Starship Troopers: Library Edition

Rating:
Summary: Military, Science Fiction, & Societal Philosophical Classic
Review: Forget about the cheap Hollywood movie version, and read this great book! I just read this book for the second time (about 15 years after my first reading) and it re-confirmed my belief that this book is one of the best books I ever read.

As a career Officer of Marines, I grew up seeing this book on the U.S. Marine Corps Reading List - and now I completely understand why. Besides being an entertaining science fiction story, it is one of the best depictions of military life from an infantryman's perspective. Heinlein realistically captured the mood, fears, thoughts, language, and challenges of the average "Grunt" in a timeless and universal way.

I particularly enjoyed the societal philosophical aspect of the book. Written in 1959 during the Cold War, Heinlein's moral and political implications, carefully woven into the story throughout the book, are still thought-provoking, and some are probably still controversial even today.

Another interesting and very subtle yet powerful message from this book is that despite technological advances (e.g. the interactive individual armor suits, and ultra-sonic, powerful space transport ships), combat is still very personal and comes right down to the individual man on the ground engaging the enemy. Today's technology-blinded military transformers would be wise to reflect on Heinlein's view of the human element in war:

"We are the boys who go to a particular place, at H-hour, occupy a designated terrain, stand on it, dig the enemy out of their holes, force them then and there to surrender or die. We're the bloody infantry, the doughboy, the duckfoot, the foot soldier who goes where the enemy is and takes him on in person. We've been doing it, with changes in weapons but very little change in our trade, at least since the time five thousand years ago when the foot sloggers of Sargon the great forced the Sumerians to cry "Uncle!""

Rating:
Summary: Still one of RAH's best.
Review: Heinlein wrote three books with contrasting political systems. In Beyond This Horizon, he depicted a futuristic socialist utopia, where the most pressing social issue is boredom. In The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Heinlein built a rugged techno-libertarian experiment on the moon, and set it against the authoritarian Earth in a war for independence. None of these was greeted with the derision and scorn that followed the filming of his classic Starship Troopers.

Heinlein painted the third form of government, democracy, using Troopers as a canvas. He asked the simple question, "what would happen in a democratic society if suffrage were limited to those who served their country?" With this simple start, he fleshed out an engaging and heroic vista, where men and women fight for the sake of preserving humanity's future.

Troopers has been criticized as a tribute to Fascism, which is true of the movie. Luckily, the movie bears no relation to book. Troopers was and is an experiment with democracy, the author hoping to create a world in which those who vote also were those who cared most about its future. Read it for yourself.

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: Good military SF with interesting ethics and politics
Review: I've heard so much about Robert Heinlein that it was time I read one of his novels. While "Stranger in a strange land," is probably his most famous, I chanced across "Starship Troopers," first, so that is what I'm reviewing.

The novel takes place centuries in the future when humanity is engaged in a war with insect alien race. However, the action is only one, relatively unimportant aspect of the novel. Initially, when the protagonist joins the military it is during peace. Only retired soldiers can vote in elections and hold public office. The theory behind this is that if political rights cost you something and if they require you to risk your life, you are more likely to act responsibly with that freedom.

This idea, in of itself, is very interesting and the novel makes a reasonably good case for it. Albeit, it is primarily argued for on pragmatic grounds (i.e. this system works and is stable), it is still interesting to find such material in a novel originally marketed to young boys in 1959. It is unfortunate that the novel was marketed to the "juvenile" market for the ideas definitely make it an adult novel.

In addition, there is much ethical musing about the need for violence, the causes of war and the soldier's life. Much of these conversations take place while the protagonist takes a compulsory course called, "History and Moral Philosophy."

One of my favorite lines from this section is this:
"One girl told him bluntly: 'My mother says that violence never settles anything."

'So?' Mr Dubois looked at her bleakly. 'I'm sure the city fathers of Carthage would be glad to know that. Why doesn't you mother tell them? Or why don't you?.... 'Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst.'" (pages 25-26)

The philosophy of Mr. Dubois is a little odd; it is a mix of survivalism and pragmatism. The presentation of the ideas is effective but I think a thoughtful philosophical analysis will leave many holes in it. It seems that a harsh regime wanted some sort of justification for its actions and that is where the philosophy came from.

