Novel: Stranger in a Strange Land

Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert A. Heinlein [1961]

I finally took the leap of faith and started reading one of the most controversial science fiction novels of all time, the uncut version of Heinlein's classic Stranger in a Strange Land.  Recently this show on the Science channel started airing named the Prophets of Science fiction, and Heinlein was the current subject.  They talked about his pro-war libertarian attitude and spent a lot of time on how his book Starship Troopers was very controversial about how it portrayed the ideal society and it's glorification of the citizen-soldier.  When it finally got to the topic of Stranger in a Strange Land (I finished the book the week before), they wrote it off as an icon from the hippy movement of the 60s and moved on.  Fucking weak.  I knew that this book was highly controversial since it was published, and the original manuscript was cut and edited to remove parts that the general public would find appalling, I thought that 50 years after this book was written people would have been able to look beyond the surface and give the book a worthwhile analysis.  Although the book didnt exactly resonate with me in particular, I felt that this was a gross misrepresentation of the fantastic themes and ideas this book has brought to the table of science fiction, as 'unorthodox' as they might be.

A plot summary of this book would be utterly pointless, but the premise behind Stranger in a Strange Land is that a space exploration to Mars about 20 years before the start of the book resulted in a baby boy being born on the planet and being raised by a highly intelligent alien race.  The book begins when the boy is 'rescued' from Mars and brought back to Earth, and then goes on to tell how someone completely unrelated to any human culture views his race and it's purpose.

One of the unique concepts in this book was the Martian word "grok".  It has even earned a spot in the Oxford English Dictionary because of it's interesting concept.  It literally means "to drink", but abstractly means, all at once, to deeply think about, understand, reconcile, comprehend, cherish, and become one with (an idea or concept or even a person).  To grok is to have fully thought about, digested, and understood anything in particular, and at first Mike had a hard time doing this with many human concepts.  I think the implications that Heinlein was getting at with this concept are myriad, but one specifically is that people go about life simply accepting certain things without ever attempting to truly understand them, let alone grokking them entirely. ie. looking at other people's unique customs, ways of life, etc, and scoffing at certain aspects of them without understanding and seeing them their way.  Heinlein was not getting at infinite acceptance of other's behaviors, and showed Mike making judgments of things that were right and wrong.  One thing for instance that Mike always saw as a wrongness was violence, especially towards those whom were his friends (or as he referred to them, his 'water brothers').

Up to this point the book still resonates with me, and I grok it.  The portrayal of a foreign alien race and it's characteristics was wonderfully crafted and unique.  These beings make humans look like savages and are a very wise a transcended race.  Since Mike was raised Martian he inherently exhibits many of their characteristics, though it is shown that these unique abilities are not exclusive to him (other humans can learn them through studying the Martian language, which makes them grok).  These characteristics include complete control over the body, telepathy, and telekinesis, as well as a general air of well-being, but this comes later in the book.  The characters are excellent themselves, especially the eccentric educated doctor-lawyer Jubal Harshaw.  Jubal is a name represented of Hebrew origin and means "rams horn" and he was the inventor of music.  Jubal was a cynical realist who philosophically rationalizes everything he comes in contact with.  He is very intelligent and creative and has a very powerful egocentric personality.  I found a lot of similarities of myself in Jubal and found that I could sympathize with him.

Then the book takes a turn to religion.  As an Atheist myself I dont believe in any religion, but I respect it for it's moral impositions and unification that it gives to it's followers and therefore am very open to it's ideologies, philosophies; I just reject most of it's spiritual implications.  Without going into detail, Mike starts his own religion.  The idea behind the religion in the book is that its followers would learn Martian and be able to tap into latent human powers.  Through these powers people are able to form relationships with others in an appreciation and understanding like never before.  Basically people grokking people.  If you were thinking this means just one polygamous orgy of physical and mental unification, you would be right.  Except that people who sleep with each other both need to be part of the organization, as recognized water brothers (friends in casual terms, but supposedly more intimately linked, though this wasnt actually the truth).  People were meant to understand each other and be happy with one another.  Through this logic promiscuity was not only accepted, but became a major feature of Mike's religion.  I wouldnt necessarily say im a prude, but I grok wrongness in this. Humans are a product of their upbringing, and are instilled with cultural values and morals accordingly.  However we are biological species that have evolved from previous forms of ourselves, and as such have an evolved culture.  Monogamy is one of the concepts synonymous with every first-rate culture on Earth, and I personally think this is more than coincidence (maybe I just want it to be so, but this is my opinion and not universal truth).  Monogamy evolved from the polygamous stone-age, and while some people may have a problem maintaining their integrity by exhibiting jealousy and resentment, it is, in my opinion, a transcended way of life.

Ok enough about me being butt-hurt about the idea of a religion infecting the world that is polygamous.  Everyone in Mike's church was blissfully happy because of their enlightened way of life and understanding of each other, which makes it a good thing, right?  The answer would be yes only if Heinlein was right, which since I dont agree I say no.  Heinlein overglorified the effects of a unified friendship, creating a utopia with standards impossible for mankind in it's present state to maintain.  The idea that alien Martian values were needed to overturn the savage ways of humans is also insulting, even if Heinlein's implications were meant in a different way (an outside observer can easily spot problems that someone involved is incapable of seeing).

Despite having a tough time with this book, to the point of not really liking it, I recognize it as the classic in social science fiction that it is accredited for.  Even if I dont agree with it I have to admit it was masterfully crafted and wont be a book I will easily forget about.  However I wont ever read it again as I did not particularly enjoy it.  Recommended only for the curious and open-minded.  I had to read it given how much I enjoyed Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and have already read Starship Troopers since reading Stranger in a Strange Land and the making of this post.  I will be weary of Heinlein's other social science novels after reading Stranger.  [8.5/10]