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Loading... Glory Road (original 1963; edition 1984)by Robert A. Heinlein
Work detailsGlory Road by Robert A. Heinlein (1963)
Glory Road is about the closest Heinlein ever came to writing fantasy--but Heinlein being Heinlein, it's more a bland of sword and sorcery and straight science fiction--alternate universe travel to a reality where American ex-soldier Gordon gets to play knight to a fair princess. It's mostly fun, a fast-paced adventure, with plenty of leavening humor. And hey, there's a quest! And a dragon! And a dwarf squire! What's not to love? Other than the dopey hero-narrator whose dopier princess thinks being threatened with a spanking is swoon-worthy? (  ) LisaMaria_C | Oct 30, 2012 |  One of the worse books ever. I couldn't even finish it. (  ) HenryGalvan | Mar 21, 2012 | Glory Road is Heinlein’s homage to Edgar Rice Burroughs: a tale of an American solider seduced by a fair princess into taking on all manner of alien and fantastical foes. Included, of course, are many dissertations on what’s wrong with America, and Earth in general, not the least of which is-are taxes. Heinlein’s hero, like all Heinlein heroes is a fair decent guy who is brave, willing to learn, a staunch self-preservationist, and always threatening to beat his woman. The heroine this time is a lady who is strong, wise and independent in every way except that she becomes meak in the face of her hero’s preening, self-assured, ill-informed, confrontational attitude. The squire Rufo is the best, a bastion of common-sense, full of engaging anecdotes, and a generally pleasant take-it-as-it-comes demeanor. I’m pretty sure I liked this book better the first time I read it. The best part is what comes after the adventure is won. What happens to an unemployed hero? What does he do to occupy his time? I know what I’d do, but then, I’m no hero. (  ) EmScape | Jun 16, 2011 | The multiuniverse travel that Heinlein explores more extensively in later novels including "The Number of the Beast" is introduced in this book on a more superficial level. Witchcraft and science are entangled in the plot of this story with interesting effects. The action is fast paced but it does end about two thirds into the book and fizzles out in a rather anti climatic ending. ( ) joeteo1 | Apr 29, 2010 | This book is a lot different than most Heinlein books. It's more fantasy than it is Sci-Fi, but he does a great job with it. It's a short read, but I really enjoyed it. It's a fast-paced adventure. There is something for everybody in this book. It's a lot of fun and it's worth checking out. (  ) thomasJamo | Jan 15, 2010 | no reviews | add a review
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0765312220, Paperback)E. C. "Scar" Gordon was on the French Riviera recovering from a tour of combat in Southeast Asia , but he hadn't given up his habit of scanning the Personals in the newspaper. One ad in particular leapt out at him: "ARE YOU A COWARD? This is not for you. We badly need a brave man. He must be 23 to 25 years old, in perfect health, at least six feet tall, weigh about 190 pounds, fluent English, with some French, proficient in all weapons, some knowledge of engineering and mathematics essential, willing to travel, no family or emotional ties, indomitably courageous and handsome of face and figure. Permanent employment, very high pay, glorious adventure, great danger. You must apply in person, rue Dante, Nice, 2me étage, apt. D." How could you not answer an ad like that, especially when it seemed to describe you perfectly? Well, except maybe for the "handsome" part, but that was in the eye of the beholder anyway. So he went to that apartment and was greeted by the most beautiful woman he'd ever met. She seemed to have many names, but agreed he could call her "Star." A pretty appropriate name, as it turned out, for the empress of twenty universes. Robert A. Heinlein's one true fantasy novel, Glory Road is as much fun today as when he wrote it after Stranger in a Strange Land. Heinlein proves himself as adept with sword and sorcery as with rockets and slide rules and the result is exciting, satirical, fast-paced, funny and tremendously readable -- a favorite of all who have read it. Glory Road is a masterpiece of escapist entertainment with a typically Heinleinian sting in its tail. Tor is proud to return this all-time classic to hardcover to be discovered by a new generation of readers. (retrieved from Amazon Sat, 05 Jan 2013 10:01:30 -0500) E.C. "Scar" Gordon, a Vietnam veteran, answers an ad promising adventure and meets a mysterious beauty who transports him to another world. (summary from another edition) |
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