The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein (1996-08-03)

I'm reading this book again (third time) because it was suggested that it mirrors what is happening to the US/China space race. The USA has forgotten the strategy of holding the high ground but China has not. We limp along with a space station we can't even reach on our own vehicles. We seem about to allow a permanent moon-base to be established by another nation. Heinlein saw the harsh implications of losing the high ground of the moon by considering it as unimportant.

I'm also finding the book to be a good primer on insurgency and revolution. I had no recall from reading it in the 60's and 70's that "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" could possibly be meaningful to the 21st Century in so many ways. I wonder if it's required reading for today's insurgents. If the TEA Party can read it, the space program might get a boost.

The plot is dated as is the writing. Heinlein never was as good a writer as a visionary. The book gets very dull in the middle but the world Heinlein created in this book is worth examining for its lessons for today.

While all of Heinlein's novels explore sociopolitical questions through science fiction, there are two that stood out for me: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and Starship Troopers. These take a cold, hard look at the political system, democracy and justice that is timeless - as well as being good reads, like all Heinlein titles. Heinlein, along with writers like Huxley and Orwell, could spin a great yarn while making their point - something any writer ought to look at more closely.

This is great Heinlein. His matured Libertarian philosophy exhibited in a thrilling story. SF just doesn't get any better! I bought this paperback because (at the time) they didn't offer the Kindle version. (They do now.). By the way, TANSTAAFL means: There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Would but our current administration concede this!

Classic Heinlein I suppose. Some great themes throughout the book that have resurfaced in science fiction. May still be considered prolific one day. There are a few things here and there which feel dated at this point, but still worth the read.

Since a young man Heinlein's stories have captivated me. I read this one after college, and to this day it remains my favorite book. It combines politics, sci-fi, and future-history in a compelling narrative full of adventure and wit.

I normally buy "new" books, but considered Used-Like New for this book, as a new hardcover runs $100 +.
Thanks for being true to the description Used-Like New ! I was very impressed on the like new condition of this hardcover.
Thanks again!

Heinlein's masterpiece of sentient computers and revolution in the Lunar colony, He explored group marriages and other social issues herein but just an amazing book overall. Still a fresh read even here in 2013.

Told from the perspective of the lunar penal colony, and organized with somewhat modern (for the 1950's) communications and control. Originally written as "juvenile fiction," this is worth reading for thoughtful adults.

The writer fills the pages with a great story about moon. But when I purchased it I expected a deeper book about governing styles and revolution. I feel a bit disappointed. But it is still a good book.

An outstanding example of Golden Age science fiction by one of its founders. Moon was just as enjoyable, compelling and thought provoking a read today as it was when I first read it 30 years ago. Golden Age science fiction is all about ideas and how those ideas could work out in a future reality. The characters, scene and plot are just the machinery used to work through the ideas. This leads to a lot of Golden Age science fiction with great ideas but contrived situations and wooden characters. Heinlein does a pretty good job of mitigating those Golden Age faults. That’s one reason it’s a Golden Age classic. The other reason is Heinlein superbly handles the ideas he presents. Here’s a Golden Age author at the peak of his powers. Reading Moon is like watching a successful hail-Mary pass in the last seconds of play or Swan Lake at the Mariinsky. Well, maybe I’m overstating a bit. Appreciate the book for what it is and you’re in for a treat.

BTW, the cover blurb on this edition says the book is about libertarian revolution. Heinlein didn’t think so. On page 83, he states the political idea used as the underpinning of the revolution and it’s not libertarian. Heinlein even includes libertarian in a list of excluded political ideas.

Heinlein delivers a plausible tale of what it might take for the Moon to gain its independence someday. He writes characters that you actually care about, including the AI personality. Highly recommended.

I just started reading Heinlein's books over the past year or so and this one has been my favorite so far. A great story, interesting characters, and plenty of insights on how life may be on the moon. The marriage of technology, interesting people, and a fascinating place make you feel like you experienced how life may be on the moon after man establishes a base there.

