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Title: Starship Troopers
ISBN: 0399202099
Author:
Robert A. Heinlein
Publicate Date: 1960-06
Publish: 1960-06
List Price: $9.95
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest Used Price: $155.64
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| Customer Review: |
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1: The future Sparta-style.
This book is very political laying out the case for personal responsibility and the individuals responsibility to their community. Heinlein posits that citizens (who have the right to vote) are only made by sacrificing something for the common good (their service). From the perspective of a shock trooper (the protagonist) this has a very Spartan like sense to it.
Taken with Ayn Rands "Atlas Shrugged" or "The Fountainhead" you can get a pretty good sense of the philosophy of objectivism from fiction. Is that philosophy fascist? I don't think so. Is it liberal, definitely not.
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2: Excellent reading and much better than the movie.
"Starship Troopers" by Robert Heinlein is an excellent science fiction book. The book is different and better than the movie that was made from it. The main character, Johnnie Rico, is a bit of a surprise. Here is a hero, who is Hispanic. That was somewhat unusual for American fiction of the times. The story is centered more on the times when Johnnie is not on an active military mission. It is more about what goes on in Johnnie's head than about the shoot-em-up action scenes of the movie.
Heinlein plays the "What if . . ." game and changes the rules of our current world by a good amount. "What if" our culture did not get pacifist and hippy? "What if" it got more centered on patriotism and duty than it did after Vietnam? When young, Heinlein started a naval career. Due to serious health problems, he had to leave the navy. But, his military background certainly shows in this story.
Read the story for yourself. It is a very good read. Be prepared to explore ideas that are different from our liberal society's current thought patterns.
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3: Deeper than you think
More a sociopolitical drama than a space war, this story allows the reader to experience what joining the military of the future could be like.
Don't judge it by the movie, which was fun in a kitschy way. This is interesting, thought provoking stuff.
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4: Not what it's believed to be.
What many people consider to the grandfather of all military science fiction is really the grandfather of political science fiction. Is that really a bad thing? Well, yes and no. One characteristic of science fiction/speculative fiction is creating a wholly new world or civilization and Heinlein did exactly that. The problem is that it is an extremely boring read. Out of 263 pages (Ace edition) only maybe fifty pages are dedicated to actual descriptions of combat and technology. The rest is a massive essay about a pseudo-democracy, pseudo-fascist, militaristic society that seems to work.
The citizens of the Federation can only gain a political voice through government services--thus also retaining full citizenship--that service being anything, you don't have to be a front line soldier or in perfect physical condition,(crippled? Deformed? You can still applied for federal service) you serve a minimum of two years and boom, you have a vote and can run for public office. The Federation's military is also all volunteer and you can back out at any moment you wish, unless you are already sealed inside a drop capsule. The character of Sergeant Ho who is missing three limps, serves as a visual reminder that Federal Services is full of risks.
Punishment is either public flogging or hanging, once a criminal takes their punishment the matter is drop and everyone will welcome you back unless you commit a capital offence. The Federation is not here to wield power(and those who wield the power must, in practices, risk their own lives before they can have any) the federation is here to protect the human races as a whole.
The controversy surrounding the book is the political overtones and themes. For a book targeted at a juvenile audience that was born just before and during the Second World War, or for the audience of any generation, political themes are not the material for a juvie book. Also the seemly pro-fascism aspects of the book seems like a slap in the face to people who spent three years trying to destroy it. Heinlein's book says "Hey, a military fascism can work if it is done correctly and here's how."
The combat and technology are only described in vague detail with the exception of the power armor. Airtight suits that amplify a soldiers overall strength and stamina, allowing a cap soldier to fight in toxic environment while carry heavier weapons. The power armor uses some form of nuclear batteries and is equip with small jests that allow the solider to "jump" very fall distances. Weapon descriptions never go beyond "rocket launcher" "Flamer" or "bomb".
This is not the book to read if you want a real rousing military adventure with things going boom and people getting their heads split in two. "The Forever War" and "Armor" will be more your cup of tea.
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5: All I can say is.. Wow..
This book is fantastic
Keeps you absorbed
I thought I was not going to like it due to the lack of action, but no way. I loved it
Anyone can read and appreciate this book
Conclusion: Buy it, you will love it
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