Rating: 
Summary: Good book...
Review: I read the book after seeing the previews for the movie....and was very much surprised. I was ready for some action-shoot 'em up book, and was hit with a rather deep book that I enjoyed a lot more than I would have enjoyed some gory thriller. I recommend it to anyone who thinks.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent book
Review: Although I didn't read all the other comments, I noticed one reviewer mention lawyers ("who needs them") and another criticize Heinlein's use of corporal punishment against children. I think that the discussion of juvenile justice (on pages 112-120 of the re-issue paperback) is the heart of the book: the real world is a hard place, not some namby pamby social worker's fantasy. The book, and that passage in particular, is about the fine line that must be drawn in society between the rights of one individual and the rights of everyone else. Why should one individual have the right to trample over all the others, with no fear of punishment, and worse, little or no remorse? The moral issue extends from the juvenile issue to war in general - what is the right balance? Where is the line drawn between the good of the one and the good of the many? Although some of Heinlein's examples in the book are hyperbole (it seems to me that Earth is a dystopia in this narrative), the conceptual framework for addressing the balance seems like one of the few I've seen which could work in the real world. I don't know. Maybe I just liked it because I am a lawyer, and a former prosecutor who dealt with juvenile offenders on a daily basis. But I think anyone would agree that Heinlein, when writing the book in 1959, was at least dead-on right about the continual worsening of juvenile crime over the last 40 years.
Rating:
Summary: This Book is the best book I've read!
Review: Robert A. Hienlein's Starship Troopers is a wonderful book that outlines the soliders job and the reasons behind man most terrible creation - war. I've read this book 9 times and every time I read it I find something new that I missed the last time. This book is a must buy for you Heinlein fans!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent novel, just wish it was longer....
Review: An excellent novel, truly one of the top ten I've ever read. My only complaint is that I wish there was more action in the field and less of the book devoted to Rico's training. Anyone who is a fan of military science fiction should buy this book immediately, it's an indispensable addition to anyone's library.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Work of '50s Science Fiction
Review: A classic of '50s science fiction, Starship Troopers is one of the most misunderstood books in pop science fiction, it is as much a comment on 1950s America as anything else. In 1959 sci-fi was considered only fit for adolescent males, and no sex or violence could be included--the greatest critisim of this book. It is book to read once a year, as every time there is something new. Eventually you will see that Heinlein is his own biggest critic. Most people either like it (for the wrong reasons) or hate it (having read half and getting to mad to see the finer points).
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating political philosophy
Review: This is one of the books that are easily dismissed after seeing the movie. The book, however, is exellent. It's incredibly interesting, especially the line that says war and morality derive from the same genitic stock. That made me stop and think. Plus, there were some really cool battle scenes.
Rating:
Summary: Only Veterans have the vote? Yeah!!!
Review: A good book. You may not agree with all Heinlein says but you cannot disagree with the fact that the book is well written, tells a good story about a young (very young) boy turning into a man an citizen. Being a veteran I'd like to try a society where politicians must be veterans and not lawyers (who needs them anyway?) I also approved the swift dispensation of justice described in the book. I'm in my fifties and I first read this book more than 30 year ago and, after re-reading it, I realize that I find it enjoyable and thought provoking. Did anyone else pick up on the fact that you read more than 3/4 of the book before you find out Johnny's last name?
Rating:
Summary: hate to admit it, but it was ok
Review: Having seen the movie and read many reviews, I went into this not wanting to like it. I have to say, however, that I did like it, at least 80%, so it gets four stars.What did I like? To be honest, non-stop action gets boring; there are only so many ways to write bangs and booms. So I liked the fact that there weren't too many "battle scenes" in this book. I also liked much of the "moral philosophy" in the book, though it was a bit direct and obviously for young adults. What didn't I like? Among my dislikes are the following: First, the message that beating children is all right. I don't disagree; my own mother spanked me from time to time, and I'm not against such punishment. It's just that I know that many people will think, "see, Heinlein said it's OK to beat kids," and then go no-holds-barred against their children. His message is simply that such punishment should not be frowned on and that it is necessary *SOME* of the time. Remember, it's not unusual if it's overdone (to paraphrase Heinlein himself). I myself only remember getting spanked once or twice when I was young. Another complaint of mine is the idea that military veterans should be in control of things. His argument for this stems partly from the idea that no government has ever been perfect, and that the current (in the story) military government is at least better than any before. Yet, as the book is imaginary, he's basically stating that A) governments are relative, they all do the job, and B) this imaginary government does really well in my imagination, therefore it is good. Remember, nothing in the book has really happened, and the concepts presented have not ever really been tested, so it's not fair to say that they are working. They work in the book because Heinlein wants them to. So while I can't say how good his ideas really are, I just want to caution people that his book is not a test of them, simply a proposal. The last example I want to present of a problem I had with the book is this: The segregation of the armed forces. It's stated plainly in the book that everybody in his imaginary society is equal; the only separation of power is based on military "citizenship" versus non-military "civilians". However, it's also clearly stated that there are *NO* women in the mobile infantry, and that ship pilots are always women because they perform better at the job. This is not equality, is it? IF things were to be this way, it SHOULD be because, as people get chosen for jobs without gender consideration, it so happens that women TEND, statistically that is, to get piloting jobs more than men. This would allow for women being allowed to enter M.I. if they are able, and vice versa. Overall, this was still a really good book, a thinking person's book. Just make sure you're thinking while you read it!
Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ
Review: In today's videogame/instant satisfaction society, reading a book is a tough thing to do for young people. They should all be forced to read this one however. Outstanding job that makes everyone who reads it think. And that is sometimes painful for the youth of the U.S. I am personally glad I read it. I don't agree with every last sentence in the book, but darn near. Truly a must read for young adults.
Rating:
Summary: A defense of the military mentality
Review: Heinlein would have been more honest to title this work 'History & Moral Philosophy', just like the courses in high school and OCS. It's really a polemic on why war is necessary and fighting for your society is good and moral. It just throws in some soft (not hard) sci-fi as window dressing. It tries to show that all authoritarian military structures are based on the same principles, all the way back to (and he quotes it himself) Troy. The futuristic sci-fi is weak, cloudy, hesitant, as are the alien 'bad guys'. The movie goes on where the book left off, making the world and the aliens vividly real, but skimming the philosophy. Hence, viewing the movie doesn't mean you've read the book, or vice-versa. As a philosophical thought product, I'd give it 4 stars; as a novel, 3. But I gave it 4 overall 'for the benefit of the doubt', like Rico's commander gave him :) His native language is Tagalog? :)
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