cult classics

[snugglekitty]

So, every year I read one Heinlein that I haven't read before.

I've been doing this since I was 16, when I found out that he was dead and that there were a limited number of his books that I could read.

When For Us the Living came out, I read that one as an extra, because it was an extra.

And yes, I've read To Sail Beyond the Sunset, Time Enough for Love, Stranger in a Strange Land, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, I Will Fear No Evil, etc. I'm looking for a suggestion that's outside the canon. So far, the only Heinleins I haven't really liked have been Glory Road and Job.

So - any suggestions of lesser-known Heinleins?

Also, some of you may have noticed that Mercedes Lackey's Diana Tregarde books are being released in new trade editions. Whee!

Comments

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

-It's tricky to know exactly which Heinlein novels someone will like, but I might recommend Starship Troopers, The Number of the Beast, or The Past Through Tomorrow. (At this point, other people will chime in with why those are bad choices . . . )

thanks

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

*nod*

I actually have read Starship Troopers, although it's not one of my favorites. I should have mentioned that. I was thinking about doing The Number of the Beast this year so perhaps I will. :)

[fraterrisus]

when my dad was introducing me to Heinlein (after i'd gotten most of the way through Time Enough For Love), he handed me Number of the Beast and said "This is an awful book, but you should read it next." he was right. it has its redeeming features but it's not great. :)

i think you've nicked most of the stuff of his that i've read. i'd suggest Friday, though i'm not sure that qualifies as 'outside canon' or 'lesser-known'. and i think The Cat Who Walked Through Walls is another in the Lazarus Long series, but again i'm not sure that qualifies.

you might like Have Spacesuit, Will Travel, which is one of his juvenile books; you could probably read it in an afternoon.

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

I've read Friday and love it; it's one of my favorites. I've read the other two you mention as well and liked them both.

It's looking like it is going to be The Number of the Beast. :)

[chienne-folle.livejournal.com]

I've read "Number of the Beast" several times. It always annoys me, but I always find it too compelling to put down. Heinlein really did have an amazing gift of being readable even when he was being authoritarian and sexist.

His juveniles are mostly a lot of fun. You might like "The Rolling Stones."

Happy Reading!

Cory

P. S. -- I'm incredibly amazed at your self-discipline to ration yourself to one Heinlein per year!