Stranger in a Strange Land

Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land (1961) is considered a classic of the science fiction genre. Heinlein, along with Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov, is regarded as one of the Big Three writers of science fiction’s Golden Age. Stranger in a Strange Land examines themes of cultural otherness, the role of religion in public life, and the link between love and spirituality. Despite mixed reviews upon its release, the novel was awarded the 1962 Hugo Award for Best Novel. In 2012, it was included in a Library Congress exhibit of “Books that Shaped America.”

This guide refers to the Ace Books edition (1987).

Content Warning: The novel contains outdated depictions of gender roles.

Plot Summary

25 years after the first human expedition to Mars—the Envoy—failed to return home, a follow-up mission is sent to discover the fate of the crew. Probes show a thriving Martian society, and the second vessel, the Champion, eventually returns with Valentine Michael Smith, a human by birth but raised by Martians. He is, in fact, “‘more Martian than Man’” (7). While recuperating—and being studied—in the hospital, Smith demonstrates the ability to self-regulate his body functions, slowing them to dangerously low levels.