Rating: 
Summary: Obligations in democracy
Review: This book was one of RAH's first real political statements, and touches on the entire issue of what obligations citizens have to their country, if they wish to have influence over it.
While seen as "right-wing" by some, it is really an attempt to match up privilage with responsibility, and is both fascinating to read as SF and as commentary.
This book seems to be a clear view of what would later emerge in all of RAH's books, which is the TANSTAAFL idea, or there aint no such thing as a free lunch.
worth reading by anybody.
Rating:
Summary: Why do we fight, and what is freedom? from SF's Grandmaster.
Review: Robert A. Heinlein hides a critical examination of the necessity of war in a rousing adventure novel set in the far future. While fighting a war against alien arachnids, the protaganist, Juan Rico, learns not only how to be a soldier, but also decides that while war is not desirable, it is a necessary part of the human condition. Heinlein's novel is clearly influenced by both his World War II service and his dislike of communism, but the "Starship Troopers" is still an interesting read, especially when contrasted to the post-Vietnam works of Joe Haldeman ("The Forever War") and David Drake ("Hammers Slammers")
Rating:
Summary: A Science Fiction Classic
Review: The book Starship Troopers is an idealised ultra right future where no citizen has a vote without having fought
to defend that vote.
Each citizen must serve two years in a branch of
public service before they can "Enjoy all privileges of Federation citizenship" which include the
"privilege of exercising sovereign franchise", which ends up meaning "to be equal".
It is the far right version of what the future should be like.
The issue's of military service and the obligations of citizens are tackled in a way that many feel was less
than even-handed.
A classic Science Fiction novel that used the genre to comment on Democracy and basic Democratic rights, in a way that shattered the idea that SF was all
space opera and ray guns. Originally published in 1959, it used many of the standard idea's of SF at that time, but it used them
to make a point not just to entertain.
The exact opposite view is offered by Joe Haldeman's equally brilliant
"The forever war" in which war has no meaning, no honour and no point.
Rating:
Summary: Both action-packed and thought provoking, one of RAH's best.
Review:
Politics and controversy are no stranger to readers of
Heinlein novels. But in this relatively short story (compared to Stranger in a Strange Land or The Moon is a
Harsh Mistress), the author tackles several often unexplored
aspects of human society, while at the same time keeping it
fast paced and fun to read.
If you are a fan of Heinlein, or just want to expand
your perspective on humanity, this story of one man's search
to find meaning in the midst of war is a must-read.
Rating:
Summary: Quality Heinlein
Review: Here's one way of looking at it. Science fiction is the situational inverse of historical fiction, the interpolation of a fictional narration not within the confines of a precise past but a theoretical future. Whenever I begin a new Science Fiction creative writing class, this is one of the first books I ask my students to pick up. What makes "Starship Troopers" so qualified as a resource? Plot-wise, this novel is nothing but stock quality, something my students could scribble out without breaking a sweat, but that is not the purpose or the goal intended. This book is contextually similar to perhaps a thousand Sci-Fi novels written in the past fifty years, and half a hundred of which written by this most prolific author. No feature of the scenes, setting, or - most especially - character development in this novel will strike you as ingenious or unique, but Heinlein has penned here a book only superficially based on such elements. His motive is something grander, the ambition of all good Science Fiction writers: to interpret one's breed of history and future history, social setting, and perhaps even global expectations in the time period or environment discussed. Inspecting the actual term "science fiction" reveals a co-importance of both science fact and fictional activity. One of the most famous sagas of our genre is the ongoing series of Star Wars - but how much scientific attention have you witnessed here? Novels (or movies) like these may seem to fit the field, but they are nothing more than the fantasy genre's technological subfield. "Starship Troopers," on the other hand, commonly puts individual characters and action on the back burner to focus on political theory and sociology. Early on in this novel Heinlein makes the point that, according to his future, "History and Moral Philosophy" are classified right along Math, Biology, and Physics as sciences, and his book serves through character debates, philosophizing, anecdotal supplements, and numerous other means to describe just what his vision of the subject is. He sees his present society (via 1959), and extrapolates onto this a teleologically final social order of mankind. The ideas he pulls out might seem tinted with age in particular regards to psychological theory, but they are undoubtedly thought out to the last detail. Like Aristotle, we cannot and do not fault him for his historical perspective. This is not to imply, however, that a book with a name like "Starship Troopers" is all theory and no action. Heinlein knows balance and ease of communication, and it is not his ideas but his integration and high placement of these into a storyline that keeps readers, and therefore wins the novel. The result is a work most highly thoughtful, imaginative, and engaging, and not without its due share of adrenalin-pumped activity. All in all, I find this to be a model study on Science Fiction writing - something my students are happy to read as a pleasure, but something that will leave you thoughtfully questioning our own military and societal superiority.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic....But Barely
Review: Here is the grandaddy of military scifi. On a lark, Johnny Rico enters military service upon graduating from high school. After going through a brutal and exacting basic training course, he becomes a Mobile Infantryman and is thrown into the fray of an interstellar war. The enemy is an intelligent and tenacious arachnid species known as "The Bugs".
