Stranger in a Strange Land

Robert Heinlin, 1961

Date read: 10/5/25

One of the first things I noticed was the antiquity of the science and sociology displayed in this novel. For example, they use blood type and Rh factor to determine paternity rather than DNA, because it did not exist yet when the novel was written. Also that a woman has to run things through her husband rather than being elected to office herself, because that just didn't happened then. So it is kind of a backwards "future", to me.

Also the complete absence of cell phones and cumbersome technology that does what a cell could have done much more easily. The church has ashtrays attached to each seat and bar service!!! lol

In the religious discussion between Mike and Jubal, it is stated that "most" humans believe in God. I do not think this is still the case, but it is difficult to tell. Surveys do not distinguish levels of belief or following.

Ive just reached a passage where the Man from Mars, his girlfriend, and a friend are having a threesome to grow in closeness. Uh huh. There's a great deal of 1960s nudity and free love in this "futuristic" novel.

"...she suspected that Mike would grok a “wrongness” in the poor in-betweeners anyhow - they would never be offered water". The "in-betweeners" being non-binary people.

"Nine times out of ten, if a girl gets raped, it’s at least partly her own fault." !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All in all, it is an interesting concept but the novel is very dated for being set in 2040. Basically, it is a sci fi argument for the 1960s free love commune.