Heinlein's "I Will Fear No Evil"

[triskellian]

I was talking to a colleague about science-fiction a couple of weeks ago. She claimed Heinlein as one of her favourite authors, and I confessed to having read nothing of his, put off by a possibly-unjustified impression of him being too interested in plot at the expense of character, and having misogynist tendencies. She claimed this wasn't true, and leant me I Will Fear No Evil to prove it. Yesterday, ill in bed*, I read the first two chapters. The characters are little more than props, and the main female character wears sexy clothes to please her elderly boss (and decides to make an effort to be extra-sexy tomorrow to thank him for a hefty bequest), doesn't mind being treated like a silly little girl, and, despite claiming to be happily married, throws herself into the arms of another much-older man at the first sign of danger, saying stuff like "Your arms are so strong. I feel safe when you're holding me", and then offers said older man a nude photo of herself. I gave up in disgust. Has anyone read it? Should I give the rest a try before returning it, or is it all like that?

*Hence no appearance at angry_marmot's party, and being off work today. secretrebel - want to come over and cheer me up?

Comments

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I have to agree completely with waistcoatmark.

I read a lot of Heinlein as a boy, and loved it. Space Cadet, Starship Troopers, Have Space Suit--Will Travel to name but three.

It was all glorious, boys-own adventure in space stuff, with dashing heroes and evil villains. Marvelous. Slightly tinged by his right-wing, naval background, but not so much that it put me off.

Then something happened to him. What it was, I don't know, but all of a sudden his books were at least twice as fat, all featured extended families and nipples everywhere and... well... basically they were bobbins. I suppose Stranger In A Strange Land is worth reading, but only because it's the best of that particular sorry bunch.

It's almost like the real Heinlein was replaced by some kind of nipple-fixated alien.

Hmm.

Heinlein.
Alien.

That's close enough to be proof as far as I'm concerned.

[triskellian]

Heinlein.
Alien.

That's close enough to be proof as far as I'm concerned.
I'm convinced ;-)