When you think about it, this book could easily have been a flop. A large portion of the novel takes place in classrooms and in the inner thoughts of Rico. Despite this, Heinlein manages to keep a quick pace. He also gives us much to mull over. Some issues he presents include who should be in charge of society, should the army's role be given to Naval forces,are military drafts good, and how should we choose military officers. There is much food for thought here.
In my opinion though, there are some faults that nearly make me want to take away a star. The author doesnt really explain why his "veteranocracy" (only military veterans can vote or hold office) is the perfect form of governance for mankind. After exploring the issue in some depth, Heinlein finally just posits its best because it works. Thats a pretty big leap considering the concept has never really been tried yet! I also have issues with the author's future military structure. Rico's army has almost no logisticians or people allocated to staff work. All officers are combat leaders who take on support/staff work as a secondary role. So a Divisional supply officer will actually command a combat force. I cant see how this could work. Imagine this supply officer trying to sort out a munition distribution problem when he is knee deep in a combat action and with almost no ordnance techs to assist! This future army is certainly highly automated (they move about in powerful and computerized armored suits) and this may allow for such a structure. Still, I am skeptical. Finally, there is officer selection. One cant be a Mobile Infantry officer without first experiencing combat. While this is a laudable hurdle, I think its impractical. The author hints that there had been no major combat actions for some time before Johnny is sent out to fight the Bugs. Seems to me, this army runs the risk of running out of qualified officer candidates! Imagine if the old USSR had this as a requirement to be an officer. Where would they find combat vets in say 1972 when the last time the Red Army was in the field was 1945?
I reviewed the movie a few months ago and sort of panned it for making this future society into something Mussolini (or maybe Hitler even) could have been proud of. Some of the other reviewers reinforce this too. Its really not there. The general populace in the novel seem to have the basic civil liberties we do (except voting rights). On a less touchy point, the book develops an interesting (if minor) sub issue regarding the tensions between Rico and his father. In the movie, Verhoeven kills off Rico Sr in the beginning. Heinlein lets him live and meet up with his son towards the end of the book. I fully understand movie directors have time constraints that force them to shave out such things. Still, I would liked to have seen this sub-plot survive.
This is an excellent story. There are some minor blemishes but in the end its a novel that has stood the test of time.
Rating:
Summary: Prophetic
Review: I don't want to wite a review that is as long as the book, so here's what I say. Although, by todays standards this would be a novella, this small book is packed with action and social commentary. When the fall of western society is explained down to the root cause, it realy makes you think, and then realize that the issues that we see now, were foretold by Heinlein decades before they happened. A brilliant book.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Heinlein and among his top five
Review: Post-2004 USA elections, one could classify this a "Red" book. But really the only critics who see therein crypto-fascism, totalitarianism, bla bla bla are the Leftist, liberal-progressive, "Ain't a-gonna study war no more" types. Like Verhoeven and the Hollywierd producers that corrupted Heinlein's message in the movie adaptation.
