Review: Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein

Synopsis: 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... (from the online description)

Review: After seeing the movie, I thought I should actually read the book. It is NOTHING like the movie. Really. Other than the names and the bugs, and the fact Buenos Aries gets destroyed, nothing like the movie.

Heinlein wrote this during the nuclear arms race with Russia. In a way, it was his treaties on society and government. Heinlein supported nuclear arms. Told from the first person viewpoint, we travel with Rico as he graduates school and joins the Mobile Infantry. In the beginning, Rico spends time under the teaching of Jean Dubois, his History and Moral Philosophy instructor in high school.  Heilein used this forum, having his characters discuss the rights of people, the responsibility of government and the governed, and how it should be organized.

But the book isn’t overly philosophical. Most of it is the story of Rico and his journey to naïve, soft, recruit to battleharded man who understands who he is and why he fights. The story of his journey shows us what Heilein believes is required for the right to govern – the sacrifice he believes must be paid.

Many people disagree with Heilein’s ideas – but I do not. I would support this type of government any day.

Through action-centered narrative and excellent characterization, Heilein expresses his opinions without pretentious sermonizing or hateful rhetoric. It is through the story itself we see his real ideas. Worth reading for anyone, but particularly those who are interested in a unpopular thesis on government. Warning: Not for the bleeding-hearts or anti-military...

Bookmarks: 4 of 5

Awards: Hugo Award, Best Novel, 1960

ISBN: 0-441-78358-9
Year Published: 1959

Date Finished: 3-31-2018

Pages: 208