Of course, there is also the very realistic depiction of military life. This includes basic military training, combat experiences, the relationship between officers and soldiers, and rank. Heinlein even has some of the soldiers being flogged or court martialed for dis obedience. Heinlein describes this all in gritty detail and it is evident that he does not hold to the view that war is glorious etc...

That said, I have read the Joe Haldeman wrote his "The Forever War," in reply to Heinlein's novel. If I remember correctly, Heinlein was in the military during the 1930's while Haldeman was involved in the Vietnam War. I do not know the nature of Haldeman's reaction to Heinlein, but I have, "The Forever War," on my to-read list. I'm sure I will get around to it eventually.

I have not seen the 1997 film adaptation, but I am skeptical that it will capture the _ideas_ that made the novel so interesting.

Rating:
Summary: Starship Trooper - Revisited
Review: I've recently re-read this book (again) and I'm delighted to see the resurgence of popularity of this book; this just has to be my all time favourite of this Heinlein's period SF for kids (with the possible exception o "Have Space Suit Will Travel" - I'll make up my mind one day)

It's been criticised as being "too gung-ho" and the political philosophy behind the story is certainly severe; but it's one of the few intelligent descriptions of war and soldiers that I've come across. This reads as a very "Politically Correct" book in some lights, deliberately non-sexist, non-racist which is remarkable for it's time - as another reader commented earlier.

The most remarkable section of the book, for me, is the description of basic training "Boot Camp" which will ring true for anyone who has been in the services; the "calculated frightfulness" and overheard frailties of NCO's is well observed as is the apparent mildness of authority when training is "finished". Originally written for children - teenage boys really - it has enough substance just below the surface for most ages.

Rating:
Summary: A controversial novel about coming of age in the future.
Review: Starship Troopers is Heinlein's best work. Supposedly written for a juvenile audience, I doubt many of them understood the philosophy and morals emphasized by the book. We follow the military career of Jaun Rico from recruit to seasoned officer. Along the way we learn about societal changes through future "history". Published in 1959, Heinlein acurately predicts the downfall of our youth, due to a lack of discipline and the failure to teach morals in school. The "history and moral philosophy" class discusses street gangs, youth violence, and many other problems of our time that had not happened in 1959. Some might think the philosophical aspect too right-wing, but many will overlook politics and see the truth in Mr. Heinlein's strong moralistic novel. Combat action aside, Mr. Heinlein points out that those who are not willing to die for freedom should not be allowed to take advantage of all freedom has to offer. There is plenty of action for those wh! o seek it. The battle scenes are intense. Don't judge this book by the poorly done film of the same title.

Rating:
Summary: Starship Troopers-an ecxellent book
Review: Starship Troopers, by Robert Heinlein, is a unique masterpiece of science fiction, which tells us a simple story of a soldier, and yet takes it to new heights. The book was met well by readers worldwide. Sony made a hit movie (named similarly) based on it and there even was a computer game. However, despite this success, the book had created a controversial conflict. While millions of fans hailed the book, almost every book critic worldwide criticized the book. However, even constant critic attacks did not prevent Starship Troopers from becoming a bestseller in United States and winning the Hugo Awards in 1960.

Starship Troopers tells a story of a soldier thrown into an epic battle which will decide the fate of human race. It is XXII century. Earth is now called Terra. Humans have already colonized other solar systems in the Galaxy. However, in the depth of space they meet a deadly new enemy. Arachnoids are intelligent insects, far larger than usual ones, and are possessed with a single idea: to destroy the human race. Heinlein's hero is Juan Rico, son of a rich businessman, who wants to serve in the Army in order to gain the right to vote. He gets into infantry and experiences shock and harshness of becoming a soldier. After Rico finishes his training he begins to fight against the Bugs and their plans to destroy humanity.

Starship Troopers audience is targeted at people who like science fiction. The book contains all the elements which score well with science fiction fans. There are aliens, planets, starships and adventures.. Heinlein's world of the future is vivid and realistic but always stays as a background to the main story, and that makes the book easy to read, as it always stands on its course. Furthermore, Heinlein succeeds in reinventing certain science fiction cliques. He brilliantly chooses insects as the alien race which humans are fighting against. Insects, because of their loathsome appearance, are usually hated or treated with disgust by humans. Thus, reader hates the aliens, too, making the story much more believable. Also, such aliens are much more believable and realistic to today's reader, than some six legged creature with claws and an indiscernible features.

