I Will Fear No Evil

By: Robert A. Heinlein

Narrated by: Anthony Heald

Length: 18 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

As startling and provocative as his famous Stranger in a Strange Land, here is Heinlein’s grand masterpiece about a man supremely talented, immensely old, and obscenely wealthy who discovers that money can buy everything.

Johann Sebastian Bach Smith was immensely rich—and very old. Though his mind was still keen, his body was worn out. His solution was to have surgeons transplant his brain into a new body. The operation was a great success—but the patient was no longer Johann Sebastian Bach Smith. He was now fused with the very vocal personality of his gorgeous, recently deceased secretary, Eunice—with mind-blowing results! Together they must learn to share control of her body.

Once again, master storyteller Robert A. Heinlein delivers a wild and intriguing classic of science fiction. Written at the dawn of the 1970s, this novel is the brilliantly shocking story of the ultimate transplant.

©1970 Robert A. Heinlein (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Magnificent. A science fiction masterpiece.” ( Galaxy)

I've read this book Many times...

I first read this book when I was about 16 years old. At that time I was a VERY MUCH confused young woman. I read through it the first time as I did many of Heinlein's books...as just Sci-fi.... but Identified with it more than any other book and just always came back to it. I

Not one of my favorite Heinlein stories

It's okay. But it's not as strong as many other stories. the narrator does a fine job. it's just not very work.

Of course, it's a Heinlein story, so it'll be better than many stories.

A gutsy experiment but sadly dated

There are a number of harsh reviews here regarding Heinlein's depiction of women. I wish I could give a hearty rebuttal, but this is not a book I got deeply attached to. On the other hand, I think the critics are forgetting that the attitudes shown accurately depict a significant segment of liberated women in the 1960s, and that we really haven't moved that far beyond that as you can tell from just a glance at TMZ. Moreover, I don’t think Heinlein was writing for posterity. As far as extrapolating from the time of writing, I think the book was fairly prescient in describing what the 1970s would be like.

On a side note, his fake news stories of the future are dead on accurate in describing the current events of our own time. I don't know if that is hilarious or just intensely sad.

At this distance, it's hard not to wish that Heinlein had been interested in exploring different questions. However, the issues he focused on (gender relations, overpopulation, class privilege, environmental pollution) were the issues of that time. And as far as the depiction of human relationships is concerned, he does an excellent job of capturing the hypocrisies and inconsistencies of his time. It's never clear whether the author perceives them as such. Too bad. Would that we all could perceive the hypocrisies of our own time as clearly.

There is a hint near the beginning of the book that the whole story could merely be a fantasy constructed by a brain cut off from contact with the outside world. But this isn't supported by any further exposition within the text itself. Still, it's interesting to note that every book is essentially a fantasy constructed within the mind of the author.

I can't help wondering how the book would have come across if read by a female narrator. So much of the book takes place within the mind of a woman, and the dated expressions seem especially incongruous being spoken by a man.

The central theme that Heinlein seems to have been interested in was how to get a totally frank conversation between genders without any of the masks or defenses that customarily get in the way. To that end, he created a rather unique scenario. Sadly, I think his solution was of more interest to him and his readers at the time than it will be to readers of our own time.

Story seems to drag on & on

This story dragged on and went no where. It seemed as if the author got as tired of writing it as I did of reading it. He brought it to a quick, abrupt ending.

Finished. I loved it!

One of Mr. Heinlein's very best novels. Birth, death and everything in between and out.

My brain work in images

What did you love best about I Will Fear No Evil?

My brain work in images.

This can sometimes lead to confusion or misses. When I first saw the Lord of the Ring movie, I was so surprised and annoyed when they cam to Rivendal as it, in my minds picture, was on the other side of the river.

So when I read a book I can se most of the story played in my mind and that gives me great pleasure in reading.

At the moment im reading the book - well listening to the audiobook - I Will Fear No Evil by Robert A. Hainlein. It was fist published in 1970 so its a bit old but its a very nice book.

The plot is that billionaire Johann Sebastian Bach Smith is dying, and wants to have his brain transplanted into a new body. His beautiful young female secretary, Eunice Branca, is murdered, so her body is used, since Smith never thought to place any restriction on the sex of the donor.

For some strange reason the spirit (or whatever you want to call it) is Eunice is still with Johann when he wakes up after the transplantation in the new body.

The book then continues to follow the 2 minds as they experience a , for Johann, new world and new body. And a new sex. Yes the book steams of sex. Actually its not written that much and there are no explicit writing of it, just what leading up to it and feelings and so on. But as my mind is very graphical its very sexy for me.

I would say that this is one of the most trilling books I have read in a long while.

What about Anthony Heald???s performance did you like?

The vocal artists are doing a wounderfull job. Even when you started to hear the words from Eunice, you cluld here that it was here before you got the explanation it was her.

So the characterization of the characters in the book is very nice and its hard to put it down.

Escape into Luxury and the Female Mind

What did you love best about I Will Fear No Evil?

Riding the bus, or walking wet dark streets, my mind was taken to a place where money buys everything, but love wins even more.

What did you like best about this story?

Heinlein is the master of course, and he keeps a half dozen sub plots spinning around the main line. I felt invited into the world of men from a woman's perspective. Only Heinlein can write a story where the heroine has both a tender and loving heart, and a backbone of steel.

What about Anthony Heald’s performance did you like?

His voice is warm and welcoming. His inflection is very pleasing, and he seems to understand each of the many cast of characters to deep degree. This book sounds like I heard it in my head the first time I read this book many years ago.

I wish there was some hint to the main plot twist

I honestly would have never touched this book if it had shown some indicator of the huge plot twist

Interesting story.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Maybe? If the friend likes hard core military, space Sci-Fi then definitely not; however, if the friend likes cerebral, "what if" Sci-Fi then maybe.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Seemed appropriate but wasn't great.

What about Anthony Heald’s performance did you like?

Excellent performance.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Johann was talking to Eunice about being a virgin but neither was but yet it was Johann's first time having sex as a woman. I don't know if the moment moved me or if it was just a very well-written passage.

Memory Lane

I read this book years ago. It is very dated and the view for the future is interesting. This story was much more sexual then I remembered and does not view the various STDs that are now in our society. It is a trip down memory lane for me.