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Starship Troopers Paperback – May 15, 1987
Johnnie Rico never really intended to join up—and definitely not the infantry. But now that he’s in the thick of it, trying to get through combat training harder than anything he could have imagined, he knows everyone in his unit is one bad move away from buying the farm in the interstellar war the Terran Federation is waging against the Arachnids.
Because everyone in the Mobile Infantry fights. And if the training doesn’t kill you, the Bugs are more than ready to finish the job...
“A classic…If you want a great military adventure, this one is for you.”—All SciFi
- Print length263 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherAce
- Publication dateMay 15, 1987
- Dimensions4.21 x 0.88 x 7.5 inches
- ISBN-100441783589
- ISBN-13978-0441783588
- Lexile measure920L
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Review
“Nothing has come along that can match it.”—Science Fiction Weekly
“A book that continues to resonate and influence to this day, and one whose popularity and luster hasn’t been dimmed despite decades of imitations.”—SF Reviews
“Heinlein’s genius is at its height in this timeless classic that is as meaningful today as when it was written...a fast-paced novel that never gets preachy. This is a definite must-have, must-read book.”—SF Site
About the Author
He was a four-time winner of the Hugo Award for his novels Stranger in a Strange Land (1961), Starship Troopers (1959), Double Star (1956), and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (1966). His Future History series, incorporating both short stories and novels, was first mapped out in 1941. The series charts the social, political, and technological changes shaping human society from the present through several centuries into the future.
Robert A. Heinlein’s books were among the first works of science fiction to reach bestseller status in both hardcover and paperback. He continued to work into his eighties, and his work never ceased to amaze, to entertain, and to generate controversy. By the time he died, in 1988, it was evident that he was one of the formative talents of science fiction: a writer whose unique vision, unflagging energy, and persistence, over the course of five decades, made a great impact on the American mind.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
CH:01
Come on, you apes! You wanta live forever?
—Unknown platoon sergeant, 1918
I always get the shakes before a drop. I’ve had the injections, of course, and hypnotic preparation, and it stands to reason that I can’t really be afraid. The ship’s psychiatrist has checked my brain waves and asked me silly questions while I was asleep and he tells me that it isn’t fear, it isn’t anything important—it’s just like the trembling of an eager race horse in the starting gate.
I couldn’t say about that; I’ve never been a race horse. But the fact is: I’m scared silly, every time.
At D-minus-thirty, after we had mustered in the drop room of the Rodger Young, our platoon leader inspected us. He wasn’t our regular platoon leader, because Lieutenant Rasczak had bought it on our last drop; he was really the platoon sergeant, Career Ship’s Sergeant Jelal. Jelly was a Finno-Turk from Iskander around Proxima—a swarthy little man who looked like a clerk, but I’ve seen him tackle two berserk privates so big he had to reach up to grab them, crack their heads together like coconuts, step back out of the way while they fell.
Off duty he wasn’t bad—for a sergeant. You could even call him “Jelly” to his face. Not recruits, of course, but anybody who had made at least one combat drop.
But right now he was on duty. We had all each inspected our combat equipment (look, it’s your own neck—see?), the acting platoon sergeant had gone over us carefully after he mustered us, and now Jelly went over us again, his face mean, his eyes missing nothing. He stopped by the man in front of me, pressed the button on his belt that gave readings on his physicals. “Fall out!”
“But, Sarge, it’s just a cold. The Surgeon said—”
Jelly interrupted. “‘But Sarge!’” he snapped. “The Surgeon ain’t making no drop—and neither are you, with a degree and a half of fever. You think I got time to chat with you, just before a drop? Fall out! ”
Jenkins left us, looking sad and mad—and I felt bad, too. Because of the Lieutenant buying it, last drop, and people moving up, I was assistant section leader, second section, this drop, and now I was going to have a hole in my section and no way to fill it. That’s not good; it means a man can run into something sticky, call for help and have nobody to help him.
Jelly didn’t downcheck anybody else. Presently he stepped out in front of us, looked us over and shook his head sadly. “What a gang of apes!” he growled. “Maybe if you’d all buy it this drop, they could start over and build the kind of outfit the Lieutenant expected you to be. But probably not—with the sort of recruits we get these days.” He suddenly straightened up, shouted, “I just want to remind you apes that each and every one of you has cost the gov’ment, counting weapons, armor, ammo, instrumentation, and training, everything, including the way you overeat—has cost, on the hoof, better’n half a million. Add in the thirty cents you are actually worth and that runs to quite a sum.” He glared at us. “So bring it back! We can spare you, but we can’t spare that fancy suit you’re wearing. I don’t want any heroes in this outfit; the Lieutenant wouldn’t like it. You got a job to do, you go down, you do it, you keep your ears open for recall, you show up for retrieval on the bounce and by the numbers. Get me?”
