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spickett's review
This started with a bang/murder and I was in, but never have I lost interest so fast. There was so much quippy banter and nothing happening. I just couldn't continue. I'm sure I didn't give this one enough time but I just couldn't slog through.
knatreads501's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
erindle's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
pumpkinmama's review
1.0
One of the strangest book-reading experiences I've had to date. This has a very promising first half, starts getting a little odd, then nosedives into an utterly nonsensical juvenile soft-core porn fantasy twisted up with space-time paradoxes and boring sci-fi history.
When I am more interested in paying attention to the mindless traffic jam I'm in and realize that I've tuned out the narrative for the last 15 minutes? Not a good sign. I turned it off with 3 chapters to go - nothing that could happen in the last parts could make me care.
The real mystery is should I try Heinlein again?
When I am more interested in paying attention to the mindless traffic jam I'm in and realize that I've tuned out the narrative for the last 15 minutes? Not a good sign. I turned it off with 3 chapters to go - nothing that could happen in the last parts could make me care.
The real mystery is should I try Heinlein again?
booleancat's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
hirvimaki's review
4.0
Three and a half stars, rounded up to 4 because although I'm not sure I "really liked it" it is more than just a "liked it." An enjoyable if rather rambling and self-indulgent tale of time travel, the nature of reality, and a cat. If you enjoy Heinlein and have read the bulk of his work then this read is fun just because it is a cavalcade of many of Heinlein's characters and a tour of locations from the Heinleinverse. It's like an episode of The Love Boat (cheesy sexcapades included) with 300 times the guest stars, including characters and locations from The Rolling Stones, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, Methuselah's Children, Time Enough for Love, The Number of the Beast, To Sail Beyond the Sunset, Strange Land, Starship Troopers, Glory Road, etc...
greaydean's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent. I do highly recommend reading "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" before reading this book, as there are a number of characters that show up including some important plot pieces.
Spoiler alert.
The ending is abrupt.
Spoiler alert.
The ending is abrupt.
authoraugust's review
3.0
So, I have infinitely mixed feelings about this book. I haven't dog-eared a book this much in a long time; the quotables were boundless, and Hazel is an incredibly fun character. But at the end of the day...what the hell? Maybe I'm just not sophisticated enough for Heinlein, or maybe I shouldn't try to read a book about time travel on the bus. Either way, the ending left me confused and frustrated, even though (after verbally recounting it) I think I know what he was going for. I also didn't realize when I started this book that it's a loose sequel to The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, or I would have read that first.
olityr's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Very disappointing. This is my 12th book by Heinlein, and it's by far the worst of them. It was meandering and unfocused. Having his wife turn out to be multiple characters from his other books slightly tainted those good/great books by association with this terrible one. (This is a loose sequel to both The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and The Rolling Stones.)
Most of the sexual conversations were off-putting. He was clearly trying to show a group of people in a society where sex isn't a taboo, but it repeatedly came off as creepy rather than liberated. (Especially in regard to 13-year-old Gretchen)
Favorite Quote:
"The hardest part about gaining any new idea is sweeping out the false idea occupying that niche. As long as that niche is occupied, evidence and proof and logical demonstration get nowhere. But once the niche is emptied of the wrong idea that has been filling it — once you can honestly say, ‘I don’t know’, then it becomes possible to get at the truth."
Most of the sexual conversations were off-putting. He was clearly trying to show a group of people in a society where sex isn't a taboo, but it repeatedly came off as creepy rather than liberated. (Especially in regard to 13-year-old Gretchen)
Favorite Quote:
"The hardest part about gaining any new idea is sweeping out the false idea occupying that niche. As long as that niche is occupied, evidence and proof and logical demonstration get nowhere. But once the niche is emptied of the wrong idea that has been filling it — once you can honestly say, ‘I don’t know’, then it becomes possible to get at the truth."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Pedophilia
Most of the sexual conversations were off-putting. He was clearly trying to show a group of people in a society where sex isn't a taboo, but it repeatedly came off as creepy rather than liberated. (Especially in regard to 13-year-old Gretchen)