Starship Troopers
First edition cover
Author	Robert A. Heinlein
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre(s)	Science fiction Philosophical novel[1][2]
Publisher	G. P. Putnam's Sons
Publication date	December 1959
Media type	Print (Hardcover and Paperback)
Pages	263 pp (paperback edition)
ISBN	ISBN 0-450-02576-4

Starship Troopers is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, first published (in abridged form) as a serial in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (October, November 1959, as "Starship Soldier") and published hardcover in 1959. Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7 1907 – May 8 1988 was an American Novelist and Science fiction Writer. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Philosophical novels are works of Fiction in which a significant proportion of the novel is devoted to a discussion of the sort of questions normally addressed in discursive Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of Literature or Information &ndash the activity of making information available for public view G P Putnam's Sons was a major United States Book publisher based in New York City, New York. A hardcover (or hardback or hardbound) is a Book bound with rigid protective covers (typically of cardboard covered with Cloth Paperback, softback, or softcover describe and refer to a Book by the nature of its binding. A novel (from Italian novella, Spanish novela, French nouvelle for "new" "news" or "short story Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7 1907 – May 8 1988 was an American Novelist and Science fiction Writer. The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (later Fantasy & Science Fiction and usually referred to as just F&SF) is a digest-size

The first-person narrative is about a young Filipino soldier named Juan "Johnnie" Rico and his exploits in the Mobile Infantry, a futuristic military unit equipped with powered armor. See also First person First-person narrative is a Narrative mode in which a Story is narrated by one character, who explicitly Filipinos or the Filipino people are the citizens of the Philippines. Juan "Johnnie" Rico is a fictional character from Robert A The Mobile Infantry (MI is a fictional military force in Robert A A powered Exoskeleton is a powered mobile machine consisting primarily of a skeleton-like framework worn by a person and a power supply that supplies at least part of the Rico's military career progresses from recruit to non-commissioned officer and finally to officer against the backdrop of an interstellar war between mankind and an arachnoid species known as "the Bugs". Recruit or army recruit is a term often colloquially used to refer to the lowest Military rank in various armed services A non-commissioned officer (sometimes noncommissioned officer) also known as an NCO or Noncom, is an enlisted member of an Armed force An officer is a member of an armed force who holds a position of authority The Bugs are a fictional Extraterrestrial race in the novel Starship Troopers by Robert A Through Rico's eyes, Heinlein examines moral and philosophical aspects of suffrage, civic virtue, the necessities of war and capital punishment, and the nature of juvenile delinquency. Suffrage (from the Latin suffragium, meaning "voting tablet" and figuratively "right to vote" probably from suffrago "hough" and originally Civic virtue is the cultivation of habits of personal living that are claimed to be important for the success of the community Capital punishment, the death penalty or execution, is the Killing of a person by judicial process as Punishment. Juvenile delinquency refers to criminal acts performed by juveniles Most Legal systems prescribe specific procedures for dealing with juveniles such as ^[3]

Starship Troopers won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1960. Winners of the Hugo Award for best science fiction or fantasy Novel, along with all the nominees are presented here The year 1960 in literature involved some significant events and new books The novel has attracted controversy and criticism for its social and political themes, which some critics claim promote militarism. Militarism is the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or ^[4] Starship Troopers has been adapted into several films and games, with the most widely known — as well as the most controversial and criticized — being the 1997 film by Paul Verhoeven. Starship Troopers is a 1997 sci-fi - Action film directed by Paul Verhoeven, written by Edward Neumeier, and starring Paul Verhoeven (ˈpʌul vɛrˈhuvən born July 18, 1938) is a Dutch BAFTA Award - nominated Film director, Screenwriter

Heinlein's military background and political views

Like several other authors who have written in the military science fiction genre (such as David Drake and Joe Haldeman), Robert A. Heinlein served in the United States military. Military science fiction is a Subgenre of Science fiction in which the principal characters are members of a military service and an armed conflict is taking David Drake (born September 24, 1945) is an author of Science fiction and Fantasy literature Joe William Haldeman is an American Science fiction author. Life and work Haldeman was born in 1943 in Oklahoma City Oklahoma Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7 1907 – May 8 1988 was an American Novelist and Science fiction Writer. Heinlein graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1928, and served in the United States Navy for six years. The United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States that educates and commissions officers of the United States He served as a lieutenant aboard the USS Roper between 1933 and 1934, until he was forced to leave the Navy due to pulmonary tuberculosis. Interwar period Following shakedown off the New England coast Roper sailed east in mid-June 1919 and after stops at Ponta Delgada Gibraltar, and Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for tubercle bacillus or T u' b' erculosis Bacillus --> is a common Heinlein never served in active combat while a Navy officer, and he was a civilian during WWII doing research and development at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The phrase research and development (also R and D or more often R&D) according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, formerly Navy Yard, was the first Naval shipyard of the United States. ^[5] Heinlein's non-combat Naval service would become a point of contention in later criticism of Starship Troopers.

According to Heinlein, his desire to write Starship Troopers was sparked by the publication of a newspaper advertisement placed by the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy on April 5, 1958 calling for a unilateral suspension of nuclear weapon testing by the United States. Peace Action is a peace organization formed through the merger of The Committee for a SANE Nuclear Policy and the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign (also known Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Nuclear weapons tests are experiments carried out to determine the effectiveness yield and explosive capability of Nuclear weapons Throughout the twentieth century most nations In response, Robert and Virginia Heinlein created the Patrick Henry League in an attempt to create support for the U.S. nuclear testing program. The United States was the first country in the world to develop Nuclear weapons, and is the only country to have used them as actual weapons, During the unsuccessful campaign, Heinlein found himself under attack both from within and outside of the science fiction community for his views. Starship Troopers may therefore be viewed as Heinlein both clarifying and defending his military and political views of the time. ^[6]

