In Robert A. Heinlein’s controversial Hugo Award-winning bestseller, a recruit of the future goes through the toughest boot camp in the Universe—and into battle against mankind’s most alarming enemy…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 … 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
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I have read and listened to it several times.
The movie(s) are only SLIGHTLY related to this book. I do not believe it is a pro-fascist book. It IS a pro-individual who has shown a degree of commitment to his/her species. The powered suits are well-described and were pretty revolutionary when the book first came out. Good battle sequences but a lot of good philosophy of life as well. Putting one’s self between lives ones/country and aggressors is a clear expression of real patriotism.
Better start hittin’ the gym, folks! Great discussions of civic duty and real patriotism.
I read this many years ago, but read it again because Heinlein is one of my favorite authors. This was not one of my favorite of his books, however. It is really more of a story geared for younger male readers, since the theme is war, even though it is in a science fiction environment. The main character is taken from high school to maturity, and the philosophy of his society is presented in a very interesting and challenging way. Juan, or Johnnie, learns to be a mechanized infantryman who wears full body armor as he is dropped onto a planet occupied by insectoid aliens that have attacked Earth. His changes as he goes through basic training, then officer candidate school, then leadership are fascinating to observe. I especially liked the comparison between the society of late 20th century North America and the society of the book’s world. Heinlein was an excellent author, and his philosophy permeates his writing. While I wasn’t that interested in the general topic of war in this book, there was much about it I did enjoy.
I read this book when it was first released and loved it. Since then, I have re-read it several times and always manage to get a bit more from it. Please do not confuse the novel with the butchery performed on it by Hollywood – their take on it was totally lame and should never been allowed to happen by Heinlein’s estate. Try it – you’ll like it.
There is really nothing original that I could add regarding this book – its all been said before. Most likely you already know at least the basic premise, and are either reading it to confirm its Fascistic nature, or you’re reading it because it’s one of the finest yarns about duty, and responsibility ever written.
Me, I never got the whole “Fascist” angle. As far as I can tell, that viewpoint is limited to frustrated leftists who cannot abide anything positive being said about patriotism.
But I digress… Starship Troopers, even without the political underpinnings, is simply one of the finest actions science fiction books ever written. I’ll leave it at that.
Much, much better than the movie. My expectations were low, but I really liked the narrator and the discussions between him and his superiors in the military. A very nice surprise!
I first read this book when it first came out, many years ago. Since then I have reread it several times and it influenced many of my major life decisions. I eventually wound up going into the Air Force as an officer, and spent my career working first in missile operations and then in space operations for the rest of my career. I just wish that someone had been able to make a realistic movie of this book – as opposed to the ridiculous one that was made. Perhaps CGI has advanced to the point that this might be possible in the near future.
I have read this book 4 or 5 times in my lifetime and it never grows old. The characters are as fresh the 5th time as when I read it as a teen the first time. It was my first space marine type book and has been the one I hold all others to live up to. Good action, the characters all develop well. A great book in my mind.
An amazing book especially considering when it was written. The movie as a complete disgrace. The book was so much better. They fight in powered battle armor and each trooper has an enormous amount of fire power. The section regarding their training is also superb. Book is timeless and holds up well with anything written today.
Very little to do with the movie franchise outside of the name, but I have found the discussions with regard to civic responsibility, government, voting franchise along with the description of military training and service to be very potent and appropriate. I first read this book nearly 50 years ago and it is still one of my favorites. You owe it to yourself to at least read it whether you agree with the premises or not. Not to be missed!
Classic Heinlein – been a while since I read it, and it’s far better than the awful movie.
classic story – young man decides to join the Military and ends up as a ‘grunt’. He manages to live and learn, and much growing up occurs.
The World political system is a bit strange, but it fits from where it grew from. Having to fight aliens is fun to watch too – I’d love to have a suit of powered armor like that!
So = go ahead and give it a read, you’ll enjoy it!
I loved the book, but read it many years ago and have forgotten much of the why, or the details. I just remember that I wa so impressed it has stuck with me for all this time.
One of Heinlein’s groundbreaking stories about the military and its place in society. Whether you agree with his philosophy or not, it does try to give you the grunt’s eye view of the service. Forget the claptrap of the movie. This is much more grit and grime. And how to go from Private to General.
Heinlein’s “juvenile” and “young adult” or “coming of age” if you will has easy to read, but this book also emphasizes the importance of doing civic duty in one way or other. Many more layers to this book, as in others he wrote. I highly recommend reading this one at any age. I first read this when I was a teenager and it made a big impact on me, 48 years later. And not for the action sequence as much as the deeper thought provoking concepts “glossed” over.
First read this book shortly before entering the U.S. Naval Academy. With the exception of the “naked in the wilderness” and public whipping episodes there was a lot of deja vu in the experience. I still contend that the basis of the society in this story would solve a number of our current societal problems.
Like the best of science fiction this book explored themes that effect our lives here and now. This was a thoughtful look at the relationships of a persons rights versus their responsibilities to the culture and society they live in. The well paced action in this story as a boy grows into a man illuminated the issues we all must deal with in growing up. Becoming an adult is about choices and accountability, not the number of years since arriving on earth.
Good book, much better than the movie. I suspect veterans would enjoy details regarding the military organization of the unit the protagonist was in, however it was a little too specific for me and I found myself skipping over some of the minutiae. Overall recommend for sci fi fans
Heinlein is a great; I thought I had read all his works but this one slipped by me. He develops his characters wonderfully and his grasp of the technical issues is amazing since this was written so long ago.
It’s an easy to read classic of science fiction that describes a world we can both appreciate and feel a bit of fear over. This great author creates a story that is not just the same old action sci-fi but a well thought out “what-if?”.
This is one of Heinlein’s absolute best,ones I read it at least once a year for over 40 years. Set in an interstellar war in an alternate universe the story is fast paced and yet complex. The only quibble I have always had with his writing is how he portrays any female of any species. Yes he wrote for another generation but he just did not seem to know how women really think and react. He almost seems to throw us a bone by trying to make us fierce and super smart yet not quite what we really are. Still one of my favorite writers and one emulated by many of today’s writers. The man (Annapolis trained) sure knew his adventure. Try this one and THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS they are a sure way to enjoy a winter evening.