Comp Cams CS 278XO-8
SKU: 89980735090

Comp Cams CS 278XO-8

$159.81 $177.57
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Description

Comp Cams CS 278XO-8278XOS Solid Lifter Solid 1 4 3 8 Fast track. 327 358 cid. 9: 1. 2bbl good intake & exhaust. Chevrolet 262 400 c. i. 8 cyl. 1955 1998 OVAL TRACK Xtreme Oval Solids These camshafts use COMP's new XTQ intake profiles with the XTX exhaust profiles for more area under the curve than most good . 875 lifter designs, while still allowing standard . 842 lifters. Specification RPM Range: 2800 to 6600 Valve Timing: 0. 02 Lobe Separation: 108 Intake Centerline:

  • 278XOS
  • Solid Lifter Solid-1/4-3/8 Fast track. 327-358 cid. 9:1. 2bbl good intake & exhaust.
  • Chevrolet 262-400 c.i. 8 cyl. 1955-1998
  • OVAL TRACK-Xtreme Oval Solids - These camshafts use COMP's new XTQ intake profiles with the XTX exhaust profiles for more area under the curve than most good .875 lifter designs, while still allowing standard .842 lifters.


Specification

  • RPM Range: 2800 to 6600
  • Valve Timing: 0.02
  • Lobe Separation: 108°
  • Intake Centerline:108°


Intake/ Exhaust

  • Valve Lash : 0.016, 0.018
  • Duration: 278, 284
  • Duration @ .050" Lift: 248,250
  • Valve Lift: 0.531, 0.525
  • Lobe Lift: 0.354, 0.35


Vehicle Fitments:

