Glory Road

Great story. I have read it 5 or 6 times. It is like an old friend. Very well written. I marked "some violence" but it is definitely story violence, and not realistic violence. (Like fighting fictional dragons as opposed to fighting people.)

The hidden dream of any/all men revealed; Oscar Gordon is the thinking man's Hero. To be shuffled off to anywhere with the Queen of the Universe(s), and forced into heroism and a carnal relationship. Ah, what a dream.

This book is great. "Glory Road" is in my top 10 books. It's been there for 30 years. I loaned it to a friend whose dog chewed it. Now I have it again. Read it multiple times and keep finding new references in it. I sat here at times just laughing as a veiled literary reference struck me or he lists the SciFi pulp magazines of his era.

The more you read the classics, science fiction and fantasy the better it gets. If you go to science fiction, fantasy or gaming conventions, it gets better. If you just like to read or read to others, it gets better.

If for any reason you don't like Heinlein, read this anyway. You don't have to agree with the man, just enjoy the ride.

I'm a big Heinlein fan and when I tried re-reading my (nearly) 40 year old paperback copy of Glory Road it fell to pieces (or pages) in my hand. Thank God it is still in publication so I can re-read it and continue to enjoy it for another 40 years.

love this guys writing style, relaxed and yet always moving on with the story. Also a great vehicle for the consideration of things (physics, time/space etc) that are often beyond human comprehension. Loved every page and would recommend to anyone who loves sci-fi or just wants to be entertained.

A lot more "fanciful" than "science" about this book by Heinlein. An light read but still entertaining. Heinlein has stepped off the path of hardcore SF with this book which includes dragons, trolls and other creatures instead of star ships, blasters and space travel.

It's a little difficult to rate Glory Road as it is a complex story for all its breezyness. I absolutely loved the first third. While I can't say I really enjoyed the last third, I agree with some of the other reviewers that it is absolutely necessary to the story and in spite of it feeling slow, it is where all the power of the story lies. The second third is a bit harder to pin down as it is the transition between the two and so it felt slightly awkward to me, the adventure becoming more complex and psychological in such a way that it was a little difficult to follow. My real problem though is that Heinlein's opinion of the way women are shines through brightest in the second third and quite frankly it bothered me. I liked Star, the Heroine, the way she was portrayed in first third, after the first third, that portrayal of Star goes away until some hints in the second to the last chapter. The change is so abrupt and large that it felt to me like Heinlein went against the character he had made just to make her female as he sees it. And frankly it knocked what would have been a five star story down to a three star because it bothered me so much.

The book I ordered was listed as in very good condition. When I received the book it looked as though it had never been touched and far exceeded my expectations.

This is not the first book I have ordered this way and every time I have been pleased with the promptness and quality of the books.

Can Heinlein write? Yes. Is the story more or less cogent, are the characters well characterized? Also yes. But I found myself just feeling very ideologically at odds with him.

This whole thing about "among all the universe only earth has prostitution" just seemed very stupid to me. Throughout this book, I learned far too much about heinleins sexual predilictions. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind raciness, filthy, sexuality, or any other kind of thing you might name, but its like listening to your grandpa talk about doing your grandma. Also there was a whole bunch of joingoist crap in there, whih is tough talk for a guy who served a small non-combat tour in the navy. He's undoubtedly a better sci fi than fantasy writer, and I didn't feel like the fantasy "world" was very fleshed out.

Also I have read 3 of heinlein's novels, and in two of them a grown woman is threatened with a spanking for back talk, and not even by her father. I guess that was common enough to threaten grown women with violence in that day and age, but to me its just seems very sexist. I felt next to no sympathy for the protagonist in this novel, and I just found the whole thing an experience in being lectured to by heinlein.

So maybe its not a "bad" book in that it flows well enough, I just really didn't enjoy it.

Interesting premise, doesn't really hold up against more modern sci-fi/fantasy writing. Typical Heinlein preachiness takes over a s significant part of the novel, and no action whatsoever after pretty much the first 2/3 of the book. Long denouement after a far too early climax. Kind of like Tolkien's Return of the King, but with less of an action payoff. That said, still worth a read for a better general understanding of the Heinlein canon. He tries to be a bit racy, but in the end comes across as more victorian than otherwise.

This is my husbands favorite book. I was finally able to find it in hard back for him. He just raves about this book. He reads it over and over again. If you enjoy Heinlein, I suggest you add this to your collection.

Another Heinlein novel that has not aged very well. It was more "Full of Surprises" when it was originally published: not the fault of the book, but it has inspired tropes used by a lot of other writers who came later.

This is the first time I've read GR in 20+ years. It is showing its age some. Starship Troopers or The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress are timeless. Still, I'd rather read this than 95% of the Sf I see rated highly on the store.

I've always thought Heinlein wrote GR as a fun piece. Sure, RH will teach you something, give you something to think about, even here. But try and read GR without comparing it to everything else RH wrote.

I give it four stars on the Heinlein scale, which would be a five for everyone else.

This book was on an Anmazon suggestion list. I read the description and ordered it, thinking it was just an adventure novel. Well, it is, but it's also pure Science Fiction, which I've never cared for in any of it's iterations. Ther cvharacters seem well-defined, but having read about half the book, I laid it aside and started something else. The plot didn't seem to be going anywhere! I'll probably finish it later purely because I'm stubborn enough to read anything I pay good money for!! But for now, I just can't "get into it!"

This, ladies and gentlemen, is what we would call a macho misogynist romp through space. If it had been written within the last 20 years, no publisher would have touched it with a 10 foot pole. I think there are better preserved Heinlein specimens.

After reading this, I didn't have the 'warm and fussy' feeling. The ending is somewhat weak, and beware not to read the back of your book (depending on which print you have), mine had a spoiler on it.

I love Heinlein's book, but wish he had choosen another ending.

This is a fantasy book, a sword & sorcery book except the sorcery is cast as advanced science. I enjoyed his literate tid-bits, like the hero saying on page 180 "I find I'm a Both Tarkington hero in a Mickey Spillane situation." On page 183 the hero begins a sword duel with an alien you learn is acting like the reincarnation of Cyrano de Bergerac. On page 184 the opponent is described as having a huge nose. On page 198 as the opponent is dying he tells our hero that he has flown to the moon, which is another hint the opponent is Cyrano de Bergerac, in addition to the opponent reciting poetry as he fights. Once our hero gets his prize, the story crumbles. The version I read was printed in 1963 and was ISBN 425-03134-9. The book went on to page 288, but was essentially over after defeating his sword fighting opponent on page 198. I read it as a kid and wanted to re-read it as an adult. This is not one of Heinlein's better books.

Glory Road was originally published in 1963, as the prices and tax rates in the text will demonstrate. It's a product of the early 1960s in many ways, referring to the Cold War, Southeast Asian conflicts and beatnik culture. But even after 50 years Glory Road is still a fun, often thought provoking read, vintage Heinlein in many ways with a lot of the same attitudes and biases that he was later to develop even further in Stranger In A Strange Land.

E.C. (for Evelyn Cyril) Gordon is a footloose young man wandering along the Riviera. Just out of the US Army after being wounded by "little brown brother" in some unspecified police action, he's at a loss as to what to do with the rest of his life. Then one day in a nudist colony he spots the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. He spends time fruitlessly trying to track her down, then runs across a peculiar newspaper advertisement that seems aimed directly at him. He follows it up and is launched on an incredible adventure that bounces him from planet to planet to universe to universe.

There's some wickedly fun humor in Glory Road, as well as a lot of wickedly loose sexuality. The literary references fly at the reader from all directions and include authors as diverse as Tolkien, Shakespeare, Plato, Proust, Burroughs, and Cabell. A fun read with some depth (though not too much).

Glory Road’s plot is simple: A trio of bizarre companions saves the universe. Or rather the universes, because, apparently, there are about twenty of them (known) and a googol yet undiscovered. Nothing we haven’t read about before, but at the same time, nothing we have ever read before. Because this is Heinlein without the “told you so”.

“Written right after Stranger in a Strange Land” it says on the back cover of my copy, as if written right after or right before a writer’s best known work, somehow improves the quality of the work in discussion. Well, I may be in the blasphemous minority here, but I wouldn’t reread the Stranger even if I were promised hand made chocolate, or the finest French Merlot, or a soul spa or you name it. Too much didacticism in science fiction is bad for your literary health.

But I would certainly reread Robert Heinlein’s “Glory Road”, because his fantasy creatures (and especially the ways he conceives of having them terminated) his universes, his heroes and his attitude are so far away from the fantasy norm, especially today’s fantasy norm, as judged from Hugo awarded, grim characters/no one-liners novels, that it would still feel fresh as a daisy on a second reading.

4 stars for Glory Road plus one star more for Heinlein.

I won't get into specifics but this is NOT your standard Heinlein. This standalone novel doesn't really fit in Heinlein's oeuvre stylistically or world-wise; it isn't connected in any way to Heinlein's other works or themes. The best way to classify it is probably fantasy w/ a touch of scifi thrown in.

What does carry over is, firstly, (of course) the imaginative story-telling and writing. Not as obvious maybe but certainly there are elements of some signature Heinlein themes like libertarianism, individualism, role of goverment, etc.

Short synopsis: Bored twenty-something recently discharged from the army listlessly wondering the french riviera area speculating how he'll make his mark, trying to get together the money to attend university. Encounters a beautiful, mysterious stranger on the beach and subsequently finds an ad in the paper looking for 'warriors'. He visits the address on the advertisement and is drawn into a magical quest w/ this same beautiful stranger spanning galaxies and universes. The last part of the book is concerned with his life after the quest and the tough decisions he has to make to be happy.

Glory Road by Robert A. Heinlein

I am working my way through the body of Heinlein's work, again, after reading his prodigious output 50 odd years ago. He hold's up quite well.
This is Heinlein's foray into the fantasy realm. A US Army soldier, fresh from the early days of the Viet Nam war, convalesces in the sunny, clothing optional South of France. He, much too briefly, meets a woman of breath taking beauty and sexuality. Soon after, bored and at loose ends, he answers an ad for employment as an adventurer. Very high pay offered but great danger expected.
He takes up the challenge and low and behold, the doctor examining him at his employment interview is the very same woman of astonishing beauty and heart stopping sexuality. He takes the job.
The two embark on a journey that closely follows the description in the want ad.
“Glory Road” is just plain fun to read. Heinlein comes out of his usual style of writing and shows what a superb word smith he truly was. The travelers meet some dangerous animals in the woods.
“...a rat big enough to eat cats and willing to eat people, and a wild hog about the same size and not a ham sandwich on hem anyplace, all rawhide and bad temper.”
That kind of colorful language fills the pages and delights the reader, page after page.
As usual, Heinlein uses the tale to make comments on the human condition, our customs and our prejudices. In “Glory Road” his touch is lighter than usual. He focuses his attention on the craft of the word monger rather than the social philosopher.
I have to think that the writer of “The Princess Bride” took some of his situations, and the off hand style of heroism, from the pages of “Glory Road”. If so, he made a good choice.
By the way, Heinlein does mention his distrust of government wisdom and his dislike of high taxes.

