Status
Available
Call number
Call number
F Hei
Collection
Publication
Ace (1987), 263 pages
Description
With Earth embroiled in a vast interplanetary war with the "Bugs," a young recruit in the Federal Reserves relates his experiences training in boot camp and as a junior officer in the Terran Mobile Infantry.
Original publication date
1959-11-05
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User reviews
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
Heinlein is one of my favorite authors and this is one of my favorite books by him. There are two Heinleins, and I don't much like the author responsible for Stranger in a Strange Land, I Will Fear No Evil and Time Enough for Love--although even in those books there is pleasure to be found in his
The film made it a satire on fascism, and many of its critics take the novel as fascist. I think that's a gross misreading of the novel, but this is a thought-provoking book, and I can understand why some would take umbrage. The book unabashedly celebrates the infantry--Heinlein said in an essay he wrote it to honor "the mudfoot who places his frail body between his loved home and the war's desolation — but is rarely appreciated." I'm sure it also raises hackles in its depiction and rationale of both corporal and capital punishment. More than that, in the society of the book you have to earn your right to vote and hold public office by a two-year term of service (not necessarily military mind you.) I think this is what most outrages people--the idea that citizenship should carry with it responsibilities beyond breathing the air. Yet Heinlein's society does not have the draft--which is more than could be said for the United States when he wrote it. (And we still have a selective service--I saw an advertisement on the subway just the other day reminding males they must register for it upon reaching eighteen years of age.) Nor is this rule by military--those still serving don't have the vote nor can hold public office either. The society in Heinlein's book is a representative democracy that has female officers (notably as pilots), is multi-racial, has freedom of speech and expression. So fascist? Hardly.
I remember in particular the contrast in the way a scene was played in the film versus the book. In the film a gung ho recruiter signs up the protagonist and narrator Juan Rico--and only after his patriotic pep talk speaking of how the military made a man of him do we pull away to see the counter hid he was an amputee. In the book the recruiter prominently displays he lost his legs (and arm) and tries to discourage Rico from enlisting--it's policy in fact--they only want people who have thought through the commitment. Only afterwards, after the station closes, does Rico see the recruiter is mobile thanks to prosthetics he's not supposed to wear while on duty. There are countless other instances where the film warps incidents in the book so that what you see is a (bad) parody, not an adaptation. Read the book--pass the film by.
Rico is an engaging first person narrator. This is not only fine military science fiction but a good coming of age novel. It occurs to me it may be no accident that Joe Haldeman's The Forever War also has a first-person infantryman protagonist. The two books are seen as the two finest works of military science fiction but both are seen as being at opposite ends of the pole--with Heinlein seen as pro-military and Haldeman writing an anti-war novel. I think that's a bit of a simplistic summary of both books--both of which are favorites despite (or maybe because) they are such a contrast. I'd recommend reading both.
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prodigious imagination, storytelling ability and humor. But I tend to prefer the Heinlein of his young adult science fiction, of The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress and Starship Troopers. I think I remember this novel the most vividly--helped by the travesty of the film adaptation and the controversy surrounding it.The film made it a satire on fascism, and many of its critics take the novel as fascist. I think that's a gross misreading of the novel, but this is a thought-provoking book, and I can understand why some would take umbrage. The book unabashedly celebrates the infantry--Heinlein said in an essay he wrote it to honor "the mudfoot who places his frail body between his loved home and the war's desolation — but is rarely appreciated." I'm sure it also raises hackles in its depiction and rationale of both corporal and capital punishment. More than that, in the society of the book you have to earn your right to vote and hold public office by a two-year term of service (not necessarily military mind you.) I think this is what most outrages people--the idea that citizenship should carry with it responsibilities beyond breathing the air. Yet Heinlein's society does not have the draft--which is more than could be said for the United States when he wrote it. (And we still have a selective service--I saw an advertisement on the subway just the other day reminding males they must register for it upon reaching eighteen years of age.) Nor is this rule by military--those still serving don't have the vote nor can hold public office either. The society in Heinlein's book is a representative democracy that has female officers (notably as pilots), is multi-racial, has freedom of speech and expression. So fascist? Hardly.
I remember in particular the contrast in the way a scene was played in the film versus the book. In the film a gung ho recruiter signs up the protagonist and narrator Juan Rico--and only after his patriotic pep talk speaking of how the military made a man of him do we pull away to see the counter hid he was an amputee. In the book the recruiter prominently displays he lost his legs (and arm) and tries to discourage Rico from enlisting--it's policy in fact--they only want people who have thought through the commitment. Only afterwards, after the station closes, does Rico see the recruiter is mobile thanks to prosthetics he's not supposed to wear while on duty. There are countless other instances where the film warps incidents in the book so that what you see is a (bad) parody, not an adaptation. Read the book--pass the film by.
Rico is an engaging first person narrator. This is not only fine military science fiction but a good coming of age novel. It occurs to me it may be no accident that Joe Haldeman's The Forever War also has a first-person infantryman protagonist. The two books are seen as the two finest works of military science fiction but both are seen as being at opposite ends of the pole--with Heinlein seen as pro-military and Haldeman writing an anti-war novel. I think that's a bit of a simplistic summary of both books--both of which are favorites despite (or maybe because) they are such a contrast. I'd recommend reading both.
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LibraryThing member RaceBannon42
"I always get the shakes before a drop."
Starship Troopers by Robert A Heinlein is a seminal novel of military Science Fiction. It won the Hugo for best novel in 1960 and has been sited or at least suggested as an influence on such award winning novels as The Forever War by Joe Haldeman, Ender's
It novel is the first person narrative of Johnnie Rico, a young man from the not to distant future, and details his experience in the Mobile Infantry. It follows him from recruitment, to boot camp, to action. From raw recruit to non-com to officer. Interspersed in the scenes of training, and a few sparse battle scenes are a number of philosophical arguments on subjects such as the nature of war, the rights and duties of citizenship, and the merits of various forms of government.
