Rating: 
Summary: No one today would have the cojones to write this book
Review: This book is barely similar to the movie of the same name. This is Heinlein's examination of a future Earth society in which full citizenship (voting rights) must be earned through government (not just military) service.As someone who's been through Marine Corps Recruit Training on Parris Island, this book's harsh look at boot camp in the Corps of the future shocked even me. The action sequences are well done, but not at the heart of this book. At its core, "Starship Troopers" is a political manifesto. Those who have described it as "pulp fiction" fear what it has to say; Society is better off when those who have sacrificed for it (mostly, but not entirely, military veterans) make the decisions. This is especially important to current American society, since more than half of our current elected "leaders" on the federal level are lawyers who haven't served in the military, and only a small fraction more have served in any other captacity (Peace Corps, police departments, etc.) This does not bode well for our nation. So anything that challenges the status quo as fiercely as Heinlein's book does (never mind that it was written in the '50s, it's MORE applicable now than it was then,) must be shot down by those in power. If you like to think, and are interested in political philosophy, buy this book now. You don't have to agree with Heinlein's premise (I don't think even he agreed entirely,) but you must be willing to open your mind to new ideas. If you are a veteran, this book is a must buy. It makes you ask yourself some tough questions about the military's relationship to society and government.
Rating:
Summary: Second only to THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS
Review: This Hugo-winning novel is one of Heinlein's best, and it's been quite unfairly attacked by people who don't seem to know how to read. Does Heinlein glorify the military in this book? In a sense, yes - he clearly has a high regard (and quite justifiably!) for people who ~serve~ in the military. (He himself did a brief stint in the Navy but had to abandon his planned naval career owing to medical problems.) But in no way does he condone the usual misuse of the military by the Powers That Be. Anyone familiar with his other works - e.g. "Logic of Empire" and THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS - ought to know that he's no fan of governments and empires. Is Heinlein as fascist? See above (and look up "fascism" in a good dictionary). On the contrary, he's about as anti-fascist as you can get. In this novel, does Heinlein limit the franchise to soldiers? No; he limits it to citizens who have performed public service in ~some~ capacity and thereby demonstrated their personal devotion to the body politic; as he expressly states, the form of service doesn't have to be military. ~This~ story is about the military, though; it wouldn't have been as interesting if Heinlein had written about a highway cleaning crew. In fact this is not only a terrific action/adventure story but a highly informative look at military service through the eyes of a young infantryman coming of age. It's not hard to see why servicemen/women enjoy this one so much. Nevertheless this book seems to stick in the craw of some people. Maybe if you read it you'll see why. As for me, I've written a number of reviews bashing the heck out of Heinlein's later works (the ones where everybody has sex with everybody else and his mom too), and I am emphatically NOT a fan of most of his stuff. But this particular novel is his second best, and it's darn fine. If you've read MOON and this novel, as well as DOUBLE STAR and THE DOOR INTO SUMMER, you've read the best Heinlein has to offer. You can feel safe in skipping the rest.
Rating: 
Summary: Questionable philosophy
Review: I hope this book makes you think. Heinlein is very persuasive in his philosophy but you must question his assumptions. In all this was a fairly good book. The story and charecter are easily forgetable, but the environments are not. The training and feild situations are incredible. Ever wonder why the military makes people tough, confident and capable even if they aren't to bright. Starship Troopers explains the phenomenon that had led soldiers to victory for centuries. I beg you to not assume along with heinlein that military training would do the rest of society good. It would not. Still, i recomend this book for its insights into the military mind.
Rating:
Summary: Convincing, whether I like it or not.
