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Rating: "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress", Robert Anson Heinlein (U.S.A.) first version published in serial form in the magazine "If" between December '65 and April '66. In Italian "La Luna è una Severa Maestra", published in the series "Urania"(Mondadori) first time in '66 (translated by Antonangelo Pinna) and subsequently in 2006 (translated by Hilja Brinis).
In a hypothetical Pantheon of American science fiction, alongside names like Dick and Asimov, a very important space must be reserved for Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988). Among the first protagonists of the genre's rise to mass phenomenon, he is particularly remembered for his ability to introduce strongly political and social themes in solid and particularly intricate plots, using metaphors often highly unusual and hence innovative. Without ever resorting to a particularly complicated writing style, his main peculiarity in many works was a strong didactic and pedagogical connotation. The narrative substrata all revolved around his decidedly libertarian inclination to view both private and public life. Social themes like Politics and Religion as well as intimate ones like Love and Sex all passed through this lens with a radical perspective. All this earned him the nickname of "sociologist of science fiction". Any of his novels is full of references both philosophical, especially the Philosophy of Science with eternal questions on the meaning of Metaphysics, and historical: from the War of Independence to the issue of racial segregation in the States. This way of understanding narrative even led him to face diametrically opposite accusations during his career: from those of neo-fascism after "Starship Troopers" ('59) to those of Marxism after the book under review (still awarded the Hugo Award in '66 and nominated for the Nebula in the same year). Besides the two mentioned, another fundamental work in his vast production remains "Stranger in a Strange Land" ('61).
"The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" is generally considered his masterpiece as well as the work in which almost all his dear themes are present: the civic and political responsibility of the individual, the building of a new society alternative to its times, revolution, war, the anthropomorphization of machines, etc.
We are in 2075. For several decades, the Moon has been colonized by humans: initially used as a penal colony, after various generations the population has organized itself into a society developed over various underground communities that have as their fundamental rule the principle of individual responsibility. The relationship with the "motherland" is strained. In fact, Earth, impoverished of resources by short-sighted exploitation, imposes oppressive conditions on the Colonies because these, despite the harshness of conditions and the fact that they lead to irremediable mutations in human physiology, have managed to thrive. The protagonist is a computer repairman also responsible for the main computer of the Earthly authorities over the lunar residents: this one has developed a true personality. The friendship that will arise between the two will be the pivot of the revolution that is about to occur...
Revisiting the American War of Independence in a science fiction key, besides being a fascinating "metahistorical" fresco rich in action, surprises, and twists, this voluminous (about 500 pages) novel is a real treatise on the stagnant political world the author perceived around him. Diplomacy, intrigues, and dissimulation enrich the already interesting context and contribute to making it a small masterpiece of "lateral" thinking. Despite almost 50 years, it still amazes for its modernity in vision and ability to grasp things beyond the outer aspect.
Mo.
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