Its these philosophical arguments that have made this book so controversial over the years. Heinlein was widely criticized for his belief in a meritocracy and what many see to be his anti communist views.
This is a great book. Its strength lies in the storyline and the development of Rico as a soldier. The world building is rather limited, but the Heinlein does do a pretty good job in portraying both a future Earth society , as well as developing the alien society of the Bugs.
I greatly enjoyed this book. Many of course criticize Starship Troopers as a propaganda vehicle for for Heinlein's personal views on society, and while that certainly is a relevant argument. I don't think it needs to detract from the reader's enjoyment of the book. I found it to be a quick read, and while its not a light read, and is filled with philosophical questions, one doesn't get bogged down in them as you can with other books. The influence of this book can't be denied. In fact the themes have been repeated so much in other works I almost felt like I'd read this book before.
9 out of 10
Starship Troopers by Robert A Heinlein is a seminal novel of military Science Fiction. It won the Hugo for best novel in 1960 and has been sited or at least suggested as an influence on such award winning novels as The Forever War by Joe Haldeman, Ender's
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Game by Orson Scott Card, and Old Man's War by John Scalzi. It novel is the first person narrative of Johnnie Rico, a young man from the not to distant future, and details his experience in the Mobile Infantry. It follows him from recruitment, to boot camp, to action. From raw recruit to non-com to officer. Interspersed in the scenes of training, and a few sparse battle scenes are a number of philosophical arguments on subjects such as the nature of war, the rights and duties of citizenship, and the merits of various forms of government.
Its these philosophical arguments that have made this book so controversial over the years. Heinlein was widely criticized for his belief in a meritocracy and what many see to be his anti communist views.
This is a great book. Its strength lies in the storyline and the development of Rico as a soldier. The world building is rather limited, but the Heinlein does do a pretty good job in portraying both a future Earth society , as well as developing the alien society of the Bugs.
I greatly enjoyed this book. Many of course criticize Starship Troopers as a propaganda vehicle for for Heinlein's personal views on society, and while that certainly is a relevant argument. I don't think it needs to detract from the reader's enjoyment of the book. I found it to be a quick read, and while its not a light read, and is filled with philosophical questions, one doesn't get bogged down in them as you can with other books. The influence of this book can't be denied. In fact the themes have been repeated so much in other works I almost felt like I'd read this book before.
9 out of 10
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LibraryThing member Unreachableshelf
First of all: it's Heinlein. Some people don't like his prose style. If I didn't, I'd have stopped reading his writing by now. On a similar note, Heinlein often tends towards the preachy. If I didn't like it, I wouldn't still be reading it.
As a matter of fact, in this case, I would gladly have
Now, for the controversial part: I disagree with the charge that the book glorifies war. It acknowledges that so long as humans are what they are, there's never going to be a permanent end to war. What it glorifies is soldiers, and the only time that's a problem is when somebody starts suggesting that outright sadists should be forgiven if they happen to wear a uniform: Heinlein doesn't suggest that for a second.
So, if Heinlein doesn't glorify war, does that mean what is offending people is the fact that in this book, only veterans have the franchaise? Why waste time being upset by a form of government in a science fiction novel? The emphasis here is on the word fiction; isn't there enough real politics in the world to take up your time being upset about?
Heinlein writes an entertaining story, for my money, and brings up interesting ideas. You can object to his prose if it's not your style, and many do, but it's a waste of time being offended by his subject matter.
As a matter of fact, in this case, I would gladly have
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exchanged a few pages on how the M.I. suits work for a little more preachiness.Now, for the controversial part: I disagree with the charge that the book glorifies war. It acknowledges that so long as humans are what they are, there's never going to be a permanent end to war. What it glorifies is soldiers, and the only time that's a problem is when somebody starts suggesting that outright sadists should be forgiven if they happen to wear a uniform: Heinlein doesn't suggest that for a second.
So, if Heinlein doesn't glorify war, does that mean what is offending people is the fact that in this book, only veterans have the franchaise? Why waste time being upset by a form of government in a science fiction novel? The emphasis here is on the word fiction; isn't there enough real politics in the world to take up your time being upset about?
Heinlein writes an entertaining story, for my money, and brings up interesting ideas. You can object to his prose if it's not your style, and many do, but it's a waste of time being offended by his subject matter.
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LibraryThing member TadAD
I've gone back and forth on 4.0/4.5 stars on this one a few times--I think 4.0 is probably right.
Using the vehicle of an instellar war, Heinlein wrote a commentary on social and military virtues as he saw them. Many won't agree with his positions on these issues, but it is still thought-provoking.
It also has the distinction...in my opinion...of winning the Worst Movie Made from a Good Book Award. Paul Verhoeven's 1997 flick rewrote the story into something truly ludicrous, but attempted to compensate for it with horrifically wooden acting.
Using the vehicle of an instellar war, Heinlein wrote a commentary on social and military virtues as he saw them. Many won't agree with his positions on these issues, but it is still thought-provoking.
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Plus, it's a darn good yarn. It also has the distinction...in my opinion...of winning the Worst Movie Made from a Good Book Award. Paul Verhoeven's 1997 flick rewrote the story into something truly ludicrous, but attempted to compensate for it with horrifically wooden acting.
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LibraryThing member trents
"Starship Troopers" is a series of essays on the theme of social responsibility and individual sacrifice vaguely organized into the shape of a novel. Most of the essays are written into the form of the main character in one of various classrooms (high school, boot camp, officer training school)
The book is perhaps best described as "military philosophy science fiction," in that it accurately describes the philosophy of a highly militaristic state in a seemingly near-constant state of war. It is also nothing whatsoever like the film of the same name, other than a vague permeating sense of a fascistic philosophy underlying everything.
