Saturday, December 6, 2008

Revolution on the moon

My lack of posting these last couple of weeks is due to my recent rediscovery of the works of Robert A. Heinlein. (Well that and just being somewhat lazy and the holiday and numerous other things which are too boring to write about). Anyway, I loved Heinlein in high school and college and read quite a few of his novels, my favorite book during those years being Stranger in a Strange Land. I just finished The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. I must say this book is now my favorite by far. I had no idea this wonderful collection of paper, ink and glue was just sitting on my shelf with the words "His classic, Hugo Award-winning novel of libertarian revolution" right on the cover!

The reason I read the book in the first place was its mention on quite a few of the blogs/websites I frequent. I thought I should find out for myself why everyone keeps talking about this book. Then today on a local political forum, I came across yet another reference to the book. So I will keep the trend going and mention the book on my blog. Not that I have a great number of readers but you never know who might want to start a revolution...

I won't give a plot synopsis here as that is what this is for. But for anyone who enjoys science fiction and for some reason has not read much (or any) Heinlein, this book will provide a great deal to think about albeit in a fun and entertaining way. This book is especially relevant considering the current political climate (which is certainly not entertaining).

I'll end with one of the best quotes from the book:

"Must be a yearning deep in human heart to stop other people from doing as they please. Rules, laws--always for the other fellow. A murky part of us, something we had before we came down out of the trees, and failed to shuck when we stood up. Because not one of those people said: 'Please pass this so I won't be able to do something I know I should stop.' Nyet, tovarishchee, was always something they hated to see their neighbors doing. Stop them 'for their own good'--not because the speaker claimed to be harmed by it."

Manuel Davis O'Kelley
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress