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Summary: If you are a human being and a citizen...read this book!
Review: Arguably one of the greatest science fiction novels ever published. Starship Troopers follows the life of one ordinary young man through the beginning of a military career. Even more important than the story are the political and social references to a citizens duty to his/her society, and that society's priveleges extended back to the citizen. A fore runner of Heinlein's TANSTAAFL (There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch) philosophy, it highlights Juan Rico's (he's Filipino, not Argentinian)journey into adulthood, not just through the crucible of military life and warfare, but his understanding of his family, and his society. I read this the first time when I was seventeen, and it convinced me to do service for my country. I've since gone back and read it, and inferred many of my other obligations of citizenship since then. No matter your political leanings, this is a novel that will make you think
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Summary: A Leadership Classic for Grunts, Mud Puppies, and Civilians
Review: In this book, RAH explores the question "What is freedom worth?" Using one of the characters he states, "Nothing of value is free." This theme is a ribbon running though the book . It is just as thought provoking today as it was when it was written - Do we own our nation something in return for our privileges? Should we have "rights" without being expected to pay for them? Set in the early twenty-second century, the book presents the development of young and naive Johnnie Rico. It follows him though the horrendous boot camp of the Mobile Infantry and onto the battle field. As he is exposed to new concepts and experiences, he is challenged to come to grips with the internal issues of personal courage, self-discipline, and the boundaries and benefits of loyalty. The issues addressed are not science fiction but real and must be faced by every person in society, whether in a position of authority or not. Although presented in a military setting, these issues and the ideas expressed will provide rich food for thought to people who want to be managers and leaders. It emphasises that you can't "do" without first "being." Any leader, civilian or military, Non-commissioned or commissioned officer. junior or senior executive will benefit from reading this book. I strongly recommend it to anyone who will ever be in charge of or reporting to another person. This book demonstrates Robert Heinlein's imagination and ability at their best
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Summary: Read it before the movie comes out!
Review: Up with _Stranger_ and _Moon_, this is one of Heinlein's absolute best. Everyone else has gone into depth about it, so I won't. However, if you are interested, I can tell you now that the movie is going to trash it. Do NOT see the movie first. =) Besides, any sci-fi fan should read this
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Summary: Political Ideologies Through Science Fiction
Review: Page by page the book becomes a highly politicaly detailed book structured around a theoredical future. R.A.H. was one of the most brilliant political Sci-Fi writers ever to grace the readers of this planet with his imagination. This book, written in the Cold War era depicts earth fighting an insectoid race of alien creatures. It seems the "bugs" (or buggers) are how the communist structure of Russia was percieved, acting without thought and following orders to the extreme while earth(or the USA) being the logical society adapting to fighting these superiorly physical creatures through the use of mechinized robotic armour(NOT IN THE MOVIE!!!), and free thought. The main character (Juan Rico) questions war, and the justification of the society he lives in. Only the elite may obtain citizenship, and that elite would be the military. I would recomend to book to anyone, for it is indeed his masterpeice
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Summary: You should also go look at "Armor," by John Steakley
Review: I've little to add to the other reviews -- Starship Troopers isindeed a must read, I'm trying to get my teenage kids to read itBEFORE the movie comes out this summer.
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Summary: The Masterpiece of the Greatest Sci-Fi Writer Ever!
Review: Looking for fast-paced adventure featuring futuristic combat on alien worlds? Or are you looking for thoughtful ruminations that delve deep into the organization of human society and the meaning of civic duty and "citizenship"? Look no further! Heinlein's "Starship Troopers" follows the coming-of-age of Johnny Rico, a somewhat aimless high school graduate of Earth's near future. Unsure of his life's plans, and at odds with his family, he joins his friends in enlisting in the Federal Service, only to be placed in the Mobile Infantry -- Mankind's main defense against a horrifying array of contentious E.T.s! During his training and, yes, combat, all exquisitely described by the Dean of Science Fiction himself, Rico learns what it means to fully be a "citizen" in any day or age -- and kicks some fierce alien butt, to boot! Read this book and discover the marvel of Heinlein's brilliantly crafted future worlds, and find out for yourself why it easily won the Hugo Award, Sci-Fi's most coveted honor
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Summary: The military mind.....
Review: Starship Troopers is a book that really hits the nail on the head when it comes to asking the questions of duty to government and to society. This novel explores the military mind and how it has shaped our perceptions on societal duty. Heinlein explores a unique governmental system that reaches back along many philosophical lines of thought. He raise questions through the thoughts, words, actions, and deeds of the Mobile Infrantry. This book scares the reader while fascinating them at the same time. I devoured this book in one sitting!!
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Summary: This book inspired tons of hate mail and still won the Hugo!
Review: Starship Troopers is not a book that can be ignored. Many people's choice for Heinlein's best, the absolute prototype and model for Military Science Fiction, philosophically provoking and unrepentant in its opinions, this work manages to make page after page of political theory an engaging read that tricks you into thinking it's light entertainment... until you catch yourself quoting it months later. I first read this book at twelve, and enjoyed it as an action read with a sympathetic lead. At twenty-nine I reread it and consider it a truly complex book on a complex subject simply told. No higher praise can I consider. Don't take others words for it -- get the facts! Read this book
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Summary: Well, I dunno...
Review: This is a good book (did Heinlein ever write any bad), but that's it. The begining is promising. Our hero is a soldier in the earth forces, at the moment fighting some evil alien race on their planet. But suddenly Heinlein takes us back to the time when our hero decides to join the army. Then we follow him in his army training for the better part of the book, until we eventually are back where we started: the war with the bugs.
If the whole book had started out with our hero joining the forces i wouldn't have objected, but telling more than half the book in some kind of retrospective is more than I can handle. I don't want a resume, I want to see things happen while I am watching. Knowing what it all ends up to from the beginning is devastating for my reading pleasure.
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Summary: A Nazi's dream of social order
Review: Often proclaimed as the best and most contraversal science fiction books ever written. Starship Troopers takes us to a nightmare ultra right wing future where war is eternal and rights are handed out based on one's willingness to become a part of the war machine. It is a tale of individuality warped and corurpted to serve violent ends or crushed altogether under the iron fist of conformity.
Yet it is compelling reading which facinates as it horrifies. Truely a book that will leave an indelible mark on it's reader.
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