It's not boring in the least (I don't think Heinlein is capable of boring writing), but don't expect the forward-driving plots of other Heinlein novels; this one is mostly an excuse to write essays, for better or worse. I enjoyed it, but I would suggest others be introduced to Heinlein through other works.
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listening to the diatribes of his History and Moral Philosophy instructors. Outside of these essays, the novel has a loose plot about an individual's progression from being a rather average high school student to being a military officer.The book is perhaps best described as "military philosophy science fiction," in that it accurately describes the philosophy of a highly militaristic state in a seemingly near-constant state of war. It is also nothing whatsoever like the film of the same name, other than a vague permeating sense of a fascistic philosophy underlying everything.
It's not boring in the least (I don't think Heinlein is capable of boring writing), but don't expect the forward-driving plots of other Heinlein novels; this one is mostly an excuse to write essays, for better or worse. I enjoyed it, but I would suggest others be introduced to Heinlein through other works.
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LibraryThing member sturlington
Yes, Starship Troopers is a fun, fast read, especially if you like endless details of military structure. But the characters are pretty flat and are often used as soapboxes for Heinlein’s own ideas on how military and government should function, which I don’t particularly agree with (although I
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enjoyed reading and thinking about them). Also, the glorification of endless war I find more than a little ghoulish. So let’s just say I have mixed feelings about this book and leave it at that. Show Less
LibraryThing member JGolomb
Recently, I've been reaching back through the decades to catch up on some classic Sci Fi. I reread Herbert's "Dune" which is as heavy and awesome as I remember. I discovered Miller's "Canicle for Leibowitz" and plan on reading H. Beam Piper's "Little Fuzzy" before John Scalzi's take on it is
I've never read "Starship Troopers". My only previous exposure to the story was from the 1997 action film with the same title. The book has only the BAREST resemblance to the film. I think the film is cool. It's not great, but it's kind of fun in a blow-em-up action film sort of way. But the book is very different.
The story follows Johnny Rico as he graduates High School and decides to enter the military. He doesn't have a great suite of skills to offer, besides strength, and as we find later in the book - leadership. So he ends up in the Mobile Infantry - sort of like the Marines. We follow him through basic training, a few battle interactions and then into officer training school before a final "bug battle". Each jump in his military career creates opportunity for Heinlein to introduce characters and events that provide a platform for his discourse on the evils, morals, and theoretic benefits of war, violence, punishment and education.
It was like a 250-page lecture on the ethics and morals of war, violence and race. It's beautifully written and appears to include very realistic and detailed descriptions of what life is like in the military - specifically, boot camp and officer training (I say "appears" because I've not been in the military to judge first-hand).
In terms of action, there's very little of it. The opening sequence shows off the capabilities of a futuristic battle suit that allows soldiers to run and "bounce" at speeds of 40+ miles/hour. It's cool. The last 30 pages or so is focused on a tactical battle exchange with the "bugs" that are the focus of the military's eye throughout much of the book. Both scenes are very detailed militarily.
Heinlein's "Troopers" is a classic and understandably so, but it's a bit of a product of the era in which it was created (cold war), and reads more heavy-handedly than a more fun and high action-oriented military sci fi story like John Scalzi's "Old Man's War" series.
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released this Spring.I've never read "Starship Troopers". My only previous exposure to the story was from the 1997 action film with the same title. The book has only the BAREST resemblance to the film. I think the film is cool. It's not great, but it's kind of fun in a blow-em-up action film sort of way. But the book is very different.
The story follows Johnny Rico as he graduates High School and decides to enter the military. He doesn't have a great suite of skills to offer, besides strength, and as we find later in the book - leadership. So he ends up in the Mobile Infantry - sort of like the Marines. We follow him through basic training, a few battle interactions and then into officer training school before a final "bug battle". Each jump in his military career creates opportunity for Heinlein to introduce characters and events that provide a platform for his discourse on the evils, morals, and theoretic benefits of war, violence, punishment and education.
It was like a 250-page lecture on the ethics and morals of war, violence and race. It's beautifully written and appears to include very realistic and detailed descriptions of what life is like in the military - specifically, boot camp and officer training (I say "appears" because I've not been in the military to judge first-hand).
In terms of action, there's very little of it. The opening sequence shows off the capabilities of a futuristic battle suit that allows soldiers to run and "bounce" at speeds of 40+ miles/hour. It's cool. The last 30 pages or so is focused on a tactical battle exchange with the "bugs" that are the focus of the military's eye throughout much of the book. Both scenes are very detailed militarily.
Heinlein's "Troopers" is a classic and understandably so, but it's a bit of a product of the era in which it was created (cold war), and reads more heavy-handedly than a more fun and high action-oriented military sci fi story like John Scalzi's "Old Man's War" series.
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LibraryThing member towo
A well-known classic, sadly often confused with the movie. The movie is good in its own right (when you see past the simple action and actually notice Verhoeven's masterwork parody), but has only two relations to the book, and that's the bugs and some characters.
The principle idea of the book is
It portrays the life of one such Starship Trooper, with all its odds and ends. One can see how Rico, as a rebellious young college graduate, goes to the military to piss off his father, and develops to be an experienced soldier. Heinlein just documents the military microcosm in a futuristic setting, but the documentary is exciting, and thrilling.
The reviewer, as a conscript and member of the reserve, doesn't just like the book due to identification issues, but rather because of the congruency of experience what happens to soldiers, developing their own subculture, however good and bad it can be.
