Heinlein and Christie

[bearshorty]

Over the last week I finished reading Robert Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and the Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. Technically Christie is a reread because I went through a big Christie kick when I was a kid. Maybe 10 years old. But since I didn't really remember the plot of this one and the movie trailer made me want to read it again awhile ago (and after Heinlein I wanted something light and easy and this was available in the library on my wish list), it was like a new book. (Many of Christie's books I remember really well. And since in turns out that Bear never read Christie at all, I will get him a couple of really famous ones for his birthday.)

So Heinlein. Is Heinlein. Excellent world building. I can see why this book was popular and a classic and won a Hugo. From language to customs to family structure to really thinking through what less gravity would do to a body and a culture, all that was very well done. And having a culture started as a prison colony on the Moon plus a sentient computer are all cool concepts. And yet, when I read Heinlein, I always need a break or something always bugs me.

Part of it, I realized, is that I don't really want to read about politics or revolutions. I like reading about social stuff, family structures and regular people drama. Revolutions, war and especially politics are not something I want to read about.

Another part is that as the story progresses, the women characters do less. Whyoming stared out as an interesting character with her own motivations and agency but she just becomes a love interest. After the middle of the book she doesn't really do much. In one political gathering, a war cabinet of the main people in government, she is an only girl and one who literally has no opinion and just defers to men I mean, this is pretty common of 60s Sci fi, but it still bugs me. There was so much promise.

And Heinlein often wants to lecture. I recognize how good he is as a writer and I did like the book (certainly more than "Stranger in a Strange Land" which I really disliked when it descended into orgies) but after I was done with him, reading Christie felt like fresh air.

I forgot just how fun Christie is. And clever. And reading her as an adult adds a whole extra layer. She is really funny at times. All I want to do now is to rewatch the Doctor Who episode with 10 and Donna and Agatha Christie. And reread other of her books, although I remember still who the murderer is in her other two famous books even when I read them almost 30 years ago. It was a pure joy to read her.

Now I picked up the last book in Accursed King's series by Maurice Druon "The King Without a Kingdom". (And I realized that this year I plan to finish 4 series - Druon, Temeraire, Leckie and Jemisin.)

Comments

[jenny_evergreen]

I still haven't read Heinlein. This does not make me regret that. I have, however, read pretty much everything Agatha Christie ever wrote and I adore her without reservation. Read more; you won't be disappointed! :)

[bearshorty]

I read a lot of Christie when I was a kid. Anything I could get translated into Russian. But i'm definitely thinking of rereading many of her books. It will be different as an adult and reading it in English, I'm sure.