Glory Road (1963) is a standalone SFF novel. It was published after Stranger in a Strange Land.

In this novel, E.C. Gordon is the son of a deceased Korean War vet and the descendant of a Civil War veteran. Unlike most of his peers, Gordon is a patriot. Yet he is also a man looking for security and a pension plan.

In this story, Gordon graduates from highschool and registers at the local college. He would have liked to go to a name school, but his Airforce stepfather barely has enough to keep the kids in shoes. Then his stepfather gets orders to Germany and everybody else flies out of the country.

After his second year of college, the school deemphasizes football due to their perfect record of losses. Gordon can stay around sweeping the gym, but the supporters of the football team took their support elsewhere. He calls his draft board and requests them to call his number.

Gordon wants the Air Force, but apparently their quota is full. The Army doesn't need any chaplain clerks. He is sent to infantry bootcamp. He is then shipped to Southeastern Asia.

Gordon is promoted to Corporal several times, but busted back to PFC whenever his company commander gets depressed. One day he gets so depressed that he goes out to be a hero. For some reason, Gordon goes with him.

Gordon catches a backslash from a VC combatant. Little brown brother is somewhat rushed after killing the company commander, so Gordon gets him with a bayonet. His blade barely grazes Gordon's face, but naturally the cut gets infected.

The wound gets Gordon out of the Army. He applies for release in Wiesbaden, where his family is stationed. The request is passed up the line, but everybody tells him that it will be denied. Yet the Fairy Godmother waves her wand and his orders come back with release in Wiesbaden.

All US transport are going elsewhere or have already left the port. Gordon gets a ride on an Aussie C-47. He lands in Singapore soaking wet -- Gooney Birds leak -- and checks in at the USMTS General Smith. Then he goes into town to see the sights.

The ship drops him off in Napoli. From there, he hitches a ride to Wiesbaden. His family has just left. His stepfather had orders to Elmendorf in Alaska.

Gordon has visions of getting an education at Heidelberg. It is a beautiful town, but he learns that there are not any GI Benefits for Vietnam veterans. Vietnam is a police action, not a war. And he was an advisor, not a combatant.

Gordon has a good stake from men who want instruction in playing poker. He also has fifty-three Irish Sweepstake tickets. He takes his stake and tickets to the French Riviera. He stashes the tickets at American Express.

This tale takes Gordon to the I'll du Levant. For five dollars a day, he camps on the island. Another dollar a day pays for food. One day, he sees a woman who is perfect, but she walks away.

Gordon reads an ad in the Herald-Tribune and is tempted. Then he reads the same ad in the Stars and Stripes. A clipping of the ad is left at American Express for his box. He goes to the address to find out what the joke is about.

This story hit me and many others right in our private lives. I and my brother were the sons of a WW II veteran and received the same stipend as Gordon did; notice daughters didn't get these stipends. Many others had lives similar to Gordon. We got sucked into the tale and then were taken elsewhere.

This work is somewhat like Starship Troopers, but mostly in military administrative matters. Moreover, Gorgon leaves this world for other dimensions. Some allow what we would call magic.

Gordon is on the Glory Road. This novel does not have a sequel, but is followed by the novel Farnham's Freehold.

Highly recommended for Heinlein fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of armed combat, advanced technology, and a bit of romance. Read and enjoy!

-Arthur W. Jordin

I used to believe almost every single opinion Robert Heinlein ever wrote--and I read a LOT of his stuff before I had the psychological matter to filter out the good from the bad. What he wrote was so different that what my parents, society, my Church taught--but he still was adamant for duty, honor, self-sacrifice to the greater good (I think Ayn Rand would have loathed him--in _The Moon is a Harsh Mistress_ one of his characters said "I can't abide a Randite" Bob evidently returned the sentiment)

GR ranks as one of my favorite RAH for the unique spin on sword & sorcery--the barbarian hero is an American Vietnam "adviser" (it was that early in that sorry mess) and only near the end does Oscar realize he's been prepared all his life (possible even selectively bred!) for this adventure. Despite his being a cynical late 20th century American man, college educated, Oscar is still a barbarian--of course the "civilized people" Oscar meets just happen to share Heinlein's views on sexuality and monogamy--which really, were just RAH's counter-reaction to his "Mauve decade" upbringing in the Midwest--a counter reaction really guided by the writings of HG Wells, Sigmund Freud, and Robert Ingersol--later on we can add in the pseudoscience of Alfred Kinsey.

Still the adventure writing in GR is top-notch. For much of it, Heinlein was a fencer writing for other fencers and he didn't dumb it down. By the way, what RAH described as "Lady Vivamus" was actually a description of Heinlein's Naval Academy graduation sword, which he had "permanently borrowed" from his older brother, also an Annapolis graduate. The blade is just over 30" long and about a inch wide for most of its length--in other words, FAR lighter and shorter than the expensive ($3000) backsword Albion Arms came out with some years ago. So, "In vythe Number of the Beast", when Zebulon meets Oscar and they compare swords, they're essentially comparing very similar Navy "officer's hangers".

For some people Science Fiction is one thing and Fantasy another, and never the twain shall meet. These people are idiots. Never mind that if you gathered all these people in a single room (depressingly large) with the assignment of writing definitions for exactly what falls in each category there would soon be bloodshed, in my opinion the two are inextricably linked. Anyway, if you are one of the aforementioned blowhards, you won't like this book.

Glory Road is the tale of E.C. "Scar" Gordon, a wounded Vietnam vet taking a break from his journey home to enjoy the wonders (and clothing-optional resorts) of France before returning to the states. His vacation is proving quite relaxing until he discovers an advertisement in the personal ads describing him to a T and offering dangerous employment and adventure. He has no interest in danger or adventure--enough of that in the jungle, thank you--but it soon becomes clear he specifically is being targeted....and his prospective employer is the kind of woman who doesn't take no for an answer. Soon he finds himself worlds away on an adventure of epic proportions.

If you are at all familiar with Robert Heinlein, you know he never writes anything without underlying messages involved, from pushing Fascism in Starship Troopers to Atheism (or the deity of man, I never quite decided) in Stranger In A Strange Land. This can sometimes be subtle, sometimes not, but it rarely (in my limited Heinlein readership, anyway) comes with the sense of fun and delight that Glory Road brings to the table.

Language: PG
Violence: PG/PG-13. Some, but not too graphic. This is an adventure after all....
Sex: PG-13/R. There's quite a bit implied, and some frank discussion of the subject, but no explicit sex scenes. One of Heinlein's favorite soapboxes is the (perceived) silliness of our American/Terran sexual taboos/practices, so....be forewarned.

I read this when it first came out in the '60s, and read it again a few days ago. I thought it was a terrific book when I first read it, and I still think so. It still inspires and motivates me, maybe because I grew up in the sixties, the era of the "non-war" in Southeast Asia that became a hot war later on, the repressive era of smothering conventionality that brought forth the hippies and free love. It made me want to do heroic deeds, save beautiful damsels, slay dragons, and change the world.

It's a great fantasy adventure: Vietnam vet meets stunningly beautiful woman (who turns out to be the Empress of 20 Universes) who needs a hero to help her undertake a desperate quest. Not corny, despite the corniness of my description. Intelligent and interesting dialogue, humor, and thought-provoking concepts throughout. A classic book that's well worth reading or rereading.

Bear in mind that sci fi/fantasy is not my usual genre of interest. I've tried to read at least one "off genre" title every year and this one was suggested to me by Facebook friends. If you gravitate to this genre, then add at least one more star to my rating.

I found the story compelling and the book is a quick read. The narrative got bogged down in some existential razz-matazz and the ending wasn't completely to my liking but I'd consider reading other Heinlein books. Stranger in a Strange Land has been suggested, so I might take the plunge.

I think Heinlein captured the disconnectedness of the typical Vietnam vet in his plot and the concept of alternate worlds/planets is intriguing.

A great many reviewers here, and many other people who have talked about or reviewed this book, are disturbed or unsatisfied by the ending. However, the ending is what Heinlein was trying to do.

The adventure and romance that makes up the first part of the book is interesting and exciting. There are some very good action scenes, something Heinlein does well but not as often as some others. There are plenty of hints at sex. The characters grew on me. This isn't, as someone suggested, a parody of a fantasy/sword & sorcery novel. Heinlein is respectful of the material. The resemblance to his friend Poul Anderson's Three Hearts & Three Lions is deliberate. However, he is using the sword and sorcery novel and all its tropes to reach his central question, not just for its own sake.

The question the book asks is "what do you do after you've slain the dragon?" and that question is central to the book. I'm not saying that Oscar answers the question very well, even for himself. I'm sure that he doesn't answer it for every dragon-slayer who will come along. But Heinlein, opinionated as he often is, usually leaves us with questions unanswered and things we have to think about. Which is good.

I gave it only four stars because Heinlein wrote better novels than this one. But 4.5 would have been more appropriate.

I've read a handful of Heinlein's novels, and I'll probably read a couple more. They're pretty easily identified -- his distinctive voice is usually detectable by the second sentence, no matter whether the point of view is that of a 14-year-old Boy Scout colonizing a Jovian moon, or that of a veteran courier for an intergalactic intelligence agency. Here, that voice seems to have found an interesting, and unusually appropriate, speaker in the form of a twenty-something American soldier coming off a nasty bayonet wound that ended his tour of duty in Vietnam.
Finding himself wandered into France, our man is recruited by a stunning nudist for some light mercenary work. Transported to a fantastic locale, our hero is rechristened "Oscar" while his new employer accepts the name "Star." Suddenly, the light mercenary work is morphed into an intergalactic treasure quest.
The consequence of Heinlein throwing his voice so clearly into his protagonists is that they often end up seeming like slightly distorted versions of himself. It doesn't always work so well, making certain characters unbelievable, but it's almost perfect for Oscar, giving the character the right attitude as he takes on increasingly grueling physical, mental and emotional challenges as the book progresses. Star's a pretty good creation, a puzzlebox of a woman with so many layers and secrets that it will take more than Oscar's adaptability to handle her.
Not surprisingly, the Quest is just a sideshow, giving Heinlein a chance to explore sexual mores, the relationship between power and knowledge, and, of course, the absurdities of the American tax code. The novel drifts a bit at the end, but Heinlein uses the space to make few final satisfying points about the value of an adventurous personality. Clearly, this is a good novel to introduce yourself to a most unique writer.