Heinlein describes exactly what the welfare-state One-Worlders have been trying so hard to do to the West for the past three generations. He no doubt was laughing grimly in the grave after 9/11, muttering "I told you so." That any illegal alien can sneak into the USA and get a drivers' license or vote is another example of the craziness which he campaigned against.
One of Heinlein's core messages is that citizenship and its attendant rights should belong to those who defend one's civilization, indeed one's very species. Cowards and pacifists need not apply -- they can just go pick up their dole check. But vote? Forget it.
If you read no other Heinlein (betcha can't read just one!), make sure it's this one.
Rating: 
Summary: more of an exposition than a novel
Review: If this were properly made into a movie I would select Robert Altman (MASH) to direct as it is his perfect forum. This book has no real beginning and no ending per say. It is more of an essay examining society and proposing a better way to manage it.
The main character Juan Rico is simply used as a tool to examine Heinlein's points on society. Heinlein exposes most forcefully his points of view on everything from disipline to the military, to politics or simply the nature of man. There are some pretty exciting battle scenes, which move the story along, but mostly it is about ideas. Even if you disagree with the ideas be glad he's presenting them. Too often in society we shy away from generating ideas and it's a loss to all of us. This book was called controversial. I find it a sad day when presenting an idea is controversial. Just to be clear, I myself found his ideas interesting but I also found them idealistic and unrealistic in it's lofty goals. However I'm glad I read it and I'm a better person for it. As far as comparing the film to the book I would say that I recognize a line or two from the book but the movie is more of Aliens meets a bad war movie, but it was a decent popcorn film. It's not the book and that's OK too. Just read the book if you really want to know why Starship Troopers is so interesting a read!
Rating:
Summary: Political ramblings with a point
Review: Before I begin my tirade I'd like to say that I love this novel. I'll admit that I'm not a sci-fi fan and never really have been which doesn't really make me a good judge in ranking it under the said genre. The book is purely a political and philosophical discourse simply placed in a fictional setting. The story, while entertaining is not the point. This book would be better placed wherever its compatriots like the Candide of that immoral and illogical "philosophe" Voltaire lie on the shelf.
That said I'd like to remind the reader, as another reviewer rightly said, THIS IS NOT A MANIFESTO! It's not a utopia nor is it the wellspring of human progress. The society scantily described is a wholly practicle one. It's not filled with notions of human "rights" but rather of privledges and duties. This future world is not perfect as many assailents have pointed out. In the book one of the teachers points out that protests against the government's chosen form "is loud and unceasing." Hardly a facist society if the people are allowed to freely express their opinions in public. They are, as most people who dislike this book, "parlor pinks."
The most controversial section is probably the first philisophical discourse in which the old supposition that "violence doesn't solve anything" is easily tossed aside as a pathetic and wholly ignorant view from a historical standpoint. One of my favorite lines is Mr. Dubois' retort: I'd advise them to conjur up the ghosts of Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington and let them debate it. Hitler can referee. And the judges may well be the Dodo, the great Auk, and the Passenger Pigeon."
Truly this book simply lays out questions and gives answers open to thick and deep-rooted discussion. If anything it really just presents truths people don't like hearing since they find it wholly quaint or barbaric. The discussion on natural right would also be of interest. The only inalienable right that was not disproved was that of the pursuit of happiness since that is wholly a mental happening which in Heinlein's day they didn't yet fathom ways of manipulating or creating.
An excellent work of political philosophy and very thought-provoking which was the intent of the book on its young audience. On a final note about its anti-communist bent supposedly sprung from the era, Heinlein actually commented on its efficiency as regarded the Arachnids. He said it GENETICALLY SUITED THEM. Humans are by nature individualistic to a degree. That is why it doesn't suit us. Heinlein's world was not utopian by any standards but that was adressed as well. It was as good as life could get based on our limitations and beautifully portrayed at that. GREAT READ!!!
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