He glared again. “You’re supposed to know the plan. But some of you ain’t got any minds to hypnotize so I’ll sketch it out. You’ll be dropped in two skirmish lines, calculated two-thousand-yard intervals. Get your bearing on me as soon as you hit, get your bearing and distance on your squad mates, both sides, while you take cover. You’ve wasted ten seconds already, so you smash-and-destroy whatever’s at hand until the flankers hit dirt.” (He was talking about me—as assistant section leader I was going to be left flanker, with nobody at my elbow. I began to tremble.)
“Once they hit—straighten out those lines!—equalize those intervals! Drop what you’re doing and do it! Twelve seconds. Then advance by leapfrog, odd and even, assistant section leaders minding the count and guiding the envelopment.” He looked at me. “If you’ve done this properly—which I doubt—the flanks will make contact as recall sounds . . . at which time, home you go. Any questions?”
There weren’t any; there never were. He went on, “One more word—This is just a raid, not a battle. It’s a demonstration of firepower and frightfulness. Our mission is to let the enemy know that we could have destroyed their city—but didn’t—but that they aren’t safe even though we refrain from total bombing. You’ll take no prisoners. You’ll kill only when you can’t help it. But the entire area we hit is to be smashed. I don’t want to see any of you loafers back aboard here with unexpended bombs. Get me?” He glanced at the time. “Rasczak’s Roughnecks have got a reputation to uphold. The Lieutenant told me before he bought it to tell you that he will always have his eye on you every minute . . . and that he expects your names to shine!”
Jelly glanced over at Sergeant Migliaccio, first section leader. “Five minutes for the Padre,” he stated. Some of the boys dropped out of ranks, went over and knelt in front of Migliaccio, and not necessarily those of his creed, either—Moslems, Christians, Gnostics, Jews, whoever wanted a word with him before a drop, he was there. I’ve heard tell that there used to be military outfits whose chaplains did not fight alongside the others, but I’ve never been able to see how that could work. I mean, how can a chaplain bless anything he’s not willing to do himself? In any case, in the Mobile Infantry, everybody drops and everybody fights—chaplain and cook and the Old Man’s writer. Once we went down the tube there wouldn’t be a Roughneck left aboard—except Jenkins, of course, and that not his fault.
I didn’t go over. I was always afraid somebody would see me shake if I did, and, anyhow, the Padre could bless me just as handily from where he was. But he came over to me as the last stragglers stood up and pressed his helmet against mine to speak privately. “Johnnie,” he said quietly, “this is your first drop as a non-com.”
“Yeah.” I wasn’t really a non-com, any more than Jelly was really an officer.
“Just this, Johnnie. Don’t buy a farm. You know your job; do it. Just do it. Don’t try to win a medal.”
“Uh, thanks, Padre. I shan’t.”
He added something gently in a language I don’t know, patted me on the shoulder, and hurried back to his section. Jelly called out, “Tenn . . . shut!” and we all snapped to.
“Platoon!”
“Section!” Migliaccio and Johnson echoed.
“By sections—port and starboard—prepare for drop!”
“Section! Man your capsules! Move! ”
“Squad!”—I had to wait while squads four and five manned their capsules and moved on down the firing tube before my capsule showed up on the port track and I could climb into it. I wondered if those old-timers got the shakes as they climbed into the Trojan Horse? Or was it just me? Jelly checked each man as he was sealed in and he sealed me in himself. As he did so, he leaned toward me and said, “Don’t goof off, Johnnie. This is just like a drill.”
The top closed on me and I was alone. “Just like a drill,” he says! I began to shake uncontrollably.
Then, in my earphones, I heard Jelly from the center-line tube: “Bridge! Rasczak’s Roughnecks . . . ready for drop!”
“Seventeen seconds, Lieutenant!” I heard the ship captain’s cheerful contralto replying—and resented her calling Jelly “Lieutenant.” To be sure, our lieutenant was dead and maybe Jelly would get his commission . . . but we were still “Rasczak’s Roughnecks.”
She added, “Good luck, boys!”
“Thanks, Captain.”