Writing of the novel

Some time during 1958–1959, Heinlein ceased work on the novel that would become Stranger in a Strange Land and wrote Starship Troopers. Stranger in a Strange Land is a best-selling 1961 Hugo Award -winning Science fiction Novel by Robert A It was first published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in October and November 1959 as a serial called Starship Soldier. The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (later Fantasy & Science Fiction and usually referred to as just F&SF) is a digest-size The term " serial " refers to the intrinsic property of a series &mdash namely its order. Although originally written as a juvenile novel for Scribners, it was rejected. Young-adult fiction (often abbreviated as YA fiction, or simply YA) is Fiction written for published for or marketed to adolescents roughly between the Charles Scribner's Sons is a publisher The firm published Scribner's Magazine for many years ^[7] The novel was eventually published as teenage fiction by G. P. Putnam's Sons. G P Putnam's Sons was a major United States Book publisher based in New York City, New York. ^[8] With their rejection of his novel, Heinlein ceased writing juvenile fiction for Scribners, ending his association with them completely, and began writing books with more adult themes. ^[9]

Plot summary

Cover of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (November 1959), illustrating Starship Soldier. The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (later Fantasy & Science Fiction and usually referred to as just F&SF) is a digest-size

Further information: List of characters in Starship Troopers

Starship Troopers is a novel set in an unspecified time in the future. This is a list of characters in the novel Starship Troopers. Some of the characters may also be found in the film Starship Troopers and Roughnecks It chronicles the experiences of Juan Rico, the story's narrator, during his enlistment and training in the Mobile Infantry, and his participation in an interstellar war between the Terran Federation and the Arachnids (referred to as "the Bugs") of Klendathu. The Mobile Infantry (MI is a fictional military force in Robert A The Bugs are a fictional Extraterrestrial race in the novel Starship Troopers by Robert A Klendathu is the homeworld of the Extraterrestrial race known as the Bugs (also sometimes referred to as Arachnids although this is a misnomer as the aliens are It is narrated as a series of flashbacks — one of only a few Heinlein novels to use that narrative device^[10] — and contains large sections of character discussion and introspection, as well as exposition, all meant to detail the political theory and philosophical beliefs underlying the society that Juan Rico lives in. In history film television and other media a flashback (also called analepsis) is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current

The novel opens with Rico aboard the corvette Rodger Young, platoon transport for "Rasczak's Roughnecks", about to embark on a raid against the planet of the "Skinnies", allies of the Arachnids. Rodger Wilton Young ( April 28, 1918 &ndash July 31, 1943) was an American Infantryman in the U We learn that he is a "cap" trooper (called this because they are dropped in capsules toward their drop zones) in the Terran Federation's Mobile Infantry (MI), a military unit somewhat like a cross between an airborne force and a marine corps. The Mobile Infantry (MI is a fictional military force in Robert A Marines (from the English adjective marine, meaning of the sea, from Latin language mare, meaning sea via French adjective The raid itself, one of the few instances of actual combat in the novel, is relatively brief: the Mobile Infantrymen land on the planet, destroy their targets, and withdraw, suffering three casualties (one fatal) in the process.

The story then flashes back to Rico's graduation from high school and his decision to sign up for Federal Service over the objections of his wealthy father rather than attend Harvard University. This is the only chapter that describes Rico's civilian life, and most of it is spent recording the monologues of two people: retired Lt. Col. Jean V. Dubois, Rico's school instructor in the subject of "History and Moral Philosophy", and Fleet Sergeant Ho, a recruiter for the armed forces of the Terran Federation.

Many readers have felt that Dubois serves as a stand-in for Heinlein throughout the novel. He delivers what is probably the book's most famous soliloquy, on how violence "has settled more issues in history than has any other factor. A monologue is an extended uninterrupted speech or poem by a single person "^[11] Fleet Sergeant Ho offers a separate angle on military service to that of Dubois. (Ho has prostheses for several limbs, but does not wear them on duty at the front door of the federal building. This is calculated to remind applicants of the real risks of service, and to weed out those not willing to take such risks in the service of the commonwealth).

Interspersed throughout the book are other flashbacks to Rico's high school History and Moral Philosophy course, which describe how, in the Terran Federation, the rights of a full Citizen (to vote, and hold public office) must be earned through voluntary Federal service. However, the franchise cannot be exercised until after honorable discharge from the Service, which means that active members of the Service cannot vote. Those residents who opt not to perform Federal Service retain the other rights generally associated with a modern democracy (e. g. free speech, assembly, etc. ), but cannot vote or hold public office. This structure arose ad hoc after the collapse of the 20th century Western democracies, brought on by both social failures at home and military defeat by the Chinese Hegemony overseas (i. e. looking forward into the late 20th century from the time the novel was written in the late 1950s). ^[12]

After enlisting, Rico is assigned to boot camp at Camp Arthur Currie. Sir Arthur William Currie GCMG, KCB ( December 5, 1875 &ndash November 30, 1933) was a Canadian General Five chapters are spent exploring Rico's training, under the guidance of his chief instructor, Career Ship's Sergeant Charles Zim. Boot camp is deliberately so rigorous that fewer than ten percent of the recruits finish basic training; the rest either resign (with no penalty, save never being able to vote), are expelled (likewise), are given medical discharges (which may however be refused) or lesser duties (enabling them to vote after their service is finished) or die in training. One of the chapters deals with Ted Hendrick, a fellow recruit and constant complainer who is flogged, and expelled for striking a superior officer. Flagellation is the act of whipping (Latin flagellum, "whip" the human body (Flagellation and hanging have become the principal forms of both civil and military punishment in the novel's world). Another recruit, a deserter who kidnapped a small child, held her for ransom, and then murdered her while AWOL, is hanged by his battalion after his arrest and transfer from civilian to military authorities. In Military terminology desertion is the Abandonment of a " Duty " or post without permission from one's Government or superior Rico himself is flogged for his negligent handling of a simulated nuclear weapon during a drill; despite these experiences, he graduates with his class and is assigned to an active duty MI unit. A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from Nuclear reactions either fission or a combination of fission and fusion.

