Farnhams Freehold - Robert A Heinlein

Title: Farnham\'s Freehold
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Narrator: Fred Majors
Publisher G. P. Putnam 1964
Print Copyright: 1964
Genre: Audiobook - Science Fiction
File type mp3
Bit Rate: 64 kB/s
Number of mp3 files: 7
Total Size of mp3 files: 296 MB
Total Play Time: 10 hours 49 minutes
Source: Usenet; NMR
Quality: Good.

Yet another of my favorites from Heinlein. Farnham\'s Freehold is about race, survivalism, and karma.

While Heinlein has been criticized for his use of racial stereotypes in this book, you will see him turn western civilization\'s white racism on its head. In the end, Farnham dedicates himself to ending the violent cycles of racial domination.

String theorists like the book as it considers the possibility of alternate universes and time travel. Survivalists and militia groups love it because of its strong support of survival training, and preparation for catastrophes.

Materially, Farnham\'s Freehold is a family bomb shelter set in a time after the Cuban Missile Crisis. This novel involves post-apolalyptic time travel, where the Farnham\'s and their friends find themselves in a wilderness area, only to be discovered by a dominant race that views them as slaves, except for their black servant, Joseph. Our hero, Hugh Farnham, while enslaved, does manage to gain some preferential treatment, and eventually learns how \"evil\" and extremely complex and clever this future culture is.

Can a society so advanced, as to conquer space and time travel still have slavery, sadistic leaders, and, gulp, even cannibalism? Yes, says Heinlein. Listen to this piercing look at humanity through the eyes of a science fiction great.

To better understand Heinlein\'s point on race in this book, and not misperceive the use of stereotypes as misuse, listen carefully for information about Joesph, the family servant, very early in book. How is he treated by various characters? What is the suggested relationships between him and various characters? What do we know about Joseph? It makes the book even more interesting, and I believe, exonerates Heinlein from the attacks that this book is intrinsically racist. At least, it doesn\'t take sides while it acknowledges that racism remains and likely will remain, a strong social force without more tough, altruistic men like Hugh Farnham.

This is NOT an example of Heinlein\'s juvenile science fiction. Farnham\'s Freehold deals with various taboos (adultery, incestuous thoughts, slavery, cannibalism, and for 1964, interracial marriage) as he tells this tale. He makes little effort to be \'politically correct\' but his message is generally libertarian, if not libertine unless actual survival is in the balance.

If you seek peace, prepare for war.
How can you tell the commanding officer in a lifeboat? He\'s the one with the gun.