“Brace yourselves! Five seconds.”
I was strapped all over—belly, forehead, shins. But I shook worse than ever.
It’s better after you unload. Until you do, you sit there in total darkness, wrapped like a mummy against the acceleration, barely able to breathe—and knowing that there is just nitrogen around you in the capsule even if you could get your helmet open, which you can’t—and knowing that the capsule is surrounded by the firing tube anyhow and if the ship gets hit before they fire you, you haven’t got a prayer, you’ll just die there, unable to move, helpless. It’s that endless wait in the dark that causes the shakes—thinking that they’ve forgotten you . . . the ship has been hulled and stayed in orbit, dead, and soon you’ll buy it, too, unable to move, choking. Or it’s a crash orbit and you’ll buy it that way, if you don’t roast on the way down.
Then the ship’s braking program hit us and I stopped shaking. Eight gees, I would say, or maybe ten. When a female pilot handles a ship there is nothing comfortable about it; you’re going to have bruises every place you’re strapped. Yes, yes, I know they make better pilots than men do; their reactions are faster, and they can tolerate more gee. They can get in faster, get out faster, and thereby improve everybody’s chances, yours as well as theirs. But that still doesn’t make it fun to be slammed against your spine at ten times your proper weight.
But I must admit that Captain Deladrier knows her trade. There was no fiddling around once the Rodger Young stopped braking. At once I heard her snap, “Center-line tube ... fire!” and there were two recoil bumps as Jelly and his acting platoon sergeant unloaded—and immediately: “Port and starboard tubes—automatic fire! ” and the rest of us started to unload.
Bump! and your capsule jerks ahead one place—bump! and it jerks again, precisely like cartridges feeding into the chamber of an old-style automatic weapon. Well, that’s just what we were . . . only the barrels of the gun were twin launching tubes built into a spaceship troop carrier and each cartridge was a capsule big enough (just barely) to hold an infantryman with all field equipment.
Bump!—I was used to number three spot, out early; now I was Tail-End Charlie, last out after three squads. It makes a tedious wait, even with a capsule being fired every second; I tried to count the bumps—bump! (twelve) bump! (thirteen) bump! (fourteen—with an odd sound to it, the empty one Jenkins should have been in) bump!—
And clang!—it’s my turn as my capsule slams into the firing chamber—then WHAMBO! the explosion hits with a force that makes the Captain’s braking maneuver feel like a love tap.
Then suddenly nothing.
Nothing at all. No sound, no pressure, no weight. Floating in darkness . . . free fall, maybe thirty miles up, above the effective atmosphere, falling weightlessly toward the surface of a planet you’ve never seen. But I’m not shaking now; it’s the wait beforehand that wears. Once you unload, you can’t get hurt—because if anything goes wrong it will happen so fast that you’ll buy it without noticing that you’re dead, hardly.
Almost at once I felt the capsule twist and sway, then steady down so that my weight was on my back . . . weight that built up quickly until I was at my full weight (0.87 gee, we had been told) for that planet as the capsule reached terminal velocity for the thin upper atmosphere. A pilot who is a real artist (and the Captain was) will approach and brake so that your launching speed as you shoot out of the tube places you just dead in space relative to the rotational speed of the planet at that latitude. The loaded capsules are heavy; they punch through the high, thin winds of the upper atmosphere without being blown too far out of position—but just the same a platoon is bound to disperse on the way down, lose some of the perfect formation in which it unloads. A sloppy pilot can make this still worse, scatter a strike group over so much terrain that it can’t make rendezvous for retrieval, much less carry out its mission. An infantryman can fight only if somebody else delivers him to his zone; in a way I suppose pilots are just as essential as we are.
I could tell from the gentle way my capsule entered the atmosphere that the Captain had laid us down with as near zero lateral vector as you could ask for. I felt happy—not only a tight formation when we hit and no time wasted, but also a pilot who puts you down properly is a pilot who is smart and precise on retrieval.
The outer shell burned away and sloughed off—unevenly, for I tumbled. Then the rest of it went and I straightened out. The turbulence brakes of the second shell bit in and the ride got rough . . . and still rougher as they burned off one at a time and the second shell began to go to pieces. One of the things that helps a capsule trooper to live long enough to draw a pension is that the skins peeling off his capsule not only slow him down, they also fill the sky over the target area with so much junk that radar picks up reflections from dozens of targets for each man in the drop, any one of which could be a man, or a bomb, or anything. It’s enough to give a ballistic computer nervous breakdowns—and does.