Reactions to this book seem to vary, often even between the sections of the story itself. As a fan of Heinlein's early works and not so much of his later ones, this one met a similar mixed reaction with me. I give it four stars because most of the story is very good, but it's more like a short novel and a half in the way it reads. Probably worth it for a Heinlein fan, but very different.
In some ways this reminds me of "Have Space Suit--Will Travel". One can draw comparisons in the plot: The first chapter introduces the main character, the second begins the real story, and about two thirds of the way through, the main quest ends and the resolution begins. But it's a different story: More grown-up, with a somewhat drier tone to the end.
The fantasy portions of the book--pretty much the first two thirds--are a good story and will resonate well with a lot of readers. There are of course some obstacles along the way, and the thing that guards the object of the quest is truly unusual. (Like Oscar, we're never entirely clear what he fights or how, yet it still works.)
Toward the end we see one of Heinlein's experiments in alternative government; I like these about his other books, though in this one there's not much story left to use as a foreground. At that point Oscar has to make tough choices and figure out if this post-quest world is the life he wants. Heinlein understood well that stories don't really end; they just reach a point where the writer has told the best parts. The wrap-up of this one, though, dragged on a little bit. I didn't find the pace too uncomfortable for my own tastes, but there's no denying that a few chapters could have been compressed to no harm.
Glory Road is a more grown-up Heinlein with a grown-up ending. It's not so bad as some say, but it's not his best, either. Still worth reading if you're a fan and have gone through a lot of his other books first.

I guess I shouldn't read other's reviews of my favorite author, but apparently there are a number of people who should leave Bob's books on the shelf and look for something else. I read my first Heinlein (circa 1960) in seventh grade math which I was failing abysmally. After meeting characters like Libby, Oscar, Mike Holmes, Woodrow, Lazarus, Pixel and etc; I learned to live differently - I even made A's in math. Heinlein's best book by far is Starship Troopers, but Glory Road is a close second. I liked the people - especially Rufo. I've never thought of them as characters. I liked the story but never considered the plot. Try it one time and if you find yourself reading it at one in the morning laughing at dragons then you're a fan. Analyze it too much and you have lost the "jewel in the lotus." Long live Robert Anson Heinlein in the memory of true Americans.

After spending time being shot at in Viet Nam, former soldier E. C. "Scar" Gordon rests and recuperates on the French Riviera. After being shook up by seeing the most beautiful woman he ever seen, Scar answers a strange ad for employment in which some of the perquisite skills are courage, in your early to mid twenties, perfect health, and willingness to travel, etc. Intrigued and needing work, Scar answers the weird ad.---

The employer turns out to be the woman from the beach. After struggling with her name Scar calls her Star while she calls him O-scar. The job is to protect her as she searches universes for the Egg of the Phoenix. Oscar accepts the assignment as he has no family that will miss him; the pay is great and a chance to see exotic locations while accompanying a gorgeous woman who claims she is the empress of twenty universes. Of course he figures nothing can be as dangerous as Nam where you do not know friend from foe. Oscar will learn otherwise rather quickly as he travels at unheard of speeds (at least on earth) across dangerous space battling dragons, ogres, and villains oh my.---

This is a reprint of an engaging fantasy with some science fiction elements that readers will enjoy. The story line moves faster than Star can traverse the universes. Scar is a wonderful protagonist whose war weary bones perk up for cash and a beautiful princess. Though having a somewhat early 1960s feel to the plot that seems strangely like "ancient ism", fans will enjoy Robert Heinlein's homage to the masters who influenced his style.---

Harriet Klausner

Glory Road followed closely on the heels of Stranger in a Strange Land, but it is a much different book. Written in 1962, this is Heinlein's only full-fledged fantasy novel, and that in itself makes it an interesting read. Heinlein was definitely writing for an adult audience by this point in his career, and he boasted that this novel had enough sex in it to cause heart failure among those who had complained about Stranger. By today's standards, the adult relationships included here are barely noticeable, implied certainly but never described at all.
E.C. Gordon is hanging around Europe, having received both a medical discharge and facial scar from fighting in a "non-war" in Southeast Asia, when he encounters a stunning young woman on the beaches of France. Thinking he has won a sweepstakes he reluctantly rushes out of town, fearing that in doing so he has blown his one and only chance with the girl of his dreams. His winning ticket proves a forgery, and he decides to answer a personal ad asking "Are you a coward?" To his surprise, he encounters his lady from the beach and soon finds himself transported to another universe. Dubbed "Oscar" by "the princess" Star, he assumes the role of hero, aiding the mysterious woman on an extremely urgent quest that promises lots of adventure and even more danger. With Star's assistant Rufo, the group journeys through the portals of several universes, killing dangerous beasts that get in their way, in a quest to claim the Egg of the Phoenix. Oscar settles in to his new role, and the adventure proves to be most interesting, especially when he finally learns what the whole thing is all about.
Somewhat to my surprise, the novel could almost be said to end two-thirds of the way through, but fortunately it does not (despite the request of at least one editor that it do so). The rest of the novel is much different but is no less satisfying. In these pages, Heinlein incorporates some of his normal philosophizing about life, society, politics, etc. More importantly, it is only here that the real story of what has gone on before is brought to light, and the depth added to the characters in these concluding chapters makes Glory Road much more satisfying than it would be had the story stopped at the end of the adventure itself. This is not the Heinlein most readers will expect, and some fans will doubtless count this novel among Heinlein's least enjoyable works. I personally found it stimulating and great fun. Heinlein sort of shows us another side of his personality in this atypical offering, and with it he offers even more proof, unnecessary as it is, that he is an amazingly gifted writer.

I read this book simply because it was by Robert Heinlein, and based on many of the reviews here I was expecting a lighthearted adventure tale with some romance thrown in. I got more than I expected. Heinlein is a master of the human mind, and the inner strugles of his charachters are the real story in this book, the unusual settings simply give a better way to portray these inner struggles, and demonstrate better the differences in interaction between cultures. This is a book about love, finding yourself, then dealing with love and your true self without sacrificing either. It's about friends, culture, and social constraints.
Not to say the adventure in the story is weak, of course not! This is a fun adventure, starting light-hearted, but quickly becoming intense when Oscar, Star, and Rufo are on thier way.
This book also breaks the norm of finishing the book off quickly after the danger has been averted, the damsel no longer distressed. In real life you don't have 'happily ever after' endings, and this book filled a gap I almost always feel after reading a good book..."What happens now?"...for some reason, the typical ending just doesn't cut it for me. This book left on an unexpected, but good note. A different, and very good book.

Glory Road is quite different from what you might expect of a novel by Robert Heinlein. More of a fantasy adventure than science fiction, it seems to me that Heinlein was very much in a transitional phase while writing this book. Well, this experiment can be considered a great success and Glory Road is a fascinating adventure well worth your time.
The story is told in first-person narrative by Evelyn Cyril(E.C.)Gordon, a recently discharged American soldier. Since his discharge(which he considers to be an opportunity to see the rest of the world) E.C. has been bumming around Europe and enjoying a nice laid-back and easy lifestyle. Only one problem: money is starting to run low. One morning while drinking a café in Nice, he spots an ad in the classifieds for a job that he feels fits him to a tee. Once he goes to the interview, he realizes the job entails much more than he bargains for.
Basically, his mission is to travel to a distant planet, capture a lost egg that was stolen from the planet "central" and return it safely to its rightful owners. Along the way, E.C. and his two travel mates encounter swordsmen, Tyrannasauruses, giants, sea creatures and a wide range of other obstacles.
One thing I found took that took getting used to is Heinlein's writing style. I found it to be very short-phrased and all over the place. I came pretty close to putting the book down and dismissing it as experimental garbage after the first chapter but I'm glad I stuck it through. Heinlein also injects a huge amount of his philosophies on politics, capitalism, society that are often amusing if somewhat questionable. I got the impression reading this book and Starship Troopers that Heinlein veers waaaay, waaaay to the right.
This is a very wild and very unique adventure that Heinlein gives us. It reads fast and is always entertaining(except for the first chapter that is). Glory Road is definitely a road worth taking.

This one's kind of an odd entry in the Heinlein catalogue, but it's less odd if we recall that he wrote some fantasy/horror stuff in the early 1940s.
Ostensibly it's a sword-and-sorcery adventure/fantasy. But since it was written by Heinlein, it overturns and undoes quite a few of the usual fairy-tale cliches. The ending, for example, exemplifies Heinlein's own non-fairy-tale take on what really constitutes living 'happily ever after'.
The Hero is one Evelyn Cyril 'E.C.' (and eventually 'Oscar') Gordon, a veteran of a long and unpopular war in Vietnam. (Major prognostication success here: remember, Heinlein published this in _1962_. And the Heinlein who had devoted _Starship Troopers_ to exploring 'why men fight' manages to deal pretty sympathetically here with the corollary question of why some don't.) Gordon hooks up with a Heroine -- Star, Empress of the Twenty Universes, who needs some help recovering the Egg of the Phoenix.
Heinlein gets to show off his swordsmanship a bit (like David Lamb, 'The Man Who Was Too Lazy to Fail', he was a champion swordsman at the naval academy). He also gets to have a little fun with a monster or two.
And -- it wouldn't be Heinlein without this part -- he takes the reader on a guided tour of some cultures whose mores differ from those of Middle America, by way of illustrating that (most) morals are _customs_ relative to time, place, and social milieu.
Well, it's a pretty enjoyable romp through a world of fantasy, and there's enough of Heinlein's signature on it to keep it interesting even for those of us who aren't into the dungeons-and-dragons stuff. But _Lord of the Rings_ it ain't, and this sort of thing is definitely not Heinlein's strength.
Readable, pleasant, diverting, and fun, and it's right on the money in its exploration of the _sense of adventure_. Nothing really groundbreaking, though, and it's interesting mainly because it's Heinlein.

"Glory Road" has been put in both the Fantasy as well as the Science Fiction categories, but to my reading it is really mostly Fantasy. Since it is from Heinlein, there are those who will give it 5-stars for no other reason, but the fact is that it just doesn't measure up. Part of the problem with it is it feels rather dated, but there are problems which would have existed even at the time it was published. As a fantasy story, it is nothing great, although certainly not bad. However the fantasy adventure ends with about 30% of the book remaining, and nothing of consequence occurs for that part of the book. Instead the reader is treated to Heinlein's view of relationships.