Heinlein is ingenious in using various literary techniques to mesmerize the reader and make reading Starship Troopers a highly memorable experience. First, he uses first person narrative throughout the book. Not only this brings reader closer to the story, but it also emotionally connects the reader with the hero. Heinlein also uses chronological organization, and one reads the book and goes along the life of the hero. In addition, each chapter reveals more and more about the future world, and that makes reading much more interesting. The book's language is also simple and easy to read and comprehend Furthermore, book contains lots of dialogue, and one feels how the characters interact. Overall, throughout the book, Heinlein succeeds in creating a unique atmosphere, through which one is emotionally connected to the story and to its characters.

To conclude, if you are a science fiction fan, Starship Troopers is an excellent book, definitely worth reading and rereading. If you do not like science fiction, you might want to read something else. However, if you are not a science fiction fan, but are interested in it, this would be a good book to start your journey into the exciting world of science fiction.

Rating:
Summary: Starship Troopers fascinating but flawed
Review: The reviews here prompted me to reread ST and Joe Haldeman's _The Forever War_.

ST is one of the most thought-provoking books I have ever read. It has forced me to examine my views on the nature of freedom and duty, the social consequences of those views, and the relationship between the military and society. This slim volume raises a great number of important and intriguing questions.

However, it is terribly limited. First, it isn't a novel, but, for lack of a better term, a fictionalized scenario, like the what-if pieces in Tom Clancy's non-fiction. There is no characterization and little plot. The book is a description of an imaginary army and its values. Which is fine, and useful, but not to be confused with literature.

This is where _The Forever War_ is greatly superior - ST's Johnny Rico is a device for making political observations, while FW's William Mandella is a person.

As a political tract, ST is at best half thought-through. We don't see the civilian world of the book, partly because Heinlein's concern is with the military, but mostly because he hasn't considered the implications of what he espouses.

While I agree with much of Heinlein's criticism of contemporary society and share his views on military reform, I think that in practice his values of self-sacrifice would fall victim to his notion that political power grows solely from the barrel of a gun.

Haldeman, working from almost exactly the same plot elements, shows more political and social sophistication. We see the military-industrial complex needing an enemy to maintain growth and power, and manufacturing such an enemy from materials at hand. We also see how the military and the wider society shape each other in response to the other's needs. However, FW was intended as a critique of Vietnam-era America, and it's much easier to criticize than to attempt to posit a solution, as Heinlein does.

Having read the two, I pulled out S.M. Stirling's _The Stone Dogs_ for a re-read. I think Heinlein's Federation could look a lot like the Draka, Stirling's South Africa-as-superpower. In both, the Citizen class are educated, upstanding, courageous paragons of virtue living attractive, prosperous lives based on a commitment to military service. Stirling shows us the slave labor and butchery of dissidents behind the pretty picture: with Heinlein we have to figure it out for ourselves.

Rating:
Summary: One of the 10-best Science Fiction novels
Review: This is the kind of book that many readers either love or hate. Generally those who hate it believe the book to advocate a sort of Nazi fascism. On the contrary, the book describes (I wouldn't say advocates) a democratic republic that limits the franchise to those who have completed a term of service, not necessarily a military term of service. Of course, the main character spends almost all of the book in the military, and the military is of course not a democracy. Maybe that confuses some of the reviewers.

The worst example of this criticism is the earlier reviewer who described the book as resulting from Heinlein's bitterness over the loss of the Vietnam war. Too bad this guy didn't check his facts, the book was written before 1960!

I found the book to be one of the most intelligent and compelling novels (not just science fiction novels) of all time. Heinlein sticks in more original ideas in this book than most others do in three or four. Besides the form of government, there is the description of two alien races, the idea of smart rockets, burrowing nuclear weapons and of course powered armor. Except for the aliens, most of these ideas are beginning to become real.

BTW, skip the movie of the same name. It bears almost no relation to the book and manages to get everything it does use wrong. A truly awful conversion of this excellent book.