Stranger in a Strange Land
Now I would like to start showing you some of the books that have left a deep impression on me throughout my life, starting with a book i first read at the age of about 13. It is strange to look back and wonder how certain events occur in the path of one's life which leave evidence of a deeply hidden feeling of knowing something, but not quite beaing able to put one's finger on the matter at all. "On the tip of one's tongue", so to speak. Stranger in a Strange Land, by Robert A. Heinlein, was one of those events which instilled a deep feeling of evidence that something was amiss with Human Society and Ethics. The book, apart from being the most Fantastic and Amazing Science Fiction Novel you may receive the Honor of having in your posession, is also an intricate Satire of a multitude of aspects of oour Society; Concepts and Beliefs are questioned, such as the Political, Legal, State Government, and Religious aspects..All of these topics are covered and more, throguh the perspective of the Main Character and his relationship to the Humans who he meets as friends along the way, and the way that his most different alternative views on Life and the Cosmos begin to effectuate a Change in the way that we are able to see things, learn to accpt, and live with those things, which are indeed, just natural parts of existence.
This book will cause you to think about many things, including the way we live our lives (you live your life) - the way you "Grok" things will be different to before. The word "Grok" is taken from the book, Grok means, to understand, cherish and react accordingly with nature towards that thing one is encountering, which may include; saving the life of, or restoring something to former condition, through scientific or supernatural means, even destroying is a possible conclusion to the reaction that comes or not as you "Grok" the matter, depends ultimately on what is "grokked" thereof.
Sounds pretty complicated when i try to explain it.. better read Robert Heinlein's book to see for yourselves, as he leads you into Grokking the meaning of Grok much better than i do.
Valentine Michael Smith, the Protagonist, is a human of 18 years old who was found on the Planet Mars after his mother gave birth to him in Space on an earlier mission, which resulted in all of the other Crew Members dying. All with the exception of Valentine Michael Smith. He was taken in and cared for by the Martian race, and was raised according to their world view and Ethical principles. After being discovered and brought to Earth; kept in a secret wing of a hospital watched over and guarded by Government agents in order to complete their plan to experimment with Valentine.
A Nurse gets soft in the head (or Heart?) and assists Valentine Smith in escaping, and takes Valentine to hide with a friend of hers, who is coincidentally a world class lawyer, Jubal Harshaw....... Ohhh... just read the book you can download it on Kindle Books now
Other Reviews from Other Websites;
Amazon.com 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
From Library Journal
In 1939 Heinlein published his first sf short story and became one of the most prolific and influential authors in the genre. Stranger in a Strange Land (1961) is an international best seller and a landmark in more ways than one: it opened the trade best sellers lists to sf writers, breaking down longstanding barriers that will never be seen again. At the same time Stranger became an emblem of the 1960s generation in its iconoclasm and free-love themes. Telling the story of an Earth baby raised by an existing, ancient Martian civilization, the novel often reads as if it were the "Playboy Philosophy" in dialog form. The man/ Martian comes to Earth and broadcasts his ideas by forming his own Church. Heinlein has been rightly criticized for presenting as facts his opinions, which state that organized religion is a sham, authority is generally stupid, young women are all the same, and the common individual is alternately an independent, Ayn Randian-producing genius and the dull-witted part of an ignorant and will-less mob. Yet the book is hard to put down; in its early pages it is a truly masterful sf story. Every library with a fiction collection should have it. Christopher Hurt reads with authority, nicely drawing the characters via barely perceptible changes in intonation, harshness, and pacing. Highly recommended.?Don Wismer, Office of the Secretary of State, Augusta, Me.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Product Details
- * Format: Kindle Edition
- * File Size: 427 KB
- * Print Length: 448 pages
- * Publisher: Ace (October 1, 1991)
- * Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
- * Language: English
- * ASIN: B000TO0TDK
- * Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,163 in Kindle Store
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