Starship Troopers

***Starship Troopers*** is a military science fiction novel by U.S. writer Robert A. Heinlein. Written in a few weeks in reaction to the U.S. suspending nuclear tests, the story was first published as a two-part serial in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction as Starship Soldier, and published as a book by G. P. Putnam's Sons in December 1959.

The story is set in a future society ruled by a world government dominated by a military elite. The first-person narrative follows Juan "Johnny" Rico through his military service in the Mobile Infantry. Rico progresses from recruit to officer against the backdrop of an interstellar war between humans and an alien species known as "Arachnids" or "Bugs". Interspersed with the primary plot are classroom scenes in which Rico and others discuss philosophical and moral issues, including aspects of suffrage, civic virtue, juvenile delinquency, and war; these discussions have been described as expounding Heinlein's own political views.

Starship Troopers has been identified with a tradition of militarism in U.S. science fiction, and draws parallels between the conflict between humans and the Bugs, and the Cold War. A coming-of-age novel, Starship Troopers also critiques U.S. society of the 1950s, argues that a lack of discipline had led to a moral decline, and advocates corporal and capital punishment.

Starship Troopers brought to an end Heinlein's series of juvenile novels. It became one of his best-selling books, and is considered his most widely known work. It won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1960, and garnered praise from reviewers for its scenes of training and combat and its visualisation of a future military. It also became enormously controversial because of the political views it seemed to support.

Despite the controversy, Starship Troopers was widely influential both within and outside science fiction. The novel has been credited with popularising the idea of powered armour, which has since become a recurring feature in science fiction books and films, as well as an object of scientific research. The story has been adapted several times, including in a 1997 film version directed by Paul Verhoeven that sought to satirise what the director saw as the fascist aspects of the novel.

### Starship Troopers (1997)

* November 7, 1997 (US)
* January 2, 1998 (UK)

> *"A new kind of enemy. A new kind of war."*
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Starship Troopers is an American military science-fiction action film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Edward Neumeier. It originally came from an unrelated script called Bug Hunt at Outpost Nine, but eventually licensed the name Starship Troopers from a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein. The story follows a young soldier named Johnny Rico and his exploits in the Mobile Infantry, a futuristic military unit. 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 insectoid species known as "Arachnids".

Because the movie originated from an unrelated script, with names and superficial details from the novel being added retroactively, there are many significant differences between the original book and the film. While the original novel has been accused of promoting militarism, fascism and military rule, the film is attributed to satirise these concepts by featuring grandiose displays of nationalism as well as news reports that are intensely fascist, xenophobic, and propagandistic.

The only theatrically released film in the Starship Troopers franchise, it received negative reviews from critics on release but was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the 70th Academy Awards in 1998.

#### Plot Summary

The time is the future. Johnny Rico (Casper van Dien) joins the military after graduation to become a citizen and for the love of his high school sweetheart. In the war against the bug aliens of Klendathu, the military is a very dangerous place to be. Johnny works his way through several battles and with the help of his friends and comrades, helps turn the tide of the war, and save the human race. IMDb.com

#### Notable Cast

* Casper Van Dien as Pvt./Cpl./Sgt./Lt. John "Johnny" Rico
* Dina Meyer as Pvt. Isabelle "Dizzy" Flores
* Denise Richards as Lt./Capt. Carmen Ibanez
* Jake Busey as Pvt. Ace Levy
* Neil Patrick Harris as Col. Carl Jenkins
* Patrick Muldoon as Lt. Zander Barcalow
* Clancy Brown as Career Sgt./Pvt. Zim
* Michael Ironside as Lt. Jean Rasczak