 2010 | Josh Wimmer

[JoeProBono]

[Martin Tell]

A couple of weeks ago, I heard Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, use the word "Grok" twice in a speech.

First time in over 30 years I've heard anyone use the word in a non-ironic sense.

[counterpunch]

[Borges]

his most famous novel

his only novel. Only published novel thus far anyway.

[JoeProBono]

[equalitybeforethelaw]

From Salinger to Heinlien? Can anyone tell what is the connection? Read the article and for the life of me cannot tell what connection the two authors or works have in common. Is it me, or does the author just want to talk about “Stranger in a Strange Land”? Weird.

[GeronL]

Thats a Heinlein book I don’t want to read.

Morality is important.

Otherwise you get liberals.

[JoeProBono]

[struggle]

[Tax-chick]

That's a Heinlein book I don’t want to read.

Many of Heinlein's books explore alternative ways of evaluating "morality," leaving it to the reader to respond, "No way that'll work, but thanks for playing," if he chooses.

I did not like Stranger in a Strange Land, but it contained one, imo, brilliant idea: the "fair witness," a person trained and licensed to report accurately what he observed. For example, the character was asked, "What color is that building?" and replied, "The side I can see is white." Imagine how much confusion and argument would be avoided if people stated only what they actually observed, rather than what they assumed.

[NMEwithin]

I grok this...

[GSWarrior]

I didn’t get too far in Stranger before I got too bored to continue. Moon is a Harsh Mistress is better, IMHO.

[JoeProBono]

Good book!

[FreeLuna]

I will defend Heinlein’s every written word until my last breath. Heinlein is the reason I am a conservative. He taught me that conservatism is the true proponent of free thought, and that its principles of Liberty and Freedom are truly universal and eternal. Check out my screen name. Greatest book ever. :0)

[r9etb]

Stranger in a Strange Land is the Catcher in the Rye of SF

I suppose.... I would also suggest that Stranger in a Strange Land marks the beginning of Heinlein's descent from a solid SF writer, to the man whose later books obsessed on the subjects of incest and breakfast.

[isthisnickcool]

I read all of RAH's books over and over again in high school. Loved them!

The concept of a "Fair Witness" struck me too. It owuld be nice to have such people around. I also loved the concept of some hick hillbilly kid being on a space ship and in the midst of turmoil the kid figures out how to navigate in space by doing the math in his head while astounding all those around him.

Robert A. Heinlein was the best science fiction writer of all time.

[Tax-chick]

I thought that was an excellent book, too. And I’m sure Mr. Heinlein would be pleased with your comment.

[FreeLuna]

Greatest book ever. imho...Free Luna! :0)

[the long march]

Lord what a pompus ass. It is a work of fiction. If you want more depth then he should have read some additional works. Not everything is about the ‘gays’ of SF even if this idiot thinks it should be

[Sherman Logan]

The author is apparently not well read in Heinlein. In his later years he got a whole lot less heterosexist.

My personal reaction to SIASL was similar to the author’s, though. I read it when I was about 10 and it had a big impact. It wasn’t tille a good many years later I fully realized the “morality” in the book just wasn’t practical, much less moral.