At some point during Rico's training, the Bug War moves from police action and border skirmishes to outright war, and upon graduation, Rico finds himself taking part in combat operations. The war "officially" starts when an Arachnid attack annihilates the city of Buenos Aires, in which Rico's mother is killed, although Rico makes it clear that there had been many prior "'incidents,' 'patrols,' or 'police actions'". Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern ^[13] Rico briefly describes the Terran Federation's catastrophic defeat in the Battle of Klendathu; his own unit was devastated and its transport ship destroyed. The Terran Federation suffers such tremendous losses that it is reduced to making hit-and-run raids similar to the one described at the beginning of the novel (which chronologically would be placed between Chapters 10 and 11) to gain time to rebuild. Rico meanwhile finds himself posted to Rasczak's Roughnecks, named after Lieutenant Rasczak (whose first name is never given). This part of the book focuses on the daily routine of military life aboard ship, as well as the relationship between officers and non-commissioned officers, personified in this case by Rasczak and Sergeant Jelal.

Eventually, Rico decides to become a career soldier and with the encouragement of his fellow trooper "Ace" applies for and is accepted to Officer Candidate School, which turns out to be just like boot camp, only "squared and cubed with books added. Officer Candidate School or Officer Cadet School ( OCS) are institutions which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission "^[14] Rico is commissioned a temporary Third Lieutenant as a field-test final exam and, under supervision, commands his own unit during Operation Royalty; eventually he is commissioned as Second Lieutenant. At the end of his field exam, it is revealed that Rico's platoon sergeant during his final exam was Zim, his drill sergeant from Camp Currie.

The final chapter serves as more of a coda, echoing the opening few scenes of the novel and bringing the novel a sense of return and closure. Coda ( Italian for "tail" from the Latin cauda, see below is a term used in Music in a number of different senses primarily to designate In the preparation for this drop, however, Rico is aboard the Rodger Young as the lieutenant in command of Rico's Roughnecks, preparing to drop to Klendathu as part of a major strike, with his father (who has joined the MI earlier in the novel after his wife's death) as his senior sergeant and a Third Lieutenant-in-training of his own under his wing.

Major themes

Politics

Starship Troopers is a political essay as well as a novel. Large portions of the book take place in classrooms, with Rico and other characters engaged in debates with their History and Moral Philosophy teachers, who are often thought to be speaking in Heinlein's voice. The overall theme of the book is that social responsibility requires individual sacrifice. Heinlein's Terran Federation is a limited democracy with aspects of a meritocracy based on willingness to sacrifice in the common interest. Meritocracy is a system of a government or another organization wherein Appointments are made and responsibilities are given based on demonstrated talent and Ability Suffrage belongs only to those willing to serve their society by two years of volunteer Federal Service — "the franchise is today limited to discharged veterans", (ch. Suffrage (from the Latin suffragium, meaning "voting tablet" and figuratively "right to vote" probably from suffrago "hough" and originally XII), instead of anyone ". . . who is 18 years old and has a body temperature near 37°C"^[15] The Federation is required to find a place for anyone who desires to serve, regardless of skill or aptitude.

There is an explicitly made contrast to the democracies of the 20th century, which according to the novel collapsed because "people had been led to believe that they could simply vote for whatever they wanted. . . and get it, without toil, without sweat, without tears. "^[16] Indeed, Col. Dubois criticizes as unrealistic the famous U.S. Declaration of Independence guarantees concerning "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The United States Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4 1776 announcing that the thirteen American colonies then "Life Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness " is one of the most famous phrases in the United States Declaration of Independence. " No one can stop anyone from pursuing happiness, but life and liberty can exist only if they are deliberately sought and paid for.

Starship Troopers is also widely regarded as a vehicle for Heinlein's anti-communist views, best summed up by Rico's (and his Federation's) belief that "correct morals arise from knowing what man is—not what do-gooders and well-meaning old Aunt Nellies would like him to be. Anti-communism refers to opposition to Communism. Historically the word "communism" has been used to refer to several types of communal social organization and "^[17] Characters attack Karl Marx (a "pompous fraud"), the Labor theory of value ("All the work one cares to add will not turn a mud pie into an apple tart. The labor theories of value (LTV are theories in Economics according to which the values of Commodities are related to the labor needed to . . ")^[18] and Plato's The Republic ("ant-like communism" and "weird in the extreme"). Biography Early life Birth and family Plato was born in Athens Greece The Republic ( Greek: / Politeía, meaning "political system" Latin: Res Publica, meaning "public business" or ^[19] Many believe Heinlein's fears about communism are embodied in the Arachnids, the "ultimate dictatorship of the hive. "^[20] The Arachnids are a society of "total communism" adapted by evolution. Queens lay eggs by the thousands and send warriors off to battle without (apparent) regard for casualties, and both behaviors are significantly different from the individualistic Terrans. ^[21]

Military history, traditions, and Military science

During Operation Royalty, the Mobile Infantry occupy the surface of Planet P and have to blast the Arachnids out of their well-prepared underground bunkers, which is reminiscent of Japanese island fortifications during the Pacific War. Military Science is the process of translating National defence policy to produce Military capability by employing Military scientists including The Pacific War was the part of World War II —and preceding conflicts—that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands and in East Asia, between Following the losses in the ill-conceived and executed First Battle of Klendathu, the Terran Federation is reduced to making hit-and-run raids on isolated Arachnid and Skinny bases, similar to the U. S. Navy's situation between Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway. Pearl Harbor is a Harbor on the Island of O{{okina}}ahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. The Battle of Midway was a major Naval battle, widely regarded as the most important one of the Pacific Campaign of World War II.

