All Heinlein all the time

In Straggler's thread about 10 books, a tangent discussion on Heinlein has sprung up. In the interests of not taking his thread off topic, I ask that all Heinlein discussion take place here instead.

---

Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity. It is the mere Abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of Jesus. -- Thomas JeffersonFor we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and non-believers. -- Barack ObamaWe see monsters where science shows us windmills. -- PhatIt has always struck me as odd that fundies devote so much time and effort into trying to find a naturalistic explanation for their mythical flood, while looking for magical explanations for things that actually happened. -- Dr. Adequate

I gotta think you have made a mistake. I've read Friday many, many times and can't remember any preaching in it. Can you recall particulars, or even generalities?I'm also puzzled about why you don't put Starship Troopers in your "Author Avatar" category. Surely, the school instructor, Lt. Col. Jean V. Dubois, would fall squarely in that concept. BTW, don't mistake my enjoyment of the book with an endorsement of the politics preached, that only those who serve in the military are true citizens entitled to vote. It's interesting, and Heinlein gives an intellectually intriguing defense, but I'd never support the idea IRL.

---

Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity. It is the mere Abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of Jesus. -- Thomas JeffersonFor we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and non-believers. -- Barack ObamaWe see monsters where science shows us windmills. -- PhatIt has always struck me as odd that fundies devote so much time and effort into trying to find a naturalistic explanation for their mythical flood, while looking for magical explanations for things that actually happened. -- Dr. Adequate

This is a book I'd love to see made into a movie. However, given the high level of Asian xenophobia and racism, it's very unlikely. But it's an entertaining story with a very neat technological concept.

---

Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity. It is the mere Abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of Jesus. -- Thomas JeffersonFor we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and non-believers. -- Barack ObamaWe see monsters where science shows us windmills. -- PhatIt has always struck me as odd that fundies devote so much time and effort into trying to find a naturalistic explanation for their mythical flood, while looking for magical explanations for things that actually happened. -- Dr. Adequate

I can't argue with that. But that's one of the reasons I rather liked Friday. She was a strong, self-sufficient woman who could cope quite well on her own. (For some reason, I have no recollection of the marriage part you object to.) However, I'm hardly a feminist scholar, and I'm quite sure that there's some reason to disregard Friday as an admirable female protagonist (other than the fact that she was written by a man). I guess for the most part, that doesn't bother me much. I'm not afraid to skip a bit that doesn't necessarily seem to be moving the plot along if it's boring. Although, I do agree with you about Time Enough For Love. It's probably his only book that I haven't read multiple times. It was deadly dull.

---

Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity. It is the mere Abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of Jesus. -- Thomas JeffersonFor we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and non-believers. -- Barack ObamaWe see monsters where science shows us windmills. -- PhatIt has always struck me as odd that fundies devote so much time and effort into trying to find a naturalistic explanation for their mythical flood, while looking for magical explanations for things that actually happened. -- Dr. Adequate