The story is about Evelyn Cyril Gordon who goes by the name "Oscar" for reasons you find out in the story, and who after leaving the "unwar" in south-east Asia finds himself in Europe and decides to see what he can of it before focusing on education. Then he sees an unusual want add which appears to be written specifically for him, and he has to check it out. This results in his finding the dream-girl, "Star", who he let get away days before and Rufo who appears to be her assistant. Before he knows what is going on, he finds himself on another world.

Heinlein mainly uses fantasy elements, although he does somewhat try to explain them with science using devices like multiple universes and biological reasons why creatures can breathe fire. However, that doesn't really do anything for the story and much of it could probably have been removed without hurting the plot. Heinlein does his usual excellent job of creating characters that you want to read about, and that certainly helps this book.

A large amount of this book is about the relationship between Oscar and Star, and Heinlein commenting on the unnaturalness of monogamous long-term relationships, and the unhealthy relationships which people seem to have. It is certainly in this respect that the book feels dated, and frankly Heinlein seems to limit his idea of what a relationship is to sex, while leaving out all the other aspects which are part of a mature and adult relationship.

The last 30% of this book is almost exclusively about the relationship aspect, and little of consequence happens to the characters. In fact, if Heinlein is suggesting that this relationship which Star and Oscar end up with is healthy, one would have to disagree as it is based on a lot of deception and lack of real communication. Ultimately Rufo's entire purpose seems to be to explain what Star really means by what she says and what her actions are. Almost every fantasy story has a wrap-up section, but the one in this book is far too long, and the reader is ready for the ultimate ending about 60 pages before it actually happens.

There are many people who like this book a lot more than I do, and this can be seen in it being nominated for the 1964 Hugo, as well as being ranked 17th on the 1987 Locus All-Time poll for fantasy novels and 24th on the 1998 Locus All-Time poll for fantasy novels written before 1990. However, when comparing it to other Heinlein books; I feel it really falls short of those at the top. It was first published in July - September 1963 in "The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction".

The cover proclaims this as one of "The best SF novels of all time!" and well they're very much entitled to their opinion I think they're way off the mark here. Not only is this far from Heinlein's best book, it doesn't even have a prayer of cracking the top ten. Is it bad? No, it's far from his worst, the master is clearly trying here and when he starts it's very promising. Told in the typical first person of a slightly jaded soldier looking for some meaning and purpose to his life, he answers a random personals ad and winds up getting whisked away by a gorgeous woman and her servant. At first Heinlein seems to be setting up a parody of heroic fantasy from a skewed SF perspective, the narration seems almost tongue in cheek and the events are so absurd that it's great fun. Unfortunately he forgot to provide any depth. Other than the main character, he mostly stumbles from situation to situation like a blind man, everyone else is about as thin as the paper the book is printed on. The "the store" Star uses the word "darling" at least once every sentence and is so one note that it she must represent someone's fantasy (maybe not Heinlein's) since her unwavering devotion gets tedious real early on and then doesn't let up. The quest is just as bad, with no apparent goal it's three people walking through a random forest and killing things without any reason to it. At least the quest ends before the book is over but then any momentum that has been garnered now dissolves as the true nature of Star is revealed and Heinlein switches to Preacher mode, turning the already cardboard characters into mouthpieces for a glorified libertarian lecture (which can be done in an entertaining fashion, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress being a good example) . . . it also nicely showcases another fantasy, where women can throw themselves at a man and your wife not only doesn't care that you were tempted but tells you to basically go ahead and maybe even yells at you for not taking the poor girl up on the offer (while vowing to remain forever true to you . . .). If you can get past all of this (and I did, after a fashion) you'll have a good time just enjoying the ride, the narration is swift and very funny, it alone probably saves the book when Heinlein exhausts his ideas early on. Needless to say not the first, the third or the fifth choice to start with but once you've gotten used to Heinlein, it's not so bad, really. But I had to get that off my chest. It's also my last Heinlein review, so whoo-ho! It's been fun and at least try all his books, just about every one offers something for your time. Just remember to not take it all too seriously.

I first read this book after reading "Tunnel in the Sky", "Have Spacesuit, Will Travel" and "Time for the Stars", so I was a bit surprised when it read more like a dungeons and dragons story. Beautiful woman, pulls normal everyday guy into an alternate dimension where they travel by foot with her halfling companion.... The plot isn't even in the same ballpark as the other works I mentioned, but the writing and style are definetly Heinlein.

Destiny and Fate seem to be underlying themes throughout the book. The main character seems "hand picked" for the task at hand, while his female companion is destined to be a galactic ruler of sorts. Looking beyong the sci-fi, action adventure plot-line, it's easy to see Heinlein was trying to tell us all that we may not always be the master's of our destiny.

If you like Heinlein as an author, you'll like this book despite the departure from his usual theme. Its a book you'll pick up five years from now, re-read and discover something completely new.

So what does an author do, after writing one of the most beloved science fiction novels of all time and in the process picking up his third out of an eventual four Hugo awards? That was precisely the conundrum that future sci-fi Grand Master Robert Heinlein faced in 1962, after winning the award for "Stranger in a Strange Land," and he responded to the problem by switching gears a bit. His follow-up novel, "Glory Road," was not precisely Heinlein's first fantasy piece--his 1959 novella "The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag" had contained a large dollop of very strange fantasy mixed in with its central mystery--but, as far as I can tell, it was his earliest full-length creation in the fantasy vein; one that was itself nominated for a Hugo award, ultimately losing to Clifford D. Simak's charming "Way Station." Initially appearing as a serial in the July - September 1963 issues of "The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction" (which itself copped a Hugo for best magazine in 1963), it was released in hardcover later that year. A lighthearted blend of hard fantasy (the book features 20 different universes, fire-breathing dragons, assorted monsters, giant rats and boars, the use of magic and spells and so on) and rational science (much of the fantastic elements are given pseudoplausible explanations), the book is a pleasing creation that most readers deem a sort of dividing line in the author's work. After this novel, and beginning with 1964's "Farnham's Freehold," Heinlein's right-wing libertarian voice began to obtrude ever more shrilly, in a tone that most people seemingly cannot describe without using the word "hectoring." "Glory Road" does find its author grumbling about the state of the world, in what British sci-fi critic David Pringle has called a "grouchy but amusing auctorial tone," but more restrainedly than later on, and lightened with a good deal of mordant humor.

The novel is told in the first person by a virile young man in his early 20s with the decidedly unmacho handle of Evelyn Cyril Gordon (he understandably prefers the nicknames E.C. and Easy). After being struck in the face with a bolo during the early phases of what the reader presumes to be the Vietnam War, Gordon is discharged and decides to spend some time in Europe before returning to college in the States. On a nudist beach on the Ile du Levant (that's by the French Riviera), he espies a beautiful, naked blonde woman, whom he speaks to briefly. The next day, in Nice, Gordon responds to an ad in "The Herald Tribune" looking for "a brave man...indomitably courageous," for "very high pay, glorious adventure, great danger." He is surprised to learn that the ad had been placed by that very same blonde the store, whose name is Star, as it turns out. And before Gordon can even think twice, he and Star's assistant, the diminutive but able-bodied Rufo, are being whisked along with the sorceress to another world, in another universe, as they begin their valiant quest on the "glory road"....

Surprisingly, the actual quest that Gordon engages in is of secondary concern as the tale proceeds. Yes, Gordon must fight the Igli monster and the Horned Ghosts and those dragons and a master swordsman (Heinlein, who had been an accomplished fencer at Annapolis, describes this sword fight brilliantly) and an entity known as the Soul Eater en route to the attainment of his goal--and wisely, we are kept in the dark as the tale proceeds as to just what that goal is (I'll only say that it involves something called the Egg of the Phoenix), ratcheting up curiosity and suspense. But the book's initial section, in which Gordon gives us the mundane details of his history, and the book's entire final third, after the quest is finished and Gordon ponders the fate of the retired hero beside his lady love, might be even more compelling. Along the way, the young man takes the time to rail against modern Earth society as compared to some of the idyllic worlds that he visits. Heinlein, thus, is able to take some digs at the military, the selective service, the economy, taxes, sexual mores, prostitution, nudity, marriage (the book is probably not a good recommendation for the prudish, as the author does not seem to be overly fond of the concept of monogamy), alimony, cocktail parties, street traffic, and on and on. As previously mentioned, though, he leavens this grousing with a good deal of humor, bantering conversations and saucy badinage (I love it when he uses the word "fiddlewinking" instead of, uh, another F word), and the results are quite winning. How amusing it is when Heinlein reveals that he thinks the Irish are the most logical people, and when he tells us the sources of the incubus legend and the "Eye of newt and toe of frog..." recipe in "Macbeth." (There's also the occasional groaner, such as when Gordon puns "Just don't make a hobbit of it.") And speaking of "Macbeth," Heinlein's novel is filled with literary references, from Tennyson and Longfellow quotes to passing comments on Conan the Barbarian, L. Frank Baum, H. Rider Haggard's Umbopa, Sherlock Holmes, and Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom. Despite the fact that he tells us that books put him to sleep, Gordon seems to have consumed an awful lot of fantasy literature for such a young athlete (a possible boo-boo on the author's part). Still, the book is enormously entertaining, a genuine lark, with big laughs to be had amidst the numerous action set pieces. The three central characters are extremely likable, and it is fascinating to discover just who Star is, as we learn about her detailed background. Without giving away too much, let me just say that the woman, gorgeous and athletic blonde that she is, has yet absorbed the knowledge of over 190 deceased men...including, thus, the in-depth knowledge of what men like and desire sexually. Now that's what I call a REAL fantasy!

"Glory Road" is a very good fantasy story. I enjoyed it as a young adult and still enjoy it when I pick it up over forty years later. Very simply, this is a story about a soldier, coming back to the USA, who gets sidetracked by a beautiful young woman, who turns out to be the 'leader' of a multi-universe 'empire' of tens or hundreds of billions of humans.

The nice thing about fantasy is that it does not get as out-dated as science fiction can get and it can stretch the mind. In this case, quite a few interesting and adventurous things happen. I will say that this book is probably too sophisticated for anyone younger than, about, 16 to 17 years old. Also, I doubt if a reader who is new to Heinlein would appreciate this book. If you are new to Heinlein, "Space Cadet" is a much better place to start. " 'Waldo' & 'Magic, Inc.'" is another very good Heinlein book of two fantasy novellas.

