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Stranger in a Strange Land

By: Robert A. Heinlein
Narrated by: Martin McDougall
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Publisher's Summary

Epic, entertaining, blasphemous, this is the most influential and controversial of Science Fiction novels.

Stranger in a Strange Land caused uproar when it was first published as it savaged conventional religious, sexual, and social ideals. Many years in the future, Valentine Michael Smith's upbringing is exceptional. Orphan child to two astronauts killed in space, he is raised on Mars. Twenty-five years later he is "rescued" and brought back to Earth. The initial enthusiasm of the administration in Smith's safe return is soon dampened by the realisation that they cannot control him. Possessed with superhuman skills and a unique philosophy he threatens their society - Smith must be contained.

Then a nurse helps him escape his hospital jail. Their flight becomes a journey of discovery, enlightenment and wonder. But danger is following fast behind, and there will be no escape from the final confrontation.

©1961 Robert A. Heinlein (P)2012 Hodder & Stoughton

What listeners say about Stranger in a Strange Land

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Just ..... No !

It's been 35 years since I've last read this story. Being a huge Heinlein fan as a teen, I was keen to rediscover the stories and science fiction of my youth.

Oh how wrong a choice that was. Such a long winded narrative that dragged on and on and missed creative opportunities to just preach over and over the whole sixties free love philosophies. It wouldn't have been so bad if not for the downright dated aspects of sexism that I had to endure throughout. I'm a guy, and I was just appalled at the narrow minded disrespect given to female characters. They were there for just two things. To look good and to have sex. And let's try to forget his outright 'rape' comment in the text saying that women deserved it. My respect of this author has been shattered.

I've just finished reading Arthur Conon Doyle and although written decades before this book, still manages to have more modern intentions than anything in this current book of 'Stranger'.

The narrator does a great job, but it feels as if even he doesn't like reading the misogyny that drips from every page.

Glad it's over.

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7 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Bloated, Self-Indulgent Waffle saved only in part by great narration

I am a Sci-Fi fan, and thought I was a fan of Heinlein, until listening to this audiobook. Perhaps the abridged version (I'm starting to believe abridged = better editing), might have offered a better narrative, because this unabridged version is bloated and full of trivial dialogue (ie excuse for Author to insert his own detailed opinions on everything under the sun - sex, religion, politics, the law - just to name a few). It starts strongly, but then just meanders everywhere and ends with a sputtering weak gasp of a closure. It's internal logic is massively broken - how does the world lose interest so quickly in mars, the martians and the man from mars? The characters seem to be obsessed with teaching Mike about all the things he needs to do to integrate into humanity, rather than bombarding him with the million questions one would expect when offered an insight into a far more powerful alien species. It's almost like it was written by someone having a colonialist wet dream - look how I domesticate this savage I have brought back from the New World. Isn't he quaint with such quaint ways. Even after Mike proves he has telekinetic powers, his mentors seem more interested in making sure his social graces are improved than any deeper scientific understanding.
The only thing that saved this from getting five raspberries from me - was the top narration from Martin McDougall. I am going to keep my eye out for his narration in future.

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4 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Sexism and racism throughout.

The sexism and racism throughout this book made it very difficult to listen to. The storyline itself was okay though.

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3 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars

Most boring and misogynistic book ever.

This book needs a really good editor! It is so long and I can’t focus when I’m listening to it. Nothing ever seems to happen. Someone should cut a bunch out, such as deleting characters and removing needless waffle.

Although I couldn’t tell you what the story is about, I can tell you that this guy sounds, to the 21st century audience, like a huge misogynist. After listening to merely an hour I googled it and it turns out that this is commonly noted by readers. I think there is no need to repeat the things which are said about women in the book because that doesn’t help society progress.

If I got my hands on this script I would be ruthless in cutting back the trees so that readers can see the forest. I would also modernise it by changing things like that everyone had to be heterosexually coupled up. I would add some female characters whom are whole individuals. I’d probably make it about three or four characters who are developed and have personalities which the modern audience can understand.

I know changing old stories is reckless, but I’d argue that it would make sense for the publisher of this book economically because nobody wants to choose a long-winded misogynistic story over watching Netflix.

I would totally return this book if given the opportunity, but I’ve put off finishing it so long that I can’t (I’ve had it for over a year). I had some idea that, even though it was boring and I couldn’t even keep focused for an hour, I would come back and finish it at some point… undoubtedly that point will never come.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Poor reader destroys a wonderful story

This is one of my favourite books.
The reader is so poor and drains the life out of the characters. No inflection, no expression. it’s like a dead-pan reading of a book with so many larger than life characters, and the reader fails to bring this wonderful book to life. This needs to be redone with a reader who can express the the characters in more than a monotone.

I would like to also say the original is better. The full version dilutes the message. Please do the original, so much more impactful with less irrelevant fluff from Heinlein!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

hard going

Struggled to finish. Disliked subordinate female characters. Very dated attitudes. I do not reccomend this book

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Sue
  • 16-03-2016

As thought provoking today as when it was written,

I found Stranger in a Strange Land challenged me to think about my own beliefs

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Boring hard to follow and quite misogynistic

Boring hard to follow and quite misogynistic. Was expecting far more when I started this book and can’t believe I’ve wasted 24 hours of my life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great book, bad audio quality

Loved the books, funny old fashion misogynistic characters but it’s of it’s time, slow start but overall entertaining.

The recoding of the audio was all over the place. Listened in car and had to turn the radio down then up then down then up, like a yo-yo, annoying.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A wonderful listen

Its many years ago I read this book and this narrated edition is great enjoy it

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