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Summary: Second best sci-fi ever- I think...
Review: This novel is a wonderful example of what can be done with a combination of modern political sensibilities and a little imagination. The brilliant Heinlein takes you on a thrilling voyage to alien planets, where super-tough space marines engage in Aliens-style combat drops, and then shred massive bugs with fusillades of automatic fire. All I can say is that this novel is original, fun, thrilling, imaginative, addictive and oh-so readable. A novel that really puts you in the thick of it, immerses you in fantasy warfare. Heinlein won the Hugo award for this, and when you read it, you'll easily understand why. One of my favourite books ever, period.
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Summary: selfless government?
Review: The problem I have with the world in this book is that the people in power are totally trustworthy and benevolent. The teachers in the book downplay the need for rights, but they don't realize that in their fairytale world no one NEEDS rights. If the police would never unfairly harrass members of a particular ethnic group, plant evidence, or take bribes then of course no one would need rights. If Heinlein had been able to problematize his world by putting moraly flawed humans in power, it would have been a more interesting book. The author just didn't seem mature enough to question the world he created. For this reason the book seemed to predictable and real (interesting)problems seemed glossed over (i.e. if anyone in power was ever selfish or dishonest what would happen?). A little childish philosophically if you ask me.
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Summary: I wanted to like this but...
Review: Starship troopers was somewhat of a dissapointment for me. I can't stand it when authors gratuitously inject their political opinions into their work. This felt more like a political statement and history lesson than a work of fiction. And for those of you looking for the same kind of jaw-dropping action that you witnessed in the movie, look elsewhere. The pace is slow and the battle sequences are sporadic. Although I admire the prodigious talents of this visionary sci-fi author, I could not bring myself to enjoy this book. Even though Starship Troopers won a Hugo Award for best novel back in 1960, it also signified the beginning of Heinlen's decline, a period where he wrote sci-fi novels not for escapism but instead for preaching his political and sociological opinions. For better entertainment value, watch Paul Verhoeven's excellent film adaptation instead.
Rating: 
Summary: I have a better idea
Review: Instead of reading this evil militaristic propaganda by that kooky far-right hack Heinlein, why not go read the hilarious anti-war spoof by Harry Harrison, "Bill, the Galactic Hero." Your soul will thank you, if you have one.
Rating: 
Summary: Not like the movie
Review: Scary, not the story, but the predictions within the story. Heinlein wrote this book in the 50's yet alot of the things he says will happen in the 20th century do happen. This book is a must if you are into politics, and it is a must if you are into future societies. Highly suggested.
Rating: 
Summary: Guess Heinlein isn't my cup of tea
Review: Pro - Book is really short. My version was only 204 pages long Pro - Great opening scene. Con - Things change after the opening scene...60% of the way through the book and very little if no action at all. Maybe two pages of summarizing what happenes in an "action" scene. Summary is boring! Con - More than half way through the book and I still didn't have a real connection with the characters. I actually felt that the Movie version of this story developed characters much better than the book does. If that is an indicator then you know that is pretty sad. Con - My second Heinlein book and I'm again overwhelmed with his preachiness. He doesn't know when a point is taken and when to get off his soapbox. Pages of philosophy which were interesting at first, got boring real fast. I just could not bring myself to finish this book no matter how short it is. I don't think I'll be reading Heinlein again with so many other good authors out there.
If I want to go to college and use this book for philosophical debate, fine. But I'm reading for escape and adventure and I'm not finding it here.
I'm going back and reading Armor by John Steakly again...now that was a book!