The principle idea of the book is
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that the Starship Troopers are the modern ages ubermarines, deployed in small squads to cover giant strips of land and effectively "suppress" enemies.It portrays the life of one such Starship Trooper, with all its odds and ends. One can see how Rico, as a rebellious young college graduate, goes to the military to piss off his father, and develops to be an experienced soldier. Heinlein just documents the military microcosm in a futuristic setting, but the documentary is exciting, and thrilling.
The reviewer, as a conscript and member of the reserve, doesn't just like the book due to identification issues, but rather because of the congruency of experience what happens to soldiers, developing their own subculture, however good and bad it can be.
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LibraryThing member Aerrin99
I started to read this book as part of my 'read Sci Fi classics I somehow missed entirely in my adolescence' phase. Having seen the movie and enjoyed it for its campy fun, I was eager to dive in. (Although apparently the two bear very little resemblance.)
I was rather dumbfounded at how much I
Starship Troopers can be read as a fun romp in military sci-fi, an account of Johnnie Rico and his trip from high school to boot camp to interstellar soldier of the first order. You can pretty much leave it at that if you want - and it /is/ fun! Johnnie's voice reads well and his descriptions of military training, tech, and philosophy are frankly fascinating in places. Heinlein's world isn't anything terribly spectacular, but it /is/ solid, and his tech is neat and well-done.
More importantly, maybe, the lack of flash is part of the point - Heinlein uses this romp to explore questions about war, about fighting, about sacrifice and loyalty and basic human nature and what persists from century to century, as well as questions of societal organization and politics. There are a few times when it feels a bit heavy-handed, but they're rare, and I think that a canny reader can read this and find more questions than answers - which is just the way I like my sci fi.
The beauty of this story is that it says something significant about what it means to be a human, yesterday, today, tomorrow, next century. And it does it in a bright, shiny package filled with explosions and powered armor suits and spaceships and a protagonist interesting enough that I didn't mind at all spending a few hundred pages in his head.
Minor spoilers: The one downside is that this is a book without a strong and complete narrative - it's a character piece, used to reflect an event and a society and to ask big questions. Given that, it lacks a strong 'end' - by which I mean, a strong resolution. Strangely, though, I found I didn't mind this. It worked okay for me. I think that given what Heinlein was doing - that given the character he'd set up and the mentality he'd shown us - it made sense, and it lent itself well to the feeling of a war that never ends, of /war/ that never ends, of what humanity is with or without wars. The lack of ending fit well, I thought, but I could see how it might bug others.
This is my first Heinlein - now I can't wait to read more.
I was rather dumbfounded at how much I
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enjoyed it. I find it difficult to remember that this book was first published in 1959 - it reads like something fresh and fun and, save for a few instances where Heinlein's future/our past is mentioned, doesn't feel dated. Maybe this very fact says something about the nature of wars, and the people who fight them. I think Heinlein would be pleased with this in some ways, because it's a question he deals with in no small fashion. Starship Troopers can be read as a fun romp in military sci-fi, an account of Johnnie Rico and his trip from high school to boot camp to interstellar soldier of the first order. You can pretty much leave it at that if you want - and it /is/ fun! Johnnie's voice reads well and his descriptions of military training, tech, and philosophy are frankly fascinating in places. Heinlein's world isn't anything terribly spectacular, but it /is/ solid, and his tech is neat and well-done.
More importantly, maybe, the lack of flash is part of the point - Heinlein uses this romp to explore questions about war, about fighting, about sacrifice and loyalty and basic human nature and what persists from century to century, as well as questions of societal organization and politics. There are a few times when it feels a bit heavy-handed, but they're rare, and I think that a canny reader can read this and find more questions than answers - which is just the way I like my sci fi.
The beauty of this story is that it says something significant about what it means to be a human, yesterday, today, tomorrow, next century. And it does it in a bright, shiny package filled with explosions and powered armor suits and spaceships and a protagonist interesting enough that I didn't mind at all spending a few hundred pages in his head.
Minor spoilers: The one downside is that this is a book without a strong and complete narrative - it's a character piece, used to reflect an event and a society and to ask big questions. Given that, it lacks a strong 'end' - by which I mean, a strong resolution. Strangely, though, I found I didn't mind this. It worked okay for me. I think that given what Heinlein was doing - that given the character he'd set up and the mentality he'd shown us - it made sense, and it lent itself well to the feeling of a war that never ends, of /war/ that never ends, of what humanity is with or without wars. The lack of ending fit well, I thought, but I could see how it might bug others.
This is my first Heinlein - now I can't wait to read more.
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LibraryThing member dczapka
I have to be frank and admit to a hell of a lot of disappointment with this book.
Crappy movie adaptation notwithstanding, it promises lots of "military adventure," but doesn't really deliver, instead displaying the ins and outs of military life, first in Basic, then in officer school.
The metaphors
What is advertised as a rollicking adventure instead tries to be military propaganda, a thesis on citizenship, and a soldier's coming-of-age tale -- except it never really succeeds at any of them all that much.
Crappy movie adaptation notwithstanding, it promises lots of "military adventure," but doesn't really deliver, instead displaying the ins and outs of military life, first in Basic, then in officer school.
The metaphors
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are so transparent and obvious it's like being hit over the head, but worse are the pages and pages of didactic lectures from "teachers" professing what is clearly Heinlein's views on militarism.What is advertised as a rollicking adventure instead tries to be military propaganda, a thesis on citizenship, and a soldier's coming-of-age tale -- except it never really succeeds at any of them all that much.
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LibraryThing member Radaghast
Starship Troopers is not at all what I expected. It is nothing like the terrible movie that this book supposedly inspired. It isn't even like later military sci-fi it supposedly inspired.
