Have you read Double Star

[JustPassingThrough]

It's the only one that I have left in my Heinlein Trio and I want to read it, but I am wondering if it's one of those really, really, really, really good ones and if I should wait and read some of his other stuff first.

 

[J-Sun]

It's one of those really, really, really, really good ones. Whether that means you should wait or not, I dunno. Read, drink, and make Mary for tomorrow and all that. Fish of the day!

 

[JustPassingThrough]

Just as I suspected. You must remember that the Yanks first came from Puritans so we totally hate self pleasure, which means that I will probably put it off until I've read some of his other work so that I have something to look forward to.

Thanks for the resply J-Sun

 

[Pyan]

What J-Sun said. Well, the first sentence, anyway.

 

[chrispenycate]

Well, I wouldn't have classed it among his best. Worth reading, of course; I can't think of anything of his that isn't, unless it's "Farnham's Freehold" which sometimes makes you want to fling it across the room, as the things it is trying to make you think about have changed so much.

But which ones are "great", and which just "good" is a matter of personal taste.

 

[J-Sun]

What J-Sun said. Well, the first sentence, anyway.

I may have been getting tired and a little punchy when I wrote that. "Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. Carpe diem," i.e., "go ahead and read it," is the non-sleep deprived translation.

...I will probably put it off until I've read some of his other work so that I have something to look forward to.

Thanks for the resply J-Sun

But I get the "looking forward" approach, too (assuming we don't die). Welcome!

 

[JustPassingThrough]

Well, I figure if we do die, it will be the second book I read while laying on my puffy white cloud.

I put off a lot of what are considered great books to read later, ever since I read The Stand first because I discovered that it was my favorite of what he had written and after that it seemed I had no where to go but down (and that's not really down considering he's a great writer, but still). So I've still never read It or Starship Troopers and the such.

 

[JustPassingThrough]

Heck, I may as well admit it here: I really like reading Mr. Heinlein. A lot. In fact I have to stop myself from going from one book to the other so that I can experience some other authors, but, but, but, I cannot honestly say that I have ever deeply cared for any of the characters- it seems what drives me forward like a snow plower on winter's night is his plot. It's like it grabs a hold and won't let go.

 

[Pyan]

I put off a lot of what are considered great books to read later, ever since I read The Stand first because I discovered that it was my favorite of what he had written and after that it seemed I had no where to go but down (and that's not really down considering he's a great writer, but still). So I've still never read It or Starship Troopers and the such.

Um - The Stand and It are by Stephen King, not RAH...or is it a case of mind running ahead of typing skills...

 

[JustPassingThrough]

Nope. My mind is always ahead of my typing skills but I manage- I mentioned the Stand and IT as two books that fall into my so called rules of reading great books and putting them off.

Though, I would have been very interesting in seeing RAH write HIS version of The Stand.

 

[Connavar]

Its one of the recent RAH reads and even if its not Moon Harsh Mistress great its a good stand alone. I liked how different it was from his usual type book and the main character.

Also remembering being surprised seeing a black character in a 50s SF.

 

[j d worthington]

Double Star is one of those books which I utterly disliked (in its finale) when I read it originally -- it went entirely against my own views at the time -- and which has since become a personal favorite. It is also a very quick read, but with a great deal to think about, told in very lean terms....

 

[D.A. Madigan]

DOUBLE STAR is one of Heinlein's best... and, probably, the one book he wrote most unlike any of his other books, ever. The protagonist of DOUBLE STAR is unlike any other Heinlein hero, the plot is much more nuanced, the characterizations much deeper and broader. I love DOUBLE STAR and strongly recommend it.