2006-03-03
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
Author: Robert Heinlein
I got this book last year, I think on my birthday. In my wish list I had it designated "my favorite novel, ever" after reading it once in the library at college. Why is it my favorite? Is the writing really the best ever? It it because I agree with the politics? Or was it an inaccurate memory?
Synopsis: one of the leaders of the Lunar Revolution looks back on his memories of how events actually took place in 2075-6. After all, the history books didn't get it right. There wasn't that much of a great plan, all 3,000,000 Loonies didn't get caught up in a wave of patriotism and fight as one, and Adam Selene never really existed. But Mycroft Holmes (Mike) did, when the Central Authority's main computer got so much hardware added to it that it spontaneously became self-aware, and that was the only way they had a chance.
How do I love this book? Let me count the ways.
1. Mike. What sentient computer isn't cool? Mike controls all the phones in Luna City, so he basically hears everything and you can talk to him any time. He controls the catapults, so you can ask him to stop sending grain to Earth and switch to bombing them. He controls the environmentals, so you can have him kill people. And he's more concerned with refining his sense of humor than with your little war, which he basically does because it's an excuse to talk to not-stupids.
2. The organization of the revolution. A handy reference in case you ever need to do it yourself. Of course you'll have to stick with Prof's original plan if you don't have an omni-present, top-secret supercomputer on your side.
3. Life in L-City. Basically, the book is a libertarian manifesto. Yes, people can live without government or laws -- here's how. Courts can be privatized. Medical insurance is basically sophisticated gambling anyway; what's the difference between an actuary and a bookie? Etc.
4. No sex. Barely mentioned explicitly. This is Heinlein at his peak, the last of his four Hugo winning novels. In 1964 his libertarian politics are in full force but he hasn't started the slide into the demented wannabe sexual revolutionary he would become in his later years.
Alongside all that praise, I can't really think of any faults. Reading it for the second time I was ready to be critical, but there's nothing wrong with the book. It wasn't as exciting as the first time, because despite the passing of 13 years I remembered every event, but that's my memory not letting me have a good time. In conclusion, Wizard's First Rule may be the best fantasy I've ever seen, and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress remains the greatest science-fiction novel I have ever read. Don't make me choose between the two sub-genres right now.
I got this book last year, I think on my birthday. In my wish list I had it designated "my favorite novel, ever" after reading it once in the library at college. Why is it my favorite? Is the writing really the best ever? It it because I agree with the politics? Or was it an inaccurate memory?
Synopsis: one of the leaders of the Lunar Revolution looks back on his memories of how events actually took place in 2075-6. After all, the history books didn't get it right. There wasn't that much of a great plan, all 3,000,000 Loonies didn't get caught up in a wave of patriotism and fight as one, and Adam Selene never really existed. But Mycroft Holmes (Mike) did, when the Central Authority's main computer got so much hardware added to it that it spontaneously became self-aware, and that was the only way they had a chance.
How do I love this book? Let me count the ways.
1. Mike. What sentient computer isn't cool? Mike controls all the phones in Luna City, so he basically hears everything and you can talk to him any time. He controls the catapults, so you can ask him to stop sending grain to Earth and switch to bombing them. He controls the environmentals, so you can have him kill people. And he's more concerned with refining his sense of humor than with your little war, which he basically does because it's an excuse to talk to not-stupids.
2. The organization of the revolution. A handy reference in case you ever need to do it yourself. Of course you'll have to stick with Prof's original plan if you don't have an omni-present, top-secret supercomputer on your side.
3. Life in L-City. Basically, the book is a libertarian manifesto. Yes, people can live without government or laws -- here's how. Courts can be privatized. Medical insurance is basically sophisticated gambling anyway; what's the difference between an actuary and a bookie? Etc.
4. No sex. Barely mentioned explicitly. This is Heinlein at his peak, the last of his four Hugo winning novels. In 1964 his libertarian politics are in full force but he hasn't started the slide into the demented wannabe sexual revolutionary he would become in his later years.
Alongside all that praise, I can't really think of any faults. Reading it for the second time I was ready to be critical, but there's nothing wrong with the book. It wasn't as exciting as the first time, because despite the passing of 13 years I remembered every event, but that's my memory not letting me have a good time. In conclusion, Wizard's First Rule may be the best fantasy I've ever seen, and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress remains the greatest science-fiction novel I have ever read. Don't make me choose between the two sub-genres right now.
