A fairly
strange novel by
Robert Heinlein, better known for its
radical arguments for
polyamory than for any actual
literary value. The story is actually
two different stories which happen to be
sequels, the first about how the "Man from
Mars" arrives on
Earth and is allowed to
fit in to our
culture, and the second when he starts developing and explaining his
ideas about
sex,
God, and
laughter.
Robert Heinlein could have done
better with this
book if he hadn't been
hitting us over the head with his
social philosophies the whole time.
Incidentally, this novel is thoroughly offensive to Christians because of Heinlein's depiction of the novel's corrupt church and the blatant parallels between Christ and the title character. Those readers are recommended to read "Starship Troopers" or "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" instead for an introduction to this author.