Stranger in a Strange LandStranger in a Strange Land
Score Classic
What it's about
Valentine Michael Smith was born on the first expedition to Mars and raised by Martians after the crew died. Brought back to Earth as a young man, he knows nothing of human ways but has strange Martian powers. A nurse and a cranky old writer protect him from the government, and Smith begins to teach humans a new way of living, with consequences for everyone.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Hugo Award and became a counterculture bible in the 1960s, giving English the word 'grok'.
You'll love it if you liked
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
Dune
The Sirens of TitanGood to know
It's long, with a lot of lecturing. Its attitudes toward women and sex are very dated, including a notorious line about rape.
By the numbers
- Readers29 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics56 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller34 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #165 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #486 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1689 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
More by Robert A. Heinlein
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Quick answers
Is Stranger in a Strange Land worth reading?
Yes. It won the Hugo Award and became a counterculture bible in the 1960s, giving English the word 'grok'. It ranks #1,689 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Stranger in a Strange Land about?
Valentine Michael Smith was born on the first expedition to Mars and raised by Martians after the crew died. Brought back to Earth as a young man, he knows nothing of human ways but has strange Martian powers. A nurse and a cranky old writer protect him from the government, and Smith begins to teach humans a new way of living, with consequences for everyone.
How long does it take to read Stranger in a Strange Land?
About 16 hours (636 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Stranger in a Strange Land won?
Hugo Award winner (1962).
What should I read after Stranger in a Strange Land?
If you liked it, try The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein, Dune by Frank Herbert or The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut.