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It's been discussed, although I thought it was on the front page more recently.
I've read it, but it was a long time ago. I'm not as fond of Heinlein's books with sex as I am of what I call the "boy scout" books. But, I'm getting a bit more prudish as I get older, I guess.
Posts: 2034 | Registered: Apr 2004
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Nearly a year ago? Heh. Anyway, it is so philosophically intriuging. As well.. the audiobook's voices are really good.
Posts: 2705 | Registered: Sep 2006
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I didn't mean to sound dismissive, BTW. It's late and I'm tired and feeling a bit put out at myself for staying up so late for no good reason.
I was starting to write more, but I feel like I'm taking a more negative look at the book because I'm tired. So, maybe I'll look at this thread in a day or so when I've got more time and caught up on my sleep.
Posts: 2034 | Registered: Apr 2004
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Anyone read his posthumously published book For Us, The Living, which was his first novel, never published until now? I'm in the middle of it and it's fascinating just from the perspective of having read all his other books. It's also interesting to see his speculations on what the future might look like 150 years from the year of its writing -- 1939.
I loved Stranger in a Strange Land the first time I read it (as a teenager) but find it...dunno, juvenile, I guess, now 20 years later. He was such a radical Libertarian it's hard to take his social opinions very seriously.
Posts: 5948 | Registered: Jun 2001
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One of the books that changed the way I think about a lot of things. Heinlein was railing (some of the time) about a small idea of God. I think that what he said about art, jealousy, love, God, and human nature (including sex) was really quite wonderful at times.
I identify more and more with Patty as I get older.
I did read For Us, The Living. I would read anything by Heinlein. What was really interesting to me was to see how WWII, Stalin and totalitarian Communism changed his world view.
Posts: 11187 | Registered: Sep 2005
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quote: "God wants us to be Happy. He filled the world with things to make us Happy if only we see the light. Would God let grape juice turn into wine if He didn't want us to drink and be joyful? He could just as easily let is stay grape juice… or turn it straight into vinegar that nobody could get a happy giggle out of. Ain't that true? Of course He don't mean you should get roaring drunk and beat your wife and neglect your kids… but He gave us good things to use, not abuse… and not to ignore. But if you feel like a drink or six, among friends who have seen the light, too, and it makes you want to jump up and dance and give thanks to the Lord on high for his goodness – why not? God made alcohol and he made feet – and he made 'em so you could put 'em together and be happy!" She paused and said, "Fill 'er up again, honey; preaching is thirsty work – and not too strong on the ginger ale this time; that's good rye. And that ain't all. If God didn't want women to be looked at, he would have made 'em ugly – that's reasonable, isn't it? God isn't a cheat; He set up the game Himself – He wouldn't rig it so that the marks can't win, like a flat joint wheel in a town with the fix on. He wouldn't send anybody to Hell for losing in a crooked game. "All right! God wants us to be Happy and he told us how: 'Love one another!' Love a snake if the poor thing needs love. Love thy neighbor if he's seen the light and has love in his heart… and the back of your hand only to sinners and Satan's corruptors who want to lead you away from the appointed path and down into the pit. And by 'love' he didn't mean namby-pamby old-maid-aunt love that's scared to look up from a hymn book for fear of seeing a temptation of the flesh. If God hated flesh, why did lie make so much of it? God is no sissy. He made the Grand Canyon and comets coursing through the sky and cyclones and stallions and earthquakes – can a God who can do all that turn around and practically wet his pants just because some little sheila leans over a mite and a man catches sight of a tit? You know better, hon – and so do I! When God told us to love, He wasn't holding out a card on us; He meant it. Love little babies that always need changing and love strong, smelly men so that there will be more little babies to love – and in between go on loving because it's so good to love! "Of course that don't mean to peddle it any more than a bottle of rye whiskey means I gotta get fighting drunk and clobber a cop. You can't sell love and you can't buy Happiness, no price tags on either one and if you think there is, the way to Hell lies open to you. But if you give with an open heart and receive what God has an unlimited supply of, the Devil can't touch you.
quote:Originally posted by kmbboots: I think that what he said about art, jealousy, love, God, and human nature (including sex) was really quite wonderful at times.
In addition, I think he said some very interesting things in Stranger concerning communications across cultures, and the difficulties attached to doing that.
Posts: 2454 | Registered: Jan 2003
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I appreciated it because I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever see a Heinlein book where someone strongly stated a point of view and someone else said "You know what? You're wrong, and this is why."
I got really tired of Heinlein's books with so-called dialogues that go
"X is Y, and anyone who thinks differently is an idiot!" "Gee, Captain Spacepants, you're sure right about that! X is as Y as Y can be!" "I'm glad you see that, Billy, and you're not one of those people who thinks X is Z." "Gee, Cap, what kind of moron would I have to be to believe that X is Z?" "I don't know, Billy, since you'd clearly have to have the intellectual capacity of a spruce beetle to think that X is anything other than Y."
quote:"X is Y, and anyone who thinks differently is an idiot!" "Gee, Captain Spacepants, you're sure right about that! X is as Y as Y can be!" "I'm glad you see that, Billy, and you're not one of those people who thinks X is Z." "Gee, Cap, what kind of moron would I have to be to believe that X is Z?" "I don't know, Billy, since you'd clearly have to have the intellectual capacity of a spruce beetle to think that X is anything other than Y."
That reminds me of Dan Brown as well. Posts: 16551 | Registered: Feb 2003
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Is this out of copyright? Since if its not, I doubt the cards look kindly on your pointing out ways to steal books.
Posts: 1621 | Registered: Oct 2001
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I am not sure if it is out of copyright... it was originally published in 61... I will remove it until further elaboration is provided...
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For things for a while after that, it depends on whether or not they were published with notice and whether or not the copyright has been renewed (something no longer needed, but it was back then). In the case of any mainstream work, you need to assume both are the case.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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Even if you aren't sure whether IT'S out of copyright, almost all the other books on that site -- like, say, most of the works of Orson Scott Card -- clearly aren't.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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The original post. There had been a link to a full text version of Stranger on a site in Russia hosting many full texts.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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As illegal as that site is, though I won't post it on here again (sorry about that), I can't deny that I like it.
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As well.. the audiobook's voices are really good.
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