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From: @RUTGERS.ARPA,@MIT-MC:MDC.JANICE@MIT-OZ
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: The Number of the Beast (yes, one more flame)
Message-ID: <1211@topaz.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 15-Apr-85 00:04:08 EST
Article-I.D.: topaz.1211
Posted: Mon Apr 15 00:04:08 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 18-Apr-85 02:21:06 EST
Sender: daemon@topaz.ARPA
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
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From: Janice <MDC.JANICE%MIT-OZ@MIT-MC.ARPA>

The Number of the Beast was one of the biggest disappointments I have
ever experienced.  As one of the few people who will admit to liking
Time Enough for Love, and having been assured by Spider Robinson in
his review in Analog than anyone who liked TEfL would love TNotB, I
ran right out and got it.  I managed to get through it once.  I
recently donated it to a library, realizing I was never, ever going to
read it again.

Heinlein committed two unforgiveable sins in this book.  First, he set
up a plot (which I actually enjoyed) early in the book and then just
let it peter out without a proper resolution.  Second, and worse, the
entire ending is an in-joke to please himself.  I am told, reliably,
that the characters, names, etc. in the last chapter are hacks on
Midwest sf fans the Heinleins know.  I spent *days* trying to figure
that chapter out, wondering if I was just stupid or something.

This is not even to mention the everlasting arguments and absolutely
ludicrous female characters (I don't know anyone who's ever heard a
nipple go "spang!").

				Janice
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