Review: Heinlein has always held the fascination of a serpent for me--he is one of my favorite authors, and I love his work. However, I was raised by hippie parents, in a lower-middle class family that otherwise much resembles Johnnie's family. My parents too would pitch a fit if I joined the military. And after reading Starship Troopers, I was very tempted. Heinlein is right in this book, utterly so. We in this society do not bother to think about our actions. We have become automatons, relying on what fashion and TV dictate for our actions. The raising of our children has become fashionable: we don't rely on what worked with ourselves, we rely on what "prominent child-psychologist" So-and-So says! We need to wake up, take responsibility for our actions, and think about our actions, our families, our beliefs, and our society. Anything else will doom us to ignorance and lives worse than they are now. Heinlein offers us a headstart in Troopers, and we are fools not to take it.
Rating:
Summary: STARSHIP TROOPERS
Review: RIGHT IN BETWEEN "THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS" AND "STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND" AS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES FROM R.A.H. IT'S ONE OF THOSE TRUE EPICS THAT ARE TIMELESS IN IT'S ABILITY TO LET US SEE OURSELVES AND LESSONS OF LIFE, WITH THE PAINS, JOYS, AND HARDSHIPS WE GO THRU FROM THE DAY WE TURN 18 AND THINK "I'M AN ADULT,I CAN MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS NOW" (WITHOUT REALIZING THAT MOSTLY, YOU REALLY CAN'T) AND THAT DAY WHEN WE SUDDENLY LOOK BACK AND REALIZE WE ARE TRULY GROWN UP. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY ALL THOSE (AT THE TIME) MEANINGLESS BITS AND PIECES OF WISDOM WE PICKED UP IN SCHOOL, (WHILE NOT EVEN REALIZING WE WERE), LIKE A LIGHT COMING ON, SUDDENLY FALL INTO PLACE, AND YOU FIND YOURSELF THINKING "SO THAT'S WHAT THEY MEANT!". WORDS LIKE HONOR,DUTY,RESPECT,COURAGE,SCARAFICE FINALLY BEGIN TO BE SOMETHING MORE THAN WORDS IN A DICTIONARY. ROBERT HEINLEIN HAD A TRUE GENIUS FOR MAKING YOU LAUGH AND CRY AT THE SAME TIME. WHILE EVERY OTHER PAGE HAVING YOU THINK TO YOURSELF OR EVEN SAY OUT LOUD (MORE OFTEN) "I'VE BEEN THERE" OR (WITH A TEAR AND LAUGH) "I KNOW EXACTLY HOW THAT FEELS". ONE OF HIS BEST WORKS EVER. AND ONE THAT I'VE WORN OUT 3 PAPERBACK COPIES RE-READING. THAT PRETTY MUCH SAYS IT ALL RIGHT THERE I GUESS! BUT WITH RESPECT TO THE MOVIE ALL I CAN SAY THERE: (LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING IT WITH A SENSE OF ANTICIPATION I'VE NOT FELT BEFORE, AND AN EQUALLY GREAT DEPRESSION AFTERWARD,WHAT A LETDOWN) IS THAT I'M GLAD HE WAS NOT HERE TO SEE THE WAY IT WAS DESICRATED HOLLYWOOD!!
Rating: 
Summary: Not as controversial as it thinks
Review: I picked up an older version of "Starship Troopers" one with the cover featureing the titular soldiers in their "power-suits" (the movie had the 21st century soldiers walking around unarmored as if drafted into some pre-WWI army). Like that copy, the new edition heralds "Troopers" as "The controversial classic of military adventure." Much like the war it depicts, I couldn't understand what the fuss was about. "Troopers" neither glorifies war nor goes the extra step in utterly condemning it - this is not "Johnny Got his Laser-gun." Instead, grim mobile-infantry Juan Rico goes about the gloomy business of going to hostile planets like Klendathu and hunting down bugs, arachnids who are only dismissed as mindless bugs at first. For a lowly recruit, Rico seems well informed as to the inner workings of the interstellar army as well as the pitiless realities of war and man's slim chances of prevailing by its end. It's hard to imagine surviving such a desperate battle with as little self-desception as Rico has. Instead, Rico dwells on the fine points of military training and heirarcby, though he makes no aspirations to rank himself. If "Troopers" was a parable of some future war against the numberless horde of communism, it's hard to imagine a more neutral plot. There are no peace-niks, and no bug-lovers link hands around the federation's citadel in a show of love against interstellar imperialism. Not even the prospect of genocide (whether ours or there's, the only conceivable outcome of an inter-species war) makes an appearance to give the story some bite (or sting in this case). While reading the novel, I was surprised to see how closely the film followed it. In one respect, the film surpasses the book: the overtones of 1930's euro-fascism that suffues the film's future raised the biggest question of all - should man survive?
