Disappointing reads.

[Toby Frost]

I've never got Heinlein, who is usually touted as an author with "something to say". I've only read a few of his books, but all I got out of them (beyond them being entertaining) was an unconvincing tough-guy feel, as if he had something to prove. I get the feeling that there's a school of tough-guy military SF writers who regard him as a genius. Harry Harrison always struck me as a cleverer writer.

 

[Bick]

I've never got Heinlein, who is usually touted as an author with "something to say". I've only read a few of his books, but all I got out of them (beyond them being entertaining) was an unconvincing tough-guy feel, as if he had something to prove. I get the feeling that there's a school of tough-guy military SF writers who regard him as a genius. Harry Harrison always struck me as a cleverer writer.

I think much of his short fiction has more to say, and is more layered, funnily enough. Of his longer work, you might well enjoy The Door into Summer more, as it’s less ‘typical’ perhaps, and doesn’t have that same ‘tough-guy’ thing going on. Likewise, Double Star or The Puppet Masters, both of which are great, I think.

 

[Randy M.]

I think much of his short fiction has more to say, and is more layered, funnily enough. Of his longer work, you might well enjoy The Door into Summer more, as it’s less ‘typical’ perhaps, and doesn’t have that same ‘tough-guy’ thing going on. Likewise, Double Star or The Puppet Masters, both of which are great, I think.

Good point, Bick. I think of Heinlein as one of the H-guys from the '20s through the '30s who brought something new and dynamic to their particular line of writing: Hemingway, Hammett, Howard and Heinlein. When he started publishing, he helped create a way of telling s.f. stories that made earlier stories seem thin and clumsy, and he did it mainly in short fiction.

 

[kythe]

I have mixed feelings on Heinlein. He has great ideas, but his characters tend to be shallow and often have very dated views on roles for women. Stranger in a Strange Land is my least favorite of Heinlein. It is not so much a story, but more of a manifesto of values I don't agree with. I didn't even finish it. But Starship Troopers is probably my favorite Heinlein book. He uses satire to portray the essence of military ideals.

 

[cyprus7]

I also found The Three Body Problem to be basically unreadable.

I have it here on a bookshelf, unread as yet. It's propped up by James Gleick's "Time Travel" (non-fic), which I have read and enjoyed.
I usually apply the 100-pages rule for novel-length works; if it hasn't grabbed me by then, I pass it on - so many books, so little time!

 

[kythe]

A couple of other disappointing reads lately:

Outlander - Diana Gabalon. I know this book (and there is a TV show) is very popular, but I did not finish it. It started off promising, but over time felt more of a stereotypical romance and I came to dislike the dynamics between Jamie and Claire.

A Canticle for Leibowitz- Another promising premise, but the overall story arc did not flow well and I don't understand the purpose or intent.