The Korean War ended only five years before Heinlein began writing Starship Troopers, and the book makes several direct references to it, such as the claim that "no 'Department of Defense' ever won a war". The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the The United States Department of Defense ( DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government ^[22] Heinlein also refers to the American prisoners of war taken in that conflict, including the popular accusations of Communist brainwashing. Brainwashing (also known as Thought reform or as Re-education) consists of any effort aimed at instilling certain attitudes and Beliefs ^[23] After the Korean War ended, there were rumors that the Chinese and North Koreans continued to hold a large number of Americans. ^[24] Rico's History and Moral Philosophy class at Officer Candidate School has a long discussion about the need to never leave a single man behind, even at the risk of starting a new war. These positions may reflect popular views in the America of the late 1950s, and may have influenced Rico's (and others') commitment to his fellow Troopers when he concludes it "doesn't matter whether it's a thousand — or just one, sir. You fight. "^[25]

Several references are made to other wars: these include the name of the starship that collided with Valley Forge, Ypres, a major battleground in World War I, as well as Rico's boot camp, Camp Arthur Currie. Ypres ( French, generally used in English French ipʁ English ˈiːprə Ieper (official name in Dutch, pronounced /ˈiːpər/ or Ypern World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All (Named after Sir Arthur Currie who commanded the Canadian Corps during that war). Sir Arthur William Currie GCMG, KCB ( December 5, 1875 &ndash November 30, 1933) was a Canadian General The Canadian Corps was a World War I Corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Another World War I reference was the phrase "Come on you apes! You wanta live forever?", which comes from Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly at the Battle of Belleau Wood (Although instead of "apes", Daly said "sons of bitches"). Gunnery Sergeant insigniaUS Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant ( GySgt) is Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph "Dan" Daly (November 11 1873 &ndash April 27 1937 was a United States Marine and one of only 19 men (and two Marines to receive The Battle of Belleau Wood ( June 1 - June 26, 1918) occurred during the German 1918 Spring Offensive in World War I, near the Another war reference, this one from the War of 1812, is the implications of the court-martial of Third Lieutenant William Sitgreaves Cox, which are discussed in some detail. The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies A court-martial (plural courts-martial) is a Military court. These military courts can determine Punishments for members of the Military subject William Sitgreaves Cox (1790 &ndash 1874 was a third lieutenant serving on USS ''Chesapeake'' during the War of 1812.

Military innovations

Further information: Powered armor

In addition to Heinlein's political views, Starship Troopers popularized a number of military concepts and innovations, some of which have inspired real life research. A powered Exoskeleton is a powered mobile machine consisting primarily of a skeleton-like framework worn by a person and a power supply that supplies at least part of the The novel's most noted innovation is the powered armor exoskeletons used by the Mobile Infantry. A powered Exoskeleton is a powered mobile machine consisting primarily of a skeleton-like framework worn by a person and a power supply that supplies at least part of the An exoskeleton is an external Skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body in contrast to the internal Endoskeleton of for example a Human. ^[26] These suits were controlled by the wearer's own movements, but powerfully augmented a soldier's strength, speed, weight carrying capacity (which allowed much heavier personal armament), jumping ability (including jet and rocket boost assistance), and provided the wearer with improved senses (infrared and night vision, radar, and amplified hearing), a completely self-contained personal environment, sophisticated communications equipment, and tactical map displays. JATO may also refer to the group Jews Against the Occupation. A thermographic camera, sometimes called a FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed or an infrared camera less specifically is a device that forms an image using Infrared Night vision is the ability to see in a dark environment Whether by biological or technological means night vision is made possible by a combination of two approaches sufficient Radar is a system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the range altitude direction or speed of both moving and fixed objects such as Aircraft, ships An environmental suit is a Suit designed specifically for a particular environment usually one otherwise hostile to humans Their powered armor made the MI a hybrid between an infantry unit and an armored one. Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of Armoured fighting vehicles in Modern warfare.

Whether directly inspired by Starship Troopers or not, the United States military has attempted to develop "real world" technology that would give the abilities of the MI's powered armor to its soldiers. ^[27] Equipment which replicates many of the individual abilities of powered armor (night vision goggles, infrared goggles, and GPS locators) are now standard issue military equipment. Night vision is the ability to see in a dark environment Whether by biological or technological means night vision is made possible by a combination of two approaches sufficient A thermographic camera, sometimes called a FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed or an infrared camera less specifically is a device that forms an image using Infrared Basic concept of GPS operation A GPS receiver calculates its position by carefully timing the signals sent by the constellation of GPS Satellites high above the Earth ^[28] Between 1996 and 2007, the US Army conducted its Land Warrior research program, which would have given many of the MIs integrated communications and tactical intelligence abilities to United States infantrymen. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. Land Warrior is a United States Army program in 2007 that will use a combination of commercial off-the-shelf technology ( COTS) and current-issue military However, the program funding was eliminated in the army's 2008 budget. ^[29][30] The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency of the United States Department of Defense has also spent some $USD 50 million in an attempt to develop a powered exoskeleton in its Exoskeletons for Human Performance Augmentation program, although apparently without any significant breakthroughs or the release of battlefield versions of its prototypes. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA is an agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of new Technology The United States Department of Defense ( DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been ^[31][32]

Another concept the book pioneered was that of "space-borne infantry". The heavily mechanized units of MI troops were attached to interstellar troop transport spacecraft, which then delivered them to planetary target zones, by dropping groups of Mobile Infantrymen onto the planet surface from orbit via individual re-entry capsules (hence the book's slang term "cap troopers" for MI troops). The uses for such a force - ranging from smash-and-burn raids, to surgical strikes, conventional infantry warfare, and holding beachheads - and the tactics that might be employed by such soldiers are described extensively within the novel. This page is about the military attack for the Sega CD FMV game see Surgical Strike (video game. The weapons, tactics, training, and many other aspects of this futuristic elite force are carefully detailed: everything from the function of the armored suits themselves, to the need for multiple variants of powered armor, to the training of personnel in both suit operations and the specialized unit tactics that would be needed, to the operational use of the suits in combat.

