Stranger in a Strange Land

Heinlein, Robert A.

ISBN 10: 039910772X / ISBN 13: 9780399107726

Published by Putnam, New York, NY, 1961

About this Item

First edition / Ninth printing (stated). Book is in fine condition with a very good (edgewear and tiny chips along top) unclipped dustjacket protected in a Brodart wrapper. An Attractive Copy! Please feel free to ask me for pictures or more information, Thanks.

Seller Inventory # 013882

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Stranger in a Strange Land
• Publisher: Putnam, New York, NY
• Publication Date: 1961
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 039910772X
• ISBN 13: 9780399107726
• Binding: Hard Cover
• Edition: First Edition.
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

A nonhuman visitor brings into doubt the values and self-evident truths of Western society

Review

Stranger in a Strange Land, winner of the 1962 Hugo Award, is the story of Valentine Michael Smith, born during, and the only survivor of, the first manned mission to Mars. Michael is raised by Martians, and he arrives on Earth as a true innocent: he has never seen a woman and has no knowledge of Earth's cultures or religions. But he brings turmoil with him, as he is the legal heir to an enormous financial empire, not to mention de facto owner of the planet Mars. With the irascible popular author Jubal Harshaw to protect him, Michael explores human morality and the meanings of love. He founds his own church, preaching free love and disseminating the psychic talents taught him by the Martians. Ultimately, he confronts the fate reserved for all messiahs.

The impact of Stranger in a Strange Land was considerable, leading many children of the 60's to set up households based on Michael's water-brother nests. Heinlein loved to pontificate through the mouths of his characters, so modern readers must be willing to overlook the occasional sour note ("Nine times out of ten, if a girl gets raped, it's partly her fault."). That aside, Stranger in a Strange Land is one of the master's best entertainments, provocative as he always loved to be. Can you grok it? --Brooks Peck