Best Robert Heinlein novel?

[steve12553]

I haven't read it in many years but I still have impressions of "Citizen of the Galaxy" to this day. I suspect the reading level way probably young adult but the concepts hung with me for decades.

[The DeadMan]

• Glory Road
• Citizen Of The Galaxy
• Have Space Suit Will Travel
• Red Planet

[hugo]

double star

[Brown Rat]

Well . . . (without rereading any of them, mind you), I think that Moon Is a Harsh Mistress is the one that I enjoyed most out of the four that Brian listed. But that's because I was so taken by the struggles of the AI to be perceived as human. That theme pushes my happy-sappy button.

As far as "best" goes, I really can't say. I'm never sure what the criteria is for best, especially when--in Heinlein's case--you have to decide whether to consider things like expository political polemic and the retread characters that some of you have mentioned.

I have a sneaking suspicion, though, that one of the Heinlein juvenile novels might actually be his best.

[Opeth]

Im a new commer in this community and to Heinlein's novels, but I did like Job, for it was an interestin interpretation of the book and an equaly interesting story

[Mark Robson]

That's strange, I was struggling to remember whether Heinlein wrote 'Job'. The story is one that very much stuck in my memory, even if I couldn't instantly remember if it was a Heinlein book, or not.

I loved the irony of the whole thing - that the poor guy is batted from one parallel universe to the next and the only thing he appears able to do in order to make ends meet is washing up. The whole second coming/heaven and hell description was particularly amusing. I've not read a lot of Heinlein's work, but of those I've read, this get's my vote.

[Opeth]

Yes, the decription of heaven and hell was very refreshing (im talking about those "hellicius symptomps" of the pit etc. ...).
i know this story will stay with me for quite a while.

[Finnien]

Stranger, without a doubt. I could quote Jubal Harshaw all day long... I just love the characters, the humor, the insight on religion, politics, and morality... and the way it was extremely readable in junior high/highschool. For the issues it covers, it does so in a very entertaining, insightful, clever way.

And really, it has Jubal Harshaw. Some of the best lines ever!

[Ian Whates]

Must admit, I haven't read much Heinlein in years, but one thing that strikes me looking through this thread is the sheer number of different titles sited by different contributors as their favourites. I think that just goes to show that the man wrote many very enjoyable books and that his position in the SF firmament is no accident.

My opinion, for whatever little it's worth, is that Starship Trooper and Glory Road (perhaps because it's so surprisingly different) take some beating. And what about Revolt in 2100? A sadly overlooked book, in my humble opinion. Have to confess that Friday contains one of the best openings to any SF novel I've ever read (Tricia Sullivan's Maul aside) but I felt it lost its way as it progressed, and Stranger in a Strange Land, whilst ingenious, never entirely won me over. Loved The Door into Summer as well. As for an out-and-out favourite... who knows?

[j. d. worthington]

I think one of the reasons I so like Heinlein is that his views and mine are often so antipodally different; therefore, on a first read they often annoy me or tick me off.... but then I find myself going back to them and enjoy the way he hones my abilities to argue my own corner, or to have me reexamine my own views. As a writer, I think he uses a modern form of the tall tale quite well; his being influenced by Twain is obvious, of course; and I find myself going back to many of his books time and again. (On the really getting under my skin part, Starship Troopers and Double Star did that quite well... they are now among my favorites of his novels.)

Yes, I think Heinlein's place is secure, not least because, like Bradbury and a handful of others, he's seen to transcend the boundaries of sff and be accepted by people who don't normally read imaginative literature. He's of an older school, definitely, but I'd say that much of what he has to say remains quite relevant today... there are surface changes, yes; but the underlying issues he deals with are still very much with us. As a controversialist who often took unpopular positions to sting people into thinking (Farnham's Freehold, for example or, when it was first published -- and now again, for that matter -- Stranger in a Strange Land), he's difficult to beat. Hope I can make it to the centennial celebration next year, but I rather doubt it; at least I'm glad they're holding it; the man deserves such.

[Ice Queen]

My favorite is Time Enough for Love followed closely by Stranger in a Strange Land. Both books radically changed my up until then rather naive view of the world.

[j. d. worthington]

Nice to see Time Enough for Love listed, as that's one of his novels that seldom gets mentioned these days... largely, I think, because of its somewhat episodic structure, which makes it a rather difficult book for some; and the fact that it came at the peak of his breaking out into dealing with various aspects of sexual mores (I Will Fear No Evil going even further with this, though with questionable success), and that puts a good many people off, as well. But it's a challenging book in many ways, and I'm glad to at least see someone list it as an important work of RAH.

[T5.2]

I love Number Of The Beast, The Unpleasant Profession Of Jonathan Hoag, and the Menace From Earth, the short story within called By His Bootstraps is a timeloop masterpeice.
And I have to brag...I have ALL the books he ever wrote, even the funny political guidebook; Take Back Your Government.

[epicfantasy7]

I consider Stranger In A Strange Land to be the best Heinlein Novel. But my favorite is Citizen of the Galaxy. It was the first science fiction book I read and it started a great habit in my life. I still look back on that book very fondly.

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

I think one of the reasons I so like Heinlein is that his views and mine are often so antipodally different; therefore, on a first read they often annoy me or tick me off.... but then I find myself going back to them and enjoy the way he hones my abilities to argue my own corner, or to have me reexamine my own views. As a writer, I think he uses a modern form of the tall tale quite well; his being influenced by Twain is obvious, of course; and I find myself going back to many of his books time and again. (On the really getting under my skin part, Starship Troopers and Double Star did that quite well... they are now among my favorites of his novels.)

Yes, I think Heinlein's place is secure, not least because, like Bradbury and a handful of others, he's seen to transcend the boundaries of sff and be accepted by people who don't normally read imaginative literature. He's of an older school, definitely, but I'd say that much of what he has to say remains quite relevant today... there are surface changes, yes; but the underlying issues he deals with are still very much with us. As a controversialist who often took unpopular positions to sting people into thinking (Farnham's Freehold, for example or, when it was first published -- and now again, for that matter -- Stranger in a Strange Land), he's difficult to beat. Hope I can make it to the centennial celebration next year, but I rather doubt it; at least I'm glad they're holding it; the man deserves such.

Exactly why i liked Starship Troopers even though i didnt fully agree with his views in the book i liked the fact that he made you think through the stuff he brought up.

I almost laughed out loud how current some of the things he talked about was. How funny it was so little has changed since the 50's in the world.

Sadly not all see what he tries to tell, i have seen reviews like " man what a military loving fascist he is blaming the worlds fall on the teen gangs" Like thats what the book is about.

It doesnt matter how much better i find any other Heinlein book, Troopers being my first and the reason i became a fan will hold a special place in my heart. As they say you never forget your first