It's a while since I read them, but I didn't see that many differences between the two iirc, and the couple of differences I spotted were probably improved by a bit of cutting... but either is good
I noticed some differences on the first couple of pages, but they mayn't have been very significant. I couldn't be bothered to read the whole thing just to see what the further differences were. :)
Friday is a rather jolly adventure romp, but To Sail Beyond the Sunset is pretty poor - Heinlein revisiting large numbers of characters from previous books and trying to tie them together into one coherent timeline and family.
Stranger is okay if you can overlook the low level misogynism that pervades. I agree that it's a classic (and the edited version is marginally better), but it's a difficult read for the above reason.
To Sail Beyond the Sunset is pretty poor - Heinlein revisiting large numbers of characters from previous books and trying to tie them together into one coherent timeline and family. I didn't say it was good, but you are actually right. :) Probably not a good recommendation for a not-quite-my-first Heinlein then (though it was my first, now I come to think of it.) Stranger is okay if you can overlook the low level misogynism that pervades. I agree that it's a classic (and the edited version is marginally better), but it's a difficult read for the above reason. Oddly enough, I can't remember that and I always thought of myself as a feminist. Pah!
People always remember their first Heinlein - I'm fairly sure that mine was Between Planets.
My rule of thumb re: Heinlein novels is that he lost it in the early 1970s, and everything after that time is mediocre at best. Friday is the only real exception to this, although Job comes close in places (it's a bit preachy for my liking).
I haven't read either of those. I've read: Space Cadet, Podkayne of Mars, Job: A Comedy of Justice, Glory Road, The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, Have Space Suit Will Travel, Starship Troopers, and a couple of others whose titles I can't remember. I definitely haven't read The Cat Who Walked Through Walls or Friday or SiaSL.
I have read all of those plus the ones you haven't read. Actually, it is easier to say I have read all of Heinlein except for one book. This was a non fictional account of a travel he once did. Yes, Heinlein did a travel guide book, which seemed to be the fad at one time. It did not sell, nor did it seem to sell well after he died when the publishers trotted it out. I glanced at it, decided it was silly and never have read it.
Depends on what you are interested in. He wrote several of the best time travel stories ever written. By his bootstraps and All you zombies. Definitely worth reading. Destination moon is classic and was made into one of the best (for its time) movies. Podkyane of Mars is definitely one of his most "Liberatarian" books and is well set off by reading Stranger in a Strange land. I think reading these two books back-to-back would be highly entertaining.
"All You Zombies" was one of the few stories I've read, then turned instantly back to page one to read it again. Come to think of it, Heinlein has done that to me more than once, I'm pretty sure I read "I Will Fear No Evil" straight through twice. But I've read them all so many times it's hard to remember now :)
duh I was thinking of "Moon is a harsh mistress". But I guess there is an element of this in Podkyane. Actually, there were two versions of Podkyane made, the publishers insisted the ending be re-written to give it a happy ending instead of killing off Podkyane.
Heinlein to read: the short stories in the Future History collections (The Man Who Sold the Moon is a good place to start, followed by The Green Hills of Earth and Revolt in 2100); The Door into Summer (SF timetravelling romance at its best); Starship Troopers; The Moon is a Harsh Mistress; any of the juveniles, since they're possibly the best stuff he wrote (The Rolling Stones and Have Spacesuit - Will Travel are especially good, as is Between Planets).
Heinlein to avoid: Farnham's Freehold (to quote Dorothy Parker: this is not a book to tossed aside lightly - it should be thrown with great force); Stranger in a Strange Land (overrated); anything written after 1970.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2005-03-23 12:58 am (UTC)Stranger is okay if you can overlook the low level misogynism that pervades. I agree that it's a classic (and the edited version is marginally better), but it's a difficult read for the above reason.
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Date: 2005-03-23 04:11 am (UTC)I didn't say it was good, but you are actually right. :) Probably not a good recommendation for a not-quite-my-first Heinlein then (though it was my first, now I come to think of it.)
Stranger is okay if you can overlook the low level misogynism that pervades. I agree that it's a classic (and the edited version is marginally better), but it's a difficult read for the above reason.
Oddly enough, I can't remember that and I always thought of myself as a feminist. Pah!
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Date: 2005-03-23 05:43 am (UTC)My rule of thumb re: Heinlein novels is that he lost it in the early 1970s, and everything after that time is mediocre at best. Friday is the only real exception to this, although Job comes close in places (it's a bit preachy for my liking).
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Date: 2005-03-22 01:34 pm (UTC)I still love "time enough for love" but everyone reads that.. or its direct tie in to sail beyond the sunset
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Date: 2005-03-22 01:58 pm (UTC)Space Cadet, Podkayne of Mars, Job: A Comedy of Justice, Glory Road, The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, Have Space Suit Will Travel, Starship Troopers, and a couple of others whose titles I can't remember.
I definitely haven't read The Cat Who Walked Through Walls or Friday or SiaSL.
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Date: 2005-03-22 03:11 pm (UTC)You coming to London on Saturday?
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Date: 2005-03-22 03:28 pm (UTC)I will Feat No Evil
Date: 2005-03-22 04:30 pm (UTC)I've not read it in about 15 years but it was the first.
And I'm amazed I didn't suggest you read it a long time ago. I think I meant to give you a copy and forgot.
Don't bother reading the back cover, it'll probably give away too much. Just read it with zero spoilers.
Although "Friday" is my favorite.
Re: I will Feat No Evil
Date: 2005-03-23 12:59 am (UTC)Heinlein to read and avoid
Date: 2005-03-23 01:08 am (UTC)Heinlein to avoid: Farnham's Freehold (to quote Dorothy Parker: this is not a book to tossed aside lightly - it should be thrown with great force); Stranger in a Strange Land (overrated); anything written after 1970.