Heinlein is writing a philosophy here. A justification for a militaristic state, where freedom is universal, but
How Heinlein managed to get away with it though, is beyond me. The first three quarters of the book are extrapolations of Heinlein's military philosophy and a flashback journey through a young recruit's experiences in boot camp and later in officer's training. The Bugs that he is preparing to destroy don't even make an appearance until over halfway through the novel. But inexplicably it works! Somehow Heinlein makes what should be a preachy and tell not show novel, believable and fascinating.
This isn't coming from someone who agrees at all with what the novel is proposing either. Limiting franchise to strictly veterans is an abhorrent proposition. There is a mindless cruelty to some of the military's actions against the barely mentioned alien Skinnies. But Heinlein has created a fantastic argument for something I fundamentally disagree with (though there's always a measure of truth even in things you oppose). And when you finally get to the last portion of the book, when we see some true action, that works too.
The one criticism I would give Starship Troopers is the abrupt ending. But that's a minor criticism of an excellent book.
Heinlein is writing a philosophy here. A justification for a militaristic state, where freedom is universal, but
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franchise is limited only to military veterans. It is a utopia of sorts. Yet Heinlein is not writing with a blind eye. No doubt he is endorsing the state he creates, but it is not free of imperfections. It is a balanced and believable universe.How Heinlein managed to get away with it though, is beyond me. The first three quarters of the book are extrapolations of Heinlein's military philosophy and a flashback journey through a young recruit's experiences in boot camp and later in officer's training. The Bugs that he is preparing to destroy don't even make an appearance until over halfway through the novel. But inexplicably it works! Somehow Heinlein makes what should be a preachy and tell not show novel, believable and fascinating.
This isn't coming from someone who agrees at all with what the novel is proposing either. Limiting franchise to strictly veterans is an abhorrent proposition. There is a mindless cruelty to some of the military's actions against the barely mentioned alien Skinnies. But Heinlein has created a fantastic argument for something I fundamentally disagree with (though there's always a measure of truth even in things you oppose). And when you finally get to the last portion of the book, when we see some true action, that works too.
The one criticism I would give Starship Troopers is the abrupt ending. But that's a minor criticism of an excellent book.
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LibraryThing member BayardUS
Starship Troopers has a great first chapter, one that feeds you information about the setting and main character gradually and skillfully, without beating you over the head, and simultaneously gives you an exciting story. By the end of the first chapter you not only have a good idea of what the
The rest of the first half of the book seems largely dedicated to undermining the best qualities of this first chapter.
While the first chapter gives you small details that let you piece together what role the mobile infantry fills on your own, the next several chapters don't attempt this organic story telling, instead relying on the far less skillful practice of info dumping. While the first chapter allows you to absorb the ethos of the mobile infantry through the actions they take, the next several chapters instead feature preachy speeches in abundance (not as bad as those in Stranger in a Strange Land, but uninteresting nonetheless). While the first chapter ends with a line that subverts your expectations and hammers home that this isn't going to be a story glorifying the military, but one that highlights the sometimes tragic and absurd nature of military life, subsequent chapters use the same ending structure to the point where the effect is substantially reduced. If the book had ended after the first chapter I would have been left impressed and wanting more. Instead at the end of the book I was left thinking that it clears the low, low bar set by similar books The Forever War and Old Man's War, but that overall it was only a moderately successful work.
There are several good qualities to this book. For one, Heinlein's writing, while not that technically impressive, is visceral in a way that makes you feel and care about the action occurring. This story is one of frayed nerves and confusion as often as it is one of regimented order, and Heinlein's writing makes you feel both. Also of note is that there are actual characters here. Rico, the narrator, is the only one that gets fleshed out, and he's not particularly intelligent or thoughtful in a believable way. Other characters, though not given substantial arcs or attention, often have personalities that are more than just archetypes. Compare this to later books in this subgenre like Old Man's War, populated with characters I would call cardboard cutouts except that would be an insult to cardboard. Starship Troopers is a cut above. Finally, Heinlein does a good job crafting this world, and isn't afraid to leave some elements of the universe- "a memory man, a telepath, a senser, or a lucky man"- unexplained and up to the imagination. This isn't a writer that introduces every element, then explains it with some lengthy paragraph immediately after, and the book is better for it. The reader is left not knowing exactly how all the pieces of this universe fit together, but in a way that makes the book feel realistic, not incomplete.
Despite these positive qualities, this is a solid work but no masterpiece. When Heinlein has a character spout his pet theories of crime, rights, and war as if it were the foundation of the most effective society in human history, it's hard not to roll your eyes. Heinlein was no expert in these fields, despite his military service, and his understanding of these issues struck me as overly simplistic, if not downright foolish. Much of the book is taken up by Rico's training, and it's clear that Heinlein was drawing on personal knowledge for this, but unfortunately this isn't the first story of bootcamp I've read. As Heinlein himself wrote, "You can take descriptions of most any sort of weather out of an almanac and stick them in just anywhere; they'll probably fit.” To me the same is true of bootcamp stories. Go watch the Band of Brothers episode Currahee instead of chapters 2-7 of this book, and you'll have experienced an essentially identical narrative (Band of Brothers does it better, actually). After the excellent first chapter, none of the rest of the book reaches that level.
Some people would love this book, but I didn't . It's a notch above the terrible competition in the military sci-fi genre, and definitely read this over The Forever War or Old Man's War. Overall, however, I can't call Starship Troopers anything better than solid, despite the impressive first chapter.
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mobile infantry is, you have a sense of its ethos and the tone of the rest of the book as well.The rest of the first half of the book seems largely dedicated to undermining the best qualities of this first chapter.
