Well, so far, and while preparing a new entry that took some time ruminating on the topic of apocalyptic sci-fi to correct the assertion that once made about the death of the genre in the late 90's, seen the rise that has taken a while this part, I leave here another old article I saved this weekend, hosting directories on my hard drives on a classic novel, Stranger in a Strange Land
Stranger on Earth
Strange is probably the most controversial novel in itself controversial and science fiction author Robert Anson Heinlein . Detailed enough as that for the first edition of this novel, in 1961, had to be censored several passages that the editor simply did not dare to publish as they were, and that the complete edition of the book was not published until 1990.
The initial argument is quite simple. A first international expedition to Mars, made to avoid both the problems of sexual abstinence during the long journey as social taboos related to sex, marriage four astronauts, lost contact with Earth while preparing to landing. Twenty-five years later can not send a second expedition that to his surprise, but to discover that Mars is a planet inhabited by reach is also a survivor of the first: Michael Smith, the illegitimate son of two members of the first issue, an orphan from a very child, who has been raised and educated by Martians.
-eye, the text below contains some plot details, but I have tried to reduce to a minimum- spoiler
The strange as our world has this character, human body, Mars mind, Heinlein serves as an excuse to attack everything set: family, state, law, press, religion, army, capital, bureaucracy, tradition ... nothing is safe from the biting satire of Heinlein. Special mention of the characters, "heinlenianos" to the core of the work: the cynical people who make a virtue of a philosophy of life hedonism, individualism and the only valid guide their actions, guys who enjoy facing the authority for the sheer pleasure of it and who see humanity as a herd of cousins \u200b\u200beager to be fleeced, appear in the role of "good", while the nations "law", respectful of authority, struts society, formed in the ranks of the "bad" and his fate is to suffer all kinds of humiliations.
The plot moves forward with the transfer to the Land of Smith, and his detention in a hospital for the duration of their adaptation to the environment earthling. Apart from being the heir to the not inconsiderable fortune to his parents, and rebound the rest of the first crew members, by an absurd legal precedent the young castaway space could also claim the dignity of colonial viceroy of the planet Mars, which, obviously not like a hair earthling confederal government, which would welcome character so uncomfortable that he suffered an unfortunate accident during their stay in the hospital, before becoming aware of their rights. However, the chance that the nurse wanted to keep an office romance with a pretty sensationalist journalist facing the government, which convinces her to help the patient to escape from the hospital and they take refuge in the house of an acquaintance of the aforementioned journalist , Jubal Harshaw, a key character of the work.
Vividor, cynical, cantankerous, individualistic, but above all insightful and very smart, Jubal Harshaw is both doctor and lawyer, but does not have any of these professions, preferring to earn more than comfortable living as a writer of pulp literature . This extravagant character immediately adopt the role of master of Smith, explaining in a way quite particular bases earthling culture, and help you get out of the huge legal mess that has been gone without eating or drinking. He shall also make a key discovery for the advancement of the narrative: the Martians are consummate mentalists, and educated the young Smith in the use of all kinds of parapsychological abilities. Once
solved with the help of Harshaw his legal problems, and become the man of fashion, Smith will launch the world in the most outrageous possible. Rather than devote to appear on the covers of fashion magazines, Smith and Jill, the nurse who helped him escape and later became his lover, undercover join a traveling variety show that will travel to more provincial cities of the United States. Later the couple set in Las Vegas, where he found employment in the gambling business and entertainment, all experiences that will help them undertake the project of their lives: the founding of a sect that would pool the Martian philosophy learned hedonistic individualism Harshaw, and with his popularity threatens to undermine the very foundations of society.
- end spoiler danger zone -
cult novel, won the prestigious Hugo Award science fiction novel in 1962, and became a cultural icon of the hippy generation, which immediately tune to the song to free love and sexual freedom brought along all the work, which inevitably made it a cause celebre for the more puritanical layers of American society. A black legend of the novel also contributed to the fact that the famous psychopath Charles Manson sure to be inspired in the process, meticulously detailed, organization and operation of the imaginary cult novel for the creation of their own sectarian community murderers. Therefore, Stranger in a Strange Land is, even today in the XXI century, reading a book disturbing. A work ultimately can not miss in the library of any fan of science fiction that seeks to claim the title of geek.