I really enjoyed reading this book!
I realized how many sayings we have that came from this author.
A really great story about a peoples struggle to overthrow their beaurocratic overlords.
It's just timeless, they should have kids read this in school!

In an expanding age of electronic media , Heinlein's works in science fiction are comparable to the works of William Shakespeare in English literature. I only hope the people of this generation can read his books and will get the same amount of thought-provoking entertainment that he did for my generation . I would use this as a forum to suggest to the Kindle e-book staff to look carefully into the books published in the 20th century with a mind of publishing more. I am curious right now as to how many people have purchased this book who have been anxiously awaiting the release . There are a few people that can compete with Mr. Heinlein's talent for taking the unusual alien and outrageous and convert those ingredients into such a thoroughly entertaining and thought-provoking work of fiction. The title of Grand Master in the science-fiction realm is a well deserved legacy. My only regret is I never had a chance to meet Robert Heinlein the world is a poor place without him
Bill Hodges

Another excellent Heinlein novel. A must read for any Sci-Fi enthusiast. Took a little bit to wrap my head around the grammar, but its a unique way to show the evolution of a Lunar penal colony without spelling it all out.

I loved the entire book and was especially entranced once I met a few of the characters. Without wanting to spoil anything I was quite upset about the ending and yet I understood it completely, as that is the tendency for how humans work - life goes on. Just it feels that the universe in Moon is quite a bit less fun without a certain presence around.

It is amazing how fitting the message of this book is for our times. A must read. I personally think every high school student should be required to read it before they are allowed to graduate. Liberty!

I love this book for the inner consistent logic of its setting, a moon colony which is entirely plausible; its characters, including the intelligent computer; and its plot, a colony rebelling against unreasonable demands. The authentic touches like Russian slang, and the gentle humour, make it one of my favorites - I own two copies and have given several to friends. Yes, a top-class rating.

First read this 50 years ago. Still startling original. So many different philosophical questions asked. So many developments anticipated. and so much FUN. If you read not other book the rest of this year, read this one.

His book is narrated in a little broken English though when Prof and Mike speak, the English is grammatically correct. You will need to get used to reading the broken English of the main character Manuel.
As it says on the cover, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is about libertarian revolution and Heinlein makes great use of a futuristic world streaming with a political and future capitalist environment of Terra or Earth. The inhabitants of Luna City strive to break free of Terra and the Lunar Authority's authoritarian control. Essentially, the Federated Nations exerts slave labor on the moon with little freedom of its people.
I thought this book to have a sense of realism in a kind of slave labor free market society that the future may hold in today's world. In my opinion, this is the best science fiction book that I have read and it contributed a realistic outlook of our present and future economic system's strangle hold on poor third world countries to produce our goods for cheap labor. Eventually, lower socioeconomic societies will revolt in the cause of being free, especially those who would earn less than a couple dollars a day making products first world countries will purchase. In a sense the underlying story in the book is a revelation of our current economic system and how it takes advantage of people who are less fortunate.
People are tired of taking s*** from others who are higher in the socioeconomic chain of our current free market system.
This is one underlying theme of the story in The Moon is a Harsh Mistress that I read and it is also about a society wanting to be free from authoritarian rule which I have already stated.
My only hope is that science and technology will someday put an end to capitalism and realize that every human in this world will want to work to the benefit of the human species and the world. As some of you are well aware, humans are still a self destructive animal. Case in point, Robert Oppenheimer first developed nuclear fission to generate electricity and then, government came along and wanted him to make a bomb out of it. I wonder if we, the human race, will make the same decisions when we develop fusion technology. Will we want it for a clean sustainable energy source or a bomb? Hopefully the human species will be more intelligent.
Sorry for rambling off subject. This book really makes me think about the future.

Spoiler Alert!!!

I'm sad to see that Mike is not self aware but is just a basic functioning computer. :(
"Man, my only friend."