Robert Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land is considered a science fiction classic. Winner of several science fiction awards, Heinlein's novel explores the spiritual journey of Valentine Michael Smith, a Martian brought to Earth and taught the ways of humans. During his journey, Mike, as he is affectionately called, learns about sex, religion, and politics, among many other social institutions, and notices the flaws in the human way of thinking. It introduces humans to the set of Martian beliefs, a set of beliefs that seem to align with the countercultural movement of the 1960s. This is a testament to Heinlein's genius and yet, despite being described as a masterpiece he award-winning work, Strange in a Strange Land has many flaws, particularly in the structure of its plot. Although Heinlein's novel eventually explores Mike's spirituality and maturity, it begins as a novel of political intrigue and conspiracy, and these two plots never come together smoothly. Namely, Strange in a Strange Land is a classic for its masterful embodiment of 1960s counterculture, from its glorification of sex and sin to its critique of traditional politics and religious institutions, but it is flawed in its disjointed plot, its quick solutions to complicated problems. plot problems and its long, winding dialogues between characters. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayThe element of Stranger in a Strange Land that most embodies the spirit of the countercultural movement is the glorification of sex, not because all young people of the 1960s were marked by promiscuity, but because this glorification implies a freedom of expression that reflects that of the youth of the countercultural movement. Heinlein's novel does not depict sex as something sinful, despite the fact that religion plays an important role in the narrative. Rather, sex is presented as something beautiful that should be explored and used to build closer connections with each other. In Mike's church, for example, you can have sex with anyone you want, man or woman, single or not, alone with one other person or in a large group. Mike sums up Heinlein's views on sex best when he says: "Masculinity and femininity are the greatest gifts we have – romantic physical love is perhaps unique on this planet." If so, the universe is a poorer place than it could be” (419). He then goes on to describe the union formed by sex as “a beautiful and perfect thing” (420). This is in complete contrast to how the society Heinlein lives in views sex. In the 1960s, sex was something extremely repressed, meant to be shared only between married couples, so Heinlein introduced the idea of ​​having sex unapologetically in order to have a deeper connection with someone, even if you weren't necessarily married (or ever getting married) was revolutionary. It was the kind of forward-thinking, progressive thinking you expect in science fiction novels. Because science fiction novels are so different from the real world, they can depict such radical ideas without consequence; Additionally, this aspect of the genre places science fiction in an ideal position to be a means by which authors can make social commentary about the real world, a fact that Heinlein greatly benefits from. The emphasis on social commentary and satire is added byHeinlein. to Stranger in a Strange Land is the other brilliant aspect of his work. The novel is filled with criticism of social institutions on Earth, including politics. The process of satirizing the society Heinlein lives in is facilitated by the character of Mike. For a time, Mike observes Earth from an objective, almost academic point of view, as he tries to learn everything he can about humans. The perspective of an objective outsider provides Heinlein with the perfect channel to mock the flawed institutions that are so widely accepted by humans. Take the political institution, for example. The political system has always been extremely flawed, and yet it represents a very important part of daily life. Political operatives cannot be taken literally. This is best described in chapter 9, which presents the views of Joseph Douglas and his wife Agnes. In this chapter, it is revealed that Douglas, the most powerful man in the world, lets his wife make most political decisions. For example, it was Agnes who suggested they have a fake Man from Mars speak to the press, and yet when Douglas mentions that the failed plan was his idea, she says, "I didn't not [invented]. And don’t contradict me” (73). Douglas, who seems so powerful, is not at all and is in fact very submissive to his wife, sometimes even fearing that he will be a disappointment to her. To add to Heinlein's satirical commentary on the hidden workings of politics, most of Agnes's political decisions are made based on one of the least factual approaches possible, astrology. When Mike disappears, Agnes goes to visit an astrologer who tells her that “the absence of young Smith is a necessity… The important thing is not to take any drastic measures” (79). Heinlein's purpose in using the example of astrology is to show that even political leaders who seem so wise and powerful may not actually be acting on the best sources of information. The public believes they are acting for the common good, but sometimes the figures people admire don't actually make the decisions and sometimes those decisions are made without any evidence of their effectiveness. Politicians often hope and pray, like the rest of America, that their decisions don't become catastrophic. Connecting this to the countercultural movement, Heinlein's use of satire mimics the attitude of young people toward questioning the status quo. Young people are the first to realize that the traditional way of thinking is flawed and that people should ask questions of the institutions that are so easily accepted. The genius of Heinlein is that he channels this questioning attitude and presents it in a way that causes not only young people to question their society, but also everyone who reads his novel. There is no doubt that Heinlein has a great mind for so creatively pointing out the flaws in society. As a social commentator and satirist, Heinlein is phenomenal. As a storyteller and novelist he is not as competent. Take for example plot structure. For much of the first part, Stranger in a Strange Land appears to be a story of political intrigue. There are elements of politicians trying to deceive Mike and there is an aspect of kidnapping. The level of suspense is high and it looks like the novel will be an exciting read at this time. And then, comes the second part, all this suspense collapses and the novel becomes more philosophical with the introduction of Jubal. The true plot of the novel is gradually revealed to be a coming-of-age story for Mike, a journey through his exploration of spirituality..