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Summary: A science fiction and political classic for our generation.
Review: This could be the story of a young man who runs off to be a soldier and tear apart some bugs. Nothing more. But it could also be a political doctrine, a new view on government- all told by someone who believes in it and is ready to uphold these ideals at all costs. Unfortunately, some of the people nowadays let the title and even the cover throw them off, but this story truly belongs on the shelf with all the other esteemed sci-fi classics of this day, like "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and the like. One may not see the symbolism, so the reader must look closer at times. The story revolves around Johnny Rico, an idealistic eighteen year-old who goes against his parent's wishes to join the Mobile Infantry and become a legitimate citizen. With the help of powered battle suits, futuristic weapons and mentors that range from school teachers to Officer Academy instructors, Johnny will grow from boy to man, see the galaxy, meet new and interesting individuals- and kill them. Fast paced, exciting, amusing and even moving at times, Heinlein's "Starship Troopers" is a good read. One might even get something out of it.
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Summary: A good book, a must read for those who like to think! : )
Review: Although many people seem to have bad opinions of this book, I myself found it very enjoyable. This book, along with providing an entertaining story about the life of a young soldier, provokes readers to think about their morals, politics, and beliefs. Heinlein's views may not all be right or agreeable, but they do raise interesting points. If you like SF and enjoy books that don't just cater to the stereotypes, get this one. AWS
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Summary: In your disgust, you have proven this to be a good book.
Review: Many reviews have focused on Heinleins failings in the fictional future society he created in ST. Whether or not it is possible, whether or not punishment is a good ides, whether or not everyone should be able to vote, or any of those issues he brings up that are constantly and long-windedly contested, are all irrelevant. The fact is, by causing such a controversy, Heinlein achieved exactly what it took to create a book that will sell for ages and probably never lose its intrigue. People will read the book to see what all the fuss is about, and whether they agree or disagree, they will still discuss it at length, often taking the conversation to a shouting match. With Heinlein's knowledge of engineering and mathematics, he has also fused fascinating technology into his story. This book should be required reading in schools! Not because it's theories are right or wrong, but because it provokes thought, something lacking in 'modern' society.
For the record as well, I'm 100% in favor of the society Heinlein portrays in this book.
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Summary: ARMOR WAS BETTER
Review: dont waste your time with this crap. Check out Steakley's ARMOR. People claim it as a ripoff. They obviously missed the point. At least the military in ARMOR was smart enough to get past the machine gun and come up with some real weapons...
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Summary: Worth reading
Review: Its a good story and worth reading. I would not rate it as one of my all time favorite SF books, but it was entertaining.
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Summary: An unappreciated classic
Review: Honestly one of the best books I've read - period, Starship Troopers is an absolutely wonderful book about battle, maturity, responsibility, and might. Devoid of the metaphysical elements of Heinlein's post-"Stranger" works, the criticisms of everyone in the book being perfect are moot since this is a futuristic work in an ideal totalitarian society. And if you have a problem with totalitarianism, wait until I'm King.
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Summary: Irresponsible, but well written
Review: This book has plenty of action to keep one on the edge of one's seat. It is well written, and as such it takes its place among the classics of science fiction. The militarism of the book, however, is irresponsible, and the contant moralising tiresome. Many of the fundamentals of Heinlein's future society are philosophically dubious and abhorrent. This book is a glorification of militarism, a paean to violence, a call to solve problems via brute force. It is a neo-fascist blueprint for a nightmare society, where brutality is considered a noble ideal. The "grunts" in the Mobile Infantry that the main character, John Rico, belongs to voluntarily give up their individuality to become cogs in an infernal machine. This supposedly gives them the right to the vote, a right that ANYONE who is part of a society should have. Heinlein's philosophy appears to be the fascist "might is right" philosophy - and the humans, as presented in his book, are hardly any different to the mindless and subservient arachnid aliens. In fact, this reviewer found it difficult to sympathise with the humans in this book any more than the aliens. It is ironic that Heinlein continually harps on the question of individual responsibility, given his irresponsability in writing this book. Though it may be a fun read, the message presented is abhorrent. Paradoxically, in spite of the lousy treatment that the movie gave this book, the movie presented a much better message. In the movie, Heinlein's closet fascism is parodied, and manages to clearly demonstrate the stupidity of militarism.
