Loved the comic book feel of the film, so couldn't resist reading the book. Very different, but great in its own way. Looking forward to reading it again in the future.

'Starship Troopers' - THE FILM - is a comic book, gore-fest of a Space Opera.. and I have to admit it is one of my guilty pleasures.

'Starship Troopers' - THE BOOK - is so, so different. You could say that in some ways it is worse - there is even less of a plot than in the film and there isn't the same amount of characters to get behind...in fact, apart from Johnnie, most of the others appear and disappear extremely quickly, with very little development at all. However, that isn't the point of the book and after a while you don't mind the absence of plot and characters. Because what this does is completely explore how one man (or boy to start with), makes a not so well informed decision to sign-up to the Mobile Infantry, and then learns to live with it.

The future that Heinlein creates is an interesting one and yet he justifies it extremely well. No-one is allowed to vote until they have proved that they can think beyond their own selfish needs; that they can put 'humanity' first and are willing to sacrifice their own comfort to do this. Proof is provided by serving in an Army or Navy where washing out is very easy to do - you just leave, but by doing so you give up the right to vote.

The war itself is almost secondary to the 'journey' that Johnnie describes in flashback. The Bugs are only sketchily added to the narrative, but act as a social mirror to the human society they are fighting against. The 'Skinnies' are barely mentioned at all.

Overall, an interesting and enjoyable read. A few questions posed to think about and a good enough character to want to follow, even in the absence of a plot. But a brilliant example of how book and film can be so different, while including the same ideas. Worth reading.

Off to America as a surprise wishlist RABCK - enjoy!

"Caught" this in the mail today as a surprise international Wishlist RABCK! Thank you!

1997 Ace paperback of the 1959 classic sf war tale. This copy is a tie-in to the really fun 1997 Paul Verhoeven Tri-Star film starring Denise Richards, Neil Patrick Harris and Michael Ironside. This is a pristine copy. This was on my list of best past sf to read.

I can let this go after I read:
1939 For Us, the Living [read 2011]
1940 Blowups Happen (novelette) [read 2012]
1941 Universe (novelette) [read 2013]
1950 Farmer in the Sky [read 2014]
1951 The Puppet Masters [read 2013]
1953 Starman Jones [read 2014]
1955 Tunnel in the Sky [read 2018]
1956 Double Star [read 2019]
1957 The Door Into Summer [read 2019]
1958 Have Space Suit-Will Travel [read 2019]
1959 "All You Zombies--" (short story) [read 2019]

Edit April 2, 2020: Sometimes I really enjoy this author, and other times I find him a bit tedious. But I probably missed some great stuff here in my skimming. This copy is still in excellent condition, for a careful release into a safe library box for the next reader. A release right now under virus lockdown is illegal, but I will sneak it out there anyway, as a sort of flaunting the dystopian future of the book. I currently have this ranked at #434 on my ranked list of best-read books lately.

... in the box.

And please visit the next meetup of TriValley BookCrossing group, at Panera Bread in Dublin, the second Tuesday of each month.

And if you are now hoping to catch or release another book, but don't know where, check out my home page for a full list of all the local Little Free Libraries and other great release zones, where books can be safely left and found!

Aside from loving shared books, my main passion in life is supporting the human rights work of my good friend, Anni Cyrus. 💖 💖 Her life story of survival as a childhood refugee is astounding, and quite moving!

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