This book contains one novel and two short stories. In the main story USA has been put under dictatorship. A theocratic power and its religious doctrines teach the high supreme Prophet possesses absolute truth whom everybody is to follow. Any doubters are Satan's followers are executed in sight. Black uniform police force supervise everything. The West Point military academy produces guards for the prophet.
Meet John Lyle, young cadet, who fells in love with virgin priestess who is to become servant of the Prophet's pleasures. In grief he collides with secret society who plans to revolt and liberate America. After escape and rescue of his beloved one, he joins the underground. The battle against tyranny starts. The book ends in victory.
The censorship, religious movements and propaganda is quite common concept and although the book deals with the issues from hight perspective, the story is simple adventure of John Lyle, his recruitment, live in military resistance movement and portrait of the final battlefield. The story's beginning dialogue between main characters is not bad, but shift to a 3rd person narrative for the rest of the story was like reading a paper journal, or news reports.
COVENTRY short story describes world after revolt, where unfit people are sent to borderland with no rules. It's a spy story where a sentenced idealist was sent to the borderland to serve his conviction, realizes the the reality didn't meet his expectations of the "free country".
MISFIT even shorter story is about space mining crew who have a job to move an asteroid into orbit between Earth and Mars to serve as an emergency landing platform. We meet Libby -- number genius -- who's latent mind computing powers save the mission.
Conclusion:
In the main story the religious aspect, even when elevated into dictatorship, is not ground breaking. The biblical fascist ruling feels rather conventional against early history. The adventures of John Lyle contains very little suspense factors because the plot can be predicted from the first pages. No great social issues or love story itch your mind afterwards. The short stories are better, but not enough to raise grading. This was Heinlein's first full length novel: published in 1953. Recommended only for the Heinlein fans.
Meet John Lyle, young cadet, who fells in love with virgin priestess who is to become servant of the Prophet's pleasures. In grief he collides with secret society who plans to revolt and liberate America. After escape and rescue of his beloved one, he joins the underground. The battle against tyranny starts. The book ends in victory.
The censorship, religious movements and propaganda is quite common concept and although the book deals with the issues from hight perspective, the story is simple adventure of John Lyle, his recruitment, live in military resistance movement and portrait of the final battlefield. The story's beginning dialogue between main characters is not bad, but shift to a 3rd person narrative for the rest of the story was like reading a paper journal, or news reports.
COVENTRY short story describes world after revolt, where unfit people are sent to borderland with no rules. It's a spy story where a sentenced idealist was sent to the borderland to serve his conviction, realizes the the reality didn't meet his expectations of the "free country".
MISFIT even shorter story is about space mining crew who have a job to move an asteroid into orbit between Earth and Mars to serve as an emergency landing platform. We meet Libby -- number genius -- who's latent mind computing powers save the mission.
Conclusion:
In the main story the religious aspect, even when elevated into dictatorship, is not ground breaking. The biblical fascist ruling feels rather conventional against early history. The adventures of John Lyle contains very little suspense factors because the plot can be predicted from the first pages. No great social issues or love story itch your mind afterwards. The short stories are better, but not enough to raise grading. This was Heinlein's first full length novel: published in 1953. Recommended only for the Heinlein fans.
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