Year Make Model Submodel
1995 - 1996 AM General Hummer Base
1980 - 1991 Avanti II Base
1985 Avanti II GT
1980 Buick Century Base, Estate, Sport, Limited
1991 - 1996 Buick Commercial Chassis Base
1980 Buick Regal Sport, Limited, Base
1996 Buick Roadmaster Collector's Edition, Estate Wagon Collector's Edition, Limited Collector's Edition
1991 - 1995 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon
1992 - 1995 Buick Roadmaster Limited, Base
1990 - 1992 Cadillac Brougham Base, d'Elegance
1992 - 1996 Cadillac Commercial Chassis Base, Brougham
1993 - 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood Base, Brougham
1980 - 1982 Checker Marathon Base, Deluxe
1994 Chevrolet Blazer Base, Silverado Sport
1992 - 1993 Chevrolet Blazer Cheyenne
1987 Chevrolet Blazer Custom Deluxe
1991 - 1994 Chevrolet Blazer Nevada
1988 - 1991 Chevrolet Blazer Scottsdale
1987 - 1994 Chevrolet Blazer Silverado
1980 - 1981 Chevrolet C10 Cheyenne
1980 Chevrolet C10 Custom Deluxe, Big Ten
1981 Chevrolet C10 Deluxe
1980 - 1986 Chevrolet C10 Silverado, Custom, Scottsdale
1981 - 1986 Chevrolet C10 Suburban Custom
1980 Chevrolet C10 Suburban Custom Deluxe
1981 Chevrolet C10 Suburban Deluxe
1980 - 1986 Chevrolet C10 Suburban Silverado, Scottsdale
1990 - 1993 Chevrolet C1500 454 SS
1989 - 1995 Chevrolet C1500 Base
1988 - 1995 Chevrolet C1500 Cheyenne, Silverado
1988 - 1992 Chevrolet C1500 Scottsdale
1990 - 1995 Chevrolet C1500 WT
1992 - 1995 Chevrolet C1500 Suburban Base
1995 Chevrolet C1500 Suburban LS, LT
1992 - 1994 Chevrolet C1500 Suburban Silverado
1986 Chevrolet C20 Base
1981 - 1986 Chevrolet C20 Custom
1980 Chevrolet C20 Custom Deluxe
1981 Chevrolet C20 Deluxe
1980 - 1986 Chevrolet C20 Silverado, Cheyenne, Scottsdale
1981 - 1986 Chevrolet C20 Suburban Custom
1980 Chevrolet C20 Suburban Custom Deluxe
1981 Chevrolet C20 Suburban Deluxe
1980 - 1986 Chevrolet C20 Suburban Scottsdale, Silverado
1993 Chevrolet C2500 400 SS, Custom
1988 - 1995 Chevrolet C2500 Base, Cheyenne, Silverado
1988 - 1992 Chevrolet C2500 Scottsdale
1994 - 1995 Chevrolet C2500 WT
1992 - 1995 Chevrolet C2500 Suburban Base
1995 Chevrolet C2500 Suburban LS, LT
1992 - 1994 Chevrolet C2500 Suburban Silverado
1980 - 1982 Chevrolet C30 Base
1980 - 1981 Chevrolet C30 Cheyenne
1981 - 1986 Chevrolet C30 Custom
1980 Chevrolet C30 Custom Deluxe
1981 Chevrolet C30 Deluxe
1980 - 1986 Chevrolet C30 Scottsdale, Silverado
1994 - 1995 Chevrolet C3500 Base
1988 - 1992 Chevrolet C3500 Scottsdale
1988 - 1995 Chevrolet C3500 Silverado, Cheyenne
1985 - 1986 Chevrolet Camaro Iroc-Z
1980 Chevrolet Camaro Rally Sport, Base
1981 - 1986 Chevrolet Camaro Sport
1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car
1980 - 1986 Chevrolet Camaro Z28, Berlinetta
1980 - 1992 Chevrolet Caprice Base
1980 - 1996 Chevrolet Caprice Classic
1986 - 1990 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Brougham
1981 - 1982 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Estate
1980 - 1981 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Landau
1993 - 1994 Chevrolet Caprice Classic LS
1987 - 1990 Chevrolet Caprice Classic LS Brougham
1991 - 1993 Chevrolet Caprice Classic LTZ
1980 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Sport
1991 - 1994 Chevrolet Commercial Chassis Base
1980 - 1986 Chevrolet Corvette Base
1982 Chevrolet Corvette Collector's Edition