Rating:
Summary: NOT THE MOVIE
Review: When the movie of Starship Troopers came out, I couldnt wait to see it. When I was 11, I read the book, and its been my favorite ever since. However, the movie was terrible. The only thing that the book and the movie have in commen is the name. ST is more a philosphy book then a sci-fi book. It is a great book by a great author, and I think you will enjoy this book as much as I do.
Rating:
Summary: The Dean's work brings forth high emotions on each side.
Review: Heinlein predicted (and later griped) about people saying that only military service would enfranchise a citizen in this version of a future society. It is specifically stated in the book that a person could earn the right to vote with civil service, not only by becoming a grunt. Heinlein's portrayal of a society that has taken a different route in an attempt to solve some of its problems is most likely his best ever. Good action, steady plot, and, as always, great characters you feel like you might know yourself. The book describes some of our own society's problems that have come to being over 40 years after the novel was first written. That consideration of what MIGHT be is what makes a science fiction novel different from a sub-moron romance novel and the like. There was no one better at giving us those possibilities than Heinlein.
Rating: 
Summary: military glory
Review: It's wonderfull to read how military loves their country and think that violent discipline is THE solution. Heinlein opinion of war is old fashined and fall in the same pit of right wing totalitarism, if you consider the example of nazi idea of military glory and honor. Wake up and read Forever War instead, and learn what a real war is, not a wargame played outside the jungle, only in the mind of the profetic Heinlein...
Rating:
Summary: Great book but unlike his adventure-style stories
Review: Starship Troopers is truly a classic, though it stands out from Heinlein's other work in several ways. It includes what may be the most realistic and workable of the alternate government styles he's ever considered. It's also more a story of personal growth and a tale of the major exploits of a war a light-hearted adventure. As a result of the focus on growth, much of the book follows the main character's experiences in boot camp and in officer training school. These parts have merit, especially to a Heinlein fan, but they just aren't as eventful as some of his other books. (Think of these parts like you would the opening schemes of the revolution in "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress". A lot of explaining things out, but not especially dry.) Things really get going, though, when this learning is put to the test in combat. Out on the battlefield, the mobile infantry has specially-designed suits and great weapons that make one soldier count for twenty. Lest things get too simple, the bugs (the spider-like enemy) also have weapons and their own ships. There are no easy answers and there's no doomsday device that can win the war decisively for one side or the other. It's a down and dirty in-the-trenches (so to speak) war story at its best. This isn't one of those books I'd give to a young reader to spark more of an interest in sci-fi. Starship Troopers is best appreciated by a more mature reader who's gone through a few Heinlein books, perhaps even a few other war-in-space novels, who will appreciate the depth of the story properly. It's worth saying that never once does Heinlein's experiment in franchise-by-service get oppressive, either; he doesn't preach "this is how it should be" but rather, "this might work". And if you've seen the movie, forget all the Fascist stuff that appears there; Heinlein wrote nothing of the sort. Though the story is set in a government different from our own, it's not so different that it's uncomfortable. The people are still regular people, the world is pretty much normal. Freedom exists and thrives, with the one difference that a person has to serve their country in some way before they can vote. This is what I like about Heinlein: He can try something different, ask you to evaluate it on its merits with an open mind, but his stories almost never demand acceptance of the experiment.
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