Slog - Comments on Book Club of the Damned: I Will Fear No Evil, Part 3 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2 For those of you playing catch-up, Brad bet me fifty bucks I couldn't read I Will Fear No Evil, a late Heinlein sci-fi novel, from cover to cover. Although I'd read Heinlein before, this book, about Johann Sebastian Bach Smith, a dying wealthy old man who has his brain transplanted into the nubile young body of his secretary, quickly proved to be atrocious. For reasons unexplained, the secretary still lives inside the brain of Johann--who now answers to Joan--and the remainder of the novel consists of Joan making out with old friends from his/her past life. Here's part one.... Copyright 2008 Wed, 28 May 2008 12:31:27 -0800 Thu, 29 May 2008 11:14:13 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by cracked Paul:
So, did you actually finish it?

]]> cracked http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033884 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033884 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 12:50:49 -0800 Comment by elenchos Heinlein's morality is pretty situational, so in in his prime he probably would have approved of lying about finishing the book to win the bet.

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033888 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033888 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 12:52:31 -0800 Comment by Paul Constant @1: Sorry. Yes I did finish it.

]]> Paul Constant http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033891 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033891 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 13:00:03 -0800 Comment by Paul Constant ...and I modified the post to reflect that. Apologies.

]]> Paul Constant http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033899 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033899 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 13:04:28 -0800 Comment by muerto "Heinlein was probably dying when he wrote it "

.. but he was 18 years from death in 1970

]]> muerto http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033902 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033902 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 13:09:07 -0800 Comment by muerto never mind.. peritonitis, got it.

]]> muerto http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033904 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033904 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 13:11:31 -0800 Comment by Gloria What's the twist?

]]> Gloria http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033905 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033905 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 13:12:20 -0800 Comment by King James "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

Seems fairly obvious.

]]> King James http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033911 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033911 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 13:21:37 -0800 Comment by Scott Faulkner Congratulations on completing a genuine slog, Paul. I thought this one sucked when I was a stupid teenager and I had already enjoyed STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND, MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS, ETC. Luckily, I found Robert Silverberg's TOWER OF GLASS in the same school library and it at least delivered much more on the sex front.

]]> Scott Faulkner http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033934 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033934 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 13:45:30 -0800 Comment by sf nerd @9
Tower of Glass is a hoot. Have you read Silverberg's Dying Inside? That book should have won a fucking Pulitzer. In 50 years people will look back on Silverberg as genius of modern prose, sf or otherwise.

]]> sf nerd http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033942 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033942 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 13:52:38 -0800 Comment by Original Monique 1) No, he would probably want to shoot himself for writing it.

2)I doubt it.

3)Seems King James got it.

4) godwilling and godspeed my friend! I suggest Sun Liquor on Summit. They make the best Gin and Tonic.

PS. You are a stronger man then most. Purification by fire seems the only choice for a book like that.

]]> Original Monique http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033944 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033944 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 13:53:12 -0800 Comment by yucca flower What's more horrible about this book is I think they actuall made a movie about it and Emilio Estavez starred as the 'nubile' young brain recipient. Ack!

]]> yucca flower http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033967 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033967 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 14:14:36 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle You should read Nightwatch, it's a way better read.

Heinlein ruled during the 70's ... seriously. Hard to believe now, but all the kids needed major escape around then.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033977 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033977 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 14:19:00 -0800 Comment by Fnarf That first writing sample is a crime against humanity. He should have had his pecker chopped off with hedge trimmers for writing that.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033988 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033988 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 14:23:21 -0800 Comment by satan claus Paul--While it isn't the best thing Heinlein has written, I think 'Evil' is at least interesting in theory, if flawed inexecution. Heinlein was trying to put a story to his theory that people have a possibility of 6 different genders that include all permutations of human sexuality and behavioral preferences. It's not really a science fiction book, but more of a metaphysical examination of gender identity, but in the most low brow way possible, because that's just Heinlein's style. Think of it as Heinlein's Gravity's Rainbow: a literary experiment that's not necessarily relevatory or fun to read. Also, keep in mind he had just written Time Enough For Love, which is so damn good it erases any bad taste you may have from Fear. All I'm saying is don't judge Heinlein too harshly for this one.

]]> satan claus http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033989 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1033989 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 14:24:34 -0800 Comment by Scott Faulkner @10
Hey sf nerd, I've not read DYING INSIDE but I'll put it on the list. Thanks for the recommendation.

]]> Scott Faulkner http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1034018 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1034018 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 14:42:57 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle A far better book would be The Door Into Summer ...

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1034053 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1034053 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 15:09:55 -0800 Comment by xx At least he didn't start a religion...

]]> xx http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1034245 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1034245 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 19:05:46 -0800 Comment by drewl Probably too late, but...

As I understand it, Heinlein was very ill when he wrote it (hence the 'Rare Blood Club' or whatever), and his wife, Virginia, did most all the cutting and editing for IWFNE.

@18 Heinlein was present when L. Ron Hubbard made the wager (in 1947, IIRC) that he could make $1,000,000 starting a religion.

Go figure.

]]> drewl http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1034296 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1034296 Books Wed, 28 May 2008 22:04:20 -0800 Comment by winna Congrats on finishing! That was fun. I hope you do another book club of the damned sometime again. You know, after you recover & all.

]]> winna http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1034347 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1034347 Books Thu, 29 May 2008 04:50:42 -0800 Comment by Ramdu @20 Agreed. Good feature. Very cathartic, and pain is easier to handle when it's vicarious.

]]> Ramdu http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1034513 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/book_club_of_the_damned_i_will_fear_no_e_2#c1034513 Books Thu, 29 May 2008 11:14:13 -0800