Book Review: "For Us, The Living" by Robert A. Heinlein

Title: For Us, The Living - A Comedy of Customs
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Publisher: Pocket Books (New York)
Pages: 329 (paperback)

Review:

Of all the science fiction writers that have ever written, Robert A Heinlein is simply one of the best. He is considered by all who love the genre of Science Fiction to be one of the the Golden Age writers (along with Asimov and Clark) and he himself is known as The Grandmaster of Science Fiction.

This book was written between 1938 and 1939 but was not published until 2004, sixteen years after his death in 1988. It is not that it never was submitted, it simply was rejected twice. Not because it is not well written or even a fun Heinlein type story but it had two qualities that would have made it nearly impossible to publish in 1939: 1) stylistically it fit more with the later works Heinlein did like To Sail Beyond the Sunset or Time Enough for Love, there are a lot of conversations set in the future and it resembles a series of lectures encased slightly in a story and 2) it was moralistically 'ahead' of its time. Heinlein was a nudist, believed in open marriages and despised religious taboos and he puts these in this book. In 1939, it means rejection notices. He would have to wait until the 1960s before such a book could be published and that with edits.

The story is basically of a man who dies and by some unknown means enters the body of a man who lives 150 years in the future. Under this backdrop, Heinlein lays out a vision of utopia or at least utopia as Heinlein saw it in 1939. Much of the book focuses on the economic system which is not surprising considering the Great Depression is still in power at the time. He also touches on cultural taboos, religion, psychology, technology, and social customs. In this world, everyone is tolerant, educated, lacking in cultural taboos, open and non-religious.

Whenever I read Heinlein, my mind and heart are always challenged. The man is smart and good writer. He makes you think. This book was in 1939 far ahead of its time and it is probably for this reason it was rejected. He would have caused quite a stir; with naked people running around and his comments on religion, it would have made he Bible Belt enraged.

For the Heinlein fan, this book gives one of the greatest insights into the origins of this literary genius. In this book you see it all -- Heinlein's future history, his drive to advance the cause of man, his moral and ethical understandings and his absolute gift for making his characters believable. In it you also see a change from a man who wants to lecture on what needs to be into a story teller who tells stories with the lecture so well hidden that you don't see it until it has already affected you. We see a teacher learn to teach through character, plot and theme. We see someone who seeks to overwhelm us with his logic change into a person who invites us in, lays out lunch and tells us a story that changes our minds; so subtly, that we are not aware it has happened until long after it is over. This book; in short, is the only blunt instrument he will ever use, after this he prefers the rapier.

Rating: 3 and a half stars. As Heinlein books go, this is not a bad one. The story is a simple one but illustrates many concepts. If you are interested in Heinlein's early career and writings, this is a great read because it shows us that Heinlein didn't so much change his views as he did tactics in getting them across. Stylistically, it lacks the sophistication of his later works but the essence of Heinlein's style is there. If you want your mind challenged and don't mind sitting through a few written lectures, this is a good read.