1986 Chevrolet Corvette Indianapolis 500 Pace Car
1981 - 1986 Chevrolet El Camino Conquista
1980 - 1981 Chevrolet El Camino Royal Knight
1980 - 1987 Chevrolet El Camino SS, Base
1996 Chevrolet Express 2500 Base, LS
1983 Chevrolet G10 Base
1981 - 1987 Chevrolet G10 Bonaventure
1980 - 1995 Chevrolet G10 Sportvan, Beauville, Chevy Van
1995 Chevrolet G20 Base
1980 - 1995 Chevrolet G20 Beauville, Sportvan, Chevy Van
1983 - 1984 Chevrolet G20 Bonaventure
1980 - 1981 Chevrolet G20 Nomad
1980 - 1996 Chevrolet G30 Beauville, Chevy Van, Sportvan, Hi-Cube
1983 - 1984 Chevrolet G30 Bonaventure
1980 - 1985 Chevrolet Impala Base
1981 - 1982 Chevrolet Impala Estate
1980 Chevrolet Impala Sport
1994 - 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS
1980 - 1981 Chevrolet K10 Cheyenne
1981 - 1986 Chevrolet K10 Custom
1980 Chevrolet K10 Custom Deluxe
1981 Chevrolet K10 Deluxe
1980 - 1986 Chevrolet K10 Scottsdale, Silverado
1981 - 1986 Chevrolet K10 Suburban Custom
1980 Chevrolet K10 Suburban Custom Deluxe
1981 Chevrolet K10 Suburban Deluxe
1980 - 1986 Chevrolet K10 Suburban Silverado, Scottsdale
1994 - 1995 Chevrolet K1500 Base
1988 - 1995 Chevrolet K1500 Cheyenne, Silverado
1988 - 1992 Chevrolet K1500 Scottsdale
1991 Chevrolet K1500 Sport
1990 - 1995 Chevrolet K1500 WT
1992 - 1995 Chevrolet K1500 Suburban Base
1995 Chevrolet K1500 Suburban LS, LT
1992 - 1994 Chevrolet K1500 Suburban Silverado
1980 - 1981 Chevrolet K20 Cheyenne
1981 - 1986 Chevrolet K20 Custom
1980 Chevrolet K20 Custom Deluxe
1981 Chevrolet K20 Deluxe
1980 - 1986 Chevrolet K20 Silverado, Scottsdale
1981 - 1986 Chevrolet K20 Suburban Custom
1980 Chevrolet K20 Suburban Custom Deluxe
1981 Chevrolet K20 Suburban Deluxe
1980 - 1986 Chevrolet K20 Suburban Silverado, Scottsdale
1994 - 1995 Chevrolet K2500 Base, WT
1988 - 1995 Chevrolet K2500 Cheyenne, Silverado
1988 - 1992 Chevrolet K2500 Scottsdale
1992 - 1995 Chevrolet K2500 Suburban Base
1995 Chevrolet K2500 Suburban LS, LT
1992 - 1994 Chevrolet K2500 Suburban Silverado
1980 - 1981 Chevrolet K30 Cheyenne
1981 - 1986 Chevrolet K30 Custom
1980 Chevrolet K30 Custom Deluxe
1981 Chevrolet K30 Deluxe
1980 - 1986 Chevrolet K30 Silverado, Scottsdale
1994 - 1995 Chevrolet K3500 Base
1988 - 1995 Chevrolet K3500 Cheyenne, Silverado
1988 - 1992 Chevrolet K3500 Scottsdale
1980 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Cheyenne, Custom Deluxe
1981 - 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Custom
1981 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Deluxe
1984 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Scottsdale
1980 - 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Silverado
1980 - 1983 Chevrolet Malibu Classic
1980 - 1981 Chevrolet Malibu Classic Landau, Base
1980 Chevrolet Malibu Sport, Classic Estate, Classic Sport, Estate
1981 - 1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Base
1983 Chevrolet Monte Carlo CL
1980 - 1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Landau
1986 - 1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo LS
1980 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Sport
1983 - 1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
1980 - 1989 Chevrolet P20 Step-Van, Base
1980 - 1998 Chevrolet P30 Base
1980 - 1990 Chevrolet P30 Step-Van
1987 Chevrolet R10 Custom Deluxe, Silverado, Scottsdale