To add to the fun your ship lays a series of dummy eggs in the seconds immediately following your drop, dummies that will fall faster because they don’t slough. They get under you, explode, throw out “window,” even operate as transponders, rocket sideways, and do other things to add to the confusion of your reception committee on the ground.
In the meantime your ship is locked firmly on the directional beacon of your platoon leader, ignoring the radar “noise” it has created and following you in, computing your impact for future use.
Product details
- Publisher : Ace (May 15, 1987)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 263 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0441783589
- ISBN-13 : 978-0441783588
- Lexile measure : 920L
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 4.21 x 0.88 x 7.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #324,561 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #822 in Science Fiction Short Stories
- #2,103 in Science Fiction Crime & Mystery
- #2,320 in Space Marine Science Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Robert Heinlein was an American novelist and the grand master of science fiction in the twentieth century. Often called 'the dean of science fiction writers', he is one of the most popular, influential and controversial authors of 'hard science fiction'.
Over the course of his long career he won numerous awards and wrote 32 novels, 59 short stories and 16 collections, many of which have cemented their place in history as science fiction classics, including STARSHIP TROOPERS, THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS and the beloved STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable. They describe the story as interesting and monumental in the genre of military science fiction. The book is thought-provoking and insightful, with great concepts and ideas. Readers praise the writing quality as well-written and thoughtful. They appreciate the well-developed characters and authoritative character rants. The pacing is described as fast-paced or beautifully paced.
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Customers enjoy the book. They find the writing interesting and enjoyable, making it a worthwhile read. The novel has entertaining aspects that readers can laugh about.
"...in battle and focuses on a character who isn't too smart but gets by in a time of war...." Read more
"...Utopian visions aside, the book is extremely enjoyable, has a good story line with compelling characters, and keeps you reading; it is also light on..." Read more
"...But his writing is good and interesting enough to keep you reading. This was a fun read. I think I’ll give some of Robert Heinlein other works a shot." Read more
"...I hadn't read it for 50 years and it is still grand. Not only is the story believable, if futuristic, but the characters are strongly drawn...." Read more
Customers find the story engaging. They describe it as a solid science fiction novelette that explores political realities. The book takes its theme fairly seriously, and the military descriptions are entertaining.
"...This is sci-fi warfare at its finest and its ideas are just as impressive now as they were in 1959. So sit down, read, and enjoy." Read more
"...Utopian visions aside, the book is extremely enjoyable, has a good story line with compelling characters, and keeps you reading; it is also light on..." Read more
"...The movie is most definitely satire. The book takes its theme fairly seriously, and Johnnie Rico was a great character with very human motivations..." Read more
"...Not only is the story believable, if futuristic, but the characters are strongly drawn...." Read more
Customers find the book thought-provoking and insightful. They appreciate the great concepts and ideas presented, as well as the brilliantly articulated meditations on history, human nature, and world-building in a microcosmic way. The book is described as an inspiring and intelligent exploration of what it means to be a citizen in a smart and easy-to-read science fiction novel.
"...The way Heinlein speculates the future of war is phenomenally well done and having the story told from the perspective of a protagonist who is..." Read more
"...There is a lot of philosophy in this book, however much of is not as palatable as the above example...." Read more
"This is not the movie. It’s better. I was really surprised by this. This was more a love letter to the arm forces than anything else...." Read more
"...This reaches the top of his very high pile of work. I hadn't read it for 50 years and it is still grand...." Read more
Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book. They find it well-written, thoughtful, and easy to read. Readers praise the author as a prolific science fiction writer with simple narrative.
"...how extraordinary the events and technology are by with a simple worded narrative...." Read more
"...with compelling characters, and keeps you reading; it is also light on violence (surprisingly) and sex (none explicit at all)...." Read more
"...I read Friday and that book wasn’t without issues. But his writing is good and interesting enough to keep you reading. This was a fun read...." Read more
"...But, on to the novel... It’s vintage Heinlein—imaginative, but with a tangible flavor of realism and an accurate anthropology...." Read more
Customers like the well-developed characters and satisfying action. They appreciate the authoritative character rants to onlookers. The portrayal of men is good, but the author doesn't neglect women. There are interesting observations on gender differences with women having an active role.