I read this in two days. I really have no idea why I liked it so much. I guess i would say it was a really cool , differnt kind of story. i enjoyed it, and am really glad I read it. i did however not read this new print version, I read a way older print I just found ina used book store recentley. I read somewhere that Heinlein was starting to lose his marbles with the start of this book. If thats the case, i will certinly read some of his other stories after Glory Road. I kinda dig his kukoo for cocoa puffs stories. And maybe that is why i liked Glory Road so much. it makes you think, how does someone possibly come up with this s***?

This book came at a time in Heinlien's career where he was probably frustrated and at least fed up with haggling with editors and censors over his previous two books (Stranger In A Strange Land and Podkayne of Mars) and he probably wrote this entertaining romp just for fun. Although this book IS fantasy, it's not of the usual Tolkien or sword-and-sorcery variety, it is definately done in RAH's style, with his usual witty first-person commentary and hobby horses. However, this book is obviously different in various ways. It is very fast-paced (except for some slowdown towards the end) and is enjoyable to read. Unlike previous books such as, say, Starship Troopers and Stranger, or future books like The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, Heinlein wasn't really writing this book with a message, it does what books are supposed to do: entertain. Thus, it doesn't leave as profound an impression on you or have you start questioning your ways like some of his more complex works, but Glory Road is nevertheless a very good and enjoyable read.

Glory Road,

I never give away story line while giving a review. I simply state my opinion of the book and move on to my next review. I must mention that I have read some of the reviews before posting my own. I noticed a few people have called Glory Road a fantasy. I must state that this book is not fantasy. It is sci-fi as the author intended.

Glory Road can be a path one chooses in life, "shall I take the Glory Road and seek adventure?" Then come to find out that Glory Road can be a bumpy ride.

This was the first Robert Heinlein book I have read, and I must say, "I really enjoyed it!" I liked this book so much that I quickly picked up a copy of Have Space Suit Will Travel, and Stranger In A Strange Land.

This book contains some great adventure and even slaying of dragons. Perhaps this is why some people refer to this novel as a fantasy, but this book also holds many sci-fi ideas such as the life imprints held in the black egg and the gateways to travel between universes. Heinlein writes with a sense of wit and has a smooth flowing style that keeps the pages turning effortlessly. I wish I would have read him years ago, now I feel the need to make up for lost time.

First of all, this is one of my favorite Heinlein books. Pinchot brought much of the fantasy to life with his narration.

But, I have to ding one star to complain that his vocalization of Star was just horrendous. Early in the book, he describes her voice as contralto. But, he whispers her lines so softly that I had to strain to hear them, as well as turn the volume up. And, had to turn it down again when Pinchot went back to simple narration or another vocalization.

I began reading RAH's novels in the early `50s, mostly as they appeared. Every decade or so, I go back and reread them, and probably will continue to do so for the rest of my life. Even with his overwriting (which is part of his charm) and the gentle preaching and not-so-gentle opinionating, his stories are always a romp. This is one of the better ones (and Heinlein's only true fantasy novel), about "Scar" Gordon, mid-20s, just released from the U.S. Army after a run-in with Little Brown Brother in southeast Asia, and now at loose ends in the cheapest corner of the French Riviera he can find -- the Île du Levant, where clothing and costs both are very minimal. There he meets "Star," an the storeian sort of woman, and loses her, and finds her again -- not realizing he's been selected and set up for a quest in a world on the other side of the looking-glass. He's now a genuine Hero, like it or not, . . . but he learns to like it, mostly. There's Good Guys and Bad Guys and monsters and even fire-breathing dragons, but Gordon manages to overcome it all. But what does a retired Hero *do*? Loads of fun!

Robert A. Heinlein is best known for his science fiction, of course, but he did write some fantasy, too. Glory Road is a science fantasy story which was originally serialized in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in 1963 and published as a novel later that year. Glory Road was nominated for, but did not win, a Hugo Award for Best Novel.

Evelyn Cyril Gordon, known by his army buddies as "Scar," has finally been sent home from Southeast Asia after too many tours of duty. After wandering aimlessly for a while, hoping the G.I. bill will cover some educational expenses, and lamenting about taxes (a favorite theme of Heinlein's) he reads a personal advertisement in a newspaper:

ARE YOU A COWARD? This is not for you. We badly need a brave man. He must be 23 to 25 years old, in perfect health, at least six feet tall, weigh about 190 pounds, fluent English, with some French, proficient in all weapons, some knowledge of engineering and mathematics essential, willing to travel, no family or emotional ties, indomitably courageous and handsome of face and figure. Permanent employment, very high pay, glorious adventure, great danger.

Except for the coward part, it fits him perfectly and, therefore, makes him curious. When he answers the ad, he meets a beautiful woman who calls herself Star and decides to call him Oscar. Then he sets out on a grand adventure and becomes a hero.

Up until Oscar answered the ad, I was enjoying his story, but as soon as Glory Road turned into a fantasy novel, it spiraled downward fast. Oscar has been hired by Star, who turns out to be the empress of the universe, to help her recover the Egg of the Phoenix. There's a sidekick named Rufo, and together they fight monsters and complete the tasks needed to get the Egg. All the while, Star simpers and calls Oscar "my hero" and all the other women he meets (including a mother and her two young daughters) try to get him into bed (at the same time). Meanwhile, there is much commentary about Star's perky breasts, how she needs to be spanked (even though she's the empress of the universe), and other titillating nonsense. Not only is this section of the novel silly and trite and an embarrassing exhibition of Heinlein's fetishes, but it's actually boring, too.

After the quest is over, Oscar and Star are in love. (Why? Because she's beautiful and he's strong.) It's not all happily ever after, though, because Oscar discovers that being a retired hero is not good for a man's morale. I actually really liked some of this part of the story in which Heinlein muses on the importance of meaningful work for a man. He also displays his love for classic literature, making mention of the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, James Branch Cabell, Arthur Conan Doyle, Mark Twain, Talbot Mundy, and others. Unfortunately, he also decides to bring in some of his views on politics and sexual relationships, and the whole section goes on far too long.

I listened to Blackstone Audio's recent production of Glory Road which was narrated by actor Bronson Pinchot. I have greatly enjoyed Mr. Pinchot's performances in the past, but this was not one of my favorites. Most of the problem is the novel of course -- for example, Heinlein has Star simpering, so Pinchot simpers when he reads those lines. I couldn't stand it, but that was how it was written. I also didn't like the French accent he used for Rufo because it was sometimes hard to understand, and I was annoyed at the way he drew out the words "She" and "Her" into three-syllable words when Rufo spoke of Star. Notably, the parts of his performance that I didn't like were also the parts of the story that I didn't like. Pinchot's interpretation of Glory Road was probably accurate and my disappointment probably reflects my distaste for the novel.

I feel the need to mention that many of Heinlein's fans love Glory Road, and it was nominated for a Hugo Award. This is one of those cases where it probably comes down to personal taste. I liked the first and last third of Glory Road, but absolutely hated the middle section. I imagine that many readers will feel differently. If you're a Heinlein fan, and especially if you like his later work, you should give Glory Road a try.

First off I love Heinlein, he is a great author! This book I feel is one of his best if not the best. The story just pulls you in; it becomes a real page turner..... that is until the end of the book. This, like many other Heinlein books I feel ends abruptly. You have a larger than life story, a true Hero, a beautiful Princess everything that a good story needs, then it just ends (I know that all good books must come to an end), but I mean he ends the quality and you have grown accustom to. This book has an incredible beginning; the rise is the plot until the climatic moment is fantastic, then the climax..... This leads us to the sad end of the book. Not sad in a tearful way, but sad in the way that Heinlein seems to loose all steam and just drags it out to its slow pathetic death. This is the only complaint I have on Heinlein's works. Great stories terrible endings.

Heinlein did not write very many fantasy works, but when he did, the result was usually a rather different and fun romp. Glory Road is probably his best work in this genre, and it makes most other sword-and-sorcery stories pale in comparison.
Oscar, our hero, is a Vietnam veteran idling away his time on the Isle du Levant, a small island off the coast of France known for its lack of haute couture (or clothing of any style), when his eye is caught by the most beautiful woman he has ever seen, sleekly muscled and with regal bearing. When she offers him a job with `great adventure and great risk' he blindly accepts, little realizing just what an incredible jaunt he has let himself in for. A journey that will travel through some of the 20 universes that Star is Empress of, on a quest to retrieve the stolen Great Egg. Along the way you will be treated to a sword/bow and arrow fight with a very real set of dragons (with a rather amusing fight strategy), a hand to hand fight with a very dirty (and smelly) giant, pentagrams and spells for magical flight. All of the incidents along this trip are treated with a fair dollop of humor and satire (and at least a partial parody of other sword & sorcery epics such as Conan the Barbarian), while at the same time Heinlein manages to present some pseudo-scientific explanations for the `magical' incidents, something he did in just about all of his fantasy works, so that it is somewhat problematic to call this a `fantasy'.
The climatic sword battle with the `Eater of Souls' is very different from the standard hack-and-slash portrayal of sword fights in all too many movies and novels. Heinlein was a member of the fencing team during his time at Annapolis (for some possible reasons for why he took up this sport, see the "Lazy Man" portion of Time Enough for Love), and this experience and knowledge is directly transposed to the battle descriptions of this book, making for a very fascinating and exciting read.
But there is more to this book than just a fun trip down the yellow brick road of swash-buckling heroes and dragons. Oscar is not your typical mighty-thewed simple-minded adventurer, but is rather a man who thinks about his actions, who has a strong sense of moral responsibility, who can (at least intellectually) comprehend that customs change with different cultures, a true hero who understands the need for noblesse oblige. Nor is Star a simpering damsel-in-distress, but rather a hard, practical, self-reliant, intelligent and rather commanding woman. The interaction between these two strong characters forms the starting point for Heinlein's exploration of how relations between the sexes is defined by cultural biases and expectations, the individual's own sense of self-worth, the ability to communicate and compromise, and the problems that married couples face. This philosophical type of discourse occupies a good portion of the last third of the novel, and may not seem at first glance to be well integrated with the first two-third's emphasis on action. But on reflection, the last third forms the completion of the thematic structure of the work, whose groundwork is well laid in the first portion, and provides a level of meaning that is not common in fantasy works.
Of course, this being a Heinlein novel, expect to find some sharp remarks about the IRS and taxes, how to fight (and not fight) a war, status symbols, horse racing and lotteries, laws about carrying greater than six inch blades in public, veteran's benefits, Congressional methods of making laws, the bizarre workings of military organizations, the relative strengths and weaknesses of democracy versus monarchies and feudal structures, and under-the-table tactics for motivating an individual. As always, Heinlein will make you think about and question your own opinions and assumptions on these things, even if you don't agree with his expressed viewpoint, as he always makes his viewpoint at least sound logical and correct.
Read this one for the fun and humor. Then let it soak in and expand your sense of the possible, the correct, the moral, and the reason for living.

