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sagenguyen's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
mchlcorona's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
juiceboxhero's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
bperl's review
3.0
I’d heard quite a bit about this story before I finally managed to read it. I’m a sucker for military sci-fi, and Heinlein’s controversial classic somewhat delivers on that score. His book should be noted for the ENORMOUS impact it has had on future entries in this genre - powered armor suits, for instance, are now considered a major component in military science fiction.
Heinlein is more intellectual in his approach to the effect of space combat than would be expected (consider Haldeman in his “Forever War”), instead philosophizing on governments and powers and the makeup of a true citizen. This doesn’t impede the progress of the book necessarily, but it does lend the story a staggered nature, one moment in combat and the next in the classroom.
Worth the read.
Heinlein is more intellectual in his approach to the effect of space combat than would be expected (consider Haldeman in his “Forever War”), instead philosophizing on governments and powers and the makeup of a true citizen. This doesn’t impede the progress of the book necessarily, but it does lend the story a staggered nature, one moment in combat and the next in the classroom.
Worth the read.
edustoryramos24's review
4.0
"I always get the shakes before a drop". I never forgot that line since I first read it some 44 years ago. It was my first Heinlein in the original English (until then I had read only Portuguese translations) and still my second favourite (after "Double Star"). Like much of the most popular Cold War SF, "Starship Troopers" is a metaphor for the US/USSR enmity, coated in romantic militarism, to be enjoyed keeping in mind the mindset of the times in which it was written
stefhite's review
5.0
Loved when I read it as a teenager in the 80s, and appreciate it even more now that several decades have gone by. The topic has only become even more relevant ... Should full citizenship (and its accompanying benefits) be available only to those who serve their country? While an unpopular notion, it could be the only thing that saves the US as the world reorders itself.
nashiraprime's review
3.0
Me gustó el narrador, creo que es un gran acierto del libro. Johnny Rico crece, duda, teme por su vida y la de los suyos. No es una máquina de matar, aunque esté entrenado para serlo. El problema, a nivel narrativo, es el exceso de proselitismo del autor, párrafos y hasta páginas enteras que sirven de plataforma para la exposición de su ideología e impiden la suspensión del juicio de los lectores.
alixelix's review
5.0
A book that combines space, military and philosophy? That's got to be a recipe for awesome.
I was starting to think I wasn't a true sci-fi fan after all, as I didn't seem to be enjoying all the 'classic' sci-fi books I should be. They felt like a bit of a chore to read and I had a slight sense of dread whenever I was about to start one. I didn't grok Stranger In A Strange Land at all. I didn't really enjoy reading it. It felt more like a job that had to be done. But Starship Troopers - fuck yeah!
I was a little hesitant before starting Starship Troopers. I haven't seen the movie but I remember when it came out. I wanted to see it then because, well – space bugs, but I didn't. Years later at the video store when I said “Oh, cool! Starship Troopers, let's get that one. It looked really awesome when I was 12”. The reaction I got was less than favourable. “Yeah, nah, let's not. It's … not good”.
So I started with a little trepidation but was soon completely engrossed. Starship Troopers doesn't feel like it was written over 50 years ago. It could have been written yesterday. Not because of the technology or the subject matter or the underlying themes or anything that I could put my finger on, but if you had asked me to guess when this book was written I probably would have given a date in the 21st century. A lot of sci-fi from the same period has a certain 'old-timey' feel about it. I think it's something about the language usage but I'm not an English Lit student so I don't know how to explain it better. Whatever it is, it wasn't there, or I was so busy enjoying the story that I didn't notice it, in Starship Troopers.
One difference this time round was that I hadn't read any essays beforehand making commentary on the book's symbolism or the 'authors intent' or about what the book was trying to say about society at the time or what impact this novel had on future authors. You get them in a lot of new editions of older books. I find these essays interesting but I really should leave them until after I've read the book so I don't get influenced by them and spend the whole time thinking about them rather than simply enjoying the story. I didn't read anything like that before Starship Troopers so I didn't have anyone else’s opinions or ideas of what the book was 'about' or trying to 'say'. I wasn't constantly watching for underlying themes or veiled metaphors.
I really enjoyed Starship Troopers. I would recommend it to almost anyone, not just sci-fi fans. It's an interesting study in human nature and raises a few very interesting philosophical questions that are still as valid today as they were 50 years ago. But more than that, it's simply an engrossing story.
I was starting to think I wasn't a true sci-fi fan after all, as I didn't seem to be enjoying all the 'classic' sci-fi books I should be. They felt like a bit of a chore to read and I had a slight sense of dread whenever I was about to start one. I didn't grok Stranger In A Strange Land at all. I didn't really enjoy reading it. It felt more like a job that had to be done. But Starship Troopers - fuck yeah!
I was a little hesitant before starting Starship Troopers. I haven't seen the movie but I remember when it came out. I wanted to see it then because, well – space bugs, but I didn't. Years later at the video store when I said “Oh, cool! Starship Troopers, let's get that one. It looked really awesome when I was 12”. The reaction I got was less than favourable. “Yeah, nah, let's not. It's … not good”.
So I started with a little trepidation but was soon completely engrossed. Starship Troopers doesn't feel like it was written over 50 years ago. It could have been written yesterday. Not because of the technology or the subject matter or the underlying themes or anything that I could put my finger on, but if you had asked me to guess when this book was written I probably would have given a date in the 21st century. A lot of sci-fi from the same period has a certain 'old-timey' feel about it. I think it's something about the language usage but I'm not an English Lit student so I don't know how to explain it better. Whatever it is, it wasn't there, or I was so busy enjoying the story that I didn't notice it, in Starship Troopers.
One difference this time round was that I hadn't read any essays beforehand making commentary on the book's symbolism or the 'authors intent' or about what the book was trying to say about society at the time or what impact this novel had on future authors. You get them in a lot of new editions of older books. I find these essays interesting but I really should leave them until after I've read the book so I don't get influenced by them and spend the whole time thinking about them rather than simply enjoying the story. I didn't read anything like that before Starship Troopers so I didn't have anyone else’s opinions or ideas of what the book was 'about' or trying to 'say'. I wasn't constantly watching for underlying themes or veiled metaphors.
I really enjoyed Starship Troopers. I would recommend it to almost anyone, not just sci-fi fans. It's an interesting study in human nature and raises a few very interesting philosophical questions that are still as valid today as they were 50 years ago. But more than that, it's simply an engrossing story.