Popularity amongst US military

While powered armor is Starship Troopers' most famous legacy, its influence extends deep into contemporary warfare. Almost half a century after its publication, Starship Troopers is on the reading lists of the United States Army,^[33] the United States Marine Corps,^[34][35][36] and the United States Navy. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. ^[37] It is the only science fiction novel on the reading list at four of the five United States military academies. The United States Service academies, also known as the United States Military Academies, are federal academies for the undergraduate education and training of When Heinlein wrote Starship Troopers the United States military was a largely conscripted force, with conscripts serving two year hitches. The United States Armed Forces are the overall unified military forces of the United States Today the U. S. military has incorporated many ideas similar to Heinlein's concept of an all-volunteer, high-tech strike force. In addition, references to the book keep appearing in military culture. In 2002 a Marine general described the future of Marine Corps clothing and equipment as needing to emulate the Mobile Infantry. ^[38]

The book is recommended reading within the U.S. Army and Marine Corps because of its emphasis on small-unit cohesion, the fraternity of service, and its focus on the forward-serving, elite mobile infantry units, that so closely resemble the infantry units of the United States Army, Delta Force, United States Army Rangers, the cavalry units of the United States Army, and the Marine Corps Force Recon. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. Mobile Infantry can be thought of a futuristic force incorporating elements of the aforementioned units (but more towards cavalry) due to their emphasis on raids, mobility, screening missions, scouting, unpredictability, and capacity to act as a quick reaction force.

Heinlein depicts the MI as a heavily armored but highly mobile force which virtually dominates the battlefield and utilizes shock effect to great effect- much in the way of modern armored units. Likewise, they are utilized in the same missions (raids, screens, etc. ) as modern cavalry. In effect, the role depicted in the novel, relying on mobility, shock effect, and firepower, greatly follows the modern US Army Armor branch, with parts running the gamut from light cavalry to heavy tanks.

Controversy

To Heinlein's surprise,^[39] Starship Troopers won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1960. Winners of the Hugo Award for best science fiction or fantasy Novel, along with all the nominees are presented here By 1980, twenty years after its release, it had been translated into eleven different languages and was still selling strongly. However, Heinlein complained that, despite this success, almost all the mail he received about it was negative and he only heard about it "when someone wants to chew me out". ^[40]

Literary critiques

The main literary criticism against Starship Troopers is that it is nothing more than a vehicle for Heinlein's political views. John Brunner compared it to a "Victorian children's book"^[41] while Anthony Boucher, founder of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, remarked that Heinlein had "forgotten to insert a story. John Kilian Houston Brunner ( September 24, 1934 &ndash August 26, 1995) was a prolific British author of Science fiction Anthony Boucher (born William Anthony Parker White) ( August 21, 1911 – April 29, 1968) was an American Science fiction The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (later Fantasy & Science Fiction and usually referred to as just F&SF) is a digest-size "^[41] Alexei Panshin complained that the novel was overly simplistic — "the account of the making of a [marine]. Alexei Adams Panshin (born August 14, 1940) is an American author and Science fiction (SF critic . . and nothing more"^[42] — and that the characters were simply mouthpieces for Heinlein: "At the end you know nothing of [Rico's] tastes, his likes and dislikes, his personal life. The course of the book changes him in no way because there is nothing to change — Rico remains first and last a voice reading lines about how nice it is to be a soldier. . . The other characters are even more sketchy, or are simple expositions of an attitude. "^[42] Richard Geib adds "The real life 'warriors' I have known are all more multi-faceted than anyone we meet in Starship Troopers. And the ones I know who have killed are much more ambivalent about having done so. "^[43] He further complained about the almost complete lack of sexuality among the characters and the absence of any serious romance. ^[43]

Allegations of militarism

Another complaint about Starship Troopers is that it is either inherently militaristic or pro-military. There was a two-year debate in the Proceedings of the Institute for Twenty-First Century Studies (PITFCS) that was sparked by a comparison between a quote in Starship Troopers that "the noblest fate that a man can endure is to place his own mortal body between his loved home and war's desolation"^[44] (paraphrase of the fourth stanza of "The Star-Spangled Banner") and the anti-war poem "Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen. " The Star-Spangled Banner " is the National anthem of the United States of America "Dulce et Decorum Est" is a poem written by a British soldier and poet Wilfred Owen during the First World War in 1917 and published posthumously in 1920 Wilfred Edward Salter Owen MC (18 March 1893 &ndash 4 November 1918 was an English Poet and Soldier, regarded by many as one of the leading ^[41] Dean McLaughlin called it "a book-length recruiting poster. Dean Benjamin McLaughlin Jr (born 1931 is an American Science fiction writer "^[41] Alexei Panshin, a veteran of the peacetime military, argued that Heinlein glossed over the reality of military life, and that the Terran Federation-Arachnid conflict existed simply because, "Starship troopers are not half so glorious sitting on their butts polishing their weapons for the tenth time for lack of anything else to do. Alexei Adams Panshin (born August 14, 1940) is an American author and Science fiction (SF critic "^[42] Joe Haldeman, a Vietnam veteran and author of the anti-war Hugo- and Nebula-winning science fiction novel The Forever War, similarly complained that Starship Troopers unnecessarily glorifies war. Joe William Haldeman is an American Science fiction author. Life and work Haldeman was born in 1943 in Oklahoma City Oklahoma The Hugo Awards are given every year for the best Science fiction or Fantasy works and achievements of the previous year The Nebula Award is an award given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA for the best Science fiction / Fantasy fiction The Forever War is a 1974 Science fiction Novel by Joe Haldeman. ^[45] Others have pointed out that Heinlein never actually served in combat, having been a Naval Academy graduate who was medically discharged for a tuberculosis infection and spent World War II as a civilian doing Research and Development at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States that educates and commissions officers of the United States Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for tubercle bacillus or T u' b' erculosis Bacillus --> is a common World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The phrase research and development (also R and D or more often R&D) according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, formerly Navy Yard, was the first Naval shipyard of the United States.