I listened to this on my ride back to Utah from ND and I could not have enjoyed it more.
This was more in the lines of epic fantasy in one volume than the sci-fi you may have come to think, when you think RAH. But it does not suffer as a result.
I thought the story was fun and kept moving - maybe the ending went on a bit, I "got it" long before it was hammered home, I can see how some might not have, so RAH let it go on a bit to be sure that most did.
Still this is WELL worth the read. I would even suggest this for fans of other fantasy authors.
David Eddings, Tolkien, Terry Brooks, etc... This had that kind of feel, but was conceived in the 1950's.

Glory Road is a stunning work of fantasy, although it is imbued with a science fiction world-building essence. This book tells the story of a man coming to grasp with the fact that he is a hero.
What makes this story refreshingly different is Heinlein's distinct view of life. Most fantasy books interpret a different world, but keep the same moral structure. This book doesn't. It allows that people from different worlds are going to view ethical codes is different way.
Also despite many of these reviewers, the ending is perfectly in tune with the rest of the novel. Without giving anything away, the ending is both original and realistic, creating good closure.
This is neither Tolkien or Heinlein's normal work, but it is worth reading by any serious science fiction or fantasy fans.

This book precedes the Heinlein books that became preachy and long-winded; Heinlein became too big to edit eventually. Many reviewers class this as fantasy or "sword and sorcery", which I feel is a mistake. The story line includes the necessary hand-waving to explain why swords are used in some places and more hard-science weapons (lasers etc) in others. The travel mechanism is no more a fantasy mechanism than worm holes or other hard science standbys. It has plenty of the interesting concepts that marked Heinlein's best work and the best of science fiction in general. It also has some great character development and plot twists. It would make a good framework for a television series (a la Doctor Who) or a film series. The "quest" plot line could be extended to cultures and worlds that Heinlein did not use. I reread it occasionally and I'm amazed that it stands up so well to current science fiction. I am surprised that this story hasn't already been optioned for production.

This book is Heinlein's fantasy novel, and on the level of pure adventure, it works. Oscar, the hero, is a Vietnam (?) vet who meets a woman, Star, on a beach in France. It turns out Star is on a quest throughout the "20 universes" to get the "Egg of the Phoenix" from the baddies who stole it from her. The treasure item is a McGuffin, of course; the point of the story is the journey and the adventure that develops. Our heroes have to make this journey across a few different planets, linked by stargates, and must battle monsters and foreign social customs along the way.
As a pure adventure, the story works. Some plot devices are contrived (they must use bows and arrows on one world because firearms are illegal, but if they are killing all the creatures they meet, why does it matter?), but the sword and bow-play is fun and exciting. Unfortunately, the dialogue is so clumsy that if spoken, it would cause the listener to cringe. In addition, pages at a time are devoted to pointless dialogue or illogical explanations. Especially bad is the interaction between the hero and the woman - without divulging any secrets, she has a high position in her planet's hierarchy, yet she meekly submits herself to the hero, apparently because he's the man (this is only noteworthy because Heinlein seems to go out of the way to be "feminist"). Finally, the last 80 pages or so drag out rather pointlessly and should have been cut in favour of "and they lived happily ever after."
Overall, the problem is that this is one of Heinlein's juvenile novels in plot and dialogue, but can't be marketed as such because there's too much talk about sex. The author goes off on tangents in social commentary, but they are shallow and severely dated, without the same insightfulness of Starship Troopers or Stranger in a Strange Land. Therefore, as a juvenile novel, packaged as a pure adventure story, the book would have rated 4/5. As an adult novel with the clumsy social commentary thrown in, it drops to 2/5.

I have enjoyed this one over the years. It is one of those works that once started, is difficult to put down. This work, like many other works by this author certainly falls into the category of "classical SiFi" books of our times. Like several other reviewers though, I do find the ending to the book rather unsatisfactory. On the other hand, this is typical Heinlein and is to be expected. The author, per usual, gives us good character developement and you certainly cannot fault his story line. I suspect devoted Heinlein fans will probably enjoy this one more than those less enthusiastic as to his, Heinlein's, overall work. All in all I highly recommend this one. Nice, enjoyable read.

The Dean of Science Fiction is best known for his hard science base for his works. Not necessarily possible, but not impossible under the existing science of his day.
Glory Road is a swashbuckling adventure through the "Hobbit" universe with no science underpinning that I could see. Even though I have no appreciation for this type fiction, which seems to have overwhelmed the scifi book clubs in the last few decades, Heinlein's writing and characters keep me turning the pages of Glory Road with anticipation.
If you're a fantasy fan, I would think you would love this book, if you, like me, are a hard scifi fan, try this one for a charge!

I think that this was another of the books that was later re-released with the editorial cuts restored. Makes for a different read, and in a couple of cases, explains gaps, and even makes it a totally different book.

I read this book while I was in Vietnam...and on my way out went to some of the places Heinlein talked about in this book...and found them much as he described.

This was a book written for a different time and for a far different audience. Don't try to critique the Master. You'll just come out the loser...you can't judge the book based against today's standards. It's just too different a world.

Another sword-and-sorcery transference novel. Our hero, fresh out of a non-war in Southeast Asia, gets co-opted into an otherworld quest for the most fabulous object in the universe -- which has been stolen by the nogoodniks, of course. When he wrote this, Heinlein merged some of the aspects of his juvenile books (in which the goals are clear-cut and there are few grey areas), with those of some of his later works, which feature more moral dilemmas and a lot of attention paid to the Barnyard Dance.
Warning: I think Heinlein was just beginning to head down his 'free-love' path when he wrote this book, so I'd give this a 'PG' rating.

Glory Road is Heinlein's homage to Edgar Rice Burroughs: a tale of an American solider seduced by a fair princess into taking on all manner of alien and fantastical foes. Included, of course, are many dissertations on what's wrong with America, and Earth in general, not the least of which is-are taxes. Heinlein's hero, like all Heinlein heroes is a fair decent guy who is brave, willing to learn, a staunch self-preservationist, and always threatening to beat his woman. The heroine this time is a lady who is strong, wise and independent in every way except that she becomes meak in the face of her hero's preening, self-assured, ill-informed, confrontational attitude. The squire Rufo is the best, a bastion of common-sense, full of engaging anecdotes, and a generally pleasant take-it-as-it-comes demeanor.
I'm pretty sure I liked this book better the first time I read it. The best part is what comes after the adventure is won. What happens to an unemployed hero? What does he do to occupy his time? I know what I'd do, but then, I'm no hero.

It seems I've had a copy of this book hanging around forever, I really thought it much older than it's listed publication date of 1987. Be that as it may, in my younger days I would reread favorites often. LOTR on a yearly basis, same for the Planet of Adventure series by Jack Vance, and Glory Road. Not profound, not earthshaking, somewhat simplistic and occasionally sexist, it still pulls the reader in and drags you along for a fun ride. Rufo has to be one of the best sidekicks in literature, "You knock 'em down, I'll stomp on 'em, Boss" is simply priceless as far as I'm concerned. Absolutely love this book!

In _More Issues at Hand_ (1970), James Blish makes a case that "science-fantasy" is a term that is overly vague and which is used to excuse "the kind of yarn in which nobody is supposed to care about gross scientific errors and inconsistencies because they are covered with great gobs of color and rhetoric" (98-99).

Blish has a point, but it seems to me that there are some hybrids of fantasy and science fiction in which science and consistency did not suffer. Some examples are L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt's _The Incomplete Enchanter_ (1941), Jack Vance's _The Dying Earth_ (1950), Leigh Brackett's _The Sword of Rhiannon_ (1953), and Poul Anderson's _Three Hearts and Three Lions_ (1961). Robert A. Heinlein's _Glory Road_ (1963) was intended to follow in this tradition, but it fell short of the mark.

What went wrong? It looked like a promising enough novel when it was first serialized in _Fantasy and Science Fiction_ in 1963. Heinlein was an aknowledged master in the field. And the basic storyline seemed promising. Oscar Gordon, soldier of fortune, answers an ad looking for a hero. He hooks up with a beautiful woman and a dwarf warrier, and they set out on a quest across the Twenty Universes.

The problem is that Heinlein's character's are mouthpieces for his philosophical ideas. They talk. And they talk. And they _talk_. Action sequences on the Glory Road are few and almost perfunctary. In fact, most of the action in the story involves Oscar's nonmagical adventures and misadventures in our contemporary world. One sometimes wonders why Star and Rufo bothered to hire Gordon. An explanation of sorts is given at the end, but it is not very convincing. Perhaps they just wanted somebody to talk with. The other novelists cited above remembered a basic rule of science-fantasy. First, you must tell a good story. Even writers that Blish would consider terrible science-fantasists, like A. Merritt or Edgar Rice Burroughs, would have some sort of action going on. (There are several direct nods to Burroughs in _Glory Road_.)

Alexei Panshin (1969) has noted that this is one of those novels in which Heinlein's opinions are presented as "facts." In the end, I suppose, much of how you evaluate the novel depends on how much you agree with Heinlein. Here are some of Heinlein's "facts" that I find patently ridiculous: (1) Democracy is a primitive and horrible form of government, the worst in all Twenty Universes; (2) the best form of government is a kind of libertarian Empire, run by an absolute monarch; (3) prostitution hardly exists on Earth; and (4) the best place on Earth to have sex is in France, since the women there are less egotistical and more accomodating-- though not actually brighter-- than elsewhere. On the other hand, some of Heinlein's observations about Vietnam, military values, football scholarships, campus radicals, the draft board, the IRS, and the fickle nature of politicians seem on target. _Glory Road_ does have some value as a commentary on the early 1960s. But, somehow, that doesn't seem to be enough.

Glory Road was one of Heinlein's most entertaining works. I enjoyed the spirit of adventure in which he writes this. Our hero in for some great Science fiction fantasy adventure after he answers a compelling personal ad in the newspaper. After launching on his journey with his companions, they not only break local on customs in foreign universes, they fight with demons, slay giants and essentially sword fight their way to the glory of winning the universe and all!
This is one of Heinlein's great classics and I am glad I finally got around to reading this one. I think you will enjoy it tremendously.