While the first chapter gives you small details that let you piece together what role the mobile infantry fills on your own, the next several chapters don't attempt this organic story telling, instead relying on the far less skillful practice of info dumping. While the first chapter allows you to absorb the ethos of the mobile infantry through the actions they take, the next several chapters instead feature preachy speeches in abundance (not as bad as those in Stranger in a Strange Land, but uninteresting nonetheless). While the first chapter ends with a line that subverts your expectations and hammers home that this isn't going to be a story glorifying the military, but one that highlights the sometimes tragic and absurd nature of military life, subsequent chapters use the same ending structure to the point where the effect is substantially reduced. If the book had ended after the first chapter I would have been left impressed and wanting more. Instead at the end of the book I was left thinking that it clears the low, low bar set by similar books The Forever War and Old Man's War, but that overall it was only a moderately successful work.
There are several good qualities to this book. For one, Heinlein's writing, while not that technically impressive, is visceral in a way that makes you feel and care about the action occurring. This story is one of frayed nerves and confusion as often as it is one of regimented order, and Heinlein's writing makes you feel both. Also of note is that there are actual characters here. Rico, the narrator, is the only one that gets fleshed out, and he's not particularly intelligent or thoughtful in a believable way. Other characters, though not given substantial arcs or attention, often have personalities that are more than just archetypes. Compare this to later books in this subgenre like Old Man's War, populated with characters I would call cardboard cutouts except that would be an insult to cardboard. Starship Troopers is a cut above. Finally, Heinlein does a good job crafting this world, and isn't afraid to leave some elements of the universe- "a memory man, a telepath, a senser, or a lucky man"- unexplained and up to the imagination. This isn't a writer that introduces every element, then explains it with some lengthy paragraph immediately after, and the book is better for it. The reader is left not knowing exactly how all the pieces of this universe fit together, but in a way that makes the book feel realistic, not incomplete.
Despite these positive qualities, this is a solid work but no masterpiece. When Heinlein has a character spout his pet theories of crime, rights, and war as if it were the foundation of the most effective society in human history, it's hard not to roll your eyes. Heinlein was no expert in these fields, despite his military service, and his understanding of these issues struck me as overly simplistic, if not downright foolish. Much of the book is taken up by Rico's training, and it's clear that Heinlein was drawing on personal knowledge for this, but unfortunately this isn't the first story of bootcamp I've read. As Heinlein himself wrote, "You can take descriptions of most any sort of weather out of an almanac and stick them in just anywhere; they'll probably fit.” To me the same is true of bootcamp stories. Go watch the Band of Brothers episode Currahee instead of chapters 2-7 of this book, and you'll have experienced an essentially identical narrative (Band of Brothers does it better, actually). After the excellent first chapter, none of the rest of the book reaches that level.
Some people would love this book, but I didn't . It's a notch above the terrible competition in the military sci-fi genre, and definitely read this over The Forever War or Old Man's War. Overall, however, I can't call Starship Troopers anything better than solid, despite the impressive first chapter.
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LibraryThing member Hectigo
Starship Troopers is much more food for thought than the name suggests. It's a right-wingish, sort of old-fashioned take on the future, with all the subtle nuances carefully thought about. It's equal parts dystopia and utopia, the balance of the two depending on your world view, and Heinlein loves
And while I don't agree with most parts of the political philosophy presented, I have to say Heinlein can make a compelling case. Being willing to sacrifice oneself for the larger society surely is a mark of a good citizen - the problem in Starship Troopers' society that clouds this core idea is only that proving the willingness for sacrifice is so tightly coupled with being trained for killing. It gets all the more interesting if you start drawing connections to the real world and pondering what also applies in our present-day society.
The novel also talks about raising children through hard discipline, and adult criminals on this future Earth don't have it any easier. It's a lot to chew on for a modern day liberal thinker, and it's hard to say by this book alone what Heinlein was dead serious about and what not. A thing common to Heinlein novels seems to be that they're surprisingly light to read despite all the complex things one disagrees about, and that's not an easy combination to pull off. A recommended read.
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to have his characters explain it all. The pages spent on this don't make the novel any less entertaining either - it's still also a gripping adventure through boot camp and futuristic battles. Very much so.And while I don't agree with most parts of the political philosophy presented, I have to say Heinlein can make a compelling case. Being willing to sacrifice oneself for the larger society surely is a mark of a good citizen - the problem in Starship Troopers' society that clouds this core idea is only that proving the willingness for sacrifice is so tightly coupled with being trained for killing. It gets all the more interesting if you start drawing connections to the real world and pondering what also applies in our present-day society.
The novel also talks about raising children through hard discipline, and adult criminals on this future Earth don't have it any easier. It's a lot to chew on for a modern day liberal thinker, and it's hard to say by this book alone what Heinlein was dead serious about and what not. A thing common to Heinlein novels seems to be that they're surprisingly light to read despite all the complex things one disagrees about, and that's not an easy combination to pull off. A recommended read.
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LibraryThing member Rosenectur
The movie is about 10 pages worth of story, out of the 300 or so pages of the book. The book is really excellent, and not quite as cheesy as the movie. Follows Johnnie Rico through his career in the Mobile Infantry (a kind of futuristic Marine Corp.) Is a very good, very real look at what life in a
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future military would look like. With an ongoing interstellar war Rico has to stay alive to make it through the ranks. Lots of philosophical ideas about government, capital punishment, and the military life in this book too. It’s actually a “deep” book for a sci-fi action/adventure novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member kaionvin
I like, and even love, some sci-fi on film. The best sci-fi uses the flexibility of the form to enlarge and illuminate aspects of human nature and society lurking under the surface of the present day. I am also incredibly ignorant about sci-fi literature. Sure I've read some of the
... And this isn't it. In fact, I question why Heinlein sets this is a futuristic alien context at all. The beginning action scene that plunks us into the world of Terran Military Infantryman, Juan Rico, as he performs a terror mission on the 'Bug' world is attention grabbing, if as emotionally flat as a random video game slash-and-burn sequence. It's all just terribly generic, especially as it devolves into a boot camp narrative.