"...the book is extremely enjoyable, has a good story line with compelling characters, and keeps you reading; it is also light on violence..." Read more
"...The book takes its theme fairly seriously, and Johnnie Rico was a great character with very human motivations to his reaction and decisions...." Read more
"...Not only is the story believable, if futuristic, but the characters are strongly drawn...." Read more
"...The main character is resoundingly consistent. He's arrogant, and he dreams about his professor Dubois all the time...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's pacing. They find it fast-paced with plenty of action and character development. The book is described as engaging and ahead of its time. Readers also mention that the book is a quick read with better flow and deeper character development.
"...The Arachnids also exploit their ability of fast reproduction...." Read more
"Excellent book, way ahead of it's time. Highly recommend to anyone." Read more
"...Regardless, it is a quick read and actually quite interesting...." Read more
"...have a very real feel to them, but are sometimes hard to follow...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's military insights and recommend it for OCS in the Army. They find it an accurate portrayal of the military mindset during training and combat, as well as the author's inside perspective on life in training for service. The book provides a good overview of government, military service, and human morals.
"...He asked to read Starship Troopers again. It is dedicated to all sergeants from all times. Is that cool, or what? Humans will ALWAYS make war...." Read more
"...I believe that this book should be required reading for high school students. It holds up wonderfully despite it's age...." Read more
"...is also considerable commentary on that era's conduct and attitudes about military service, honor, citizenship, and personal responsibility...." Read more
"...A must read for any junior officer or NCO. Great for a military professional development discussion or class. Heinlein was a prolific SF writer...." Read more
Customers have different opinions about the movie quality. Some find it superior to the book, while others say it's not as good as expected, with a disappointing ending.
"...this, and very much unlike the film, there's very little actual military action in the book...." Read more
"A good companion to the Movie, this book (Which of course came first) gives a riveting window into the mind of a soldier fighting a futuristic war...." Read more
"...By corollary, unskillful work can easily subtract value;an untalented cook can turn wholesome dough and fresh green apples, valuable already, into..." Read more
"...as a mobile infantry man, i for one am glad that the book barely resembles the movie because it is easier to understand the military experience that..." Read more
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2010What are my favorite books? Well, that is a hard question when you get down to it. There are many books I like, or even love, but naming favorites is hard. I suppose to name a favorite I need to choose ones that inspire my own creative thought. One novel that has always managed to do just that is Robert. A. Heinlein's controversial sci-fi adventure Starship Troopers. Forget the butchery that was the 1997 movie by Paul Verhoeven because the two share nothing in common.
Starship Troopers revolves around an intergalactic war between the Terran Federation of Earth and the Arachnids of Klendathu. The Terran Federation is a limited democracy that revolves around meritocratic beliefs, nationalism (or is it planetism in this case?), and extreme militarism. The only way an individual can earn the right to vote is if they've served in a military branch (which earns the title of "Citizen") while those who haven't do not receive the right to vote and are looked down upon ("civilians"). The Arachnids are a Hive based society where countless worker and warriors meet the needs of the ruling class composed of "Queens" and "Brain Bugs."
The story is told from the perspective of Juan Rico, son of wealthy Filipino businessman Emilio Rico. His father is a civilian but despite his lack of political power has amassed a great fortune and when Juan expresses interest in becoming a Citizen his father scolds him. Eventually however Juan gives into pressure from his friend "Carl" (no full name given) and high school crush Carmen Ibanez.
Military service is dependant upon intelligence and Juan hopes to make it into the Naval Academy, which is where Carmen intends to enlist. Unfortunately, Juan is not the smartest kid on the block. While Carmen happily accepts entry into Naval services and Carl makes it into Research & Development ("Starside Research & Development" located on Pluto, to be precise), Rico only manages to meet the standard for Mobile Infantry; the lowest branch. He joined to be with his friends, but from this day on he never sees them again except for few, brief moments.
Rico is soon shipped to Camp Arthur Currie where under the strict care of 1st Sergeant Charles Zim. Here Rico is trained to become an instrument of war under the harshest conditions. Training consumes most of the days, so much so that Rico along with many other recruits acquires the ability to sleep during the morning jogs without missing a beat. Public floggings of disobedient recruits, or those attempting to escape their duties is a constant event meant to keep the others in line.
Towards the end of his training Rico is shocked to discover that the Arachnids (or "bugs" as the soldiers prefer to call them) have declared war by launching a surprise bombardment that has wiped out his home of Buenos Aires. With the full tide of war pushing him, and outfitted with a fully armored mechanized combat suit Rico is prepared to engage the bugs up close and personal. The rest of the novel follows Rico's exploits throughout the "Bug War."