Defending Heinlein, George Price argued that "[Heinlein] implies, first, that war is something 'endured,' not enjoyed, and second, that war is so unpleasant, so desolate, that it must at all costs be kept away from one's home. "^[41] In a commentary on his essay "Who Are the Heirs of Patrick Henry?", Heinlein agreed that Starship Troopers "glorifies the military . . . Specifically the P. B. I. , the Poor Bloody Infantry, the mudfoot who places his frail body between his loved home and the war's desolation — but is rarely appreciated. The Infantry is the oldest and most numerous of the Combat Arms in the Armed forces, and consists . . he has the toughest job of all and should be honored. "^[46] The book's dedication also reads in part ". . . to all sergeants everywhere who have labored to make men out of boys. "^[47] However, he thoroughly disagreed that Starship Troopers was militaristic, arguing that the military personnel in the Terran Federation were not allowed to vote while on active duty — since "the idiots might vote not to make a drop"^[48] — and that the military was thoroughly despised by many civilians. Interestingly, Heinlein also received some complaints about the lack of conscription in Starship Troopers (the military draft was the law in the United States when he wrote the novel). ^[49] Heinlein was always vehemently opposed to the idea of conscription (calling conscripts "slave soldiers" and arguing that a nation which was not able to find volunteers to fight for it did not deserve to endure).

Allegations of fascism

Another accusation is that the Terran Federation is a fascist society, and that Starship Troopers is therefore an endorsement of fascism. Fascism is a totalitarian nationalist and corporatist ideology These analogies have become so popular that Sircar's Corollary of Godwin's Law states that once Heinlein is brought up during online debates, "Nazis or Hitler are mentioned within three days. Godwin's Law (also known as Godwin's Rule of Nazi Analogies) is an Adage formulated by Mike Godwin in 1990 " ^[50] The most visible proponent of these views is probably Paul Verhoeven, whose film version of Starship Troopers portrayed the Terran Federation wearing Nazi-like outfits and using fascistic propaganda; but Verhoeven admits that he never finished reading the actual book. Paul Verhoeven (ˈpʌul vɛrˈhuvən born July 18, 1938) is a Dutch BAFTA Award - nominated Film director, Screenwriter Starship Troopers is a 1997 sci-fi - Action film directed by Paul Verhoeven, written by Edward Neumeier, and starring ^[51] Most of the arguments for this view cite the idea that only veterans can vote and non-veterans lack full citizenship. Federal Service is not necessarily military, although it is suggested that a certain hardship and discipline is pervasive. According to Poul Anderson, Heinlein got the idea not from Nazi Germany or Sparta, but from Switzerland. Poul William Anderson ( November 25, 1926 – July 31, 2001) was an American Science fiction author who wrote during a Golden The city of Sparta ( Doric Σπάρτα Attic Σπάρτη Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation ^[12]

Defenders of the book usually point out that although the electoral franchise is limited, the government of the Terran Federation is democratically elected. Suffrage (from the Latin suffragium, meaning "voting tablet" and figuratively "right to vote" probably from suffrago "hough" and originally Democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is held completely by the people under a free electoral system There is freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of conscience. Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without Censorship or Limitation. Freedom Constitutional or statutory protections pertaining to freedom of the press Freedom of thought (also called freedom of conscience and freedom of ideas) is the freedom of an individual to hold or consider a fact viewpoint The political system described in the book is multiracial, multi-religious, and multi-ethnic. The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from different races. The protagonist Juan Rico is Filipino and others in his training group are American, Armenian, Japanese, German, and Turkish, Australian or Arab, and one or two have recognizably Jewish last names. Filipinos or the Filipino people are the citizens of the Philippines. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Armenians (Հայեր Hayer) are a Nation and Ethnic group originating in the Caucasus and in the Armenian Highlands A large For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The German people (Deutsche are an Ethnic group, in the sense of sharing a common German culture, descent and speaking the German language as Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Many also argue that Heinlein was simply discussing the merits of a "selective versus nonselective franchise. "^[41] Heinlein made a similar claim in his Expanded Universe. ^[52] The novel makes a related claim that "[s]ince sovereign franchise is the ultimate in human authority, we insure that all who wield it accept the ultimate in social responsibility — we require each person who wishes to exert control over the state to wager his own life — and lose it, if need be to save the life of the state. The maximum responsibility a human can accept is thus equated to the ultimate authority a human can exert. "^[53]

Allegations of utopianism

More recently, Heinlein has been accused of creating a utopia (in the sense of a society that does not, and cannot, exist), and that while his ideas sound plausible, they have never been put to the test and are, actually, impractical. Utopia is a name for an ideal community taken from the title of a book written in 1516 by Sir Thomas More describing a fictional Island in the This criticism has been leveled by the likes of Robert A. W. Lowndes, Philip José Farmer, and Michael Moorcock. Philip José Farmer (born January 26 1918) is an American Author, principally known for his Science fiction and fantasy Michael John Moorcock (born 18 December 1939, in London) is an English writer primarily of Science fiction and fantasy who has also The latter wrote an essay entitled "Starship Stormtroopers" in which he attacked Heinlein and other writers over similar "Utopian fiction. "^[54] Lowndes accused Heinlein of using straw man arguments, "countering ingenuous half-truths with brilliant half-truths. A straw man argument is an Informal fallacy based on misrepresentation of an opponent's position "^[41] Lowndes further argued that the Terran Federation could never be as idealistic as Heinlein portrays it to be because he never properly addressed "whether or not [non-citizens] have at least as full a measure of civil redress against official injustice as we have today". ^[41] Farmer also agreed, arguing that a "world ruled by veterans would be as mismanaged, graft-ridden, and insane as one ruled by men who had never gotten near the odor of blood and guts. "^[41]

