The book of the movie ? (Starship Troopers - Robert A. Heinlein)

Member Name: one47

Product:	Starship Troopers - Robert A. Heinlein
Date:	04/08/01 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Controversial subject, well researched, survives well to the modern day

Disadvantages: none

I was disgusted! No one had ever heard of the book "Starship Troopers" until the movie came out. The book pre-dates the movie by about 40 years, and is certainly a better tale than can be told in a 90 minute movie (Unless you want allow for the mandatory romance and nudity which Hollywood so freely throws into the mix in place of good solid plot. :-) )

I own a 1987 printing of this book, but surprise, surprise, it was re-printed in 1998 shortly after the movie release, so is still available in a store near you...

This book follows several years of John Rico's life with several of his friends, through school and his lectures in morality, on to joining the Mobile Infantry in order to "do his duty" and gain a vote, and beyond to where he "Goes Career" and signs up for the long haul.

Heinlein seems to know the military - This tale has been accused of glorifying war, but puts itself in a sufficiently futuristic position, 5000 years hence, fighting such outlandish "bugs", that I feel this is not the case. Treat this story as a well researched and imaginative piece of Sci/Fi, which happens to be centred on the subject of war, and it becomes a balanced look at the glory and the pain involved in battling an alien race for survival. Add to this the emotional ties that Rico makes with his firends, family and colleagues-at-war, the questions of morality and their resolutions, and this becomes a far-more rounded story.

Considering the age of of this book, the technology will not disappoint. As usual, Heinlein has taken the science of his day sufficiently far forward, and justified its failings so well that it survives through to today easily.

The aliens are amazing combinations of spidery, fast-moving warriors with underground hives, controlled by the central mind of a "Brain-Bug". With the ability to dig tunnels beneath the human infantry to gain the advantage of surprise. Heinlei
n uses these elements superbly to build suspense and a degree of horror in the ensuing planet-side battles.

If you liked the movie, you'll love the book.

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