Article originally published in May 2006, in the late Mondofriki.com site. Revised to add links to the original text and remove typos (some insurance that has been, it never fails.)
Strange is probably the most controversial novel in itself controversial and science fiction author Robert Anson Heinlein . Detailed enough as that for the first edition of this novel, in 1961, had to be censored several passages that the editor simply did not dare to publish as they were, and that the complete edition of the book was not published until 1990.
The initial argument is quite simple. A first international expedition to Mars, made to avoid both the problems of sexual abstinence during the long journey as social taboos related to sex, marriage four astronauts, lost contact with Earth while preparing to landing. Twenty-five years later can not send a second expedition that to his surprise, but to discover that Mars is a planet inhabited by reach is also a survivor of the first: Michael Smith, the illegitimate son of two members of the first issue, an orphan from a very child, who has been raised and educated by Martians.
-eye, the text below contains some plot details, but I have tried to reduce to a minimum- spoiler
The strange as our world has this character, human body, Mars mind, Heinlein serves as an excuse to attack everything set: family, state, law, press, religion, army, capital, bureaucracy, tradition ... nothing is safe from the biting satire of Heinlein. Special mention of the characters, "heinlenianos" to the core of the work: the cynical people who make a virtue of a philosophy of life hedonism, individualism and the only valid guide their actions, guys who enjoy facing the authority for the sheer pleasure of it and who see humanity as a herd of cousins \u200b\u200beager to be fleeced, appear in the role of "good", while the nations "law", respectful of authority, struts society, formed in the ranks of the "bad" and his fate is to suffer all kinds of humiliations.
The plot moves forward with the transfer to the Land of Smith, and his detention in a hospital for the duration of their adaptation to the environment earthling. Apart from being the heir to the not inconsiderable fortune to his parents, and rebound the rest of the first crew members, by an absurd legal precedent the young castaway space could also claim the dignity of colonial viceroy of the planet Mars, which, obviously not like a hair earthling confederal government, which would welcome character so uncomfortable that he suffered an unfortunate accident during their stay in the hospital, before becoming aware of their rights. However, the chance that the nurse wanted to keep an office romance with a pretty sensationalist journalist facing the government, which convinces her to help the patient to escape from the hospital and they take refuge in the house of an acquaintance of the aforementioned journalist , Jubal Harshaw, a key character of the work.
Vividor, cynical, cantankerous, individualistic, but above all insightful and very smart, Jubal Harshaw is both doctor and lawyer, but does not have any of these professions, preferring to earn more than comfortable living as a writer of pulp literature . This extravagant character immediately adopt the role of master of Smith, explaining in a way quite particular bases earthling culture, and help you get out of the huge legal mess that has been gone without eating or drinking. He shall also make a key discovery for the advancement of the narrative: the Martians are consummate mentalists, and educated the young Smith in the use of all kinds of parapsychological abilities. Once
solved with the help of Harshaw his legal problems, and become the man of fashion, Smith will launch the world in the most outrageous possible. Rather than devote to appear on the covers of fashion magazines, Smith and Jill, the nurse who helped him escape and later became his lover, undercover join a traveling variety show that will travel to more provincial cities of the United States. Later the couple set in Las Vegas, where he found employment in the gambling business and entertainment, all experiences that will help them undertake the project of their lives: the founding of a sect that would pool the Martian philosophy learned hedonistic individualism Harshaw, and with his popularity threatens to undermine the very foundations of society.
- end spoiler danger zone -
cult novel, won the prestigious Hugo Award science fiction novel in 1962, and became a cultural icon of the hippy generation, which immediately tune to the song to free love and sexual freedom brought along all the work, which inevitably made it a cause celebre for the more puritanical layers of American society. A black legend of the novel also contributed to the fact that the famous psychopath Charles Manson sure to be inspired in the process, meticulously detailed, organization and operation of the imaginary cult novel for the creation of their own sectarian community murderers. Therefore, Stranger in a Strange Land is, even today in the XXI century, reading a book disturbing. A work ultimately can not miss in the library of any fan of science fiction that seeks to claim the title of geek.
Article originally published in May 2006, in the late Mondofriki.com site. Revised to add links to the original text and remove typos (some insurance that has been, it never fails.)
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