This Nebula- and Hugo-nominated novel is held in fond esteem by many Heinlein fans. Beginning in the early 1970s, Heinlein suffered from a number of health crises, including reversible neurologic dysfunction (toward the end of the decade), which greatly impacted the quality of his writing.
Friday, first published in 1982, is considered his “comeback” book. Much more reminiscent of his earlier, tighter works, it shows the Grand Master back in his earlier form. The novel revolves around a genetically engineered woman who is one of the strongest female protagonists in the science fiction genre of that era. The story follows the adventures of this highly trained, combat-ready courier, from the time she is ambushed and tortured by an enemy group seeking the package she is carrying, to an eventual betrayal that tests her extraordinary abilities and resolve.
Friday was met with widespread critical acclaim, from both fans and critics, with Publishers Weekly declaring that the book “should fly” and Poul Anderson claiming it among Heinlein’s best.
