The Puppet Masters

A quote from the novel sums up how I feel about 'The Puppet Masters' - "It raises as many questions as it answers." (p. 149)

Even though I'm a product of the "Cold War" era the whole idea that Heinlein was drawing parallels in his novel to how the Communist bloc acted or thought was lost on me. I read it as more of a sci-fi/adventure/love story set against the background of an alien invasion. The main character Sam's male chauvinist tendencies were quickly suppressed in the presence of his new work partner/love interest, Mary, but that didn't convince me Sam (or Heinlein?) ever really changed his view of women. As out-of-date Heinlein's view of relations between the sexes seemed I rather enjoyed his take on the process for obtaining a marriage license (located between where you obtain Hunting and Dog licenses) as described by the marriage license clerk-

"Term, renewable or lifetime? If it's over ten years the fee is the same as for lifetime; if it's under six months, you don't need this; you get the short form from that vendo machine over there." (p. 111)

The last words in the book, made me think of the rah-rah jingoism I saw in the movie version of Heinlein's novel 'Starship Troopers' plus also a reflection of more recent (failed?)foreign policy- "...free men are coming to kill you! Death and Destruction!" (p. 175) and that seems sad.