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Summary: Heinlein's political philosophy is too wild to overlook
Review: Juan "Johnnie" Rico of the Philippines is a frank, pleasant, young man, who on a whim, joins the Army and winds up attached to the Mobile Infantry in this controversial novel set in the not-all-that-distant future. As he did so effectively in Farmer in the Sky, Citizen of the Galaxy, and Starman Jones, Heinlein uses his protagonist's education as a means of describing the structure and ideas behind what is in this instance a highly militaristic utopia. There's plenty of action for those who are fans of such, starting with a raid against the humanoid "Skinnies," and ending with a battle against the arachnoid "Bugs." In between we get a very detailed and personal account of Johnnie's training, both mental and physical, including plenty of the kind of philosophizing that Heinlein later became notorious for. If it's any consolation, the philosophy is at least very much to the point, since it helps us understand the political and Darwinian principles on which this distinctly militaristic culture is built. And of course, there's nobody in science fiction who can match Heinlein on matters military. The battle suits sound like a great idea; each soldier would be the equivalent of an armored tank, although one wonders how cost effective such equipment would be. The battle scenes are also first-rate and thoroughly believable (at least insofar as any battle with aliens can be). But best is Johnnie's training, which has a veracity that can only come from a writer who has a clear vision of not only what Mobile Infantry training would be like, and how it would differ from contemporary military training, but understands the whys and wherefores of both. Heinlein envisions a world where everyone has the right to serve his/her country, (yes, women, too), but only by doing so can one earn the right to vote. He maintains that only those who prove their willingness to die for their country can be trusted to make decisions for it. This is one of the very first books where Heinlein really gets on his soapbox and tells his readers how the world should be run and why. Regardless of how one views this philosophy, it makes a powerful statement that makes this book far superior to the earlier (and puerile) Space Cadet, which deals with similar material. Philosophy aside, the book is not without some problems. Heinlein's solution to the "characterization problem" is to have the same few people pop up again and again "by coincidence," giving the novel a more unified, family feel, but not without stretching credulity to the breaking point. And as usual, Heinlein is far more interested in making his case convincingly than he is in balance or complexity or even opposing viewpoints. If you disagree with him, you're wrong, and since he's writing the story, his results always bear him out. Young people who read this book and find themselves strongly swayed by Heinlein's rhetoric should remember that lots of things work better in theory than they do in actual practice, so please don't try this at home, kids. But for those interested in political or military philosophy, this is a must read.
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Summary: Really sets the stage
Review: While I don't agree with much of the book, but I still enjoyed it. It's a nice mix of Sci-Fi, action, and thinking. If you've ever seen the movie, you know the basic idea of this book. The book and movie follow almost two different paths, so they have quite different stories. The movie's focus seems more on action and effects, while the book is more on details and thinking. Having watched the movie several times prior to reading this book, I found the book's version of the story very refreshing. I really enjoyed the sci-fi themes and battles described in the book, and I didn't really mind the all the debates about morality, society, and etc. The trouble is that it is simply too much too often. I found myself just skimming or completely skipping whole pages, if not chapters, simply because I was sick of the endless rambling. I don't share a lot of the views that are frequently brought up in the book, so it's grueling to keep reading about it. The book sticks to a single view of things far too often. I don't think it's going too far to say it borders on blabbing when discussing morals and society. As for the story itself though, it is very entertaining. It is certainly very funny and witty, and almost always enough to make you want to read more. With the many nice twists and turns in the plot, great character development, and some very good humor tossed in this makes for a great book. - Rirath.com
Rating:
Summary: movie was better
Review: the movie had action, drama, and good characters. the book bored me. the book is all about the time in the military and the different facets of this military and the war with the bugs but there was little battle and action. it was one long book about being in the army with little or nothing interesting.
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Summary: Heinlein mixes politics and space
Review: In one of his earlier novels, before "Stranger," Heinlein explores many philosophical topics on citizenship, the draft, personal freedom, and how technology might improve lives. He hypothesizes a class in "History and Moral Philosophy" taught by a former Colonel who retired from the military after losing some body parts. Much of the book deals with the moral philosophy that might be taught in such a class. Citizenship, and voting, is limited to those who have volunteered for and completed government service. Probably half the book is the story of a young man's career in the Mobile Infantry. The other half is moral philosophizing. Heinlein has always been two steps ahead of the rest of the crowd on morals and philosophy as well as being out front of technology. Do humans have a right to conquer space and take it from other species? Should people who won't volunteer to do government service have a right to vote for government leaders? Can government be codified into established scientific principals? Should generals be required to lead their troops into battle as even kings once did? The moral questions addressed are many and diverse. I have always enjoyed Heinlein's moral attitude, freedom is fundamental, not government control. There are no women to speak of in the book. There are no female troopers. Unlike later Heinlein novels that have lots of flagrant sexuality you'll find none here. Aboard ship there are armed guards posted at the separation between women's quarters and the men's quarters. Even when the troopers go to a "district" for R&R he says nothing of what they do there. It's still the one-dimensional women typical of 1950s sci-fi genera. Despite half a book of moral philosophy, none of it deals with male/female relationships. I read it first forty years ago and re-read it again now. Unlike the recent movie where the troopers went against the "bugs" with ineffective guns that had to shoot each one a hundred times before it was killed, Heinlein's troopers were well armed with deadly weapons. "Shoulder to shoulder" was 300 yards apart killing everything between with "flamers" and hand held explosive projectiles. The bugs fought back with weapons too, also unlike the movie. Almost 50 years after it was written there is very little that is technologically wrong. Perhaps he underestimated the speed of computers recalculating courses, which would take less computing than running the trooper suits, but most of it still reads like plausible future tech. I wonder at the $.. price shown. Is it really that expensive? And don't buy that silly movie version book. The movie leaves out most of the good parts and makes the troopers into ineffective dolts with no guns.
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