1987 Chevrolet R10 Suburban Custom Deluxe
1987 - 1988 Chevrolet R10 Suburban Silverado, Scottsdale
1989 - 1991 Chevrolet R1500 Suburban Scottsdale, Silverado
1988 Chevrolet R20 Cheyenne
1987 - 1988 Chevrolet R20 Custom Deluxe, Silverado, Scottsdale
1987 Chevrolet R20 Suburban Custom Deluxe
1987 - 1988 Chevrolet R20 Suburban Silverado, Scottsdale
1989 Chevrolet R2500 Cheyenne, Silverado, Scottsdale
1989 - 1991 Chevrolet R2500 Suburban Scottsdale, Silverado
1988 Chevrolet R30 Cheyenne
1987 - 1988 Chevrolet R30 Custom Deluxe, Scottsdale, Silverado
1989 - 1990 Chevrolet R3500 Scottsdale
1989 - 1991 Chevrolet R3500 Silverado, Cheyenne
1995 Chevrolet Tahoe LT, LS, Base
1987 Chevrolet V10 Scottsdale, Silverado, Custom Deluxe
1987 Chevrolet V10 Suburban Custom Deluxe
1987 - 1988 Chevrolet V10 Suburban Scottsdale, Silverado
1989 - 1991 Chevrolet V1500 Suburban Scottsdale, Silverado
1987 Chevrolet V20 Scottsdale, Custom Deluxe, Silverado
1987 Chevrolet V20 Suburban Custom Deluxe
1987 - 1988 Chevrolet V20 Suburban Scottsdale, Silverado
1989 - 1991 Chevrolet V2500 Suburban Scottsdale, Silverado
1988 Chevrolet V30 Cheyenne
1987 - 1988 Chevrolet V30 Silverado, Custom Deluxe, Scottsdale
1989 - 1990 Chevrolet V3500 Scottsdale
1989 - 1991 Chevrolet V3500 Silverado, Cheyenne
1993 Excalibur Limited Base
1985 Excalibur Phaeton Anniversary
1980 - 1989 Excalibur Phaeton Base
1980 - 1986 GMC C1500 Base, High Sierra, Sierra Classic
1980 GMC C1500 Heavy Half
1980 - 1982 GMC C1500 Sierra Grande, Street Coupe
1994 - 1995 GMC C1500 Sierra SL, Sierra SLT, Sierra Special
1988 - 1995 GMC C1500 Sierra SLE
1988 - 1993 GMC C1500 Sierra, Sierra SLX
1980 - 1995 GMC C1500 Suburban Base
1980 - 1986 GMC C1500 Suburban High Sierra, Sierra Classic
1980 - 1982 GMC C1500 Suburban Sierra Grande
1992 - 1995 GMC C1500 Suburban SLE
1995 GMC C1500 Suburban SLT
1980 - 1986 GMC C2500 Sierra Classic, Base, High Sierra
1980 - 1982 GMC C2500 Sierra Grande
1994 - 1995 GMC C2500 Sierra SL, Sierra SLT
1988 - 1995 GMC C2500 Sierra SLE
1988 - 1993 GMC C2500 Sierra SLX, Sierra
1980 - 1995 GMC C2500 Suburban Base
1980 - 1986 GMC C2500 Suburban Sierra Classic, High Sierra
1980 - 1982 GMC C2500 Suburban Sierra Grande
1992 - 1995 GMC C2500 Suburban SLE
1995 GMC C2500 Suburban SLT
1980 - 1986 GMC C3500 Base, High Sierra, Sierra Classic
1980 - 1982 GMC C3500 Sierra Grande
1994 - 1995 GMC C3500 Sierra SL, Sierra SLT
1988 - 1995 GMC C3500 Sierra SLE
1988 - 1993 GMC C3500 Sierra, Sierra SLX
1981 - 1986 GMC Caballero Amarillo
1981 GMC Caballero Conquista, Royal Knight
1980 - 1987 GMC Caballero Diablo, Base
1980 GMC Caballero Laredo
1983 - 1984 GMC G1500 Rally Custom
1980 - 1995 GMC G1500 Rally STX, Vandura, Rally
1983 - 1984 GMC G2500 Rally Custom
1980 - 1995 GMC G2500 Rally STX, Vandura, Rally
1981 - 1988 GMC G3500 Rally Custom
1980 - 1996 GMC G3500 Vandura, Rally, Vandura Special, Rally STX, Magnavan, Rally Camper Special
1980 - 1991 GMC Jimmy Base
1980 - 1985 GMC Jimmy High Sierra
1980 - 1990 GMC Jimmy Sierra Classic
1986 GMC Jimmy Silverado
1980 - 1982 GMC Jimmy Street Coupe, Sierra Grande
1980 - 1986 GMC K1500 Sierra Classic, High Sierra, Base
1980 - 1982 GMC K1500 Sierra Grande
1988 - 1995 GMC K1500 Sierra SLE
1995 GMC K1500 Sierra SLS
1994 - 1995 GMC K1500 Sierra SLT, Sierra Special, Sierra SL
1988 - 1993 GMC K1500 Sierra SLX, Sierra
1993 GMC K1500 Sierra Sport
