Allreaders.com
Author Robert A. Heinlein booklist (click here)

Book Review By Tamaal Ghosh
The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein

This is a story about insurgency and revolution set on Luna, Earth's satellite. The main character, Manuel Garcia O'Kelly, is a computer technician, "a general specialist" he calls himself, as he an on-call grasp of arcane subjects relating to the digital omnipresence (such as physics, electronics and micro-machining).

On his way home one evening, as a favour for his computer 'friend' Mike, he checks out a political rally which gets raided by state troops. With "Loonies" forbidden any armaments, mayhem and murder ensues but "Man" escapes, as do the two other main characters Wyoming ("Wye")Knott and the academic Professor Bernardo de la Paz.

This triumvirate spend much of the first half of the novel discussing and planning rebellion. Following a gang rape and slaughter of a civilian by six troopers, Professor la Paz, the intellectual motive force, signals the time for the revolution.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - cynical or dry-wit
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - overthrowing govt/kingdom
Repressive society story Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30 %
Who's a slave/repressed? - humans are slaves of other humans

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status:
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
How sensitive is this character?
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
Terrain
Which planet? - Earth's Moon
Not Earth, in Solar System? Yes

Writing Style
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Back To Main Menu