Starship Troopers

What is the Science Fiction Premise?

Starship Troopers is a book of military Science Fiction. Or should I say, the book of military science fiction, being both earlier (1959) and more committed to military concerns than many other books. In the Baen Reader's List of Recommended Military Science Fiction at Worlds Without End, Starship Troopers was the most recommended title for the list. (Putting aside the Lord of the Rings Trilogy (1954, 1955), there are only five earlier titles on the list, two contain short stories and one is another Heinlein novel.)

That said, our goal here is to identify the Science Fiction Premise, not the sub-genre. There are many science fiction ideas in the novel -- faster-than-light travel, small-scale nuclear weapons, galactic empire -- but these are treated casually and without explanation. The novel relies on the groundwork laid by earlier science fiction novels rather than developing these ideas itself.

There are, however, two ideas that distinguish Starship Troopers making it more than just Space Opera. The first and probably the most important is a sociological premise in which military service becomes the basis for obtaining the right to vote. The second is the technology underlying an infantryman's powered armor suit. We'll focus on these as the Science Fiction Premises.

Is the science of the premise explored?

One of the strengths of the book is its straightforward story of how it works and feels to move from being a civilian to a soldier. Much of this description could be applied equally well to the present, especially with the current (2014) emphasis on an all-volunteer army. Woven into this story is a collection of flashbacks, vignettes, and musings that reveal the ways in which society is different from the one we know. The key change is that you must finish your "term" in the military to become a full voting citizen. The explanation and defense of this arrangement is continuous and thorough, ranging through discussions of history, ethics, politics, and societal imperatives.

The second premise, the powered suit, is less frequently discussed, but critical to the concept of the Mobile Infantry (MI), the backbone of future warfare. We are provided explanations of its design and operation, especially during the protagonist's training. We also get to see it in action, learn some of the implications for tactics, and imagine how it might feel to occupy the suit.

Is the impact of the premise on an individual explored?

The story is told in first person from the perspective of a young man, Juan Rico, who becomes a soldier. Heinlein does not portray him as indoctrinated or unwittingly accepting of the rules by which his society operates. He is constantly trying to understand how what he knows applies to his training and situation. It's not even altogether clear how much he cares about being able to vote. The price of becoming enfranchised is underplayed as a direct influence. Instead, it is emblematic of a collection of societal changes that shape Rico's choices and lead him into becoming a soldier.

As for the powered suit of armor, we do not learn much of how it affects the wearer. We do see Rico as more confident as the story progresses, but that's due to his training, not the suit. We learn how it feels to use the suit and how tactics are different because of it, but we do not see any long lasting impact of the suit.

Is the impact of the premise on society explored?

The sociological change portrayed in the book is the main point of the book. Heinlein's senior characters argue strongly for the merits of only enfranchising those who serve. One character even goes so far as to argue that these ideas are "scientifically and mathematically" provable. We are only given a few glimpses of earlier history when the society shifted to the new way of doing things. For the most part, the impact of the societal changes are understood by a comparison of what we know of the world we live in and what we are told of the new world. A frustrating, though understandable, aspect of the novel is that we only learn about this new society from the point of view of a soldier and the people around him.

There does not appear to be any particular claim for how the powered suits and the MI change society or the military. It seems pretty much like the same military with new tactics.

How well written is the story?

The book is quite readable, especially when it describes action of any sort. The challenge arrives when the book veers into presenting and defending its central thesis. These diatribes can be quite tedious, especially if you are familiar with any of Heinlein's other books.

Perhaps this is where I should confess that I have read many Heinlein novels. When I was young, they were fun stories with eye-opening, mind-expanding ideas. Somewhere around twenty-five and for the next forty years, I found Heinlein's approach to narrative very annoying.

Firstly, he does not seem to understand show, don't tell. This is a bit unfair. He does show; he just can't seem to avoid telling as well. He seems to be afraid we might miss the point.

Secondly, his arguments are always polemics. He has no interest in conducting a debate, telling the other side, or even portraying trade-offs. His political ideas, no matter how far out or radical, are the truth, the way, and the light. The novel is his pulpit.

Finally, as I mentioned above, many of his arguments are not new to anyone who has read other Heinlein novels. He had a world view that drove his writing. Once you read enough of his novels, you begin to feel that the story is simply a shill, designed to entice you into watching while he plays his intellectual game. Perhaps all novels are like that a bit. With Heinlein, it starts to show.

Can I recommend the book?

Before offering my opinion, let me first comment on the movie adaptation of Starship Troopers. It is a loose adaptation and should not guide your thinking about whether to seek or avoid the book. Neither the theme nor the feel of the book is captured by the movie. Moreover, one of the striking aspects of the movie -- the mixed-gender military units -- is more reminiscent of Haldeman's The Forever War than Heinlein's novel.

Having said that and despite my negative opinion of Heinlein's collected works, I do recommend Starship Troopers. It is a marvelous portrayal of military life. Those who like Space Opera or adventure stories might find the novel a little tame, since it is more about preparing for battle than engaging in battle, though that happens eventually. Nevertheless, I found the inside view of a soldier's life both interesting and enlightening.

For students of Science Fiction, Starship Troopers is required reading. It is both central to the sub-genre of military science fiction and as good a representation of Heinlein's writing as you are likely to find. It is the first book in his shift from juvenile to adult science fiction. As such, it still possesses some of the restraint that he abandons in his self-indulgent later years.

Tar Daddoo