Cover art
Thirty fourth printing
I think that this is an interesting example of cover art, with the artist's
depiction of how when two people "Grok" each other, they meld together
into one person, therefore they are in Harmony.
Stranger in a Strange Land
by Robert A. Heinlein
Not since the publication of Philip
Wylie's Generation of Vipers has there
been a book quite so deliberately designed
to make us uncomfortable about nearly
everything we take for granted. In this
entertaining and often shocking novel,
however, Mr. Heinlein uses fictional char-
acters in fictional situations to attack all
explanations of the universe offered on
faith, to undermine the idea of sexual re-
lations founded on jealousy, and to annoy
the materialists and the politicians.
Although certain of the techniques of
science fiction are used, STRANGER IN A
STRANGE LAND might be classed as philo-
sophical fantasy, or as an entertainment,
or, perhaps, as Cabellesque satire. A com-
pletely freewheeling look at contemporary
culture from the nonhuman viewpoint of
someone from another culture, it is unlike
anything that has ever been done before.
It is deliberately annoying, and often very
funny. It runs down the sacred cows and
slaughters them hilariously.
Here is an incredible story with enough
excitement and action for five novels, but
it is not for people who are eadily shocked.
Although he knew it was an impossible
objective, Mr. Heinlein's purpose in writ-
ing this novel was to examine every major
axiom of Western culture, to question each
axiom, throw doubt on it--and, if possible
--to make the antithesis of each axiom
appear a possible and perhaps desirable
thing--rather than unthinkable.
