The Stranger in a Strange Land

Enter the land of the “twilight zone”…. And the strange phenomenon of space men landing on Earth and what happens.  This is one of the early sci-fi books that has greatly influenced much of what is written today, The Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein.  The book was edited after the author’s death to include 30% more of the story, which I would have liked to know which parts were added, but nonetheless a really good book.  Who could not fall for our man from Mars, Valentine Michael Smith, a human, raised on Mars.  On a second expedition to Mars, Smith is found and brought back to Earth and hidden at the Bethesda military hospital under tight security.  Thanks to ace reporter Ben Caxton and nurse Gillian Boardman, Smith is removed from lock and key to interact with the real world!  After becoming a “water brother” (the highest form of personal connection in Martian terms) to Gillian, Smith has a new connection developed that frames much of his exiled life. Smith gets stuck in a political struggle with the governmental factions who both want oversight of the millionaire owner of Mars, so says the Larkin ruling that determines he may be the only and rightful owner.  Through the work of Caxton, Gillian and lawyer/writer Jubal Harshaw, Smith becomes a free man and starts to experiment in all that Earth offers, traveling and interacting with many of the religions on the planet and finds a home with the Fosterite Church of the New Revelation, otherwise known for their hedonistic rituals and beliefs.  Smith’s life within the formal church reflects strongly on the mark of organized religion during a time of great upheaval in our society against social norms that were beginning in the early 1960s, the time the book was written. Smith eventually succumbs to the rivals within the Fosterite Church, but ends up saving others, like Jubal, as did Jesus Christ in the Christian tradition.  A real blending of future with rich historical church doctrine.  The story of Smith, his escape, and influence from society is much like what we see today, but not the teleportation from another planet.  Heinlein’s book provides great intricacies of story about the future but having connection to the past.  Enjoyed the book tremendously.  I can see how this book serves as a pre-cursor to those that followed.  Sci-fi fans, add to your list!