Robert A. Heinlein's *Farnham's Freehold* is one of his most overlooked novels from his mid-career. It didn't quite achieve the acclaim or lasting recognition of other 1960s Heinlein books like *Glory Road*, the iconic *Stranger in a Strange Land* and *The Moon is a Harsh Mistress*, or even his final juvenile novel, *Podkayne of Mars*. Rereading it, some problematic elements jumped out that didn't register with me way back when, but overall, I still enjoyed *Farnham's Freehold* and think it hold...

Much like Glory Road, **Farnham's Freehold** feels like two separate books. The first part delves into the Cold War era, a devastating atomic attack, and the ensuing struggle for survival. I found this section highly engaging. Heinlein actually demonstrates a surprising amount of subtlety in his character development at times. They aren't flawless, and these imperfections play a crucial role later in the narrative. For instance, Karen's seeming perfection is tainted by her mimicking of black sla...

There aren’t many better endorsements for a book than, 'Felt like death but couldn’t stop reading.' This is absolutely one of those books. It'll grab survivalists, bridge players, parallel universe fans, philosophers, post-apocalypse junkies, cannibals hunting for new recipes, and anyone with Woody Allen’s… sensibilities. It *has* to be a favorite of his. Those naked young things in the bunker with the middle-aged, unattractive but charismatic leader, one of whom is his daughter… Although his ...

I honestly can't recall the last time I picked up Robert A. Heinlein's *Farnham's Freehold* (though Goodreads tells me it was 10 years ago – really?). Anyway, my 1976 Corgi SF collector's edition basically split in half while I was reading it. Disappointing, considering it's only 47 years old. What is the world coming to?? On to more serious topics: *Farnham's Freehold* feels a little dated (published in '64, so understandable), not just in the technology aspect, but also in the interpersonal re...

I'm begrudgingly giving **Farnham's Freehold** two stars; I wish I could give 1.5. Even books I dislike more, like *Glory Road*, deserve at least one star—or an explicit zero, which sadly isn't an option. But this? This is pretty bad. Hugh Farnham, the ultimate right-wing patriot, is ready for the bombs, thanks to his ridiculously well-stocked bomb shelter. So, even though the bombs, for no discernible reason, catapult his shelter (along with his family and a couple of hangers-on) into the futur...

I came across a heavily simplified summary of *Farnham's Freehold* that went something like this: a libertarian veteran saves his family in a fallout shelter, gets transported 2,000 years into the future, goes into full survivalist mode, and then stumbles upon an advanced civilization where black people are the dominant race and preside over a racially structured slave system. Succinct, right? The book could have been shortened by condensing the first half, with all the survivalist development...

A bridge-playing libertarian dude gets clobbered by a nuke and wakes up in a future where white folks are slaves to black folks.

Yeah, you can totally see why I quit playing bridge after reading Robert A. Heinlein's *Farnham's Freehold*. Seriously, what a trip.

Repulsive, racist, wildly inappropriate, and incredibly dated. The female characters are insulting, and Heinlein's portrayal of Black people as cannibals is just plain racist. Especially considering that white men absolutely engaged in cannibalism during chattel slavery—a fact rarely discussed in the history of slavery and one I'm guessing the author was completely ignorant of. Seriously, read *The Delectable Negro: Human Consumption and Homoeroticism within U.S. Slave Culture* by Vincent Wooda...

This isn't my favorite book by Robert A. Heinlein, but it's definitely not my least favorite (that dubious honor belongs to "The Number of the Beast" or "The Cat Who Walks Through Walls"). I'm giving **Farnham's Freehold** 4 stars – it's probably closer to a 3.5 – because it's packed with interesting ideas, even if the writing isn't quite as polished as some of his other novels. Still, I really enjoyed it as a teen back in the 70s. Like "Stranger in a Strange Land," though, it hasn't aged partic...

Still deep in my Heinlein obsession.If you're easily triggered when your beliefs (or society's sacred cows) get challenged or questioned, Heinlein's probably not for you.Honestly, Heinlein's the best sci-fi author I've stumbled across. His futuristic worlds are killer social commentary on our current lives, plus he's got this amazing insight into human nature. His characters are complex, and some of his best are seriously strong women. He just *gets* how to write women, in my opinion. Looking fo...