On its surface Starship Troopers is a basic grunt story with a sci-fi setting, but it still manages to be ahead of its time. It feels a lot like post-Vietnam era war fiction in the fact that it doesn't show glory in battle and focuses on a character who isn't too smart but gets by in a time of war. The simplicity of this story also allows Heinlein to give full attention to his innovative, and at times controversial ideas.
Aside from Heinlein's controversial picture of a militaristic society that many feel supports a fascist society (I would disagree on this...) Heinlein manages to work in military tactics and technology well ahead of his time. You want to know where the idea of strength enhancing combat suits and the ability to deploy troops by dropping capsules from orbit came from? Why, these ideas copied countless times in anime, video games, movies, and other novels all stem from Starship Troopers! But even aside from those awesome concepts Heinlein presents ideas that have taken hold in today's military. Such tactics as smash-and-burn raids, and surgical precision strikes become tactics that for the first time are fully elaborated upon in the written word and are surprisingly accurate to how the tactics are conducted today. Other technology such as night vision goggles, personal radar, and self-contained environmental suits are also laid out in great detail by Heinlein.
As a race the Arachnids set the standard for all future "humanity vs. insect race" scenarios. They have a hive based society. Where there is a central intelligence class (Queens and Brain Bugs in this case) and a lower class which consists of warriors and workers. The Arachnids also exploit their ability of fast reproduction. Aside from being sentient (the Arachnids of Heinlein's book have built spaceships and utilize plasma based weaponry) the Arachnids really exploit the fact that they're insects. Rico speculates at one part that if they kill 10,000 Arachnid warriors in a day and lose a single member of the Mobile Infantry it is a loss for humanity because in the Arachnid hives wait Warrior eggs that will hatch to meet demands. A human Mobile Infantryman takes eighteen years to mature and two years to train. In this way Heinlein really goes in-depth on "What advantages would a sentient insect race have over humans if they were at war?"
Story is probably where Starship Troopers falls short, being a fairly routine military coming of age chronicling the adventures of the protagonist and the horrors of war. In short: The ideas and concepts of the novel overshadow the story. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this book and its characters, but when comparing its basic plot to some of the novels it inspired, such as Ender's Game, it doesn't hold as much strength...But as an exploration into the mechanics of science-fiction is unmatched. The way Heinlein speculates the future of war is phenomenally well done and having the story told from the perspective of a protagonist who is essentially a common grunt really drives home how extraordinary the events and technology are by with a simple worded narrative.
I highly suggest picking up a copy of this book and throwing aside any knowledge of the 1997 movie. The movie simply uses the names of characters and slaps on the title "Starship Troopers" but never will you see a less accurate interpretation of a book. This is sci-fi warfare at its finest and its ideas are just as impressive now as they were in 1959.
So sit down, read, and enjoy.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2016I read Starship Troopers at the recommendation of a friend after he found out that I liked another one of Heinlein's books, "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress". I had seen the film years ago, and because of that I thought I knew what I could expect.
Starship Troopers centers around the main Character Juan "Johnny" Rico and his military career, starting from his enlistment. Despite this, and very much unlike the film, there's very little actual military action in the book. The whole of it boils down to maybe three battles that Johnny takes part in, and the rest of the book describes his martial and ethics training as a lens on the futuristic society he lives in. This is touched on in the film, but the two works interpret the message to readers (or viewers) completely differently.
The movie is very much a parody of military culture, patriotism, and human exceptionalism. These aspects of the culture are the result of capitalism, and by extension Americanism, run Amok; the most cogent point is that you must have served time in the military to be a citizen and have voting rights. This is presented in the film as a sortof top-down macho ideal, that the military are bullies imposing their will on the rest of the weak-spined poulace. The book, on the other hand, presents this in a very different way. There is one speech in particular that addresses this point where a main character says that the reason people must "serve" (though, note, that not all "military service" is necessarily martial, but can also include research positions and test-subject positions; the positions are all extremely physically grueling however) to vote is because they must demonstrate that they are willing to put societal needs ahead of their own. This presents an ideal of self-sacrifice rather than bullying.