1980 - 1995 GMC K1500 Suburban Base
1980 - 1986 GMC K1500 Suburban High Sierra, Sierra Classic
1980 - 1982 GMC K1500 Suburban Sierra Grande
1992 - 1995 GMC K1500 Suburban SLE
1995 GMC K1500 Suburban SLT
1980 - 1986 GMC K2500 Sierra Classic, Base, High Sierra
1980 - 1982 GMC K2500 Sierra Grande
1994 - 1995 GMC K2500 Sierra SL, Sierra SLT
1988 - 1995 GMC K2500 Sierra SLE
1988 - 1993 GMC K2500 Sierra SLX, Sierra
1980 - 1995 GMC K2500 Suburban Base
1980 - 1986 GMC K2500 Suburban High Sierra, Sierra Classic
1980 - 1982 GMC K2500 Suburban Sierra Grande
1992 - 1995 GMC K2500 Suburban SLE
1995 GMC K2500 Suburban SLT
1980 - 1986 GMC K3500 High Sierra, Base, Sierra Classic
1980 - 1982 GMC K3500 Sierra Grande
1994 - 1995 GMC K3500 Sierra SL, Sierra SLT
1988 - 1995 GMC K3500 Sierra SLE
1988 - 1993 GMC K3500 Sierra, Sierra SLX
1980 - 1989 GMC P2500 Value Van, Base
1980 - 1996 GMC P3500 Base
1980 - 1990 GMC P3500 Value Van
1987 GMC R1500 Base, Sierra Classic, High Sierra
1987 - 1991 GMC R1500 Suburban Base
1987 GMC R1500 Suburban High Sierra
1987 - 1989 GMC R1500 Suburban Sierra Classic
1990 GMC R1500 Suburban SLE
1987 - 1989 GMC R2500 High Sierra, Base, Sierra Classic
1987 - 1991 GMC R2500 Suburban Base
1987 GMC R2500 Suburban High Sierra
1987 - 1989 GMC R2500 Suburban Sierra Classic
1990 GMC R2500 Suburban SLE
1987 - 1991 GMC R3500 Base
1987 - 1989 GMC R3500 Sierra Classic, High Sierra
1990 - 1991 GMC R3500 SLE
1987 GMC V1500 Base, High Sierra, Sierra Classic
1987 - 1991 GMC V1500 Suburban Base
1987 GMC V1500 Suburban High Sierra
1987 - 1989 GMC V1500 Suburban Sierra Classic
1990 GMC V1500 Suburban SLE
1987 GMC V2500 Sierra Classic, High Sierra, Base
1987 - 1991 GMC V2500 Suburban Base
1987 GMC V2500 Suburban High Sierra
1987 - 1989 GMC V2500 Suburban Sierra Classic
1990 GMC V2500 Suburban SLE
1987 - 1991 GMC V3500 Base
1987 - 1989 GMC V3500 Sierra Classic, High Sierra
1990 - 1991 GMC V3500 SLE
1993 GMC Yukon GT
1992 - 1995 GMC Yukon SLE, Base
1995 GMC Yukon SLT
1992 - 1994 GMC Yukon Sport
1991 - 1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Base
1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Brougham, Base, LS
1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais Base
1980 - 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser Base
1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser Brougham
1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon Base, Brougham
1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham, Base
1983 - 1986 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham, Base
1984 - 1986 Pontiac Bonneville LE
1980 - 1981 Pontiac Firebird Esprit
1980 - 1997 Pontiac Firebird Formula, Trans Am, Base
1982 - 1986 Pontiac Firebird S/E
1994 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GT
1989 - 1992 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA
1989 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA SE
1980 Pontiac Grand Am Base
1980 Pontiac Grand LeMans Base, LE, Safari
1980 - 1987 Pontiac Grand Prix Base
1983 - 1987 Pontiac Grand Prix Brougham
1984 - 1987 Pontiac Grand Prix LE
1980 - 1983 Pontiac Grand Prix LJ
1980 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ
1980 Pontiac LeMans Base, Safari
1983 - 1986 Pontiac Parisienne Base, Brougham
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SKU: 89980735090

