Stranger in a Strange Land (Which is the best version?)

I have a bit of a love/hate thing going with Robert Heinlein. I really wanted to like Starship Troopers, but I just couldn't get past the first few chapters (which made me a bit sad). I still have it on my bookshelf, so I guess I intend to give it another try one day?

I thought I'd give Stranger in a Strange Land a go next, but would like some advice please.
Should I go for the posthumously re-issues 1991 uncut version; or, the 1961 Hugo Award Winning (heavily edited) copy?

What do the fans think?

I remember the uncut version being better.

Read both. The original had quite a bit of editing but reads very quickly. The uncut version can be tedious at times but has many additional scenes and edits. If you read the first then after a bit read the uncut, you'll appreciate it much more.

Thanks. I think I will go with that idea. I did find 'Troopers' a bit tedious; don't get me wrong, it was beautifully written - which is why I'd like to return to it some day; but I think I'll try the abridged Stranger in a Strand Land knowing what I know about *Robert A. Heinlein

*Darn it! what's wrong with the Touchstones today?

The uncut version sounds more like Heinlein's true voice. A lot of the cutting wasn't complete scenes, but rather slashing down description and reducing the tendency of his characters to use ten words where one would do. Since I like that about Heinlein, I like the uncut version better.

Thanks for asking this question, I had not known there were 2 versions. Loved the orginal version of Stranger, now I have to hit the bookstore for the longer version.

Are there many cases of different verions of books? Apart of course from Reader's Digest Condesed books,may the silverfish of a thousand basements infest their bindings.

I read War and Peace many years ago and disliked it, recently someone told me that the translation might have been part of my problem. Sigh, I am a little less eager to try a War and Peace again.

>6 Janientrelac:: That may be a problem, as I read War and Peace many years ago and found it an easier read than I was expecting - I got on with it sufficiently well to get my own copy.

Authors do sometimes revise their books, or wind back to different versions for a rework. Sean McMullen did it with his 'Greatwinter' trilogy; Bob Shaw did it with Ground Zero Man, reworking it (slightly) into The peace machine; I think Michael Bishop did it with one of his early novels, Stolen faces. Normally, when an author does that, they would rather you didn't go back to the earlier version.

But with Stranger, IIRC, Heinlein was forced to cut it because he wasn't yet God at the time he submitted it and the publisher wasn't willing to publish it on either length or content grounds, or both. There is some group sex alluded to in the original version and he submitted it in 1960. Later, after Robert Heinlein became ROBERT HEINLEIN!!! the publisher was willing to publish the original version.

Have to agree with #3 above. If you like the original, and think you might like more of the talky bits, you can seek out the uncut version.
A little ashamed to admit it, but I think the cut version reads better. I also prefer the shorter version of The Stand. I suspect (and I know this is really out there) that some writers aren't 100% objective about their own work. Call me crazy. Oh, and Willie Stark is an infinitely better name than Willie Talos, no matter what Robert Penn Warren thought. Some editors are smart.

>8 Carnophile:

It was some of both, along the lines of "This is far too weird, nobody's going to want to buy it, I'm not willing to print more than X pages of it," followed by editing much more drastic than the normal tightening of a manuscript to get it down to the specified length.

This page on the Heinlein society website has side-by-side comparisons of some sections:

http://www.heinleinsociety.org/rah/works/novels/strangervsstranger.html

6:

For 'War and Peace' try the 'Richard Pevear, and Larissa Volokhonsky' translation.

Pevear is an American, and his wife Larissa Volokhonsky is russian, between them they have delivered a number of very good translations.

Apart of course from Reader's Digest Condesed books,may the silverfish of a thousand basements infest their bindings.

I just have to say, I LOVE this!

I agree with the thought of reading the more tightly edited version first. Heinlein can be an acquired taste. Don't give up on Starship Troopers altogether though. Just come back when you're ready to get through the slightly slow start. Other faster reads worth doing would include The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, and I would encourage you not to miss Citizen of the Galaxy, even though it is one of the "juveniles".

I've always enjoyed I Will Fear No Evil although it's not for everyonw. It has a lot of concepts advanced for its time, much in the same vein as Stranger. Another book to consider is Glory Road for much the same reason.

14: Glory Road was great although I never understood why I enjoyed it so much.