54 pages • 1 hour read
Robert A. HeinleinThe Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1966A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein follows a lunar colony of prisoners and their descendants who are overseen by a self-aware supercomputer named Mike. Technician Mannie Garcia O’Kelly-Davis teams up with Mike, agitator Whoy, and Professor Bernardo de la Paz to lead a revolution for lunar independence. The revolutionaries face various challenges, including conflicts with Earth, ultimately striving to achieve autonomy and a self-sustaining government. The novel includes themes of rebellion, oppression, and governance.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Robert A. Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is widely celebrated for its imaginative and thought-provoking exploration of lunar colonization, rebellion, and libertarian ideals. Critics praise its innovative narrative and complex characters, particularly the sentient computer, Mike. However, some note that its dense political discourse and lengthy passages can be challenging. Overall, it remains a seminal work in science fiction.
Who Should Read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress?
A reader who would enjoy The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein likely appreciates political intrigue, revolutionary themes, and hard science fiction. Similar to fans of George Orwell’s 1984 and Orson Scott Card’s Ender's Game, they seek intellectually stimulating narratives with complex societal dynamics.