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4.3 ★★★★★
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B
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b slev
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
seekers paradise
Format: Kindle
Some of this book disturbed me a little but overall I found it amazing and fascinating. Possibilities abound in fantasy and can be just the thing you need to open up. Enjoy! I sure did.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2026
J
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Jenni DaVinCat
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 3
We Should All Be a Little Stranger.
I understand why this book is often cited as one of the most important sci-fi books of all time. While reading it, you might begin to question why it’s lumped into the sci-fi category because the themes are very human. It is science fiction, that cannot be argued, but it’s also a coming of age story, a religious story and at its very core, a story about love. Valentine Michael Smith was born and raised on Mars, but he is a human. He is brought back to Earth to learn what it means to be a human. This causes the reader to be forced to think outside of the box because Michael is not just coming from a different human culture, he has never learned what it means to be a human so any chapter told from his perspective is like an outsider, looking in on human culture. It’s wildly fascinating to think about ourselves in this manner. As Michael progresses in his grokking of humans, he gets out to explore the world and to challenge it. Our concepts of God/religion and sex/love are strange to him. We tend to not really think about it from an outside perspective because this is just the way life is, but being forced to think about it, makes for a very fascinating read. I’d never really considered myself to be a “prude” but there were times that this book made me feel that way. At times, the reader must take a step back and remember that Heinlein did intend for many of the themes to be viewed as satire of what is commonly accepted. There were a few negatives when reading this book, however. It was written in the sixties, which was a very different time from today in terms of the way women are spoken to/about and how they are treated. Heinlein wasn’t too bad in this regard, but there were a few sentences that made me stop for a second. Heinlein also has some of his characters go on these long drawn-out speech tangents that go on for pages and pages. I felt it was a little unnecessary to go on for that long, especially considered the length of the uncut version. It took me a little while to get through this book and normally I’m a pretty quick reader. Negatives aside, I do feel like this book is important. The story itself is not challenging, but as I stated before, it challenges the reader to think about humans from an outside perspective and that is fascinating. He really doesn’t seem to rely too much on Sci-fi elements, preferring to focus on the human elements of the story (love, religion etc.). If you’re looking for something long and fulfilling, this may just be the sci-fi book for you!
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Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2016
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Kendal Brian Hunter
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
Wicked Satire, yet Strangely Familiar
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Heinlein's satire is wicked and well-placed, reminiscent of Voltaire and Swift. IF you love British comedy, you'll love this book. Both come from the same sarcastic taproot. I'm still debating whether or not the main charter is Smith or Jubal. Maybe it is us, since we need to recognize that we are Juba, and must nurture, and eventually become like Smith. Smith's reflective, contemplative message, reminds of Thomas A Kempis ( ), James Allen ( ), Lao Tzu ( ). Smith's message is nothing new: as C. S. Lewis pointed out, "Really great moral teachers never do introduce new moralities: it is quacks and cranks who do that... The real job of every moral teacher is to keep on bringing us back, time after time, to the old simple principles which we are all so anxious not to see." . In fact, Smith's slogan "Thou art God" is merely run-of-the-mill Christianity: * "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." * "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." * "Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am." * "Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High." * "God became man so that man might be god." * "It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you may talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and corruption such as you now meet if at all only in a nightmare. . . . There are no ordinary people. You have never met a mere mortal, Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations, these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit--immortal horrors or ever lasting splendours." . Heinlein seems to have stolen a page from Søren Kierkegaard, who tried to re-Christianize Christianity ( , 458). To paraphrase John, "Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning." As I read this book, Smith struck me as oddly familiar. His first name, Michael, refers to the Archangel, the captain of the Lord's army. The second name, Valentine, is the patron saint of all shades of love, phileo, agape, eros, and romance. The last name, Smith, makes him Everyman. But I wonder if there is something more. What happens to Smith is common to all founders of religions--Abraham, Jesus, Mohammed, and so forth. There is evolution, turns and twists of fate, and eventual triumph. However, there is a deeper nuance. Society begins with vulgarized Christianity, then there was the Fosterite Revolution, and another apostasy and commercialization of religion as a Megachurch. And lastly comes along Smith, with his Martian philosophy. This bears a strong parallel to the life of Joseph Smith . In fact, both have a similar martyrdom: "Thou art God" versus "O Lord My God." The satire can get tedious at time, but I think this flaw is excusable. As I read, I kept thinking that this book could loose about 1/3rd of the text. But on the other hand, the artistry and beauty of the wicked satire forces me to say, "Leave it alone." Note: This book is the Q document for so much other fiction. I see shades of "Dune" here and there. Smith the new prophet is akin to Ender, the Speaker for the Dead. And if you have seen Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Charlie X," some of the elements will seem a bit too familiar. Keep in mind that this book came first, and that it does a much better job of mixing wit and wisdom than Kirk and Spock. There is no comparison--after reading this book, "Charlie X" rolls like a flat tire.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2007
P
Verified Purchase
P. Biealczyc
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
Really nice
Format: Paperback
Great read and gift
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2026
K
Verified Purchase
Kindra Foster
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 4
Classic, but a bit disappointed
I’ve always wanted to read this book. Heard a lot about it and it’s importance in the science fiction genre. But I didn’t care for Heinlein’s style of writing. There was a lot of subtle humor in it that was enjoyable, and I suspect he meant for it to be a caricature of humanity. I enjoyed the analysis of human nature throughout the story. But I was disappointed in the direction the story took toward the end. It seemed like a cheap way to develop the possibilities that had been laid out in the rest of the book. I want to believe human beings would value the opportunity and show up in a better way if such a thing really happened. I felt like the main character was so rich and unique in the beginning, but in the end, he felt flat and inscrutable. Having said all of that, maybe if I hadn’t been swayed by my own expectations, I would have enjoyed the story more. I’ll have to try some of his other books and see what I think!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2024

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