His adult novels have a very different feel to them. There’s more sex and violence and more heat to them. Also this is where the philosophizing got out into the open. Though, for all of me it was there in the juveniles as well…just covered up.
Note: I have not listed ‘Methuselah’s Children’ here even though wikipedia lists it was an adult. I may just list it in a poll about the Future History.
Anyway, you may vote for as many as you’d like. Debate and discuss as well. Let’s hear those reasons for liking (and disliking) your favorites (and non-).
I picked 7 I like best. If I had to narrow it down, it would be these four widely different masterpieces: Glory Road, The moon is a harsh mistress, Time enough for love and Stranger in a strange land. I read them all at least 5 times and thoroughly enjoyed it every single time.
I voted for Moon is a Harsh Mistress – overall his best, I think. I’d also rate Puppet Masters (especially the uncut version) and Stranger in a Strange Land (ditto) right up there, with Starship Troopers not far behind.
As for Number of the Beast, yecch. I’ve read it two or three times, with different things in mind and looking at different aspects, but nothing helps.
I went for TMiaHM as number one with SiaSL and Starship Troopers close behind. Added Double Star, TEFL and Door into Summer as the best of the rest.
I’d regard Beyond this Horizon, Sixth Column and **Farnham’s Freehold **as the weakest.
Unlike many around here I actually like the later books :dubious: OK, they’re self indulgent and he didn’t half get wrapped up on sex but they are still more fun to read than most author’s best.
ps Should have given an honourable mention to Glory Road. Good fun and the picture of a topless Star on the front cover stimulated my teenage imagination no end!
Unlike the juvenile list, I voted for less than half of these.
Two I haven’t read - Beyond This Horizon and Sixth Column.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is undoubtedly his best mature novel, which like Double Star and Orphans of the Sky which I also like and voted for, has the emotional resonance of his juveniles ( which is a good thing ). Starship Troopers might as well be in the juveniles section, where it would come in near the back of the pack for me, but still rate. Also threw in votes for Door… and Glory Road.
The Puppetmasters is a classic, but I’ll be honest and say when I finally read it a year or so ago I didn’t care for it at the time. I liked the first third of Stranger…, then it all went down hill. The rest are from my standpoint either meh, kinda lousy or a pretty mixed bag.
*Time Enough for Love *is his masterwork.
Everything before led up to it and everything after paled. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is damn good too, but the title sucks.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is to me the greatest Sci-Fi Book of all time.
I also voted for The Puppet Masters, Double Star, The Door Into Summer , Starship Troopers, Stranger in a Strange Land, Orphans of the Sky, Glory Road , The Number of the Beast & Friday
It’s unsurprising to me that Moon is in the lead. That seems to be the most common choice among Heinlein fans. It does a nice job of balancing the best parts of his juveniles with an actual adult outlook on life.
The poll results are to be expected. Moon is definitely good. I picked Job because I liked it, no particular reason otherwise. I am surprised that Stranger hasn’t ranked higher.
It was a cultural artifact of its times; it was not a good novel. Bits and pieces of it were good reading, mostly the first half. The rest of it was a precursor to Time Enough For Love, which I’m suprised has so many votes. Time is well worth reading, mind you! It has at least two first-class novellas contained in it, but as a whole, as a novel, it fails miserably.
Jonathan Chance: Do you plan on doing Heinlein’s fantasy work, like Magic, Inc. and Waldo? I like a number of those stories, but nobody ever seems to mention them.
I voted for Moon, Starship Troopers and The Door Into Summer, myself.
I confess to being surprised that Door is a strong #3 in the rankings. It’s a great book, and different in tone from some other books, but very heartfelt.
I’m thinking of setting up a novellas and short stories poll today if I get the time.
Waldo as fantasy? I guess there’s some supernatural* stuff going on, but I don’t think I’d have labeled it fantasy. I love Magic, Inc., though; it doesn’t get enough love in the world.
*In the sense of “above nature”, “not explained by nature”
Well much like Glory Road, *Waldo *has some clear fantasy elements. Far more than normal for Heinlein. But then I suppose *Stranger *does also with the small side talks between the angels and all. I really like *Waldo *and Magic, Inc. I have read them often.
If I had thought a little longer on it, I’d have also clicked JOB. That was actually the most profound influence on my 15-year-old mind that perhaps the universe wasn’t, y’know…Catholic, as such. The vignette in Hell with the rebellious daughter who became a Christian, the existence of and interview with Mr. Koshchei…I know it was all meant as a satire, not serious metaphysical speculation, but it totally kicked out the walls around my mind on the subject.