The juveniles, I think, hold up best of all, because they aren't hampered by Heinlein's attempts to wedge in his concepts about politics and gender relations.
Hm. My previous exposure was a Heinlein juvie, whose title I don't remember (it took place on Mars, I think) and I
loathed
it -- specifically for its politics and gender relations. It was about an evil evil corporation coming to abrogate the rights of the free settlers who had settled freely and were free and settlers. The boys got guns and were upstanding and bright and honorable, and the girls were giggly and couldn't wait to follow their mothers into the kitchen. Since I read it for a (children's) library collection development class, I ended up recommending that it be discarded.
Let us say that it aged badly. I'm sure, in 1947, people must have thought it was a fun novel. Of course, in 1947, mayonnaise was one of the four food groups.
Actually, I find the later, idiotic sexaholic Heinlein novels less annoying than the earlier ones, because the later ones are like romance novels for men. The earlier ones seem to take themselves seriously.
Glory Road is NOT one of the juvenile novels. It has sex and guns and stuff. Also, adventure! Romance!
Hoo-boy, the Heinlein debate is raging amok! I've read nearly all his books and he happens to be one of my favorite sci-fi writers. I'm not sure why, because I can see a lot of the things that people are complaining about, but there's something in me that just allows me to gloss right over that and enjoy the story. Sure, most of his women are frail and ditzy, but not all. In Farnham's Freehold he presents both weak and strong women. His daughter is a pampered pussycat, his wife is the prototypical 50's housefrau, but the son's girlfriend is presented as pretty self-sufficient, she just doesn't play that big a role in the book other than the protagonist ditches his wife for her, presumably because she is the stronger woman. Personally, I suspect Heinlein was just one of those people who couldn't get inside the head of a female character. Not that he was unwilling to, because he did write books with female protagonists (Friday), but he just couldn't. Most probably because of his generational upbringing and some because he was just a plain old chauvinist pig. But for me, I actually took a lot away from a few of his short stories. One in particular, told from a female perspective, was "The Menace from Earth." Strong girl discovers she doesn't have to be a girly-girl to get the boy. It impressed me, still does. Which is why I've always thought he could have done better with characters like Wyoh. It wouldn't bother me a bit if Tim made Wyoh more participatory in his movie than she was in the book. And I'd rather see Kate Beckinsale in the part than Jennifer Connelly. So there.
Interrupting Heinlein talk to mention for other Hamilton/Niagara region folk, CHTV is airing "Pink Flamingos" right now.
CHTV is airing "Pink Flamingos" right now.
Unfortunately it seems it's just a filler. PGA golf is on next saturday.
In case anyone is in the mood for some letter writing, their contact page is here
Interrupting Heinlein talk to mention for other Hamilton/Niagara region folk, CHTV is airing "Pink Flamingos" right now.
Imagine my surprise when I found this during a family barbeque. I was so excited and there was noone around, except my crazy family.
Over on the lj Wonderfalls community somebody posted that at the viewing in LA they announced December 7th as the release date for the dvds.
By LA -- I meant at the Knitting Factory viewing. . . although it strikes me now that the Knitting Factory might be in NYC. (The poster said the Knitting Factory and I leaped to a conclusion.)
There are Knitting Factory clubs in both NYC and LA. The NYC one predates the LA one by many years.
