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Quiz about A Martian Named Smith
Quiz about A Martian Named Smith

A Martian Named Smith Trivia Quiz


This quiz is all about the history of Robert A. Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land". No spoilers here.

A multiple-choice quiz by Shadowmyst2004. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
373,542
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
258
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Question 1 of 10
1. Heinlein's original manuscript for the book was heavily edited when it was released. After his death an uncut version of the book was released in what year? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. In their song "Friends", what band referenced the book? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The main character is referred to as Mike Smith throughout most of the book. However, a few times we see his real first name; what is it? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. The book was awarded what literary prize in 1962? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Defined as "To understand thoroughly through having empathy with," what word did Heinlein invent as part of the Martian language? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. John Kennedy became president. The U.S. broke diplomatic relations with Cuba. Marvin Panch was the Daytona 500 champion. The Green Bay Packers were the champions of the NFL and "Stranger in a Strange Land" was released. What year was it? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. In the mid 1990s a screenplay based on Heinlein's original manuscript was written by "Batman Returns" scribe Dan Waters. The film was set to star Tom Hanks and Sean Connery. Was the film ever produced with those stars?


Question 8 of 10
8. The book was published 13 years after Heinlein and his wife had their initial brainstorming session and wrote an outline for the story. What year was this brainstorming done? (Hint, if you correctly guessed question 6, this should be easy.) Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Heinlein started work on this novel to do an updated version of what Rudyard Kipling classic? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. In 2012 the book received distinction as one of 88 'Books that Shaped America' as named by what entity? Hint





Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Heinlein's original manuscript for the book was heavily edited when it was released. After his death an uncut version of the book was released in what year?

Answer: 1991

The working title for the book was "A Martian Named Smith". Heinlein once gave a speech at a science fiction convention that concluded with "besides who ever heard of a Martian named Smith?"
2. In their song "Friends", what band referenced the book?

Answer: The Police

"Friends" was written by Andy Summers and released on the B-side of "Don't Stand So Close to Me".
3. The main character is referred to as Mike Smith throughout most of the book. However, a few times we see his real first name; what is it?

Answer: Valentine

Valentine Michael Smith wasn't technically a Martian, having been born to parents from Earth. However he was the lone survivor of an expedition to Mars and had never seen a human woman, having been raised from infancy by the Martians.
4. The book was awarded what literary prize in 1962?

Answer: Hugo Award

This was one of Heinlein's four Hugo Awards during his lifetime.. The book won the award despite being banned from school libraries and attacked in the media for ideas contained within.
5. Defined as "To understand thoroughly through having empathy with," what word did Heinlein invent as part of the Martian language?

Answer: Grok

Grok became part of the subculture of the 1960s, and was adapted by science fiction aficionados, computer hackers and hippies alike. The word became so popular that the National Security Agency named a computer program used for keylogging after the word.
6. John Kennedy became president. The U.S. broke diplomatic relations with Cuba. Marvin Panch was the Daytona 500 champion. The Green Bay Packers were the champions of the NFL and "Stranger in a Strange Land" was released. What year was it?

Answer: 1961

What a year in American History. The book was a huge commercial success from the start, but often panned critically for themes that didn't fit within the socially accepted conventions of the time.
7. In the mid 1990s a screenplay based on Heinlein's original manuscript was written by "Batman Returns" scribe Dan Waters. The film was set to star Tom Hanks and Sean Connery. Was the film ever produced with those stars?

Answer: No

The "Hippie Bible", as it is known, has been in print since 1961 and through the turn of the 21st century no one had ever managed to put it on film.

Waters did write a draft, but due to the massive amounts of group sex, among other factors, executives at Warner Brothers chose not to produce the script at that time.

In the 20 years since that time, Hanks went on to become a huge star and Connery retired from acting.
8. The book was published 13 years after Heinlein and his wife had their initial brainstorming session and wrote an outline for the story. What year was this brainstorming done? (Hint, if you correctly guessed question 6, this should be easy.)

Answer: 1948

Heinlein was well known to come up with an idea and publish very quickly. Waiting more than a decade was out of the norm for him.

He has been quoted as saying that he took his time finishing the book because he knew the culture at the time wouldn't have accepted it anyway. Even in 1961 the book still wasn't accepted by conservative members of society.
9. Heinlein started work on this novel to do an updated version of what Rudyard Kipling classic?

Answer: The Jungle Book

Michael Smith was essentially the same character as Mowgli, only he was raised by Martians instead of jungle creatures.
10. In 2012 the book received distinction as one of 88 'Books that Shaped America' as named by what entity?

Answer: Library of Congress

Books that made the list ranged in publication date from 1776 ("Common Sense", by Thomas Paine), to 2002 ("The Words of Cesar Chavez", by Cesar Chavez).

The Library of Congress put together the list in order to "spark a conversation" about books written by Americans, according to project coordinator James H. Billington.
Source: Author Shadowmyst2004

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