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sammhill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Sexual content
uranaishi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Confinement, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Murder, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Cursing, Drug use, Genocide, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Cannibalism, Stalking, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism
emilythebarwench's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It has an interesting premise and introduction, however it severely drops off after the first third of the book.
It also contains blatant sexism. I understand the book is a product of it's era and the author no doubt believed he was writing about sex in a liberated or progressive way, but it did not stand the test of time.
I would recommend this book for those looking particularly to dive into the origins of scifi books, but for the average reader? Not so much.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Rape
shibaunited's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
zworlund's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Minor: Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and War
gabriella_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
haleyshort's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5
I recommended this for one of my book clubs after reading “The Mountain in the Sea” because the questions about what it means to be human and how we understand justice and freedom reminded me of this book. I listened to it on this read and had such a different experience. I don’t know if it was the lens of having recommended it to a group of 11 people that I don’t know all that well or the listening or the having grown up a little since my last read but the icky parts felt so much ickier. At the end of the story I do still enjoy it and think that it has a lot of value as a part of the canon and in forcing us to ask some questions about why we live how we live. There’s a reason it was so influential. But the misogyny and homophobia are both so intense and gross and totally out of line with the philosophy of the book in general. Heinlein’s perspective really shines through, negatively, on those ends.
I don’t agree with others criticisms that the female characters don’t have agency - the narrators voice is misogynistic and there is clearly patriarchy in the world that they live in but they end up with a lot of power and control in the microcosm that is created in the final 1/4 of the book. I am really looking forward to discussing this (and hoping it hasn’t ruined my book club reputation).
First read:
4.5
This was such a joy to read. After reading “Job: A Comedy of Justice,” I knew that I needed to experience another Heinlein story. This absolutely did not disappoint. The casual misogyny and racism are countered by disarmingly progressive views about the nature of humanity and the capacity we have to connect with and love each other. The way that Heinlein frames and questions faith, love, sex, religion, brotherhood, and family will stay with me, along with the characters and their wonderful idiosyncrasies.
One line in the book made me incredibly uncomfortable, so I will add a content warning about discussions of sexual assault.
I’m a lifelong Atheist, with aspirations towards Agnosticism, but I am on board with the church of the Man from Mars. Thou art God indeed.
Graphic: Ableism, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and War
amaranth101's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
mattmaison's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content
unboxedjack's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation