Stranger in a Strange Land - Three Times

Robert Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land came out in 1961. I first read it in the early 70s during my personal science fiction immersion year. It was one of many brilliant sci-fi novels given to me by a old friend. I remember my reaction was purely science fiction. By that I mean along with a dozen or so other sci-fi classics I consumed in a year or so, this was just one of many mind-opening adventures in the genre. Pure Sci-Fi.

Since that time I have had two highly different encounters with Michael Smith, the Stranger in a Strange Land. 

The novel "tells the story of Valentine Michael Smith, a human who comes to Earth in early adulthood after being born on the planet Mars and raised by Martians, and explores his interaction with and eventual transformation of Terran culture." Wikipedia

Sometime in the late 80s in L.A., I got briefly involved with a Heinlein groupie group. On one occasion, there was proposed to be a discussion between half a dozen or so of Heinlein's main characters. Mind you by this time Heinlein had written 32 novels and over 50 short stories. A week before the event, no  one had taken Michael Smith and I was asked by the pseudo-leader to consider the slot. I read Stranger again paying particular attention to how the main character thought, spoke and acted. 

While the Heinlein character discussion event was basically a bust, I gain a new perspective on character analysis and a distaste for Heinlein groupies.

My third round with Michael Smith & company came early this summer on my drive North. I listened to the novel on audio while traversing Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and a bit of Michigan.

This third read (listen) all I could think of from the first chapter was - cult. Perhaps a kind, loving, if not peaceful cult but a cult none the less. 

I ponder, was on not aware in my 20s or 40s of the cultish aspects of Stranger? Or perhaps is it the times we live in that make this aspect of the story so forceful today?

What I do know is that the Martian greeting - "Thou Art God" has several interpretations, not all of which are pleasant. However, and this is a strong however, a sci-fi aficionado must have Stranger in a Strange Land on any must read list.