Glory Road is a good story, but a little dated. Like most of Heinlein's works the story and concept is good but it has a lot of political commentary about the time when it was written. Of course that didn't stop later generations of authors from copying the formula of the story for their own novels.

Glory road is to modern fantasy novels what "The Moonstone" is to modern detective novels, an outline for a sucessful story. As such it is no doubt a masterpiece.

As a novel it is a little dated, slow and maybe even boring. So take it for what it is, an archotype for modern fantasy. If you are interested to see where it all started, read Glory Road. If you want a better read stick with the modern authors that followed the outline of Heinlein's work.

I wish that I could have given "Glory Road" a better rating but to tell you the truth, I thought that it was terrible. I felt that the whole book in general had no purpose and it did not entertain on any level. The story is a bout Vietnam veteran Oscar who meets a gorgeous woman on a French island. He finds an ad in the paper and goes in to see if he can get the job that is being offered. It ends up that the woman that he met put out the ad and she wants him. He is hired as a hero to go on an adventure to find the Egg of the Phoenix. Sure, the plot sounds promising, but put simply, it's not.
This book has many flaws. You have no clue about the adventure and why Oscar is being dragged to other planets until you are around halfway through the novel. Sure, you want to know what everything's about, but Robert Heinlein just lest everything drag on for way too long and you will become very bored with the book. Less than 100 pages into the book I wanted to stop right there but I kept going thinking that it would get much better. It didn't. As the book moved on, the plot got even more pointless and it got to a point where you wonder why you are reading this piece of drivel.
The characters are one-sided and you won't even care about them. The characters are boring and not even worth reading about. The quest that Oscar, Star, and Rufo (you'll learn about him after the quest is done) seems so pointless. All the characters do is fight monsters and dragons and get in trouble with a lord. This could have been a lot of fun but Heinlein just was not writing as to keep you interested. You do not even find out what the whole plot is about until you are over 100 pages into the book and then after the quest you find out about the signifigance of the egg.
I guess that I am going to have to read more Heinlein to really enjoy his works. "Glory Road" does have it's rare, good moments and that's why I gave the book 2 stars. This novel is flawed and has no depth, making for a painful and boring read. I really do not recommend this book to any reader; there's a lot better stuff out there.
Happy Reading!

'Glory Road' is Robert Heinlein's take on Fantasy. Being Heinlein, the fantasy elements have scientific explanations, but are fantasy nonetheless. In 'Glory Road' Heinlein is commenting on heroes and fantasy conventions, as well as adding commentary on social and political mores of late '50s early 60's America in the usual Heinlein manner.
I have enjoyed several of Heinlein's works but I did not care for this one too much. I found the dialogue to be excruciatingly bad, and the plot to have absolutely no tension or drama. Even the usual pontificating, which normally doesn't bother me too much, just grated, even when I agreed. I guess I can see what Heinlein was doing here but I didn't enjoy the result.

This strange ( but not bad ) book seems to be Heinleins take on Sword & Sorcery ( It is NOT Science Fiction ! ) as his hero ( the usual lovable Heinlein kind, always with a smart and amusing remark on his tongue ) follows a beautiful women on a quest into a wondrous multidimensional (fantasy-) universe. Heinlein succeeds in playing this genre, rather to my surprise, as evidenced in some scenes that seem almost like he lifted them from Tokien - they have the same kind of fairy-tale magic.
Well worth a read, if not among his greatest. But Heinlein shows that his scope goes far beyond his classic hard SF.

I suspect that most people today were not raised on fairy tales, as I was. Otherwise, they would have immediately recognized Glory Road for what it is--a fairy tale that goes on beyond "and they lived happily ever after" to explore what happens when the brave hero no longer has monsters to fight, and therefore has no useful function. This makes the last part of the book, which some readers found dull and extraneous, really the key part of the book. As for Heinlein interjecting his political philosophy--well, that's just late Heinlein.

.

If you have never read any thing of the Grand Master I would highly recommend "Glory Road". If you like fantasy and dragon slaying type fiction this is it. Not hard core SCFI just some good fantasy fiction.

When a friend gave me this book, I was'nt that interested, I read "Starship Trooper", "Space Cadet" and the other early works of Heinlein and said why not "Glory Road". It has turned into my favorite of his work.

Great action, even some sex ( PG rated) so what's a guy not to like?

Read it soon!

I wish someone like Steven Spielberg would make this into a movie, because with today's cinematography magic, I would finally be able to see that box!
I first read this book 25+ years ago... I reread it periodically even now, as I think "The Master" just had fun with this one. This is one you read for the joy of fantasy... not for Henlein's usual socio-commentary or black science. After all, who wouldn't want to have Scar Gordon's adventures with the Empress of the Universes?

Heinlein has written far better novels (Stranger in a Strange Land, for instance,) but Glory Road will always be my favorite story of his. It is Heinlein's paean to the sword and sorcery genre (read his dedication, for crying out loud.) The characters are far larger than life. The hero is a self-effacing stud, the heroine an absolutely stunning empress, and the valet a memorable gnome-like grandson. The story is fun. Yes, it bogs down at the end as Scar ruminates on his fate. Nevertheless, buy the book, enjoy and go kill a dragon.

This was one of the first fantasy novels I read as I migrated from science fiction to fantasy, and I couldn't have asked for a better transitional book to show how fun and creative the genre can be.
Heinlein tells a simply "on the road" story and a "coming of age" story at the same time, using an adult -- unusually -- instead of the typical teenage boy. The book felt like it was dashed off in a hurry - not because it was sloppy, but because it seems to move and flow so seamlessly from adventure to adventure. I can imagine Heinlein just had a bunch of fun whacking this story out!
Glory Road is 40 years old, but manages to avoid feeling dated, and that's a big accomplishment all by itself. It's a thoroughly enjoyable, easy read book.

This is definitely a tongue-in-cheek adventure book, littered with Heinlein's usual musings on how the world could/ought to be. It's difficult to put into words quite what this novel does - the roles seem typical: hero, lady, squire. But I had the feeling that throughout the entire book, poor Oscar was always the kid who never understood the joke. No matter how heroic, or how thoughtful Oscar seemed, the other characters always seemed more full of pity for him. It changes the book from a typical adventure fantasy to something else entirely, though I'm not sure I could categorize it. Possibly simply the Death of a Hero.

The societal aspect and Heinlein's views of Earth were amusing and even though the adventure part of the book slows down greatly after the Quest, the remainder makes for a fairly involved, thought-provoking read, questioning everything from a person's place in the world to why we do not practice something as vital as the art of making love.

An entertaining book.

Heinlein as usual maintains an emotional distance with his characters, avoiding soft introspection. That breaks down in the final third, when the plot is effectively resolved, and the hero, who has literally conquered the universe, starts to feel useless. Fifties colloquialisms and inside jokes abound. A few discourses on libertarianism, but nothing too heavy.

It's almost as entertaining to read the reviews (both pro & con)of this book as to read the book itself.

Almost.

Glory Road is not a Sword and Sorcery / fantasy story, nor is it science fiction. It is / was a parable for the 1960's before the 1960's knew what they were about. The tale of a Viet Nam vet finding his way into the bed of the Queen of the Universe is less about adventure and more about the search for meaning in one's life.

What's important and why.

There is much more than meets the eye here and it is unquestionably one of the Maestro's finest efforts. Perhaps made more dear because of his face off with mortality just before writing it. A book that can be read and reread over a lifetime.

I think Heinlein wrote this book for one reason..the duel to the death scene. Granted the rest of the story sorta drags but I slogged through it and was rewarded with an epic dueling scene that inspires me 30 years later. At least wait until you have read that part before you put this book away. I'm also inspired by the host of reviews for all of Heinleins books here at the store. I'm always greeted with blank stares when I mention my favorite author and its heartwarming to see MY thoughts being written by so many others...Thanks

A true adventure of epic proportions that ties in a larger universe than Heinlein usually wrote about with his already huge epic which culminates in the Lazarus Long cycle. This is the book that got me hooked on Sci Fi and Fantasy oh so many years ago. I have read it since countless times as one of the very few books that I can read more than once. As you live, LIVE! be the motto of this book.

Make all Heinlein books on Kindle available for Europe
I'm a dedicated and avid SF reader and have been for many years. I own a collection of over 5000 paperbacks and hardcovers and those are filling up most places in my house. That has been the main reason for buying a Kindle. Now of course I would like to own all of my favourite books on Kindle, including - but not limited to - all of the works of R A Heinlein. Unfortunately from those who are already available in a Kindle format, many are NOT available for oversees customers. So the store: make it work! Make all those editions available for ALL of our customers ....

This was the first book I read as a kid that I still reread almost yearly. In addition to being a very engaging, well told story, it always yields a new "oh, so that's what he meant by that!" every time. As an adult I realized that it was a parody of all the Conan stories I'd read as a kid. All of Heinlein"s books are fun to read, but this was an incredible experience to have as a 14 year old boy. Glory Road would hold up well as a screenplay, much better than the decidedly un-Heinleinian massacre of "Starship Troopers".

This is a book I have read over and over in the last 20 years.
If you are looking for an exciting adventure story, this is your book.
If you want more depth, following a young man's personal growth,
this also is your book. Every time I read it I come away with
something new. I highly recommend it to readers of all ages.

Still original (to me) for its age and a good easy read, until the last 5 chapters, when it changes from a fantasy to marriage guidance, taxes and tips on horse betting (at least I learnt what a sweepstake is).

He didn't need to stop at chapter 18, but could have jumped straight to the part where the married couple split and go their own way, without going into detail about why the marriage fell apart.

Les.

Stories like this one exemplify Heinlein's ability to grab you and lead you through his weird and wonderful worlds with his well-paced prose. Here we get to follow the exploits of one of his alter-egos (complete with sword) as he winds his way through a strange but heroic adventure. This is a great book

I generally like Heinlein's novels but this one was just plain terrible. First off, it's not fantasy but a satire of fantasy conventions, from ridiculously-dumb minotaurs to silly dragons. Most of the book centres around the relationship between Gordon and an otherworldly queen who guides him on his quest. The dialogue is classic Heinlein, but the witty banter that fits so well into most of his modern-day works grates terribly in what is supposed to be a fantasy setting (but isn't, as we find out in the end). This is more of a commentary on 1950s marriage, relationships, cultural norms and sex than anything to do with what we consider fantasy novels today. The sex part is especially annoying as Heinlein seems to have had a polygamy fetish and manages to insert it rather crudely into every novel he ever wrote, and it's even worse here.

