Best Robert Heinlein novel?

[KESpires]

To me his best books, and admittedly I'm not a prolific Heinlein fan, are the ones where he just sort of lets go and doesn't try to overdo anything. Books like Starship Troopers and Job: A Comedy of Justice are always better reads than Cat, Time Enough for Love, and Stranger.

That's just me though. I ditched Time and Stranger before finishing them. But I devoured every page of Starship and Job.

 

[Fried Egg]

I'm quite curious and excited to read some Heinlein, I must admit. Besides the fact that he appears to be a good writer, his politics sounds interesting. Being of somewhat libertarian leanings myself, I imagine that I won't find his political diatribe as objectionable as most.

I do wonder though whether he really is so much more politically didactic than other writers or whether people tend to notice more when the politics is at odds with their own. For instance, a lot of a writer's politics is implicit in the assumptions they make which the writer themselves may not even be aware of when they write. A reader sharing similiar assumptions might also not notice them. But I, being economically right wing, often pick up on these assumptions in the books I read (because the literary fraternity seems to be overwhelmingly left wing).

Still, I shall wait until I've actually read some of his work before I pass judgement.

 

[Connavar]

I'm quite curious and excited to read some Heinlein, I must admit. Besides the fact that he appears to be a good writer, his politics sounds interesting. Being of somewhat libertarian leanings myself, I imagine that I won't find his political diatribe as objectionable as most.

I do wonder though whether he really is so much more politically didactic than other writers or whether people tend to notice more when the politics is at odds with their own. For instance, a lot of a writer's politics is implicit in the assumptions they make which the writer themselves may not even be aware of when they write. A reader sharing similiar assumptions might also not notice them. But I, being economically right wing, often pick up on these assumptions in the books I read (because the literary fraternity seems to be overwhelmingly left wing).

I think the reaction is because RAH in atleast the books i have read build stories against

Still, I shall wait until I've actually read some of his work before I pass judgement.

I think the reaction is because RAH in atleast the books i have read builds stories around certain ideologies. Politics is more important than characters and even science.

In Moon is a Harsh Mistress no one reacted harshly cause of the libertarian ideals in it. In other books about other political ideas the reaction is negative.

For me i dont care about the political ideas the books is about. Its how well he uses to tell a story. in ST the militarism i didnt react at it all. Dont see the negative reaction at all. As much as i expect RAH to be a libertarian.

Although i wonder if there is books of his where the hard science is more important than the ideas of the stories.

 

[j d worthington]

To be honest, political discussion in one form or another is quite pervasive in Heinlein's fiction; nor is it simply the assumptions things are based on. Instead, he has (sometimes lengthy) discussions on various political points. It is true that he often sets up straw-men arguments, but that's nothing new with either didactic or polemical writing -- to each of which Heinlein was inclined.

He made his feelings on politics well known throughout his career, but perhaps the best summing up would be in the words of Jubal Harshaw, when Ben remarked that he didn't pay much attention to politics. Jubal's response (if I recall the phrasing correctly) was "Why not? It's scarcely less important than your own heartbeat." An interesting statement, given how little attention we usually pay to the latter....

 

[Connavar]

Speaking about Heinlein's fiction did write good comedic sf ? I wonder that for some reason. I thought about ligther stuff that wasnt his juvies.

The reason i keep getting RAH books are his political disc in his books. Only one moment in ST i thought it was too much. One of those classes.

"Why not? It's scarcely less important than your own heartbeat."

Heh that a really interesting qoute. RAH would prolly like todays world cuz to many people politics are infinitly more important than heartbeat.

 

[j d worthington]

I don't know that I'd call anything of his "comedic sf"... though he quite often (in fact, usually) had a broad streak of humor and satire throughout his work... as well as burlesque. I suppose a few of the stories in The Past Through Tomorrow might apply ("The Menace from Earth", for example, or "'It's Great to Be Back!", "Gentlemen, Be Seated!", or "Delilah and the Space Rigger"). "Waldo" has a great deal of this to it, as does "Magic, Inc." Heinlein was heavily influenced by Mark Twain, and it shows in their similar "tall tale" approach to things in critiquing the human animal....

 

[Fried Egg]

I quite like SF books that have political points to make. Ursula Le Guin's "The Dispossessed" and George Orwell's "1984" spring to mind. Both of which I liked tremendously. I'm quite looking forward to this author's work now...

 

[Connavar]

I don't know that I'd call anything of his "comedic sf"... though he quite often (in fact, usually) had a broad streak of humor and satire throughout his work... as well as burlesque. I suppose a few of the stories in The Past Through Tomorrow might apply ("The Menace from Earth", for example, or "'It's Great to Be Back!", "Gentlemen, Be Seated!", or "Delilah and the Space Rigger"). "Waldo" has a great deal of this to it, as does "Magic, Inc." Heinlein was heavily influenced by Mark Twain, and it shows in their similar "tall tale" approach to things in critiquing the human animal....

Thats i wanted, not interested in reading haha funny stuff but satire,humor in a way just to see a different RAH than the serious political ,juvie adventures sides of him.

 

[ghost8772]

I don't know that I'd call anything of his "comedic sf"... though he quite often (in fact, usually) had a broad streak of humor and satire throughout his work... as well as burlesque. I suppose a few of the stories in The Past Through Tomorrow might apply ("The Menace from Earth", for example, or "'It's Great to Be Back!", "Gentlemen, Be Seated!", or "Delilah and the Space Rigger"). "Waldo" has a great deal of this to it, as does "Magic, Inc." Heinlein was heavily influenced by Mark Twain, and it shows in their similar "tall tale" approach to things in critiquing the human animal....