There is a lot of philosophy in this book, however much of is not as palatable as the above example. Corporal punishment is used on the populace, for example; additionally, the military-industrial regime (while presented as Utopia) is little more than extended martial law fueled by utilitarianism. This gives the astute reader a chance to critically evaluate the voting system they present without having to mix wires with whether or not you agree with the wider social structure that the fictional government puts forth (utilitarianism, of course, is impossible in practice). It also forces the reader to consider the voting system we currently have in our own countries, and what we as individuals do to earn that right. In the USA for example voting is considered an intrinsic right of all citizens above age 18, with no military service required. The question the book offers seems to be, "should this be so?". Some countries (Norway among them) have widespread conscription programs, but include the ability to conscientiously object and perform community service instead. Imagine the USA having a civil labor force of even 1 million people (25mil 18-24yr old, divided by 5 (only 18 year olds), divided by 5 (conscientious objectors)), repairing infrastructure across the country inexpensively, or working in hospitals, or helping the elderly, or doing any number of other community improvements. They would be fed and housed, but perhaps unpaid (or a fixed amount). This is of course untenable because of the drop in GDP associated with removing 8% of the population from the workforce, but it seems like a tempting idea nonetheless.
Utopian visions aside, the book is extremely enjoyable, has a good story line with compelling characters, and keeps you reading; it is also light on violence (surprisingly) and sex (none explicit at all).
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (I liked that one better) or Gates of Fire (an excellent read).
- Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2024This is not the movie. It’s better. I was really surprised by this. This was more a love letter to the arm forces than anything else. We got to see how a soldier was made basically, from enlistment to career. The war against the
Bugs was second fiddle to the saga of a soldiers life. I actually enjoyed it. Truthfully, I read this because my husband likes the movie and I wanted to see if the movie was at all like its source material. The movie is most definitely satire. The book takes its theme fairly seriously, and Johnnie Rico was a great character with very human motivations to his reaction and decisions. It does portray the army through rose colored glasses at time though, so I can see why this book is controversial. I’m not a huge fan of Robert Heinlein. I read Friday and that book wasn’t without issues. But his writing is good and interesting enough to keep you reading. This was a fun read. I think I’ll give some of Robert Heinlein other works a shot.
Top reviews from other countries
- Bruno Correa GautoReviewed in Canada on December 10, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Good product.
Good product.
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Lucas SanchoReviewed in Spain on July 12, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Buenas condiciones
Buenas condiciones alguna hoja doblada pero nada que no tenga arreglo
- Manolo MacchettaReviewed in Italy on May 16, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars This is the book that inspired Yoshiyuki Tomino to create Gundam
This is the book that inspired Yoshiyuki Tomino to create Gundam and has been on my nightstand for years. The plot is very simple and straightforwar... it is almost just a pretext for an almost orgiastic glorification of military culture, sense of responsibility and duty.
The book is little more than a diary of a recruit (Rico): there are very few action scenes and most of the time it is about the life of a private.
I can see why many people are triggered by such a book: I liked it and still am not sure if it is an anti-military book or not. It doesn't affect me much actually: I've learned to enjoy the journey.
I am torn whether to rate it with full marks or a more plain 4 stars.
5 stars would put it on the level of Dune, Star My Destination, and other masterpieces (but also Stranger in Strange Land by the same author) -- and this one I don't know whether to consider as such.
Maybe I'm used to modern expanded fiction (where in 1,000 pages nothing is done) but this tale could have really stretched 4 times the space.
For those who have seen the film: The plot of the book is only superficially similar but the satire themes are not there or at least not as obvious as in the film.
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Client KindleReviewed in France on April 16, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Brillant.
Je n'aurais jamais cru que ce livre a été publié en 1959, bien que les indices étaient là. L'auteur rentre tellement dans certains détails qu'on dirait qu'il y a assisté. Ce livre est un mélange entre ces détails là (avec souvent des sujets à débat et les arguments qui vont avec, qui font bien reflechir), et les aventures d'un soldat, le tout conté à la première personne.
Je n'arrive pas à savoir si c'est de la science fiction militaire, ou une étude philosophique de sujets politiques, économiques, sociaux, scientifiques. Cette lecture se ressent comme le journal trouvé d'un soldat (qui aurait une très bonne memoire), sans pour autant traîner de la patte. En fait, c'est dynamique et rapide à lire, et surtout très intéressant.
Je n'arrive aussi pas à cerner le personnage principal, c'est peut-être le but. Sa personnalité n'est pas très présente, il a l'air d'être un monsieur tout le monde (alors que tout le monde autour de lui a une personnalité plus marquée), au final on croirait qu'il n'est pas le personnage principal. Et pourtant, et pourtant, on en vient à l'apprécier, à se demander ce qu'il va faire ensuite, à quoi pense-t-il, comment son histoire va-t-elle se dérouler, vas-t-il arrêter de trembler avant chaque saut.
