Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Ace / Putnam (New York, 1987). 1st edition, 1st printing. 416 pages. $18.95.
Description
Maureen Johnson, the somewhat irregular mother of Lazarus Long, wakes up in bed with a man and a cat. The cat is Pixel, well-known to fans of the New York Times bestseller The Cat Who Walks through Walls. The man is a stranger to her, and besides that, he is dead. So begins Robert A. Heinlein's To Sail beyond the Sunset. Filled with the master's most beloved characters, this compelling work broadens and enriches his epic vision of time and space, life and death, love and desire. It is also an autobiographical masterpiece--and a wondrous return to the alternate universes that all Heinlein fans have come to know and love.
Media reviews
NBD/Biblion (via BOL.com)
f the subtitle, "Being the Memoirs of a Somewhat Irregular Lady," evokes Fanny Hill, it's no accident. For although there's a science fiction story here, involving time travel, alternate history and super-longevity, the true subject of the book is sex. As the heroine, Maureen Johnson Long, says
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after one of many incestuous encounters: "What the world needs is more loving, sweaty and friendly and unashamed." One way or another this idea is endlessly repeated, out of the mouths of any number of the absurd characters populating this novel. The heroine, born in 1882, engages in what Heinlein imagines to be clever, iconoclastic conversation with her father before the turn of the 20th century, and later with husbands, friends and offspring; they are all so smug and self-righteous it sets the teeth on edge. While spewing out homilies on the proper conduct of life, they are generally engaging in activities more appropriate to a tale involving the Jukes or the Kallikaks. Heinlein seems to be on a mission, but he has made his message unpalatable. And far from being admirable, his characters are virtually moronsthey are totally closed, the world can teach them nothing. Not surprising: they're all inbred. Publication date is Heinlein's 80th birthday. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member EmScape
WARNING: Please read Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land, Revolt in 2100, Methuselah's Children, Time Enough for Love, The Number of the Beast, and The Cat Who Walks Through Walls prior to reading this. A familiarity with the "future history" stories are also recommended.
Maureen Johnson, born in
Maureen Johnson, born in
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1882 and mother of Lazarus Long, is one horny gal. This is her memoirs, told to us while being held in a jail on some unexplored timeline. Let me just say straight off that if you have a problem reading about incest, you should probably skip this (and the rest of the World as Myth series as well). If you can get over that, you'll find Maureen's life pretty interesting, sort of a rounding out of what we've been told before about Lazarus' mother and grandfather. The reasons for the jail cell and the eventual climactic rescue of...someone... cap the book, but I think deserve to have been a little better explained. This isn't my favorite of Heinlein's books, but it is his last full-length novel and the "end" of the World as Myth Series, so I recommend you read it if you've gone that far. It's also a (very) little better as a standalone than the two previous World as Myth books. Show Less
LibraryThing member szarka
Not already a Heinlein fan? Then move along. There's nothing to see here.
LibraryThing member rakerman
One of Heinlein's final "Grand Unification" novels. Garbage.
LibraryThing member PaulFAustin
A lot of people dislike TSBS but RAH's description of the early 20th century (the time of his youth) is great.
LibraryThing member kf4vkp
My favorite book of all time. Follows the story of Maureen Johnson.
LibraryThing member thomasJamo
This book runs parallel to the last part of "Time Enough for Love" but it is told from the point of view of Maureen Johnson Smith (Lazarus Long's Mother/Lover)
It's a great read. You should not read this book before you read "Time Enough for Love" else it won't make any sense.
It's just wonderful.
It's a great read. You should not read this book before you read "Time Enough for Love" else it won't make any sense.
It's just wonderful.
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Like I said, though, the Lazarus Long stories are Heinlein's best works in my opinion. Show Less
LibraryThing member Esquiress
I really enjoy Heinlein's books about Lazarus Long, and this was no exception. His mother is a fascinating character, and I loved seeing all of the previous stories I had read intertwining with this one. I'm very glad I read this.
LibraryThing member CarmenTS
I attempted to find interest in this one five times but it's just not my think. I really wanted to soldier through since it was a book club selection but that didn't happen. Maybe I will try again - doubtful. I wish there were an audio version because I did enjoy most of the dialogue. It was the
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parts in between that gave me trouble. Show Less
LibraryThing member kewaynco
Not great, but an interesting read. Not true science fiction. A story in an alternate universe. More of a treatise on RAH's thoughts on sex, morality, politics, and the downfall of The United States. I would not recommend it to anyone but diehard fans of RAH which I am not.
LibraryThing member Garrison0550
I really didn't like this heinlein book. This one went straight back to the used bookstore for the next sucker to purchase.
LibraryThing member karnoefel
Bestselling author Robert A. Heinlein’s autobiographical masterpiece—a wondrous return to the alternate universes that all Heinlein fans have come to know and love.
Maureen Johnson, the somewhat irregular mother of Lazarus Long, wakes up in bed with a man and a cat. The cat is Pixel, well-known
Filled with the master’s most beloved characters, To Sail Beyond the Sunset broadens and enriches Heinlein’s epic visions of time and space, life and death, love and desire…
Maureen Johnson, the somewhat irregular mother of Lazarus Long, wakes up in bed with a man and a cat. The cat is Pixel, well-known
Show More
to readers of the New York Times bestseller The Cat Who Walks Through Walls. The man is a stranger to her, and besides that, he is dead…Filled with the master’s most beloved characters, To Sail Beyond the Sunset broadens and enriches Heinlein’s epic visions of time and space, life and death, love and desire…
Show Less
Awards
Locus Award (Nominee — Science Fiction Novel — 1988)
Prometheus Award (Nominee — Novel — 1989)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1987-07
Physical description
416 p.; 20 inches
ISBN
0399132678 / 9780399132674
Local notes
Creasing on top of front cover.