Best Robert Heinlein novel?

[pyan]

A tie for the best novel, between Starship Troopers, and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.
But my favourite RAH story has to be part of Time enough for Love - and that's The Tale of the Adopted Daughter, in my own view, one of the best things he ever wrote.

[TTBRAHWTMG]

Originally Posted by Connavar of Rigante

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

I think it is this exact sentiment that makes The Moon is a Harsh Mistress my 'favourite'. It took my Heinlein virginity, and as such, even though there are others I actually preferred...it will always be special to me. Oh, and Pyan, I agree that The Tale of the Adopted Daughter was some of his best work. He discusses writing that story briefly in The Interview as well.

[manephelien]

My favorite is Cat. Stranger is interesting and has several pertinent points about Western society and its faults. I enjoyed reading it when I first read it at sixteen, but re-reads have left me disappointed. TEFL is good too, although for the longest time I skipped the incest chapters. Lazarus Long is too ornery a character for my taste, probably one reason why I prefer Cat.

[Razorback]

At this point, my favorite is the second book I read by Heinlein. I started with an edited version of Stranger in a Strange Land. I liked it enough to read another Heinlein right away, but I had mixed feelings at the time. I next read Time Enough for Love and, pun intended, loved it. That one really hooked me on Heinlein.

Until recently, my Heinlein reading was 10 to 25 years ago. At this point, what I have is general impressions and recollections about them. Earlier this year, comments in this section inspired me to start reading some of the earlier Future History stuff that I had not read before. Then the reading group got me onto additional stuff. I’ll be curious to see how my recollections hold up or if my favorite changes after reading some works I hadn’t gotten around to yet and rereading some of what I covered years ago. I am definitely looking forward to an uncut version of Stranger.

[Urlik]

I don't think it is possible to really pick a favourite
I would say Farnham's Freehold as I just re-read that, but then I love the short stories in The Man Who Sold The Moon.
Revolt In 2010 will always be in my list of books to re-read, but then Glory Road is right next to it.
Oh it's no good, I'm going to have to dig out The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathon Hoag and read that again then The Door Into Summer (mainly because of the views on cats)

[Finnien]

My 'first' Heinlein was, if I'm not mistaken, Friday. Thank you Michael Whelan cover-art! It may not be Whelan's finest work, but as a hormone-riddled teenager, it sure did the trick.

[JeanetteMax]

I would definitely vote for The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. It was the first of his novels that I read, and all the politico-social ideas that he throws out are very interesting. He does that in all his books, but he does it best in The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Mike (the computer) is done very well, too. I like the ending, and I think he made it less impressive by making him come back to life in some of his other books.
The Starship Troopers is one of the best too. . .

[tarifa]

Stranger in a Strange Land and Time Enough for Love, not neccessarily in that order.

[Greencoat]

Ah, 'Have Spacesuit....' I first read it when I was nine, an awfully long time ago, in the yellow jacketed Gollancz version from Hampton Hill public library. A mispent youth... I'm happy to say....

[Connavar]

Its a short story? " Have Spacesuit"?

[j. d. worthington]

No, it's one of his juvenile novels...

[Connavar]

Wierd that i missed it when i was checking out the juvies.

[j. d. worthington]

Here you go:

Heinlein juveniles - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Now, I've also seen in several places (some quite authoritative) that Starship Troopers was intended as the culmination of that series -- something with which I'd agree, as it seems to be the capstone for exploring various ideas he'd been developing throughout them -- but that his editor strongly objected to this being published as a juvenile. And I think I'd also include Podkayne of Mars, even though it wasn't part of the original set... again, because of tone, and the ideas he's exploring in it....

EDIT: I'd forgotten that Heinlein himself had addressed that point... yes, it was an outgrowth of his Puddin' stories....

[Connavar]

Aha good to know.

Man i have gone too long since i read Heinlein last.

Gotta ask whats the deal with my copy of The Moon in my BS.

[Marvolo]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

I'll start a list of books to choose from.

Starship Troopers
Stranger in a Strange Land
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Glory Road

...

Am I getting close?

Starship Troopers all the way.