This could easily be a story about Joe Schmoe in any army of today- except for that story would require more research and verisimilitude and a more forthright political stance. (In fact, given his clear fondness for the military lifestyle, I think Heinlein could write a much more interesting autobiographical piece.) I picked up some clues to the horrific harshness behind this facade, but a quarter of the way into this, and it hardly seems like there will be any real confrontation or political statement. I don't hate it, but extreme lack of conflict or reflection (both within the context of the novel or the main character) is making me yearn for better ways to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Maybe I should have gone with the more titularly apt Stranger in a Strange Land?
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requisites-Ender's Game, three of Asimov's Robots series, Hitchhiker's Guide- and some of the genre-crossers -Perdido Street Station, Brave New World, Invisible Man. But I'm game with a plan, to find that novel that makes it 'click' for me.... And this isn't it. In fact, I question why Heinlein sets this is a futuristic alien context at all. The beginning action scene that plunks us into the world of Terran Military Infantryman, Juan Rico, as he performs a terror mission on the 'Bug' world is attention grabbing, if as emotionally flat as a random video game slash-and-burn sequence. It's all just terribly generic, especially as it devolves into a boot camp narrative.
This could easily be a story about Joe Schmoe in any army of today- except for that story would require more research and verisimilitude and a more forthright political stance. (In fact, given his clear fondness for the military lifestyle, I think Heinlein could write a much more interesting autobiographical piece.) I picked up some clues to the horrific harshness behind this facade, but a quarter of the way into this, and it hardly seems like there will be any real confrontation or political statement. I don't hate it, but extreme lack of conflict or reflection (both within the context of the novel or the main character) is making me yearn for better ways to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Maybe I should have gone with the more titularly apt Stranger in a Strange Land?
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LibraryThing member john257hopper
This is the second Heinlein SF novel I have read and I am fairly sure it will be the last. While Stranger in a Strange Land was overblown and too long, it did have some interesting ideas about clashing cultures. This one however, was to me just a rambling and disjointed account of troopers in some
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future Earth engaged in an interplanetary war with an alien race known only as Bugs. Published in the early years of the Cold War, the Bugs were clearly mean to represent the Communist bloc. There are a few interesting philosophical discussions, but for the most part this was rather dull military doings and didn't hold my interest. While Heinlein is regarded as one of the Big Three of SF between about 1950 and the late 1980s, he is for me not a patch on Asimov or Clarke. Show Less
LibraryThing member ltimmel
Page after page of tedious, silly lectures. No doubt the most didactic sf work ever written. (I can't really call it a novel, exactly, since there's no plot to speak of.)
LibraryThing member Malarchy
Starship Troopers is one of the finest examples of science fiction ever produced. It races through the career of Johnnie Rico from his internal debate about joining the military through his career to eventual officer status. The description of intergalactic warfare is one that has permeated science
The story of Rico was originally written in serial format and to some extent that does show but the two combat sequences that form the introduction and conclusion of the story are as good as it gets. In between the extraordinary battlefield descriptions sits Rico's tale as he meets an enormous cast of characters most of whom only have a brief moment but for each is some exposition of the universe that Rico and the Mobile Infantry inhabit.
At it's heart Starship Troopers is more an exploration of an advanced society redesigned to cope with existential threats to the human race. Henlein takes shots at our current system of government and the way it promotes short-term populism over long-term collective interest. Henlein is right on the money and in the Starship universe, only those who are prepared to sacrifice for the good of the many have the right to vote.
Sacrifice happens frequently for the Mobile Infantry despite their advanced weaponry, armour, and tactics. Minor characters die off at world war one rates and the casual ease with which death is accepted is uncomfortable. It is not truly clear why Rico pursues his career in the military or really why most of the others involved do given their free choice and that only the very best of society make it into the ranks. The very few who are mentally and physically capable and who also are prepared to place the greater good above even their own lives are an aspiration far beyond anything in the current generation.
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fiction thinking and there are numerous rip-offs that have made millions without altering a slice of the combat Henlein offers.The story of Rico was originally written in serial format and to some extent that does show but the two combat sequences that form the introduction and conclusion of the story are as good as it gets. In between the extraordinary battlefield descriptions sits Rico's tale as he meets an enormous cast of characters most of whom only have a brief moment but for each is some exposition of the universe that Rico and the Mobile Infantry inhabit.
At it's heart Starship Troopers is more an exploration of an advanced society redesigned to cope with existential threats to the human race. Henlein takes shots at our current system of government and the way it promotes short-term populism over long-term collective interest. Henlein is right on the money and in the Starship universe, only those who are prepared to sacrifice for the good of the many have the right to vote.
Sacrifice happens frequently for the Mobile Infantry despite their advanced weaponry, armour, and tactics. Minor characters die off at world war one rates and the casual ease with which death is accepted is uncomfortable. It is not truly clear why Rico pursues his career in the military or really why most of the others involved do given their free choice and that only the very best of society make it into the ranks. The very few who are mentally and physically capable and who also are prepared to place the greater good above even their own lives are an aspiration far beyond anything in the current generation.
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LibraryThing member MarthaJeanne
Not Heinlein's best, but far from his worst. I enjoy rereading it at intervals.
