Starship Troopers - Robert A. Heinlein

Starship Troopers by Robert A Heinlein. Published in 1959.

Very brief synopsis:-

With this book you follow the life of one Juan (Johnny) Rico from his enlistment in the Federal Service, Mobile Infantry, up to his command of a platoon of these troops in an Interstellar war. Mankind is facing a Bug like alien species, something like a giant ant crossed with a spider.

Johnny Rico comes from a background ...
...he signs up for service. Only a person who has completed a minimum two year service has the Right to vote. Not everybody wants to serve and thus vote.

A good part of the book is taking up with his time at boot camp and the training he undergoes. Running in the background that we are not aware of is the situation that is getting steadily worse, going from normal peace time through a state of emergency to a full war. The reasons for ... more

Starship Troopers by Robert A Heinlein. Published in 1959.

Very brief synopsis:-

With this book you follow the life of one Juan (Johnny) Rico from his enlistment in the Federal Service, Mobile Infantry, up to his command of a platoon of these troops in an Interstellar war. Mankind is facing a Bug like alien species, something like a giant ant crossed with a spider.

Johnny Rico comes from a background of wealth and privilege and through peer pressure and naivety he signs up for service. Only a person who has completed a minimum two year service has the Right to vote. Not everybody wants to serve and thus vote.

A good part of the book is taking up with his time at boot camp and the training he undergoes. Running in the background that we are not aware of is the situation that is getting steadily worse, going from normal peace time through a state of emergency to a full war. The reasons for this we are not told.

This book is written in the third person style and the characters are well developed and the society that it is set in, though we are not provided with a wealth of information, works. This book has been regarded as the start of Military Sci-Fi. A lot of the technology that underlines the society is not highlighted or explained in any way.

Now for the critical part.

This book has, since its publication, been decried as advocating a right wing militaristic life style based on violence. That is not correct in my view. Yes the main character is a soldier as are most of the characters.The society has a military side and voting can only be done after a period of service in the forces. And that is the point. The Right to vote is earned through Service to the Society. (On this planet with all the societies that we have, there is none like this. We have variations of Dictatorship and Democracy where various sections are expected to vote, but many do not).In the schools is a course called History and Moral
Philosophy; students are expected to attend but not pass. This is later developed in the Military academy. To quote a passage is I believe revealing.
The speakers are a soldier and a blind instructor, a Major.
Soldier:-" Uh, Sir why not go- well, go to the limit? Require everybody to serve and let everybody vote?"
Major:-"Young man, can you restore my sight?"
Soldier:-"Sir, Why No sir!"
Major:-"You would find it much easier than to install moral virtue-social responsibly-into a person who doesn't have it, doesn't want it. And resents having the burden thrust on him. That's why we make it so hard to enrol, so easy to resign. Virtues a person must develop themselves."

This book was written in 1959 and used the technology available and possibilities of that time to come up with a faster than light ship. No details of the drive were ever given. Some reviewers have criticised this point and use Joe Haldeman's 'The Forever War' (1974) as the proper example. Why? They are both different books taking different angles. Both feature a war true but one has fast ships and one doesn't. Each book is interesting in its own way.

There is a very hard, brutal logic in the way that the troops are sent into battle. They are packed into a shell and launched as individuals into the upper atmosphere of the planet to be attacked. Think about it. The more modern books have troops loaded by platoons and squads into some type of landing craft. A shot, projectile or missile, in these battles could destroy a craft, crew and possibly thirty troops. Very costly. In the Heinlein way, each trooper is an individual. Linked by radio, they are more like paratroopers who will assemble on the ground than Marines landed all at once.

The ships used take that into account. No needs for large shuttle launch bays and maintenance equipment. Instead a set of what we would now call rail guns set into the nose of the ship. Of course the troops need to be recovered, so the ships need shuttle craft, but if surface defences have been suppressed then they will not be as vulnerable. Thus the loss of solo life, equipment and training against the possible loss of an entire landing craft, crew and troops.

The whole scenario of space warfare depends on the speed that can be obtained from the space ships. Think about it. The distance in space is vast so unless you can exceed light speed, how do you know if you have won or if you need reinforcements. Thus you have to send enough to do the job first time. And that brings up the whole concept of war. What is it about? Land, resources. If all you need is a new source of raw materials, metals etc then the condition of the planet will not matter too much. Radio-actives and biological weapons can be used. If you want real estate then unless you can decontaminate radio-actives you do not use them.Though space based bombardment with kinetic energy weapons will do the job without radiation. (Meteor strikes)

The best enemy, for a story, is one that looks on you as a food source. Then there will be no sympathy in you for them. Thus a bug type or possibly lizard type will do.

This may seem to be digressing, but remember far from glorifying war, this book shows that controlled violence is a powerful weapon in any society's armoury and should be used with great care. Swords can have two edges, and can cut the wielder as easily as the opponent.

I enjoyed the book when I first read it. So it did not have the space opera type of battles that a lot of young men like, this was a more thoughtful book and the more that I read it, the more that I appreciate it. I have always been aware of Duty and Responsibility.

When this book was written Robert Heinlein projected a collapse of society by the 21st century. The society may not have collapsed but I for one can see what he projected every day, and its getting worse. He may have been a few years out. That is why this book make such uncomfortable reading for some persons and why they are so vehement in their criticism. They would
prefer Rights without Responsibility. Tell me that you have not seen examples yourselves. I can hope that such society does not come to pass as it came about after a major war. I have no desire to see that.

This book was filmed, and I have not seen the film. I understand that the special effects were good, but some of the rest of the film was bad. I am given to understand that this film was satire!!

Despite the constant criticism levelled at Robert Heinlein and this book, it won a major award and constantly topped the polls of books by readers.That in itself says something about the book.

The book was repackaged following the film. I have no idea if they left the text alone or made any changes. My copy I bought in 1967 for four shillings!

The newer ones will cost £6.99 in bookshops.
Amazon listing:
Paperback 224 pages (March 14, 2005)
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Paperbacks
ISBN: 0340837934
Amazon price £5.59

About the author. Robert Anson Heinlein was born 7th July 1907 and died peacefully in his sleep 8th May 1988. His first career was as a US naval officer. He attended the US Naval Academy at Annapolis (1925-1929), and served as a naval officer (1929-1934). Most of that service was aboard one of the first aircraft carriers, the Lexington. His naval career ended when he contracted tuberculosis; he was discharged in 1933 as totally and permanently disabled. He attempted to reenlist at the outbreak of World War II, but was refused. He was intensely patriotic.

 

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