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Summary: Realistic science fiction warfare
Review: There are only 2 books that I've read that present any kind of realistic interpretation of an interstallar army (as opposed to navy) - this book and Haldeman's Forever War. (and I've read a lot of SF) If you liked Troopers, I would recommend reading Haldeman's book.Why is this book good? It feels right. Anyone who's watched an episode of Star Trek and thuoght to themselves, "what kind of military would allow this?" will appreciate the fact that these people are indeed soldiers, and they are fighting to protect the Earth from alien invaders. Others have commented on the analogies to the Vietnam war. That's a little before my time, but I can assure you that this is a highly entertaining book in its philosophy as well as its action, irrespective of its status as a parable. Recommended.
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Summary: These are the real "Troopers"
Review: Forget the travesty of a movie that "Starship Troopers" became a few years ago. The book is the real deal. Amazingly, though written over forty years ago it has aged very well. The most effective scenes are in the military training, which ring quite authentic to anyone who has served. The battle scenes evoke a vivid imagination that the movie version simply could not capture. What this novel really portrays is the society that Heinlein obviously wished he lived in. It is a much more honorable, ordered and duty-bound society than our own. Some might call his vision fascist, but ask yourself, is it really any worse than Bill Clinton's America?
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Summary: Service? Duty? Honor? Country?
Review: While this is certainly a science fiction classic and a great read simply as that, its real value lies in its treatment of duty. Heinlein ties duty in as the counterpart of freedom and then proceeds to examine the various parts of duty within the context of the struggles in the story. Honor is the slice of character that requires duty to be fulfilled - no matter the cost - the WHY; service is HOW duty is fulfilled; and country is to WHOM service is owed. He never says these things. He merely shows them in the context of the action in the story. As for the movie - don't waste your money. It stinks and ignored what makes this book great: its examination of DUTY. Kelly Whiting
Rating: 
Summary: Heinlein sure loves the military
Review: I was once told that military coups don't happen because the military is greedy or evil but because there is a real feeling in the armed services that they are the only people in the country who can run an efficient government without corruption or bureaucracy. I thought of that a lot when I was reading this book. Heinlein gives a society in which a more subtle military coup has taken place and then works hard to convince the reader that this would be an ideal society. Of course there are qualifications. Only veterans can vote and run for office. People who don't volunteer can live perfectly happy lives. THis also plays into the fact that America routinely votes generals into office and is routinely disappointed at their mediocre performance in the job (Ulysses S. Grant, Eisenhower, etc.) But despite whether or not you agree with Heinlein's politics, it is a great book. Starship Troopers should have a card for enlistment in the back. The man loves the male dominated military, the toughness, the trials by fire, the cameraderie and loyalty. The main character is believable as he is a prototype for Heinlein and the growth from adolescence to manhood is the compelling part of the book. You like Rico. You want him to succeed. I only give it four stars because at points it gets to be too much. Nothng is happening except another lecture on why this is a great and perfect society and what is wrong with 20th century society (no one would spank their kids, etc.) but Heinlein pulls out of these stretches of dullness eventually and the book becomes cool again.
Rating: 
Summary: Great book, poorly read
Review: This book is my all time favorite Sci-fi book. I have re-read it several times. I was excited to find it on inunabridged audio cassette format. Unfortunatly, who ever hired Lloyd James to read it really blew it. He reads this exciting adventure story like he is bored stiff. He drones on in a monotone voice with extremely few voice inflections and long pauses between conversatons. He doesn't even try to sound like real people would speak their parts. My girlfriend and I are very disappointed with this audio book. As much as I love this book all I can say is DON'T BUY THIS AUDIO BOOK!
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Summary: Combination of war and political philosophy
Review: A novel of intriguing ideas and violent battle scenes. I've never read anything quite like it. Heinlein could have been described as a very pro-military but anti-war libertarian. He didn't believe in conscription, but once you were in the military you'd better realize you were there to follow orders and because of this your life could easily be forfeit in battle. Heinlein is _not_ glorifying war here: he's showing what a horrible thing it is. His view that society should only be run by those with military experience (because they've shown they're willing to give their lives for society) might actually work: throughout history it generally hasn't been the military that has started wars (they know too much about it); it's been politicians. This is indeed a thought-provoking novel.
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Summary: Don't just watch the movie, read the book!
Review: I haven't seen the movie for Starship Troopers myself, but I've heard it doesn't come close to the excellence of the book. This book is about so much more than just boot camp and war. In this book Heinlein explores issues of morality and citizenship. That's truly where the greatness of this book lies. It questions the assumptions of society and makes the reader think. That's what I call an excellent book, and on top of that it's entertaining.
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Summary: The War Lover
Review: I first read this book in 1970, when I was an undergraduate. I went to college after having served in the US Army as an infantryman in Vietnam. One of the English professors asked me what I thought of Starship Troopers. I replied that it was obviously written by someone who had an intimate knowledge of the military, but had never served in combat, because no one who had ever experienced combat could possibly have written this book. And I discovered that I was quite right -- Heinlein graduated from Annapolis in the 1920s, and was given a medical discharge from the Navy in the 1930s. The reason I said this was because Heinlein sees war as morally good -- which is quite empathatically not my experience, nor the experience of any other combat veteran I have ever asked about it. I suspect that one reason why some people accuse Heinlein of being a fascist is that the Nazis and Mussolini both praised war as a moral good. I would say about Heinlein the same thing that was said about H G Wells -- he was a born storyteller who sold his birthright for a pot of message. Starship Troopers is well written, but the philosophical view it espouses stinks.
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Summary: space bug
Review: I have read the book and also watch the film(you should ask when you gave rating 1 star then why you spend money)well I tought it will be interesting to see the animations but it was not.I guess the book is really bad and it is more spoiled by the movie (plasma firing bugs by their backsides to the federation destroyers uhh,more unbeareable then jar-jar(starwars episode 1) I think there must be a little logic even in a science fiction book.In this one there is none,if you buy this book you will laugh a lot so if you are not looking for a sci-fci book but a comedy one then read this one. (ofcourse this is my opinion; who have read this book and liked ofcourse have their point of view)
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Summary: A Classic and Unique Cornerstone of Science Fiction
Review: The classic story of Johnny Rico looking for identity and personal self respect in a futuristic society where citizenship must be earned. Heinlein really pushes the outside limits of this concept which makes it an intriguing read. I first read this many years ago, and have never forgotten it. It holds it's own unique cornerstone of classic Science Fiction.
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