Starship Troopers
Starship Troopers takes place in the midst of an interstellar war between the Terran Federation of Earth and the Arachnids (referred to as "The Bugs") of Klendathu. It is narrated as a series of flashbacks by Juan Rico, and is one of only a few Heinlein novels set out in this fashion. The novel opens with Rico aboard the corvette Rodger Young, about to embark on a raid against the planet of the "Skinnies," who are allies of the Arachnids. We learn that he is a cap(sule) trooper in the Terran Federation's Mobile Infantry. The raid itself, one of the few instances of actual combat in the novel, is relatively brief: the Mobile Infantry land on the planet, destroy their targets, and retreat, suffering a single casualty in the process. The story then flashes back to Rico's graduation from high school, and his decision to sign up for Federal Service over the objections of his father. This is the only chapter that describes Rico's civilian life, and most of it is spent on the monologues of two people: retired Lt. Col. Jean V. Dubois, Rico's school instructor in "History and Moral Philosophy," and Fleet Sergeant Ho, a recruiter for the armed forces of the Terran Federation.
Stats for nerds
57recommend
259mentions
218people
2008–2026years
25% recommend70% neutral4% critical
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- 'Children of Men' is probably the best contemporary example of this - appalling book that informed a piece of cinema that's basically beyond reproach.
The archetype in blockbuster cinema has to be Spielberg's 'Jaws'. I'd also give 'Barry Lyndon' a huge commendation.
Those who contend that 'Starship Troopers' is a better adaptation than the book simply don't understand Heinlein or his aims. A fantastic movie and a darkly cynical piece of social commentary on jingoistic nationalism and 'bootcamp' movies as seen through the lense of a highschool ensemble. The book, however, represents a weightier piece of analysis in its own right and provides some fascinating insights into fascism, civil and civic duty, and the role of the individual in the machine.
I could also go into a long and varied debate about Michael Crichton and Stephen King properties which span both sides of this fence, but that's for another post I feel!
- You may enjoy the book Starship Troopers.
- Now that the furor has died down: "how easy it is to win when you can just let go of a rock and it’s guided to your enemy by gravity"
...that's literally the main plot point of the book: "The Moon lets go of a rock and it's guided to Earth by gravity."
Libertarian ideals aside, if you want a better introspection into political ideologies by the same author, "Starship Troopers" provided lots of food for thought.
Be well, kind stranger!
- If you define quality as "layered and meaty" there are many much better books.
Roadside picnic (and its less Russian counterpart, Annihilation), left hand of darkness, Solaris are all excellent.
If you want culturally influential, surely Starship Troopers, Stranger in a Strange land, anything by HG Wells, 1984/Brave New World, Frankenstein (duh)
The characterization in Hail Mary is just so damn weak, even space opera stuff like Bujold
- Other than the Bible, that would be Dune and Starship Troopers. I can't really put my finger on how specifically they influenced me, but I often find myself recalling scenes and quotes from those two books when discussing deeper topics with family and friends.
- Did you read some of the old stuff?
- The Xeelee Cyclus
- Gateway from Pohl
- Rondevouze with Rama
- Starship Troopers
- The forever wars
Not hard sci-fi but good:
- The Bobbyverse
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