This certainly is nothing like the movie

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	• Starship Troopers Robert A. Heinlein Ace, 1987 - 272 pages average customer review:based on 688 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Praise the Lord and pass the ammo

This book is all about the time-honored virtues of patriotism, duty, honor, and country. The author, Robert Heinlein, was a Naval Academy graduate. His characters in this book present his beliefs in some very well laid out paths of logic. If you are looking for an adventure/thriller, however, you need to look elsewhere. Starship Trooopers continues to be held in high regard by our military establishment, as it is currently on the Commandant of the Marine Corps' recommended reading list. This book was first published in 1958 and it has apparently withstood the test of time, considering Vietnam transpired shortly afterward. One can only wonder how many young troops, inspired by this novel, died in 'Nam. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in science fiction, politics and the role of the military in a free and open society.

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This certainly is nothing like the movie

This book really is an attempt for Heinlein to show the inadequacies with the democratic system, and the pros to a more rigid facist system of government. It's an interesting philosophical book, though I can't say I agree with his points, especially as the book is clearly very one sided in his opinion, only the adults explaining this world view, with younger people arguing the other way, and losing the debates, as well as changning their opinions. By an large there are far more chapters filled with debates supporting the position than action throughout the story. There is action, and the book is entertaining, but in the end it is a book tackling the issus of government, and methods of handling punishment in a militarialistic way. This may explain the fascist undertones of the first movie. Read this for a more old school science fiction approach to issues, not for an action novel.

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Where are the women?

I will not go into the political views and discussions in this book, there are well covered in other reviews. I can remember reading this book in high school in the early '70's) and being stimulated into pondering the points in the book about social duty and responsibilty, which is surely the best sign that a book is worth reading.

However, I just reread it last week and what struck me most was the question of "Where are the women in his society?" We have main characters'mother and aunt, both of whom are shown in very negative, self-centered terms.

We have a girl who becomes a space pilot, which apparently is the only role for women in the miltary "because they have quick reflexes and can stand high gee force". This,despite the fact the men fight in armoured suits that multiply their strengh, which would surely balance any muscle mass difference between men and women.

Otherwise they are there to "remind the men what they are fighting for"!!! The main character speaks dreamily of standing guard at the door to the women's quarters where there is chance of hearing a female voice.

The end result of this, though not stated in the novel, is that most of the voters in the society are men. Whether this a product of the time the book was written or Heinlein's own views is also a point worth pondering.

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Science Friction!

In Starship Troopers Robert Heinlein does what he did best: challenge human convention; conviction and ideologies with scathing ease. Set in a future where social inclusion or 'citizenship' is earned through right of passage (ie: undertaking national service in a fruitless war against arachnids in a distant star system) Heinlein's vision is daunting and bleak, yet satire adds a degree of science friction evident in many of his works. Those who are looking for the 'in your face' gorefest approach of Verhoven's movie take on this book will be sorely disappointed; but if you enjoyed the film's darker satirical edge then you may still take something away from this great book.

Highly recommended.

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Deployed Soldier says: Excellent!

I would definintely have to say that this is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I'm currently deployed in Iraq and being in a military environment like that, it is impossible to not relate anything I read regarding the military to my own experiences. That being said, Starship Troopers spot on nailed the attitudes and tendencies of a soldier during wartime. The ideas and principles set forth in this futuristic world were ones I desperately wished we as a society today would pay more attention to. I would highly recommend this book for anybody with a military background.

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reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, page 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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