For me the main interest is in the political system proposed here, and the description of military psycology. I suspect that the later is fairly acccurate, bearing in mind when it was written. (The gender roles would
For me the main interest is in the political system proposed here, and the description of military psycology. I suspect that the later is fairly acccurate, bearing in mind when it was written. (The gender roles would
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need to be very different today.) The first is a different matter. You would have to make sure that there was really no way people could use money/influence to get cushy jobs. Show Less
LibraryThing member amongstories
One of the highly regarded science fiction classics, there was no doubt when I started researching where to start in the genre that this was the place. Starship Troopers follows Juan “Johnnie” Rico as he serves as a Mobile Infantyman for the Terran Federation of Earth. The Federation is
Starship Troopers is very militaristic, very science fiction, but what suprised me was how human I found it to be. While that might seem a ridiculous thing to say considering the ‘science fiction classic’ label, this is what I mean. Heinlein not only described war and military service in a society far more advanced than many of us can dream, he also got into the mind of his character. I was able to go through everything Johnnie experienced, but also feel what he felt. Fears, hopes, realizations… these are all things I was able to feel within myself while reading.
Starship Troopers was a great read. I laughed aloud at certain comments, nodded in agreement to several of the class discussions Johnnie recalls, even got teary eyed when Johnnie was reunited with his father. This book is several things, a science fiction literature standard, a political and social commentary, or whatever else you might want to see it as. For myself I consider this simply a good book that I will surely return to in the future. I am not disappointed in anyway by Starship Troopers, which is good considering I built up all of these ideas in my mind about what science fiction should be while I was reading about it. All in all this is what I have to say, whether science fiction is a genre you read regularly or not, Starship Troopers is a must read.
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currently at war against the arachnids, or “bugs” of Klendathu. The beginning of the novel follows Johnnie during a raid on the Skinnies (allies of the bugs) and the things he sees that night. However, the majority of the book follows Johnnie as recalls his past. His days at boot camp under Sargeant Zim, his first time in combat, his days at Officer Candidate School, and discussions in his high school History and Moral Philosophy class make up the meat of the novel. Essentially, we follow Johnnie as he matures, experiences new things, and gets over the hurdles that life throws his way.Starship Troopers is very militaristic, very science fiction, but what suprised me was how human I found it to be. While that might seem a ridiculous thing to say considering the ‘science fiction classic’ label, this is what I mean. Heinlein not only described war and military service in a society far more advanced than many of us can dream, he also got into the mind of his character. I was able to go through everything Johnnie experienced, but also feel what he felt. Fears, hopes, realizations… these are all things I was able to feel within myself while reading.
Starship Troopers was a great read. I laughed aloud at certain comments, nodded in agreement to several of the class discussions Johnnie recalls, even got teary eyed when Johnnie was reunited with his father. This book is several things, a science fiction literature standard, a political and social commentary, or whatever else you might want to see it as. For myself I consider this simply a good book that I will surely return to in the future. I am not disappointed in anyway by Starship Troopers, which is good considering I built up all of these ideas in my mind about what science fiction should be while I was reading about it. All in all this is what I have to say, whether science fiction is a genre you read regularly or not, Starship Troopers is a must read.
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LibraryThing member iHalo
“First off- I do enjoy occasionally reading a science fiction novel, however, I'm not a huge fan of military fiction. Just can't seem to get my head around it. I'm sorry I waited so long to read this book- I think Starship Troopers has made it into my top ten, if not my top five favourite novels
Starship Troopers is the story of a young privileged boy that in defiance of his parents (and it appears mostly to impress a girl at the time) joins the military right after high school, although I think that he would have even without the girl's help. Starship Troopers chronicles Johnnie Rico's journey from a recruit in the mobile infantry to an officer in the same unit. I thought that it might be too dry for me, all the military jargon and whatnot- since this is a work of military science fiction, but I found very little of it dry. Admittedly, towards the end specifically the battle scene and some of the regs with regards to becoming an O.C.S were a bit dry for me. However, there is considerable time spent in classrooms discussing military moral issues as well as speculating on issues affecting society in general- which I enjoyed very much and I found very relevant. I think my favourite character is Mr. Dubois, Rico's History and Moral Philosophy teacher. Considering the time that this book was written- I would surmise that this novel is Heinlein's statement against communism (the arachnids), and also a strong statement against a society with a substantial sense of entitlement.
I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject, and even for those that are not- it is surprising how relevant this book is today. A great read!
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of all time. Starship Troopers is the story of a young privileged boy that in defiance of his parents (and it appears mostly to impress a girl at the time) joins the military right after high school, although I think that he would have even without the girl's help. Starship Troopers chronicles Johnnie Rico's journey from a recruit in the mobile infantry to an officer in the same unit. I thought that it might be too dry for me, all the military jargon and whatnot- since this is a work of military science fiction, but I found very little of it dry. Admittedly, towards the end specifically the battle scene and some of the regs with regards to becoming an O.C.S were a bit dry for me. However, there is considerable time spent in classrooms discussing military moral issues as well as speculating on issues affecting society in general- which I enjoyed very much and I found very relevant. I think my favourite character is Mr. Dubois, Rico's History and Moral Philosophy teacher. Considering the time that this book was written- I would surmise that this novel is Heinlein's statement against communism (the arachnids), and also a strong statement against a society with a substantial sense of entitlement.
I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject, and even for those that are not- it is surprising how relevant this book is today. A great read!
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LibraryThing member davegregg
GOOD book! A little action and science fiction, with political and military philosophy mixed in for good measure. A fascinating and enjoyable read all the way through.
LibraryThing member mrtall
An almost profound meditation on the concept of citizenship, plus blowing up bugs. Incomparable stuff.
LibraryThing member Meggo
Another enjoyable and unmistakably Heinlein-ish read. The concept of men going valiantly into battle for a glimpse of a female smile is a charming anachronism, and reflective of a theme of many of Heinlein's books. This one is a pleasant read for a Sunday afternoon.
LibraryThing member gbanville
The movie by this name had almost nothing to do with this book.
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