RAH Reading Group - The Number of The Beast

[Connavar]

I thought after Cat we could read this.


If you dont wanna read that. I will add three more choices to vote for.

[TTBRAHWTMG]

Not one of my favourites...some tough slugging in there...but there is plenty of great stuff to redeem it too. I'm game.

[Connavar]

I had to choose not only cause it sounded interesting but also cause it was the only one the book store could get me in short notice.


I was like a drug addict i wanted more RAH now and there was only this one to fix me up good


Plus i felt like i need a couple of stand alone type stories before reading his future history or other stories that are connected by the same world or something.

I read the first few lines of Cat but j,d and co made me see its way to early to read it.

[TTBRAHWTMG]

Originally Posted by Connavar of Rigante

Plus i felt like i need a couple of stand alone type stories before reading his future history or other stories that are connected by the same world or something.

Number of the Beast doesn't have nearly as many self references as The Cat Who Walks Through Walls does, and is much more foundational as far as his World as Myth theme, but I still wouldn't consider it a stand alone. The final part of the book deals with Lazarus and friends, and you would benefit from Methusaleh's Children, Time Enough For Love, etc. under your belt before tackling it.

Red Planet is more of a stand alone (a classic juvie)...Moon Is A Harsh Mistress is much more foundational in terms of Heinlein's themes...either would probably be better for getting into Heinlein than The Number of the Beast. Having said that, if NofB is the only one you have immediate access to, there is plenty of good reading in it too (and I've always loved anagrams...you'll see what I mean when you read it).

[Connavar]

So you are saying the only book of his i have has something to do with the future history stories i tried so hard to avoid

I must have misunderstood j.d when he explained these things.

Then i will have to order cause The Moon is A Harsh Mistress i wanna read it before another juvie.



A problem with that? You have it?



Damn i wanted change the thread name to the Moon book.

[TTBRAHWTMG]

Originally Posted by Connavar of Rigante

So you are saying the only book of his i have has something to do with the future history stories i tried so hard to avoid

I must have misunderstood j.d when he explained these things.

Nope...not the Future History. Heinlein's work can be sorted in different ways...the future history is a series of self referencing works that can be fit together on a timeline, and they encompass many different themes. I believe JD has done some work on this particular element of Heinlein's, and could give you alot more detail on the background. What ever he explained to you, I am certain it was accurate.

One major theme of Heinlein's, found predominately outside his Future History, is the "World As Myth" theme. The Number of the Beast is somewhat foundational in this theme, and therefore my concern is not with any contradictions or even with requiring more background. Beyond the Future History and his themes, there are also some characters that run through several books, the most famous probably being Lazarus Long. I just think that you would benefit from some introduction to Lazarus and the Howard families before you get to meet him again late in Number of the Beast.

Again, it's just a suggestion. It's readable without the background, and being introduced to Lazarus before you read the others won't have a negative other than some of his attitudes and behaviours going right over your head.

Originally Posted by Connavar of Rigante

A problem with that? You have it?

Nope...no problem. I'm a Heinlein collector...got them all here...and I'll go on record as being willing to reread any on your poll. Moon was my first, and I'm always willing...Red Planet is one of my favourite juvies (often a meaningless distinction when it comes to Heinlein)...I Will Fear No Evil is down right strange and its been ages...and NofB, while I have more problems with this one than most of his others, well its been too long since I've listened to Zebby, Hilda, Dee and Jake argue...and I'm always missing Gay.

[Connavar]

Trust me i wouldnt wanna miss anything of the themes or characters. So no matter how small the connection i wanna read in the right order. Not only to fully understand the stories but i wanna see RAH and his ideas grow through the years.

I called my store and ordered The Moon book and The Past through Tomorrow (Future History Series).

After Moon i dont have to worry about what to read

Hardsciencefan will also send me several Heinlein books so i will have more of his books than i can read soon

[pyan]

Originally Posted by TTBRAHWTMG

Again, it's just a suggestion. It's readable without the background, and being introduced to Lazarus before you read the others won't have a negative other than some of his attitudes and behaviours going right over your head.

I would have to mildy disagree with you there, TT - I would suggest that Time Enough for Love should be read first if at all possible, even to the point of putting off NotB for a little while. To my mind, it's a bit like reading The Return of the King, and relying on the synopsis of the rest of The Lord Of The Rings to know the backstory.
However, that's just my opinion - Don't be put off reading Number if it's really the only one you can get quickly, Conn.

Originally Posted by TT

Nope...no problem. Got them all here, duplicates of most of them, and willing to read any at any time.

Ditto!

The Moon is was one of my first RAHs as well, and you can't read the spine any more from re-reading.

[TTBRAHWTMG]

I agree getting to know the whole Lazarus story...the general idea of long life; the Woody into Lazarus story; all of the Maureen background; the persecution of the families...getting the whole thing straight in your head is imperative to fully appreciate Lazarus in any of his minor appearances.

LotR is not a fair comparison though. That is a sequential story, and really should be read in order. NotB has many stand alone themes. Not having the Lazarus background does not impact the introduction to the World as Myth theme...has no impact on the quality of the experience of getting to know the gang, or Gay and her capabilities...and even the latter parts are readable as stand alone on a surface level. The consequence will just be a major craving for a reread once he gets to know all of that background...and understanding the late parts on a whole different level later.

Don't worry Conn...that is no spoiler.

[Connavar]

Im not worried anymore i just want something RAH to read and hope i get the books soon. TPTT has several short stories i look forward too. Havent read a short story by RAH before.



So Pyan you are on board for reading The Moon too?

If so when i get the book i will make a thread for it since i cant change the name for this. Then we can start reading etc

[Urlik]

you might also want to read Glory Road before NotB although only to make sense of 1 line near the end that isn't really crucial to the plot and I can garantee that you will benefit from reading Red Planet both before and after Methusela's Children and Time Enough for Love

[Connavar]

Thanks for the info.

I plan to read Red Planet,Glory Road after The Moon. It will take time to collect future history stories. There is nothing i hate more than reading one great first book and having to wait for the rest of the series.

Which is why i have decided i will not read Methusela's Children until i have every book and short story of FH series.

[GOLLUM]

I just got The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress so hopefully we can discuss that at some stage.....

[Connavar]

Cool the more the merrier



Damn what a clichè but i couldnt help myself.....

[pyan]

Are you enjoying The Moon ..., Conn? It's one of my very favourite RAH books, and in my All-Time Top Ten list.