I couldn't get through Medalon. I tried, but - okay, with me, fantasy novels are starting at a disadvantage anyway. I know this. They only have so long to sell me on the world before I start to mock. And it just - really didn't sell me. And then the mocking started, and then I knew it was time to put the book down.

Farnham's Freehold, on the other hand, I've never even tried to read. When I was twelve, a family friend gave me Have Spacesuit, Will Travel, and then, when that went down well, carefully fed me what I now realize was the Only the Good Parts Edition of the Complete Works of Heinlein. Later, when I had free and easy access to this family friend's library, I pounced on all the Heinlein I hadn't read, and he took it out of my hands and said, "See, [TFV], as a writer, Heinlein only had one gear. Either he traveled at the speed of light or the ship blew up." I stubbornly insisted on reading the books, but I gave up in horror halfway through the second one, and have never looked back.

Farnham's Freehold is the one that that friend defined as "the worst of all possible Heinleins." I was never brave enough to ask why, but I guess I know now.

*makes mental note to send that guy a thank-you card*