Au final on se retrouve avec un livre unique. Je n'ai jamais lu un livre de fiction qui a poussé mon intérêt pour des sujets de science bien réelles, tout en me captivant du début jusqu'à la fin, sans jamais devenir barbant. J'aurais aimé qu'il soit plus long.
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Cliente AmazonReviewed in Brazil on March 27, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Grata surpresa
“I Always get the shakes before a drop”. (p.1) Como Juan Rico, o leitor também “gets the shakes” antes de cada mergulho num capítulo de Starship Troopers. Algumas obras são canonizadas por fatores extraliterários — esta não é uma delas.
O in media res é raramente mais que um clichê, porém ainda mais excepcionalmente é imprescindível. A primeira frase do romance já imerge o leitor ao pô-lo defronte a um mergulho no desconhecido — literalmente. O primeiro capítulo, “deslocado” da metade da narrativa, apresenta sem circunlóquios a ideologia da xtópica sociedade humana deste futuro, em prática. Xtópica porque ambígua, embora por vezes tendenciosa.
Neste mesmo capítulo não sabe ainda, o leitor, que não são humanos os inimigos, e o retardar calculado desta informação já traz à tona, logo no início e sem relativizações, o culto à violência, o prazer fetichista do manuseio da arma e do homicídio contraposto ao dever máximo — e martírico — de salvar vidas. A Infantaria Móvel mata e morre em nome da vida, ou da eficiência e da ordem? Talvez pela ordem eficiente?
A retomada da vida do protagonista narrador se dá no momento preciso em que este tem de escolher como se portar perante seu mundo e a sociedade. O ingresso no serviço militar é voluntário e contraindicado, mas apenas os que serviram um termo de dois anos são cidadãos e têm direito ao voto; afinal é “mais fácil restaurar a visão a um cego do que dar virtude moral — responsabilidade social — a alguém que não a tem, não a deseja e se ressente de ter tal peso imposto a si.” (p.236) A partir daí, este exército xtópico funciona de maneira existencial-humanista, no intento de fazer com que seus soldados — os futuros cidadãos — desenvolvam pessoal e introspectivamente tais virtudes morais.
Eis a genialidade da disciplina “História e Filosofia Moral” (“H. & M. P.”), lecionada à maioria dos humanos, desde a tenra idade. O que há de mais curioso nesta disciplina — neste universo considerada ciência exata como a física e a química — é o fato de todos serem obrigados a toma-la, mas ninguém a passa-la, ou seja: enquanto ciência é, utopicamente, detentora de uma verdade histórica e da certeza de que o valor da virtude social é absoluto e cada um o encontrará em si, se em si o tiver; porém, distopicamente, a própria ideia de moral como absoluta, numa matéria em que não se é avaliado, permite a exclusão sistemática e silenciosa (anticonflitos, logo antirevoltas) daqueles que não dividem os mesmos ideais, ao mesmo tempo em que perpetua esta democracia imperialista e beligerante na qual somente militares são cidadãos, e apenas cidadãos podem tornar-se professores de “H. & M. P.”
Portanto, muito para além do mérito da engenhosidade estrutural e estilística da narrativa, e da qualidade e coerência estética do texto, como um todo, a própria premissa de narrá-la na visão de um “soldado-cidadão ex-civil privilegiado” possibilita o atrito de diversos argumentos, assim como nas aulas de “H. & M. P.”, de modo que, no final, ainda haja a circularidade programada no sistema, pois trata-se de uma ciência exata “Man is what he is, a wild animal with the will to survive, and (so far) the ability, against all competition. Unless one accepts that, anything one says about morals, war, politics — you name it — is nonsense. Correct morals arise from knowing what man is — not what do-gooders and well-meaning Aunt Nellies would like him to be.” (p.238)
O ciclo se completa e eis que se apresenta, outra vez, a hora do mergulho. Porque o que move o mundo não é a resposta ao dilema: “If two men are starving and cannibalism is the only alternative to death, which man’s right is ‘unalienable’? And is it ‘right’?” (p.151) O que aí move o mundo é a ação calculada e o que o faz funcionar são a ordem, o dever e, junto deles, a responsabilidade. Para tanto é necessário que se esteja bem treinado, armado e on the bounce — “To the everlasting glory of the Infantry—“.