Short version: not a fantasy novel, not enjoyable.

have read about a dozen heinlein novels; he was, afterall, my boyhood idol (along with wilbur smith). so i feel qualified in saying "glory road" is one of his finest, frothy, rambling tales. the first 40 pages or so -- pure magic. have read them at least 30 times alone.

If you enjoy fantasy I recommend this book by one of the great writers of Science Fiction and Fantasy. This is the story of man, for hire, who becomes a hero but doesn't take himself too seriously. The book has lots of humor and was a fun read. I first read it in the seventies so parts seem a little sexist now but still great.
I recommend it for adults and teens.
D. L Burnett

This is one of the times that Heinlein did a wonderful read for the man that was actually there and did that. I went to that island. I fell in love. Now 50years later I am waiting for Rufo to lead me by the hand so I can rejoin my wondrous STAR.
dray

Since everyone else has given a fairly accurate summary, I don't need to. But if you are reading my review, you should realize that Heinlein is writing a great book. It's not "swords & sorcery," it's not "just like Tolkien," it is its own story. How many action heroes have to read before they can go to sleep. How many grooms have to shave people lying down because they learned on corpses? Many of Heinlein's books have misogynist overtones, but he is writing from a less enlightened time. Not that you would know it from reading these reviews. He is still the greates science fiction writer, even if some people don't know enough about Heinlein to realize it.

While Oscar Gordon reflects on his eventful life, he answers a personal ad that appears to be written just for him. His quest to rescue the Egg of the Pheonix takes him through worlds of beauty and adventure. proving that the Glory Road " ..is paved not with stones, but with boulders." Heinlein masterfully blends the real with the fantastic, and shows us just what a hero's job description includes. This is one of the Grand Master's best and one of my all-time favorites

I enjoyed this book, especially the last 1/3, even if disparaged by some reviewers, as it strayed from your typical "they lived happily ever after" Hollywood ending. I almost lost interest in the middle as it bogged down a bit when they visited what's-his-face (Star's friend) and got kicked out because he didn't screw their 11 year-old virgin. I disliked the subtle but frequent references to sex with minors and the one reference to the occult (pentagram) used for the inter dimension/world transport/gates. Those issues aside I enjoyed the adventures experienced on the glory road, especially the eater of souls quest.

This book is something I never thought I could say existed: A Heinlein novel I can't stand! I love Heinlein, I revere him. He's one of my three favourite authors and it was always my intention to read every word he ever wrote. I will never accomplish that goal because this book stinks - I got perhaps a third of the way through it and could not force myself to turn another page.
If you want a good read, almost any other Heinlein work will be sure to please - even the three or four troubled, overlong, repetitive books he wrote when he had a brain tumour are masterpieces compared to this.
Spend your money wisely - spend it on something besides this book.

They say that you should not look back at some things. One example would be looking up old girlfriends. Another I've discovered is reading a book from your adolescence.

I should have known better. When I was but a wee lad, I loved the movie "Swiss Family Robinson". It was a movie I had viewed several times as a youngster. After VCRs became popular I rented a copy one night to share with my two children. I wanted them to experience the joy I had felt watching this movie. My kids thought it absolutely lame, and I could not keep them in the room. At this point I don't remember whether I sat through the whole movie, but I am recalling that I did not.

When I was a teenager I thought Robert A. Heinlein just hung the moon. His book "Stranger in a Strange Land" was at one point the ultimate novel and the ultimate philosophical work, in my humble 17 year old mind. I must have read it a dozen times in the space of a few years. To me "Glory Road" was not far behind. I also read it multiple times.

Recently I was wondering through an enormous bookstore in Portland, OR and came across a copy of "Glory Road". Feeling the need to relive a fond childhood memory I bought a copy.

I should have left well enough alone. Reading this book as a middle age man I understand why my teenage self enjoyed it so. Heinlein would have been around 55 or 56 when he wrote this. I did not find it the work of a mature writer unless he was deliberately "marketing" to a teenage male audience. I will give him the benefit of the doubt and say that is what he was doing.

I had a tough time getting through the book this round. The characters were basically shallow and predictable. There is the swashbuckling hero who has basically been a rebel all his life, and as it turns out manipulated (for good) by great forces. There is the scheming, beautiful woman who turns out to be not what she seems to be. And finally a Sancho Panza style character. None of the characters really grow or change with the exception of "Oscar", our hero. And like me Oscar finally realizes that you cannot go backwards. Unfortunately, this is his only growth as a character.

The story line is utterly predictable. Even those passages that were supposed to provide a plot twisted were just about telegraphed on page one. We knew before he did that he would have to face an inner demon. But come on, rats. Rats crawling on a homeless boy causing adulthood phobias. Now that is what I call inventive.

Perhaps what was the most painful to me was the dialogue. The "My Princess" and "Yes, Me Lord" become tiresome rather quickly. Towards the end of the book our lovers begin to fall apart. The dialogue of their arguments fell apart for me too. It quickly became something I skipped over.

At some point in Heinlein's writing he got so wrapped in espousing his personally philosophy that he become unreadable to me. He is getting a good start in this book. He pounds into you that government is bad, and the best government is one that governs less. He goes on to denounce democracy because the masses do not have enough sense to know what is right. He is big proponent of free love and anything goes sexually. But for some reason, he comes across as a misogynist to me.

I will say this, I have a couple ideas that I have been repeating for years. Until I reread this book I had no idea where they came. I'm not delusional enough to think the memes were mine, but I had forgotten their source. That almost makes them yours, right? One was that women and cats are very similar. When they want affection you had better give it to them, and when they don't you had better leave them alone. This is an idea Heinlein expressed in the book that I picked up. Who knows if it is original with him? Another was idea was that the perfect age to be and stop aging would 35. I'm not going to argue with either.

If you can suspend the critical thinking part of your mind, you will probably enjoy this. I personally wish I had left it on the shelf and recalled the fond memories from my teenage years. For pure swashbuckling fantasy and adventure Edgar Rice Boroughs John Carter on Mars makes for better reading.

This book was gonna be my #1 Favorite untill i got near to the end. I read the end and i was little shocked at the ending it messsed the book up in so many ways. The ending could of been 1000 times better. I wish i would of read this book and stoped before the end so i wouldent have disliked the book by its ending

I had only experienced Heinlein through "Stranger in a strange land" but I had high hopes of this fantasy as i enjoyed "Stranger" and am usually able to get into fantasy books. I cant get through it. I hear that "Stranger" had really slow parts but i wasnt really shaken by them. This books faults are more on the massive string of action cliches level. I am no experienced sci-fi reader so maybe this is above average but just isnt my type o novel. Probably good beach reading, it seems to be an adventure written like a laid back day of lying in mud. Take this with a grain of salt, maybe the book gears up from where I am, halfway through... I'll update if I can get back into it.

If you want to read a book full of adventures, this is your choice. But I wouldn't recomment it if I hadn't seen something more in it. I liked the end, you can read it in different ways. I won't tell them, but if you read it, look for alternative interpretations. Really not bad.

This is not a bad novel. It's also not a very good novel. Entertaining, yes, but lacking in some deeper feeling and without an emotionally fulfilling ending. If you want to read Heinlein at his best, try STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND or SPACESHIP TROUPERS, which is nothing like the movie, I promise! These two books are fantastic, GLORY ROAD is merely okay.

The language of this book is way too old fashioned even for heinlien it just made the whole book sound ... annoying. Dont get me wrong i love heinlein but this is not one of his better ones, trust me ive read em all.

After reading "Glory Road" it's a joke that anyone would defend Heinlein's as writing strong female characters and not being sexists at all. Aside from the ridiculous plot the characters are barely more than stereotypes. "Scar" is the strong hero and only the strong hero, never expect anything more. Rufo is the unhappy third wheel. Star, oh where to begin with her. Nothing like having a female character that's body is the main description and focus of the character. Maybe it's when Star gets upset that after their clothes are destroyed she can't try on her 'naughty' clothes for Scar. Maybe it's when she talks back to Scar and he threatens to spank her with her own sword; something she repeats in a childlike way.

After reading this book I couldn't believe how many people rush to explain taht Heinlein wasn't sexists at all. No, he was writing about a woman in charge and in power. To be fair Star does end up in a strong occuption, but that hardly excuses the first 2/3 of the novel of her being naked, Scar going on and on about how he wants to have sex with her and how beautiful she is, and her pathetic role as sex object throughout their trip. At least unlike, "Stranger in a strange land" there wasn't a line that said that women's were partly to blamed for being raped. If only people would get over their awe of this guy to realize what he's saying.

This seems a bit late in the day to be writing about this book, but they have just released an audio version.

Very few writers are as hot and cold as Robert Heinlein. He wrote some very good stuff (Moon is a Harsh Mistress, for instance). He also wrote some really weak stuff that barely qualifies as a story. This novel fits it the latter category.

It's a bit unusual for Heinlein to write fantasy instead of SF, and it appears that he's trying to do a bit of parody in this--though the fantasy genre wasn't nearly as strong as it is now in '63 so I'm not sure how much parody is really here.

The problem is that there's at least as much sermonizing as there is story. The first 20% of the book and the final 20% of the book are almost exclusively preaching. And I don't mean to imply that the middle 60% is free of it--but there is some story squeezed in. It is a seemingly endless lecture on the weaknesses of democracy, the value of libertarian politics and the glory of free love.

It doesn't help that a lot of what Heinlein wrote about such things just sounds quaint and childish 50 years later (granted, hindsight is a lot clearer). Even if his politics were perfect, though, I don't want to hear endless speeches about them from the primary character. It's just not good drama.

The character development in the story is also sadly lacking. Some want to claim that's part of the parody, but I don't see that as excusing it. The characters are pretty one-dimensional, which is remarkable since there are really only three of any consequence at all in the book.

I did listen to the audio book. If you're going to slog through this, I suggest you read it. The simpering of the primary woman character may not sound so bad in print and you can skip the sermons more easily. Overall, though, I suggest go find better SF--you can even find it with Heinlein's name on it.

The first two thirds of this book is a rollicking adventure story. It is well written and a lot of fun.
However, Heinlein is extremely heavy-handed with the sex. I first read this book in my teens, and the sex scenes resonated very well with my adolescent sexual fantasies.
Worse, I found the last third of Glory Road to be essentially unreadable. After the quest is completed, Heinlein gets up on his soap box, and starts preaching a Libertarian political/philosphical gospel. If -- as I am -- you are unsympathetic to this view, you will find this section of the book to be extremely annoying.