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Summary: Patriotism or jingoism? Prescience or word-juggling? YMMV.
Review: One reviewer accused RAH of not "being inspiring, clever or clear". I must disagree on at least one count. I read ST as a young teenager, and (not being a fan of Sci-Fi or militaria) immediately forgot it. I read it again last year, finishing on the very eve of the film release. I recognized nothing in it until I got to Rico's description of someone practicing the bagpipes. ("...as if he had a cat under his arm, its tail in his mouth, and biting it.") Clever enough to be memorable at 30 years distance! Like "A Reader", I prefer Stranger In a Strange Land; though the spanking fetish shines through as much there as in other RAH stories, it posits a different sort of approach to human relations. Many readers compared this work to "The Forever War". I'd like to point out a connection to another fantasy book, Edward Bellamy's "Looking Backward". His future Earth comes to the condition he describes by thinking about industry, not by fighting, but there is this similarity: only people who have served honorably and retired can vote or stand for office. The difference is that EB's army comprises *all* workers, not just military workers. After all, a miner is just as dead in a cave-in as a soldier in a fire-fight. And think about the world wars: in both cases the US was caught relatively un-prepared. We geared up and literally _produced_ our way to victory. Every farmer, secretary, weaver, trucker...all contributed to the outcome. Ummagumma pans the whole RAH canon, and says there are "much better authours (sic) of SF available." Maybe, if action space-opera is what you seek. RAH's talent was in putting political and philosophical meditations in future/alien settings, to encourage us to think about them in our own Terran lives. Coppd "see[s] some of Bob's points concerning ...harsher punishment towards criminals." This is the down side of Heinlein. He seems unwilling (and encourages readers not) to consider *other* ways than more and more severe punishment, to do what Capt. Frankel orders Sgt. Zim to do: "make [the crime] not merely expensive _but impossible_!" This gets back to the spanking fetish noted in several reviews. It seems odd that folk in this line will gladly point out that we can develop a tolerance for pleasure and luxury, but don't see that punishment also loses its punch after a while, and the 'dosage' must be increased. Anyway, I find myself re-reading ST, sometimes for the adventure, sometimes looking for flaws in his logic. (E.g., Col. Dubois' letter to Juan, Chapter 6. He forgets that the language itself changes, and does make it "necessary...to reformulate them [truths].") It's an average read, nothing to found a society or career on. Be well.
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Summary: A must have for your professional library
Review: I have read and re-read Starship Troopers for years now, and consider it one of the finest fiction books on military leadership. Saw the movie and now have to read it again. I have compared it with "Armor", and found it flowed better. I was a bit dismayed to find the Politically Correct Movie cover on the new release though. On final comment. The quote in the front of the book is creditied to an "unknown" Platoon Sergeant. Althouth it may be in line with the movie and colorful, it is mis-quoted. The Platoon Sergeant who uttered those words is well known to Marines. Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly, USMC, holder of two Medals of Honor and the Army Distinguished Service Cross. It was during the Battle of Belleau Wood, France, in 1918, that he uttered the statement "Come on you Bastards, do you want to live forever." Credit where credit is due. Keep up the great work. Your service is much appreciated to those of us without a decent bookstore.
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Summary: A book on personal growth, not politics
Review: Despite what many have said about this book, Starship Troopers was not about politics. Heinlein did not condone the world he created; in fact, he rarely even explored it beyond its most obvious appearances. What he did tell us was that 1) only "veterans" (not necessarily combat soldiers: the MI was Juan Rico's last pick) could be citizens; 2) there was corporal punishment; 3) people were discouraged from joining the service. As far as I can tell, the only other discussion about the society was how it began. There was no discussion on the rights, or lack of rights, of the population. The only trials depicted in the book are military court martials, which have always followed their own procedures. What this book WAS about was personal growth and responsibility. Juan Rico signed up because his friends did, and although he did not expect much from himself, then he learns about what he could do. In the meantime, and with frequent flashbacks, Heinlein explored what the meaning of citizenship, and what responsibilities people have to their state. I do not believe that he beleived everything that he wrote in this book, because some of the stories he later wrote appeared to have views contradicting Starship Troopers. This book was not a political treatice of what should be done, but an exploration of what is means to be a responsible citizen.
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