Revolt in 2100 & Methuselah's Children

Please note that this review is just about Methuselah's Children in this volume. Someone gave me this book recently and so I reread it again for the first time in probably 25 years. I was pleased to see how well the book held up. Published in 1948, Methuselah's Children shows Heinlein's ideas about politics in the future were becoming darker and more cynical and in some ways the book presages the concepts in Starship Troopers. In Methuselah's Children, governments are not trustworthy, and even your neighbor probably isn't, which our Founding Fathers would have agreed with, which is why our system has so many checks and balances (especially the cantankerous but brilliant, cynical John Adams). The novel also contains some of Heinlein's most interesting ideas for alien races, and the "God" race was a fascinating concept, with their technology so advanced that even Libby couldn't figure it out. Some of his earliest speculation on telepathy is also present, which he puts to good use both for the Howard families and in their contacts with at least two of the alien races. The story features Lazurus Long in one of his most dynamic and prominent roles, so fans of Long won't be disappointed there, and also Andrew Jackson Libby has an important role. The background story of a race of Methuselahs and how that might be accomplished through genetic breeding was not too far-fetched given the science of the time, since genetic engineering was far in the future. Finally, many of the ideas about electronic banking, email, and networking that Heinlein uses in the novel have come to pass. At only about 270 pages, I think it's one of Heinlein's best stories and still holds up very well considering it's now almost 60 years old.

This is a collection of four of Heinlein's epic 'future history' work. The first selection "If This Goes On -" concerns Hugh, a young American soldier serving as a palace guard to the Prophet. America has become a totalitarian theocracy that Hugh discovers to be corrupt. This story is very good on it's own merit but is particularly chilling in our 21st century America confronted with totalitarian theocratic enemies and our own politically active religious right. "Coventry" focuses on the ideas of freedom and societal responsibilities. Years after the events of "If This Goes On -" have passed society has established total freedom for all. The only restrictions are that one citizen is not allowed to harm another and even then there is no punishment only treatment and re-education. Still there are those who find even these restrictions too confining and for them there is Coventry. One such individual comes to realize that some rules exist for a reason. "Misfit" - introduces Andrew Jackson Libby, a young member of the CCC (Cosmic Construction Corps) assigned to work in the asteroid belt while learning skills that will help him become a productive citizen. It seems that Andy, like the rest of the CCC are considered to be bad boys, troubled youth, or juvenile delinquents. It quickly becomes apparent that Andy does not conform to society for some other very interesting reasons. This character will return in many of RAH's later future history works. "Methuselah's Children" marks the debut of Lazarus Long, perhaps RAH's best know character. Lazarus is the result of a genetic experiment on human longevity. The resulting test subjects of this experiment now number 100,000, have life expectencies two to three times that of the rest of the population. For years they have hidden their existence from the rest of humanity but now many of their group have decided that it is safe to let their presence be known. They felt that the rest of humanity is ready to accept them....they were wrong. Lazarus Long and the Howard family figure largely in the rest of Heinlein work, and is the cental figure of the last few of RAH's novels. "Methuselah's Children" lays the ground work for these stories and is an exciting story in its own right. This collection is a treasure trove for those unfamiliar with RAH's work and would be an excellent starting point. If it contains any that a fan has somehow missed to this point it is a must read.

if you have not surmised, you are getting two books.in revolt, you are getting three short storiesif this goes on, details the not so distant future, where america is isolated from the remainder of the world, through the implementation of a religous police statecoventry takes place after the 'revolt'and deals with america as it could be...with 'liberty and justice for all'...as long as the all, want such thingsmisfits, introduces us to a wonderful young man...and a great heinlein character...andrew jackson libby, and details the creation of a space stationmethuselah's children, is the first in the tales of lazarus longwonderful wonderful stufffun technological things, and interesting plot developments.if you have not read and of the other lazarus long stuff...read this first...i read 'time enough for love' before i read this...and once i read this, i wished i had read this first.you can do it the other way, but a lot of things are clearer if you go in order

... and this book really appealed to me for a few reasons. 1) Two stories (four, if you count the "Coventry" and "Misfit" as seperate, ("Coventry" taking place after "Revolt in 2100", and "Misfit" before "Methuselah's Children") It really is a great read ... Heinlein has a way of making his characters more than just written words on a page. When I was finished with the book, I knew John Lyle, and Zeb and Maggie... I have felt the way they had... and RAH has a way of bringing out the emotions and thoughts of his characters, not just superficial actions and words.... and who can't love Lazarus' witty reportie, or Libby's mathematical brilliance?

I first read Revolt in 2100 when I was in seventh grade, initiating a life-long interest in science fiction. The political leanings of Heinlein were unapparent to me then. Now I see society reflecting them in general, libertarian in nature. Anyone wishing to initiate their children into a love of sf and reading in general should give this book to them, it will grab them by their imaginations and not let go. Methuselah's Children was the second book I grabbed from our library's shelves, so this double edition is the perfect gift!