Influenced by Mark Twain? REALLY? would never have guessed that...... even by reading "To Sail Beyond the Sunset" sorry, sarcasm broke through a bit.

Point from earlier discussion. The Heinlein books I've read always seemed to have Political motivations, and organised religion biases. The political side was a "what if" and the religious was entirely a "why do you believe?" session.

 

[Moss]

For a writer with such an enormous and varied output, it is no surprise that Heinlein has been, at times, self-indulgent in his choice of characters and character traits (many writers are at some point) and at times intrusive when allowing political and social opinions to surface - perhaps a little less forgivable. But he could construct a wonderful story. I have just re-read Starman Jones, Double Star and Door into Summer and found them outstanding examples of well-told stories. Entertaining, accessible, enjoyable, and as much fun as they were decades ago. It made me crave for more such stories as an antidote to many modern novels which seem, too often, to sacrifice narrative clarity in an attempt to fill four hundred pages.

 

[Connavar]

he could construct a wonderful story. I have just re-read Starman Jones, Double Star and Door into Summer and found them outstanding examples of well-told stories. Entertaining, accessible, enjoyable, and as much fun as they were decades ago. It made me crave for more such stories as an antidote to many modern novels which seem, too often, to sacrifice narrative clarity in an attempt to fill four hundred pages.

Thats why i still read feel the need to read him almost monthly even when i dont have plans to read him. Sure he was about politics,hard sf techs but few sf authors if any can show for as well-told stories.

Its always easy,entertainting to read him if its a juvie or a more mature RAH book .

The Door in The Summer,Double Star sounds real fun when i checked out their synopsis. Might be a good idea to read those different type RAH between his more famous early,middle books.

 

[QSR Joshua]

My favorite would be Time Enough for Love, though Stranger in a Strange Land is the one I reread the most.

 

[Moss]

Thats why i still read feel the need to read him almost monthly even when i dont have plans to read him. Sure he was about politics,hard sf techs but few sf authors if any can show for as well-told stories.

Its always easy,entertainting to read him if its a juvie or a more mature RAH book .

The Door in The Summer,Double Star sounds real fun when i checked out their synopsis. Might be a good idea to read those different type RAH between his more famous early,middle books.

Well done! You have now inspired me to make some old Heinlein favourites my Christmas reading. What should I start with?

 

[KESpires]

Starship Troopers

 

[Pyan]

Ah, but why? You can't just proclaim it...

 

[Connavar]

Well done! You have now inspired me to make some old Heinlein favourites my Christmas reading. What should I start with?

You mean books you havent read of his or you old favorites you want to read again ?

I have read only three of his. Moon,ST,Rocket Ship Galileo. Moon is the far superior if you want ideas,character and story. ST i thought are more special cause of military side. The training,the techs they still try to create for real soldiers,the feel,action. ST was fun in that way. Political ideas,story wise Moon is a harsh mistress is alot better.

 

[KESpires]

The thing I love best about Starship Troopers is Johnnie's narrative voice. I love how he tells the story.

I also love that he is a very understated hero in the whole thing. The real hero is sort of offstage most of the novel, but it is a very believable tale that way. Zim isn't telling the story, but Johnnie Rico tells the story of his involvement and Zim sort of weaves in and out of it.

Man, I love that book.

Also, from the wikipedia page...

While powered armor is Starship Troopers' most famous legacy, its influence extends deep into contemporary warfare. Almost half a century after its publication, Starship Troopers is on the reading lists of the United States Army,[31] the United States Marine Corps,[32][33][34] and the United States Navy.[35] It is the only science fiction novel on the reading list at four of the five United States military academies. When Heinlein wrote Starship Troopers the United States military was a largely conscripted force, with conscripts serving two year hitches. Today the U.S. military has incorporated many ideas similar to Heinlein's concept of an all-volunteer, high-tech strike force. In addition, references to the book keep appearing in military culture. In 2002 a Marine general described the future of Marine Corps clothing and equipment as needing to emulate the Mobile Infantry.[36]
The book is recommended reading within the U.S. Army and Marine Corps because of its emphasis on small-unit cohesion, the fraternity of service, and its focus on the forward-serving, elite mobile infantry units, that so closely resemble the infantry units of the United States Army, Delta Force, United States Army Rangers, the cavalry units of the United States Army, and the Marine Corps Force Recon.


How AWESOME is that book?

 

[jojajihisc]

I've read Friday, The Puppet Masters and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and I liked the last one the best. The weapon is clever and seems based in science and the Libertarian ideology is provocative if that sort of thing interests you. I'll probably give Starship Troopers a try and one or two others some day.

 

[KESpires]

Heinlein's political views are definitely one of the most interesting things about his novels. When talking about conscripted armies vs all volunteer armies Heinlein said that a nation that cannot find volunteers to defend it doesn't deserve to endure.

 

[ghost8772]

you know, as excellent a story it was, Johnnie's narrative, and personal perspective about the world he lives and works in, and what opinion the reader takes away from it all....... the part I still enjoyed most was "I'm a thirty second bomb, I'm a thirty second bomb, twenty-nine, twenty eight....." set the tone perfectly for eyes and ears of the story... such promise fulfilled, if only the movie EVER came close to living up to that storytelling.