Sara Moles, Stranger in a Strange Land

The Most Appropriate Title for a Book… Ever

            Robert Heinlein was said to be “ahead of his time” and the “dean of science fiction writers, which is clearly evident after having read Stranger in a Strange Land. Heinlein was one of the first science fiction writers, beginning his career in 1939 and dying in 1988. After his death, his wife published a few lost works of the accomplished writer, including the version of Stranger in a Strange Land that I read. Originally, the novel was a piece for the New Yorker, and Heinlein had to cut out about 400 pages of it. The uncut edition is 525 pages, and has a completely different ending. This is the version that I had the fortune to read. The novel begins by telling the story of the first humans to land on Mars. Unfortunately, most of them were never seen again. However, the people on the second expedition discover that there was in fact one survivor: a human child, born of the first people on Mars survived and sub sequentially was raised by Martians. This child of two planets becomes out main character: Valentine Michael Smith. And if that isn’t a big enough twist for you, Heinlein throws in another wrench. Not only is Smith the heir to every crew member of the first voyage to Mars, but according to a law passed many years prior, it can be interpreted that he is also the sole owner of the planet Mars. The novel follows Michael along his journey to understanding human culture (as well as the friends or “water brothers” he makes along the way), and his fight against being a political pawn due to his vast amount of wealth he possesses.

            The novel is brilliantly written, with a sarcastic underlying tone throughout. Heinlein does an excellent job of poking fun at 20^th century society, as characters in the novel struggle to explain to Michael what we see as simple ideas, such as religion, money and the government. I very much enjoyed reading this novel, however some parts of it struck me as odd and I would even go so far as to say that parts of it were unrelateable and of the cult mindset. I would not recommend this book to people who tend to have a closed mind, as I do not believe they would enjoy it as much as I did. However, if you’re into telekinesis and polyamorist ideals, then you will love this book.

• ·         “He has this crazy Martian idea that he can trust utterly anyone with whom he has shared a drink of water. With a 'water brother' he is completely docile and with anybody else he is stubborn as a mule.”
• ·         "Customs, morals — is there a difference? Woman, do you realize what you are doing? Here, by the grace of God and an inside straight, we have a personality untouched by the psychotic taboos of our tribe — and you want to turn him into a carbon copy of every fourth-rate conformist in this frightened land! Why don't you go whole hog? Get him a brief case and make him carry it wherever he goes — make him feel shame if he doesn't have it."
• ·         "You told me, 'God made the World.'" "No, no!" Harshaw said hastily. "I told you that, while all these many religions said many things, most of them said, 'God made the World.' I told you that I did not grok the fullness, but that 'God' was the word that was used." "Yes, Jubal," Mike agreed. "Word is 'God'" He added. "You grok." "No, I must admit I don't grok." "You grok," Smith repeated firmly. "I am explain. I did not have the word. You grok. Anne groks. I grok. The grass under my feet groks in happy beauty. But I needed the word. The word is God." Jubal shook his head to clear it. "Go ahead." Mike pointed triumphantly at Jubal. "Thou art God!" Jubal slapped a hand to his face. "Oh, Jesus H. — What have I done? Look, Mike, take it easy! Simmer down! You didn't understand me. I'm sorry. I'm very sorry! Just forget what I've been saying and we'll start over again on another day. But — " "Thou art God," Mike repeated serenely. "That which groks. Anne is God. I am God. The happy grass are God, Jill groks in beauty always. Jill is God. All shaping and making and creating together — ." He croaked something in Martian and smiled.