The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
A 1966 novel about a lunar revolt and libertarian ideals.
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The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress is a 1966 science fiction novel by American writer Robert A. Heinlein. Set in 2075, it depicts a revolt by a lunar penal colony against Earth's rule, led by a computer technician, a political agitator, and a rational-anarchist professor, aided by a self-aware supercomputer. The novel is noted for its exploration of libertarian ideals and for popularizing the term TANSTAAFL.
Background
The novel is set in 2075 on the Moon, used as a penal colony by Earth's government. Three million inhabitants, called Loonies, live in underground cities where a virtually anarcho-capitalist society has developed. The story follows computer technician Manuel 'Mannie' O'Kelly-Davis, political agitator Wyoming Knott, and rational-anarchist Professor Bernardo de la Paz, who join forces with 'Mike,' a self-aware supercomputer, to plan an independence movement timed to culminate on July 4, 2076. The novel explores libertarian ideals, focusing on individual liberty, voluntary association, and free-market economics, and popularized the term TANSTAAFL ('There Ain't No Such Thing As a Free Lunch').
Did You Know?
- The novel was originally serialized monthly in Worlds of If from December 1965 to April 1966.
- The supercomputer Mike is named after Mycroft Holmes, brother of fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.
- The revolt is timed to culminate on July 4, 2076, the 300th anniversary of the United States' Declaration of Independence.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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