Stranger in a Strange Land is one of the great classics of science fiction. I also have a bit of a funny story about a roommate of mine who decided she wanted to read it.

This is the story of Valentine Michael Smith, a human born on the first expedition to Mars. The rest of the expedition died, but the baby survived, raised by the Martians, then sent back to Earth when humans returned.

Obviously, he is very uncomfortable in this new culture. Martians think nothing like humans, and he first finds himself trapped by the government as they try to decide what to do with him. Freed by a nurse, Jill Boardman, he begins his education into human society.

Michael has psychic talents which frighten and amaze his new friends. However, as they are all "water brothers" of his (a distinctly Martian tradition), they find they have nothing to fear.

Human sexuality and religion come as quite a shock to Mike, so perhaps it is only natural that he starts his own once he is comfortable in human society. Gets into more trouble for it than most modern wannabe prophets, of course, but I'll leave that to your reading of the story.

Now, about that roommate of mine. Picture a girl so innocent that she is embarrassed to admit to her roommate that she is on birth control only to control cramps, and who changes clothes in the bathroom. Yes, that kind of girl. Never even been on a date at this point, to my knowledge.

She cannot understand my interest in science fiction, but being curious, decides to give it a try, and asks if she can borrow my copy of Stranger in a Strange Land. She has never read any science fiction before in her life.

Did I give it to her? Are you NUTS???

I loaned her Starbridge instead. That book (extremely tame in the sex department compared to Stranger, for those who haven't read it), shocked her. SEX in science fiction?? She was bright red and couldn't believe there was sex in science fiction. Yes, I did laugh my head off, but all in all, I'd say it was a good thing I didn't let her start out with Stranger, wouldn't you say?