Stranger in a Strange Land, winner of the 1962 Hugo Award, is the story of
Valentine Michael Smith, born during, and the only survivor of, the first
manned mission to Mars. Michael is raised by Martians, and he arrives on
Earth as a true innocent: he has never seen a woman and has no knowledge
of Earth's cultures or religions. But he brings turmoil with him, as he is
the legal heir to an enormous financial empire, not to mention de facto
owner of the planet Mars. With the irascible popular author Jubal Harshaw
to protect him, Michael explores human morality and the meanings of love.
He founds his own church, preaching free love and disseminating the psychic
talents taught him by the Martians. Ultimately, he confronts the fate
reserved for all messiahs.
The impact of Stranger in a Strange Land was considerable, leading many
children of the 60's to set up households based on Michael's water-brother
nests. Heinlein loved to pontificate through the mouths of his characters,
so modern readers must be willing to overlook the occasional sour note
("Nine times out of ten, if a girl gets raped, it's partly her fault.").
That aside, Stranger in a Strange Land is one of the master's best
entertainments, provocative as he always loved to be. Can you grok it?

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