Stranger in a Strange Land

[Vibecrewangel]

Finished it....

You were right Max 2/3 of a good book. The begining was slow and quite dull and the end totally blew major chunks. But for the most part the book was a good read. I really liked the development of the "Thou art God" concept.

Interestingly enough it was Heinlein and Hubbard that had the bet over who could write the better religious/philsophical book. (Or so I have been told)


On another note....went to see Eddie Izzard on Saturday. During his show he kept using the phrase "Allah Willing" and then'correcting' himself with "God Willing" and the entire group of people I was with sat their with mouths hanging open. Later they were all laughing about my "language is the issue" concept.
See even the crazy drag queen gets it.....why is it so hard for so many others?

[Vibecrewangel]

Bump for Max

[mburbank]

Hey, baby.

It's a great book as a slice of history. I think Jubal Harshaw is an amazing character, but man! That whole crew of writers all thought they were Hugh Friggin' Heffner.

As far as the philosiphy stuff in it goes, I liked it a lot, but H. cops out by not getting into the heads of any of the people who convert. Even the most skeptikal are shown at the end as true believers eating soup and not being bothered by Michaels martyrdom and we never see their thought process which makes me think H didn't have it anywhere near as hashed out as he wanted to sound.

It's basically Bhudism for westerners, ie. enlightenment minus work, which kind of cheeses me off, but it's a great read and after all these years it still gets you thinking. I'd like to see a movie of it made as a period piece, set in the sixties. I think that would be most groovy.

Here's a slice o' history for you. There was a popular button that said "I grok Spock."

[Vibecrewangel]

OMG I have an I grok Spock bumper sticker.....
It was my moms....

I agree Harshaw was the bomb! One of the perfect Buddhists....understanding without learning. Based on experience and observation. He was my favorite.
Tho the tatoo woman was very interesting as well.

I have to agree about the converts tho. Just too out there for me to believe they could evolve so deeply so easily. Of course they did have years of training in martian thought....
Did you read the full version or the edited one?

[mburbank]

I read it as it was originally published, so if the manuscript has been updated, like a directors cut, no, I haven't read it.

I always heard that scientology was the result of a bet between Asimov and Heinlein, but I don't know if that's anything more than a story. Certainly it's good story and would make a lot of sense.

I've also heard that Hubbard's body has never been produced.

[Vibecrewangel]

LOL
Maybe Hubbard had a bet with himself....he was a gran ol' nut job.

I heard he died on his boat and was burried at sea.....

I think the uncut version added a lot of the learning. There was quite a bit of life in the nest. Lessons, love, relationships. Tho it was still preety lacking in the thoughts of the converts.

[mburbank]

And a little too big on folks patterned on Heinlein getting to have lots and lots of no consequences sex with really hot babes.

I'm always little leery of folks who write about enlightenment and feature themselves getting lots and lots of no consequences sex from really hot babes.

[Vibecrewangel]

Sexual enlightenment is the best man.....
JOIN US

[mburbank]

Can't. I'm from New England.