We live in the world this book made

Will you find this book boring? You may if: you expect all science fiction to be about action, aliens, spaceships, violence, and bizarre sex; if you don't have the patience to listen to a conversation about ideas; if you don't know what the American world-view was like when the book was written.

SIASL was written before the sexual revolution began, before cynicism about our government was popular, when mainstream religious thought was considered above criticism. I don't say this novel was solely responsible for changing the world, but it was part of the spark that began that change. In the post-Watergate, post-Pill, post-Sun-Myung-Moon era, it's hard for some folks to see the stunning impact the book had. Now we've had communes and religions that were formed based on the ideas in this book. We live in the world that this book helped to make; it's hard to be shocked by it anymore.

But the ideas remain, and they're still thought-provoking. Could the religion described in the book actually exist? There now is a real Church of All Worlds; clearly, their members think so.

I admit the book shows its age. Heinlein's attitudes towards homosexuality would change over the next couple of decades; the book's views on that and on drug use are stuck in the 1960's. But all works are products of their times, and this one fine story for those who choose to listen.

A special mention for the reader, Christopher Hurt, who does an excellent job with his voice work.

112 people found this helpful

Amazing...a must read!

SiaSL is one of the few books that I grab a copy of whenever I go into a second hand book store to be given away to anyone who shows an interest. It is also the first Audible book I downloaded. It is classified as a Sci-Fi book but it is much harder to easily describe such a fine book. It is a commentary on the human race and our traditions from the perspective of an insightful outsider. Religion is the most obvious and controversial issue. It was actually banned in some states from public libraries and schools because of this fact. It is not a religion bashing book howeever, it just makes you think about things that so many take for granted. I strongly reccommend this book for those that are looking for powerful, likeable characters and insights that only a genius could create. (I have tried to read his other books but am not a big fan of hardcore sci-fi books. Take a chance and learn to Grok your life in a whole new way!

60 people found this helpful

Enhanced version seems to correct audio defects

As other listeners below experienced, I at first found the sound quality too poor for listening, but I downloaded the book again when Enhanced format became available, and the audio quality problems disappeared.

42 people found this helpful

A Parable for the Ages

Although written over forty years ago this semi sci-fi still rings true today. While it tells the story of an earthling born on Mars who returns to Earth, it is really a parable on many of our social mores. The author has a sharp knife. He doesn't spare government, religion, the media, sexual proclivities or law enforcement. Our Martian sic earthing is the reluctant "deus ex machina" using his extra terrestrial powers to right wrongs and showing us "Gods" way. While similar plots have been use in numerous Hollywood movies over the last several decades, the book is still interesting and worth listening to.

41 people found this helpful

Contemporary review not based on fond memories!

There are two things that give me a unique perspective on this book that you might not find much in reviews - I am female and I didn't read this book a long time ago. Many people say they love this book but that's because they read it back in the day and can't see it unbiased.

There are many books that were important in their time because they pushed scientific viewpoints, social norms, and the like. I believe what makes this book so hard to judge is that it really was edgy and challenging during its time. I'm afraid that the shine has really worn off and in current society this book really isn't much to feel excited by.

This book definitely had potential if it would have focused more on the "man from Mars" and maybe delved more into Martian culture. Some of this is definitely present and I enjoyed that. I also enjoyed the religious parts of the book. Nothing like a crazy cult or two and very strange belief systems to poke fun or even provide meaningful commentary.

The reason I wasn't that thrilled with this book is mostly that it was so long and boring. And this is coming from someone who has read a lot of GRR Martin. Think of it this way - during this period, sci-fi authors were mostly legit scientific visionaries that then decided to write. Nowadays we have more authors that can write well and we definitely suffer for the interesting ideas not being there. So you have an author that isn't technically that good of a writer for this book. There is far too much dialogue and little forwards the themes. The author has the annoying habit of making everyone say "huh?" as a device to get the current speaker to get to say more. Another issue is that there are very few types of personalities. There is one type for males, one for females, and then the unique man from Mars.

There are two warnings to give on this book. One is that there is a "healthy" dose of casual sex in this book. It gets very boring to hear about the exact way each person kisses and who all is banging who all. He also puts in a sex cult so then it gets even more annoying. I guess he was trying to be all 60's free-love before it was hip (good use of forward thinking?).

Warning two is that this book is sexist. If you get squeemish by such things you should probably read a different book. The women are mostly useful as cooks, secretaries, nurses, and sex prophetesses (true story!). There are many bottoms smacked. Men talk to women like they are children. Women faint after kissing. You get the idea. Yes, yes, during that time people wouldn't have cared, but let's be honest, now it's annoying.

I just think that if you want to read period sci-fi there's much better choices. I do believe people that it was significant and important during its time but I think it's time to retire this tired book.

I would recommend that you choose a non-audiobook version. It was suggested to me that a better choice might be an e-book or regular book as then you can easily skip the rambling parts.

32 people found this helpful

Wildly Entertaining

What did you love best about Stranger in a Strange Land?

The narration was excellent. Just excellent.

What did you like best about this story?

I particularly enjoyed the personality of the characters.

What does Christopher Hurt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator did exactly what he was supposed to do: Read the text while adding just the right amount of emotion without becoming annoying. It's not easy to find a voice that you can listen to for 16 hours.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed often at the wit of the characters.

Any additional comments?

Excellent book, I highly recommend.

25 people found this helpful

Great narrator!

OK, this book is now a little dated, but it's still a classic; I remember being shocked by the views on religion and sex. Now, not so much. But Christopher Hurt is a wonderful narrator, and brings the characters to life. Great fun.

25 people found this helpful

Excellent bit of nostalgia...

It was a pleasure to hear, thirty years later, a book I loved to read so much in my teens. A bit dated, perhaps, but not badly so. It stills says a lot about society in general. The narrator was excellent, so much so as to add quite a lot to a story I already knew. I would listen to a book narrated by him just on his talents alone. I suppose you are either a Heinlein fan or you are not...I am.

20 people found this helpful

The reader groks Jubal

Very well done. The voice of the reader in conveying Jubal Harshaw was great and added a lot to the story for me. I have read the book many times over the years and it simply doesn't age. This reading of the book was very well done and I enjoyed it very much!

19 people found this helpful

I feel like I just sat thru a 16 hour lecture

Stranger in a Strange land is a scientific classic that has been popular for generations.... and I have no idea why. The story set up is interesting enough: a human raised on mars is brought to earth, where he and his new 'family' deal with his great powers and unique innocence, and along the way we should all learn something about humanity and ourselves.
The problem is that the author does a poor job of interweaving his social commentary and ideas into the story itself. Clever story telling and character development are replaced by long and boring "lectures" on a given subject between two or more individuals. There is some good and witty commentary, but it mostly the same subjects revisited over and over and over as two characters have a long conversation by the pool, and later on the phone, and later over dinner, and so on. You want to give the author the "we get it, move on!" signal.
I think I would have been more entertained with an actual 16 hour lecture on sexuality, religion, and corruption of innocence.
The narration was not great. Numerous times it felt like he forgot which character he was voicing and mixed them up. This was hard to notice because he did not deviate character voices much at all, but it was still perceptible. The sound quality was poor.
Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book as educational, introspective, or entertaining.

18 people found this helpful