Starship Troopers (S.F. MASTERWORKS) - Hardcover

Heinlein, Robert A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1473217482 ISBN 13: 9781473217485

Publisher: Gateway, 2016

Synopsis

'The historians can't seem to settle whether to call this one 'The Third Space War' (or the fourth), or whether 'The First Interstellar War' fits it better. We just call it 'The Bug War'. Everything up to then and still later were 'incidents', 'patrols' or 'police actions'. However, you are just as dead if you buy the farm in an 'incident' as you are if you buy it in a declared war.'

5,000 years in the future, humanity faces total extermination. Our one defence: highly-trained soldiers who scour the metal-strewn blackness of space to hunt down a terrifying enemy: an insect life-form known only as 'Bugs.'

This is the story of trooper Johnny Rico, from his idealistic enlistment in the infantry of the future through his rigorous training to the command of his own platoon. And his destiny is a war that will span the galaxy.

About this title

Review:

Written less than 15 years after the end of the second world war, as anti-Communist paranoia was reaching fever-pitch in the United States, this book is very much a product of its time. Originally planned for a juvenile audience, Starship Troopers has become a classic of hard science fiction, albeit a controversial one. Heinlein creates a future society where citizenship must be earned through military service, and although there are a number of exciting scenes of battle, much of the book is taken up with an exploration of the philosophical ramifications of such a society. The book discusses the necessity of warfare to moral development and the importance of beating children in order to make them into good citizens. Heinlein's political theory is quite unpalatable and occasionally irresponsible. However, the book is frequently exciting, and the details of the society are fascinating. This is an entertaining and thought-provoking book, but perhaps not best-suited for use as a political manifesto. The most interesting feature of Starship Troopers is its fascinating glimpse into America's struggle for a post-war identity, told as a heroic tale of interstellar conflict.

Review:

Heinlein's genius is at its height in this timeless classic that is as meaningful today as when it was written . . . a definite must-have, must-read book - SF Site Nothing has come along that can match it - Science Fiction Weekly Heinlein was absolutely at his peak when he wrote this in 1959 . . . this is military SF done extremely well

About this edition

• Publisher: Gateway
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1473217482
• ISBN 13: 9781473217485
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288