However, this issue is still controversial, even among the book's defenders. James Gifford^[7] points to several quotes as indications that the characters assume Federal Service is military; for instance, when Rico tells his father he is interested in Federal Service, his father immediately explains his belief that Federal Service is a bad idea because there is no war in progress, indicating that he sees Federal Service as military in nature, or not necessary to a businessman during peacetime. Some Federal Service recruiters wear military ribbons, and a term of service "is either real military service. . . or a most unreasonable facsimile thereof. " Moreover, the history of Federal Service describes it as being started by military veterans who did not originally allow civilians to join and are not described as allowing them to join later. Gifford decides, as a result, that although Heinlein's intentions may have been that Federal Service be 95% non-military, in relation to the actual contents of the book, Heinlein "is wrong on this point. Flatly so. "

Allegations of racism

The supposedly racist aspects of Starship Troopers involve the Terrans' relations with the Bugs and the Skinnies. Some people are also uncomfortable with the idea of an interspecies war, viewing it as similar to a race war. Race war is a slang term referring to developing hostilities between ethnic groups divided on the basis of racial group Richard Geib has suggested that Heinlein portrayed the individual Arachnids as lacking "minds or souls. . . killing them seems no different from stepping on ants. "^[43] Both Robert Peterson and John Brunner believe that the nicknames "Bugs" and "Skinnies" carry racial overtones, Brunner using the analogy of "gook"^[41] while Peterson suggested that "not only does the nickname 'Bugs' for the arachnids of Klendathu sound too much like a racial slur — think of the derogatory use of the word 'Jew' — but Heinlein's characters unswervingly believe that humans are superior to Bugs, and that humans are destined to spread across the galaxy. The following is a list of ethnic slurs that are or have been used as insinuations or allegations about members of a given Ethnicity or to refer to them in a derogatory (critical "^[55]

Robert A. W. Lowndes argues that the war between the Terrans and the Arachnids is not about a quest for racial purity, but rather an extension of Heinlein's belief that man is a wild animal. According to this theory, if man lacks a moral compass beyond the will to survive, and he was confronted by another species with a similar lack of morality, then the only possible result would be warfare. ^[41]

Cultural references

Main article: Books, films, and games influenced by Starship Troopers

Starship Troopers influenced many later science fiction stories, setting a tone for the military in space, a type of story referred to as military science fiction. These are books games and films influenced by the novel Starship Troopers and the film Starship Troopers. Military science fiction is a Subgenre of Science fiction in which the principal characters are members of a military service and an armed conflict is taking John Steakley's novel Armor was, according to the author, born out of frustration with the small amount of actual combat in Starship Troopers and because he wanted this aspect developed further. John Steakley, born 1951 in Cleburne Texas, is an Author, best known for his Science fiction writing Armor is a Military science fiction novel by John Steakley. It has some superficial similarities with Robert A ^[56] Conversely, Joe Haldeman's anti-war novel The Forever War is popularly thought to be a direct reply to Starship Troopers, and though Haldeman has stated that it is actually a result of his personal experiences in the Vietnam War, he has admitted to being influenced by Starship Troopers. Joe William Haldeman is an American Science fiction author. Life and work Haldeman was born in 1943 in Oklahoma City Oklahoma The Forever War is a 1974 Science fiction Novel by Joe Haldeman. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia ^[45] Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is also thought by many to have been either a direct response to or influenced by Starship Troopers. Ender's Game (1985 is one of the best-known novels by Orson Scott Card. Orson Scott Card (born August 24, 1951) is a bestselling American Author, Critic, political writer and speaker. Card has flatly denied this, saying that he never read the novel and did not read The Forever War until after writing Ender's Game. ^[57] Harry Harrison wrote a satirical book called Bill, the Galactic Hero which he described as "a piss-take on Heinlein's Starship Troopers. For the radio personality see Harry Harrison (radio. Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey, March 12 1925 Bill the Galactic Hero is a Satirical Science fiction novel by Harry Harrison, first published in 1965. "^[58] John Scalzi's novel Old Man's War is, according to the author, explicitly patterned after Starship Troopers. John Michael Scalzi II (born May 10, 1969) is an author and online writer best known for his Hugo Award -nominated Science fiction novel ^[59] In recent years, John Ringo's series Legacy of the Alldenata (also known as the Posleen series) featured a more explicit homage to Heinlein's book. John Ringo (b March 22 1963 is an American Science fiction and military fiction author who writes full time The Legacy of the Aldenata, also known as the Posleen War Series is the fictional Universe of one of John Ringo 's Military science fiction series Posleen are a fictional alien race created by the Sci-Fi author John Ringo for his Legacy of the Aldenata series of books

The 1986 James Cameron movie Aliens incorporated themes and phrases right out of the novel such as the terms "the drop" and "bug hunt" as well as the cargo-loader exoskeleton. James Francis Cameron (born August 16, 1954) is an Academy Award -winning Canadian - American director This article is about the film for the video games see Aliens (Square computer game and Aliens (arcade game. The actors playing the Colonial Marines were also required to read Starship Troopers as part of their training prior to filming. ^[60] In 1988, Bandai Visual produced a 6-episode Japanese original video animation locally titled Uchu no Senshi, which is reported by Anime News Network as the media adaptation most faithful to the novel's plot. is a Japanese Anime, film production and distribution enterprise established by Bandai Co For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. abbreviated (and sometimes as OAV) is a term originating from Japanese animation ( Anime) for animated films and series which are made specially to be is a six part Anime OVA by Sunrise, based on the book Starship Troopers by Robert A Anime News Network (ANN is an Anime industry News Website that reports on the status of Anime, Manga, Japanese popular ^[61] The novel's name was licensed for Paul Verhoeven's film adaptation in 1997. Paul Verhoeven (ˈpʌul vɛrˈhuvən born July 18, 1938) is a Dutch BAFTA Award - nominated Film director, Screenwriter ^[62] The movie of the same name diverged greatly in terms of the theme and ideas with the novel. Starship Troopers is a 1997 sci-fi - Action film directed by Paul Verhoeven, written by Edward Neumeier, and starring It received mixed reviews,^[63] and was followed by a direct-to-video sequel in 2004. An animated series Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles which took inspiration from both the novel and the first film was started in 1999, and lasted for 40 episodes. Roughnecks Starship Troopers Chronicles was a CGI Animated television series based on both the novel by Robert A

