Stranger in a Strange Land

Stranger in a Strange Land is a novel written by Robert A. Heinlein. Written in 1961, Heinlein's work still considered by many to be a classic piece of science fiction. The novel is based on the discovery of a man on mars, Valentine Michael Smith, and his arrival on earth. The main character of the novel is Jill Boardman, a nurse at the hospital where the man from Mars is kept upon his arrival at earth. Jill meets and becomes "water brothers" with Michael. When Jill is informed by her friend Ben Caxton, a journalist, that the government is trying to manipulate Michael into handing over control of the enitre planet of Mars as he is technically the owner of Mars by law, she assists him in taking Michael out of the hospital and into hiding where the government can't manipulate him. The story then follows Jill and Michael's journeys to evade the government and gain freedom for Michael. In his novel, Heinlein fabricates an elaborate world with great depth and complexity. His vision of our potential future seems very realistic making this book enjoyable and interesting to read.