Quote:
Originally Posted by slayda
I believe this operation occurred during the writing of "The Number of the Beast" - copyright 1980. You can see the story line deteriorate and then suddenly pick back up.
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Well... it picks up and heads off in a completely different direction, I suppose.
I find
Number of the Beast entertaining enough that I re-read it every 5-10 years, unlike
I Will Fear No Evil or (ugh)
Farnham's Freehold, which I've never re-read (and don't even own copies of). But I don't think
Number hangs together very well as a story. Lots of interesting ideas, interesting characters, a great introduction to non-Heinlein fantastic fiction, but the plot just doesn't stay together well enough for me. Even if you include his later ramblings in the same vein (
The Cat Who Walks Through Walls,
To Sail Beyond the Sunset) I don't think he quite found the plot he was looking for. None of them stand up to
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress or the "juveniles," which I re-read on a regular basis, both because they are highly enjoyable and to pick up writing tips from the master.
Regarding the "uncut" versions, I would say
Red Planet had some interesting bits in the re-release. The others that I read, not so much.