In 1976, Avalon Hill published Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers, a miniature board game featuring a number of scenarios as written in the novel. Avalon Hill was a game company that specialized in Wargames and strategic Board games. Starship Troopers is a Board wargame by Avalon Hill based on the novel of the same name by Robert A Miniature wargaming is a form of Wargaming that incorporates Miniature figures and modeled terrain as the main components of play A board game is a Game in which counters or pieces that are placed on removed from or moved across a "board" (a premarked surface usually specific to that game ^[64] In 1997, as a tie-in with Verhoeven's film adaptation, they published Starship Troopers: Prepare For Battle! which entirely focused on the film. ^[65] A miniature wargame of the same name which used material from both the novel and the film was published by Mongoose Publishing in 2005. Miniature wargaming is a form of Wargaming that incorporates Miniature figures and modeled terrain as the main components of play For the novel by Robert A Heinlein see Starship Troopers In 2005, Mongoose Publishing, a gaming company based in the United Kingdom, released Mongoose Publishing is a prolific British manufacturer of role-playing, miniatures, and Card games actively publishing material since 2001 ^[66] Starship Troopers is also thought to have influenced numerous computer and boardgames, including Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun, Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, Tribes, and Tribes 2, ^[67] Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri,^[68] Halo, Warhammer 40,000, Fallout 2,^[69] and StarCraft. Command & Conquer Tiberian Sun is a futuristic strategy game by Westwood Studios For the biological concept see Tribe (biology. For the social concept see Tribe. Tribes 2 (commonly abbreviated to T2) is a Sci-fi first-person shooter (FPS Computer game based in the fictional Terra Nova Strike Force Centauri is a tactical First-person shooter Computer game developed by Looking Glass Studios and self-published Halo is a Science fiction Video game franchise created by Bungie and owned and published by Microsoft Game Studios. Warhammer 40000 (informally known as Warhammer 40K or just 40K) is a tabletop miniature wargame in a Science Fallout is a Computer role-playing game produced by Tim Cain, developed by Black Isle Studios (though before the studio was named "Black StarCraft is a Military science fiction Real-time strategy Video game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. ^[70] In 1987, a Choose Your Own Adventure-style interactive book set in the Starship Troopers universe, Combat Command in the World of Robert A. Choose Your Own Adventure is a series of children's Gamebooks first published by Bantam Books A gamebook is a Book that allows the reader to participate in the story by making choices that affect the course of the narrative which branches down various paths through the Heinlein's Starship Troopers: Shines the Name by Mark Acres, was published by Ace Publishers.

In 2006 Markosia began publishing The Starship Troopers Comics Ongoing Series , using, and expanding on, the background from the Mongoose Publishing wargame. Markosia is a British Comic book publishing company History Markosia was founded by Harry Markos in 2005. Mongoose Publishing is a prolific British manufacturer of role-playing, miniatures, and Card games actively publishing material since 2001

Release details

• 1960-06-01, Putnam Publishing Group, hardcover, ISBN 0-399-20209-9
• May, 1968, Berkley Medallion Edition, paperback, ISBN 0-425-02945-X
• January 1984, Berkley Publishing Group, paperback, ISBN 0-425-07158-8
• November 1985, Berkley Publishing Group, paperback, ISBN 0-425-09144-9
• November 1986, Berkley Publishing Group, paperback, ISBN 0-425-09926-1
• 1987-05-01, Ace Books, paperback, 263 pages, ISBN 0-441-78358-9
• 1995-10-01, Buccaneer Books, hardcover, ISBN 1-56849-287-1
• 1997-12-01, Blackstone Audiobooks, cassette audiobook, ISBN 0-7861-1231-X
• 1998-07-01, G. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 193 - Roman Emperor Didius Julianus is Assassinated 987 - Hugh Capet is elected Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. K. Hall & Company, large print hardcover, 362 pages, ISBN 0-7838-0118-1
• 1999-10-01, Sagebrush, library binding, ISBN 0-7857-8728-3
• 2000-01-01, Blackstone Audiobooks, CD audiobook, ISBN 0-7861-9946-6
• 2006-06-27, Ace Trade, paperback, ISBN 0-441-01410-0

Notes

References

External links

• Starship Troopers publication history at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• "Starry-Eyed Internationalists" versus the Social Darwinists by Rafeeq O. McGiveron. Examines Heinlein's transnational governments, including the Terran Federation.
• Militarism and Utopia in 'Starship Troopers' by Robert Peterson. Argues that Heinlein's Federation is a fascist government.
• Citizenship at War by Roberto de Sousa Causo. Review from a Brazilian newspaper.
• SciFi.Com book review by Craig E. Engler.
• Gotterdammerung.Org book review by Branislav L. Slantchev.
• SFReviews.Net book review by T. M. Wagner.
• "STARSHIP TROOPERS" by Robert A. Heinlein. An opinion by Richard Geib.
• "Thoughts on Starship Troopers" by Christopher Weuve.
• Rah, Rah, R. A. H.! - essay by Spider Robinson in defense of Heinlein mostly against Panshin's "Heinlein In Dimension"