Stranger in a strange Land

by Robert A. Heinlein

I must admit that I carry a certain amount of bias for this book. It was the first social commentary that I read as science fiction and I already loved the author. I grew up reading Heinlein's young adult books. I first read this one in high school and I was hooked. It is the definition of classic sci-fi. It even introduced new words into the English language and usage.

  Jonathan Michael Valentine Smith is  the sole survivor of an ill-fated colonial attempt to Mars. He is adopted by Martians that have a very different social and political culture than we do. He is taught to survive in that culture using talents that most humans are not capable of accessing (he can cause things to disappear by turning them at right angles to themselves...think about it). He is discovered by another flight to Mars when the technology has improved, so it now takes days to get back and forth instead of years, and he is brought home to Earth. To say that Michael has some trouble assimilating would be a bit of an understatement.

  He ends up in the care of Jubal Harshaw, a irascible rebel who just happens to be wealthy, ornery and a lawyer. He takes Michael under his wing and gives him room to discover what it means to be human (and male). The part where Michael learns to laugh is enough to make this a great book, but that's just the tip of the iceberg.

  It's another one of my "Top Ten" books and if you haven't read it already, I really don't see how you can call yourself a science fiction fan. Luckily, that's easy  to change. Click a link below, get the book, read it. I guarantee that it will create some form of response. Some folks hated it. Most love it. I did. I'm pretty sure that if you're reading this, you will, too.