Rating: 
Summary: Great book
Review: I am sick and tired of reading about reviews that say Starship Troopers is a horrible book because of its lack of action. The book was not written for action; the movie was written for action, and the movie sucked. It wasn't true to the story. Let's get one thing straight: the movie was not the book. There are too many differences to point out. In fact, the differences would probably run for as many pages as the book did. A few of the many differences, just to show you how different: the M.I. have power suits similar to those used by the Marines in Starcraft, and Dizzy Flores was a guy who didn't even rate more than a couple of sentences in the first chapter (and one in a later chapter).For all the people out there who read books just for the action, you must not have gotten past the Hardy Boys. Starship Troopers is meant to be a THINKING MAN's book, not a war monger's. I highly suggest that you do one of two things: read it again and this time pay attention to what Heinlein is saying about morality, about how one needs to serve the state in order to be served (citizenship in the book), or you can give this book to someone with at least twice your IQ. I do agree with two criticisms, though (they both seemed thoughtful and insightful compared to the one about the lack of action). They were the one-sidedness of the characters and the effectiveness of representing the Bugs. The Bugs in the movie seemed far closer to what Heinlein had wanted: a race of insects bowing to a collective intelligence. They were also much more scary in the movie. The characters' dialogue seemed plastic, especially the short conversation between Carl, Juan and Carmen when Carmen announces she's joining up. Same thing with the argument betweem Rico and his father ("Golly, father..."? You've got to be kidding me!). Johnny's thoughts by themselves, though, was believable. The long speeches about the morality and honor of being a soldier was the final element that convinced me to join up.
Rating:
Summary: Bo-rrrrrring. Like watching paint dry.
Review: It wasn't until I was nearly finished with "Starship Troopers" that I realised Johnny Rico was never going to develop into a multi-dimensional character. I kept expecting some twist to jolt the main man from his zombie-like state of good soldiery, his gradual indoctrination into the ruling military class being more a series of realisations and explanations than the spiritual battles of someone seeking some great, elusive Truth.
And I still can't believe how many people actually agree with the notion that military service should be mandatory for the right to vote. Two words people: Arrested Development.
It's not that I am uncomfortable with the (abhorrent) philosophy presented to the reader, thought provocation is a requirement of good literature. But nothing else seems to happen! I kept expecting the main character to eventually want something or someone. Alas, the only meaningful existence in Heinlein's book was being a good fighting man.
I am usually against extensive rewriting when books are made into movies, but the movie was much better in this case. Starship Troopers reads like a manual for developing quality military personnel, a good manual at that. But I had turned to this book for a decent plot with interesting characters; if I want a manual I'll pick up a Unix book.
Rating:
Summary: Great Sci-fi book with insight as to why we fight.
Review: This great book was done a great injustice in a "B" movie. The movie director should be publically flogged for insulting this work. A well thought out and thought provoking look at the professional military man and the morality and philosophy of war. Not obsessed with action and gore like the movie portrays, this is a serious hard look at our society and virtues that are often sneered at by an ignorant public. Very enjoyable as a military sci-fi gendre. What one would expect from an author with the vision and intellect that Heinlein possesed.
Rating:
Summary: Thought Provoking Action
Review: I decided to write this review aafter reading the review posted by the Amazon.com writer, mainly to correct 2 points. First Heinlein didn't advocate warfare as a means of Moral Development, but rather indicated that for a Moral society to exist some people must be wiiling to scarifice, and that may include waging war. Second Heinlein didn't advocate beating children rather he was against the loosening of values and standards, and used corporal punishment as a example of this. Just as a point of interest I would like to pint out that his example of the rising crime rate in Delaware after the abolition of public floggings in the 1950's is well documented, and that many social scienctists believe that one of the factors contributing to our current societal breakdown is the abolition of the draft, removing the shared bonds between classes that once existed. ANYWAY my point is the superficial and c***py review that was posted by amaazon.com can easily lead you away from a thought provoking book, DON'T LET IT!!!
