While Time Enough for Love is not Robert Heinlein’s greatest book, it is part of a series of books that approach some of the deepest issues in human existence. Strange in a Strange Land is clearly a religious exploration, while The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is a dramatic political experiment. Time Enough for Love is as one might imagine, about love. The title says much about the Big Gimmick in the story: mankind has evolved to a state of effective immortality. The plot is set some 2000 years in the future, as humanities oldest citizen delivers a memoir to his descendants. After living for over 23 centuries, Lazarus Long wonders how mortal people ever found Time Enough for Love.
Love… Up-Close and Personal
All societies are based on rules to protect pregnant women and young children.
All else is surplus, excrescence, adornment, luxury, or folly, which can — and must — be dumped in emergency to preserve this prime function
-Lazarus Long
Time Enough for Love
Many of Heinlein’s works discuss the nature of Love, just as Time Enough for Love approaches political and spiritual subjects, however the general idea of the book is that society ought to get out of the way when it comes to people loving each other. Some moral conservatives might be offended by the free-love ideals written into the story, however the same people might also be touched by how important the family and the welfare of children is to Heinlein’s expressed philosophy
Be Prepared
I will caution even the most tempered reader of mid-career Heinlein. This book contains some intimate commentary between men and women, which might make some people uncomfortable. It is not excessive, and it is done to make a point: that a life without love is not worth living. Even if we are offered the ability to live forever, without love we would not want to. The greatest human fear is not of death, but of being alone… a touching thought.
The book is absolutely worth a your time. It is full of aphorisms attributed to Lazarus, but certainly straight from Heinlein’s mind. I would however recommend that, if you are uncomfortable with the free-love ideal try Strange in a Strange Land first.