The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress

302 pages

Published by G. P. Putnam's Sons / Berkley Medallion.

ISBN:: 978-0-425-01601-5

(1 review)

It is the late 21st Century and the Moon has been colonized -- as a giant, open, prison. Every aspect of life is overseen by the Federated Nations "Lunar Authority"; until one day when a self-aware Super-Computer, a Jack of all Trades Technician, an Anarchist Professor, and a beautiful Blonde Revolutionary decide to change their world. The conspirators' plans go along beautifully...for a while.

TANSTAAFL! There ain't no such thing as a free lunch! Robert A. Heinlein was the most influential science fiction writer of his era, an influence so large that, as Samuel R. Delany notes, "modern critics attempting to wrestle with that influence feel themselves dealing with an object rather like the sky or an ocean." He won the Hugo Award for best novel four times, a record that still stands. The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress was the last of these Hugo-winning novels, and it is widely …

It is the late 21st Century and the Moon has been colonized -- as a giant, open, prison. Every aspect of life is overseen by the Federated Nations "Lunar Authority"; until one day when a self-aware Super-Computer, a Jack of all Trades Technician, an Anarchist Professor, and a beautiful Blonde Revolutionary decide to change their world. The conspirators' plans go along beautifully...for a while.

TANSTAAFL! There ain't no such thing as a free lunch! Robert A. Heinlein was the most influential science fiction writer of his era, an influence so large that, as Samuel R. Delany notes, "modern critics attempting to wrestle with that influence feel themselves dealing with an object rather like the sky or an ocean." He won the Hugo Award for best novel four times, a record that still stands. The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress was the last of these Hugo-winning novels, and it is widely considered his finest work. It is a tale of revolution, of the rebellion of the former Lunar penal colony against the Lunar Authority that controls it from Earth. It is the tale of the disparate people -- a computer technician, a vigorous young female agitator, and an elderly academic -- who become the rebel movement's leaders. And it is the story of Mike, the supercomputer whose sentience is known only to this inner circle, and who for reasons of his own is committed to the revolution's ultimate success. The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress is one of the high points of modern science fiction, a novel bursting with politics, humanity, passion, innovative technical speculation, and a firm belief in the pursuit of human freedom. - Back cover.

41 editions

Thom reviewed The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein

Review of 'The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This time, this reading, I noticed a LOT of connections, with both the American revolutionary war and the aftermath compromise we are living in now. Some chapters in the first two-thirds are straight out Libertarian discussions, the last third is all action, and well done.

One could probably connect this to Joseph Campbell also. Having recently finished a book on the revolution, the subtle connections were more plain to me than in previous readings. The obvious ones were just as obvious - the revolution declared on the 4th of July. My favorite of the subtle ones was the Earthside trip, so like Franklin's visit to Europe.

When one reads other Heinlein, one realizes how well Manny's speech and thought patterns fit his upbringing. When one hasn't, it is easy to get annoyed. There are a few other quibbles, of course, but I would rather discuss this with someone who has …

This time, this reading, I noticed a LOT of connections, with both the American revolutionary war and the aftermath compromise we are living in now. Some chapters in the first two-thirds are straight out Libertarian discussions, the last third is all action, and well done.

One could probably connect this to Joseph Campbell also. Having recently finished a book on the revolution, the subtle connections were more plain to me than in previous readings. The obvious ones were just as obvious - the revolution declared on the 4th of July. My favorite of the subtle ones was the Earthside trip, so like Franklin's visit to Europe.

When one reads other Heinlein, one realizes how well Manny's speech and thought patterns fit his upbringing. When one hasn't, it is easy to get annoyed. There are a few other quibbles, of course, but I would rather discuss this with someone who has read it than write them down. So get to it! At least a 4 star book, and one that I rarely stop thinking about.

2011
Just as much fun as I remember it being 30+ years ago, with a little more politics.

Lists

Hugo Award for Best Novel