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doctorwhou's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.0
davidcortesog93's review against another edition
reflective
medium-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? No
5.0
yknight's review against another edition
2.0
There were parts of this book that were okay, but overall it was not great. The plot was fairly weak and meandering. It wasn't driving towards anything. The characters were bland and most secondary characters got a couple sentences or less, a lot were not even named. You don't care when people die because you don't know anything about them.
And then there's history and moral philosophy. The most fleshed out dialog in the whole book is entire classroom lectures about why their government is perfect, because government is "an exect science" and there are supposed mathematical proofs that their government is perfect. Don't listen to those stupid psychologists, spank your kids, rub their noses in their accidents like a dog, and you're mathematically guaranteed to raise well adjusted citizens! Who should be the only ones allowed to vote? Veterans! Because obviously every one of them is the same and has no PTSD at all and they're guaranteed to put the needs of the herd over individual needs!
Also too much military jargon. But that's probably just one more sign that this book wasn't really written for me.
And then there's history and moral philosophy. The most fleshed out dialog in the whole book is entire classroom lectures about why their government is perfect, because government is "an exect science" and there are supposed mathematical proofs that their government is perfect. Don't listen to those stupid psychologists, spank your kids, rub their noses in their accidents like a dog, and you're mathematically guaranteed to raise well adjusted citizens! Who should be the only ones allowed to vote? Veterans! Because obviously every one of them is the same and has no PTSD at all and they're guaranteed to put the needs of the herd over individual needs!
Also too much military jargon. But that's probably just one more sign that this book wasn't really written for me.
tedce's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
remjunior's review against another edition
3.0
What a strange book. I'm still not sure what the hell Heinlein is trying to say (well, I am, but it is all over the place and sort of funny but I don't think he meant it that way) but it was fun to read, especially considering the context of when it was written. I can definitely understand why other may not like this, because it definitely wanders deeply into philosophy of war and self and country, but I enjoyed it mostly.
jekaluleka's review against another edition
3.0
I thought the sci-fi elements of this were really great, and the philosophy thought-provoking, although sometimes a bit on the authoritarian side, yikes
sarahetc's review against another edition
3.0
Starship Troopers! Bang! Whizz! Huzzah!
And yeah, wow, who needs special effects when you've got all this time to really contemplate moral philosophy?
I admit that I read this as someone who really enjoyed the widely-panned movie of the 1990s. I did! Sometimes it's fun to go back and read the book. And so my overwhelming impression is one of calm contemplation. I probably could have passed on all the endless permutations of rankings and chains of commands, but I did really enjoy Rico's education and his exchanges with his various instructors about the moral imperatives they were operating under. It was entertain and instructional at the same time without the Blah de Blah de Bloo nonsense I remember from Stranger in a Strange Land. This was much more along the lines of The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, which I found tremendously enjoyable. It only lacks a Wyoh character-- and for all her purported charm, we just don't see enough Carmen to get a sense of her.
Not my favorite Heinlein but definitely worthwhile and definitely in the yes, read it category.
And yeah, wow, who needs special effects when you've got all this time to really contemplate moral philosophy?
I admit that I read this as someone who really enjoyed the widely-panned movie of the 1990s. I did! Sometimes it's fun to go back and read the book. And so my overwhelming impression is one of calm contemplation. I probably could have passed on all the endless permutations of rankings and chains of commands, but I did really enjoy Rico's education and his exchanges with his various instructors about the moral imperatives they were operating under. It was entertain and instructional at the same time without the Blah de Blah de Bloo nonsense I remember from Stranger in a Strange Land. This was much more along the lines of The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, which I found tremendously enjoyable. It only lacks a Wyoh character-- and for all her purported charm, we just don't see enough Carmen to get a sense of her.
Not my favorite Heinlein but definitely worthwhile and definitely in the yes, read it category.
mikeymikec85's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
jeffscott's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0