Summary

Robert A. Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land is a landmark work of science fiction that challenged social norms and sparked controversy upon its release in 1961. It tells the story of Valentine Michael Smith, a human raised by Martians who returns to Earth as a young adult. Heinlein uses Smith's outsider perspective to examine and critique human culture, particularly institutions like religion, politics, and sexuality. The novel won the prestigious Hugo Award in 1962 and became the first science fiction book to appear on The New York Times bestseller list.

Beyond the literary world, Stranger in a Strange Land influenced the counterculture movement of the 1960s and even inspired a real-life Church of All Worlds. It introduced the word “grok,” meaning to understand something so thoroughly that the observer becomes a part of it, to the English lexicon. In 2012, the Library of Congress recognized Stranger in a Strange Land as one of the “Books that Shaped America.”

Plot

Valentine Michael Smith is a human born on Mars and raised by Martians. When a second expedition to Mars discovers him as the sole survivor of the first mission, Smith is brought back to Earth. Since he has never encountered human culture, Smith struggles to understand Earth's customs and society.

On Earth, Smith is initially held in a hospital by the government due to his unfamiliarity with humans and his legal claim to Mars. He escapes with the help of a nurse named Gillian Boardman and finds refuge with Jubal Harshaw, a famous author and lawyer. Harshaw helps Smith gain freedom and recognition of Martian sovereignty. As Smith explores human religions and cultures, he develops extraordinary abilities like telepathy and telekinesis.

Smith goes on to found his own religious movement, the Church of All Worlds. Based on Martian philosophy and practices, it promotes free love, communal living, and the Martian concept of “grokking”—deep understanding and unity. Smith's church gains many followers but also faces opposition from established religious groups, particularly the powerful Fosterite Church.

As Smith's influence grows, he faces increasing hostility from conservative elements of society. Eventually, an angry mob incited by Fosterites attacks Smith and kills him. However, Smith's consciousness survives in an afterlife where he takes on an angelic role. His followers continue his teachings and use their newly acquired abilities and wealth to spread the church's ideals throughout human society.

Themes

• Cultural clash and adaptation
• Religious exploration and critique
• Sexual liberation and free love
• The power of language and communication
• Questioning societal norms and institutions
• Individual growth and enlightenment
• Humanity's potential for transformation

Setting

Stranger in a Strange Land is set in a near-future version of Earth, likely sometime in the late 20th or early 21st century. While an exact year is not specified, the novel takes place after a fictional “Third World War” and depicts a world with advanced space travel capabilities, allowing for missions to Mars. The story primarily unfolds in the United States, with references to a global government called the Federation of Free States.

Key locations in the novel include Bethesda Hospital, where Valentine Michael Smith is initially held upon his return from Mars, and Jubal Harshaw's estate in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, which serves as a safe haven for Smith and his followers. The narrative also takes readers to various other settings across the United States, including a carnival where Smith briefly works as a magician.

As the story progresses, the focus shifts to the Church of All Worlds, founded by Smith. This fictional religious movement, blending elements of paganism, revivalism, and Martian philosophy, becomes central to the latter part of the novel. The church's activities and the societal reactions to its unconventional practices provide a backdrop for exploring themes of sexuality, spirituality, and social norms in this speculative future America.

Characters

• Valentine Michael Smith: The “Man from Mars,” who was born on Mars and raised by Martians. He arrives on Earth as a young adult with superhuman abilities and a completely alien perspective. Smith struggles to understand human culture while developing his own spiritual movement. His innocence and extraordinary powers make him both revered and feared as he transforms society.
• Gillian (Jill) Boardman: A nurse who helps Smith escape government custody. She becomes one of his closest companions and a central figure in his spiritual movement. Jill plays a key role in introducing Smith to human culture and practices.
• Jubal Harshaw: A famous author, lawyer, and doctor who provides sanctuary and guidance to Smith. He serves as a father figure and voice of reason, maintaining a skeptical distance from Smith's movement while supporting his independence. Harshaw becomes an unwilling patron saint of Smith's church.
• Ben Caxton: An investigative journalist who helps free Smith initially. He joins Smith's inner circle but remains somewhat skeptical of their developing social order.
• Anne: One of Harshaw's secretaries and a certified Fair Witness. She becomes an early follower of Smith's teachings.
• Dr. Mahmoud: A semanticist who learns the Martian language. He joins Smith's church while maintaining his Muslim faith.
• Patty Paiwonski: A tattooed circus performer who joins Smith's inner circle. She maintains ties to the rival Fosterite church.

Quick facts

• Robert A. Heinlein wrote the first draft of Stranger in a Strange Land in 1948 but, feeling society wasn't ready for its themes, waited a dozen years before seeking a publisher.
• The novel’s title comes from a Bible verse in Exodus 2:22.
• The original manuscript was about 220,000 words long before being edited down to 160,000 words for publication.
• Stranger in a Strange Land was the first science fiction novel to appear on The New York Times bestseller list.
• Stranger in a Strange Land won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1962.
• The novel introduced the word “grok,” meaning to understand profoundly, into popular culture.
• Stranger in a Strange Land contains a description of the waterbed, years before it was actually invented.
• A real Church of All Worlds was founded in 1968, inspired by the fictional one in the book.
• The full, uncut version of the novel was published in 1991, three years after Heinlein's death.
• Stranger in a Strange Land was included in the 2012 Library of Congress exhibition of “Books That Shaped America.”

About the author

Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) was one of the most influential and controversial science fiction authors of the 20th century. Often called the “dean of science fiction writers,” Heinlein helped elevate the genre from pulp magazines to mainstream literature. His works explored themes like individualism, libertarianism, and sexuality, frequently challenging social conventions of the time. Some of Heinlein's most famous novels include Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers, and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

Heinlein's writing career spanned nearly 50 years, during which he pioneered techniques like “indirect exposition” that allowed him to build complex fictional worlds without lengthy explanations. His stories often featured competent, self-reliant protagonists and explored how advances in science and technology might shape future societies. Heinlein was known for rigorously researching the scientific elements in his fiction, helping establish “hard science fiction” as a distinct subgenre. Heinlein was the first author named Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America and won four Hugo Awards during his lifetime.

Beyond literature, Heinlein influenced the real-world space program and popular views on space exploration. Many astronauts cited Heinlein's juvenile novels as inspiration, and he served as a commentator during the Apollo 11 moon landing broadcast. His works have also inspired religious movements, polyamory advocates, libertarian thinkers, and technology pioneers in Silicon Valley.