Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: notesfiles Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!hplabs!hp-pcd!hpfcma!marc From: marc@hpfcma.UUCP (marc) Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Re: Orphaned Response Message-ID: <5800001@hpfcma.UUCP> Date: Thu, 13-Dec-84 16:02:00 EST Article-I.D.: hpfcma.5800001 Posted: Thu Dec 13 16:02:00 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 27-Dec-84 02:43:35 EST References: <-12500@ahuta.UUCP> Organization: Hewlett-Packard - Fort Collins, CO Lines: 26 Nf-ID: #R:ahuta:-12500:hpfcma:5800001:37777777600:1193 Nf-From: hpfcma!marc Dec 19 13:02:00 1984 > This one starts out with more promise than other recent Heinlein novels > (NUMBER OF THE BEAST and FRIDAY, in particular), but about halfway through > Heinlein once again reverts to his stock characters and the novel loses > steam. What's wrong with stock characters? I think Heinlein has been in the process of perfecting his "stock" characters through the generations of his work. Should Mozart have shifted in his prime to dabbling in fusion-jazz? I think not. > Then about three-quarters of the way through, Heinlein does an abrupt > left turn and the novel becomes something else entirely. Unfortunately, > what it becomes is not nearly as interesting as what it was. I soaked in the "left turn." It flowed well and yet was unexpected -- two qualities I find rare in writing. Perhaps some will be dissapointed because there are no strange aliens, nor any evil empire. The book requires some insight into religion and values -- two things that make many people shy away from the arts. Call me illiterate. Call me old fashioned. Call me a lover of Heinlein's works. Marc "an unpleasant profession..." McKenzie Hewlett-Packard, Co. ...!hpfcla!hpfcma!marc