Rating:
Summary: A military standard
Review: I am finishing up at the Royal Military College this year where this book is a required reading in our military ethics course. After finishing this novel, I understand why. The professional development of Rico from high school student to soldier to officer is a model from which we all can extract one lesson or another. One interesting point is that all officers come from the non-commissioned ranks much like I have myself. It is a MUST read for any military professional.
Rating: 
Summary: A very challenging and rewarding read
Review: Although it is very different to the recent film, Robert A. Heinlein's classic sci-fi novel is just as enjoyable, albeit in another sense of the word. It is less action-orientated than the film, and concentrates more on the metaphorical and theoretical elements of warfare. The main characters, especially Johnny Rico, are developed to a greater extent, and are not as stereotyped as they are in Verhoeven's film. There is a tendency for the philosophical aspects of the book to become waffly, which dissuades me from giving it 5 stars, but overall, 'Starship Troopers' is close to achieving the status of 'compulsory reading' for any sci-fi fan.
Rating:
Summary: Old-time Views In a Future Utopia
Review: Heinlein's STARSHIP TROOPERS is a very entertaining book that explores the possibilities of an almost utopian future society that integrates much old-type morality and punishments into a society of equality for all. While it is centered more on the philosophy of morality than action, it still manages to inject the suspense and excitement of an action book. It is a clean, fun book to read for young teens and adults alike, though it is a bit too short.
Rating:
Summary: I will have this book glued to my fingers.
Review: I have to admit that I didn't read the book until I watched and liked the movie. Set centuries in future Heinlein's book must be identified as an attempt to present new philosophical views commenting on sixties American society and presenting a controvertial fascist society, and to help the reader understand war and being a soldier at war. There are those I've heard of who wouldn't read the book or watch the movie because it's about giant bugs. First thing to say is that they won't know that neither is until they do so. There is a lot of tactical details given in both combat and transportation subjects. It has to be mentioned that despite being massively different to the book the movie also is a good attempt. These differences were compulsory due to the differences between the book and film media. To those who can think the controversy of an up and running fascist society is there. A good collision of the two genre masters.
Rating:
Summary: A hope for the future
Review: Those who dismiss this book as "right-wing facsism" probably took one look at the book and labeled it as that. They did not look deeper into the meat of the book. They would have found a world that glorifies duty, honor, responsibility, and personal integrity. Every time I read the papers and see the Secretary of the Army lowering the standards of enlistment because some minorities can't get in, or the UC system considering dropping SAT scores as an entrance requirment, I wish to myself that I could live in the world of Juan Rico.
Rating:
Summary: A good read
Review: I read a bunch of reviews by other peoples, some 5 star ratings, many 1-2 star ratings. Some people obviously didn't know what they were talking about, some were just interested in a book with lots of action and violence, and didn't like the idea of something thought provoking, something that might make em think too hard. Others were so insecure with their political feelings they didn't like the idea of someone else presenting some ideas. These people seemed mad that they were lured in with promises of lots of action and came out with political ideas, especially ideas that went against theirs. All I can say is Heinlein didn't always believe everything he wrote. He wrote the book to present ideas to people. If you didn't like his ideas and would prefer the society we live in now, then he did his job. If you did like his society and wish some harsher penalties would be enforced or what not, then he did his job. Enough of that, The book is set in the future where to vote you had to place your country before your individual self, by serving a term in the military or elsewhere. The idea being you didn't just get these rights but had to work for them.(this idea made some people mad) During the story the Federation is at war with a alien race of Bugs. The main character, Johny Rico, joins the military because several of his friends, including his girlfriend are joining. He looks over his options and decides the MI would be the best for him, and from there on the story goes back and forth between Boot Camp, his highschool Moral Philosiphy class and the war with the bugs and the different battles he is in. Heinlein crafts a great story, giving the reader thought provoking messages. If you are looking for pure violent action, hate even the littlest bit of philosiphy, then read something a bit more your level. Heinlein didn't get to be the first man titled Grand Master of Science Fiction, he didn't write the first Science Fiction book to be put on the New York Times Best Sellers list, and he didn't recieve 4 Hugo Awards because he isn't any good. oh ya, the movie is nothing like it. one reviewer said something about read a book that got past the machine gun stage. Obviously they never read the book and learned that each MI gets his own set of H-bombs.
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