tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2856065630155928814.post1990962997278218191..comments2023-10-06T20:40:16.011-07:00Comments on Scientist Gone Wordy: Starship Troopers by Robert A. HeinleinRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12471937819219493034noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2856065630155928814.post-17320842272300490482011-07-01T22:47:46.496-07:002011-07-01T22:47:46.496-07:00heya lp13! Great thoughts! My responses below:
Po...heya lp13! Great thoughts! My responses below:<br /><br />Point the First - As someone who did read this book for the first time at quite a young age I think you are very right. It's not only my view of the philosophy that as changed as I've gotten older but my thoughts on Rico, as well. My thoughts on Rico are irrelevant to his purpose which is to be the transmitter of the philosophy and in that regard he does quite well. :)<br /><br />Point the Second - I would agree (and I would assert that it's remarkable that Heinlein presented this fairly well as his strong point is not writing persons of color well - or women but let's try not to get me starting down that road... it's one of the nice things about this book that these weaknesses are less obvious) and I would go so far as to say it does a better job of seeing this as the makeup of the military than we do today. Our poster-child view of the military is still "jaw-jutting" Caucasians (as you mentioned in the movie review) but if you look at demographic statistics the per capita per race volunteering for the military is higher in many racial groups other than Caucasians.<br /><br />Point the Cubed - I also figured this was a platform for Heinlein but I didn't go into that. It's his book and if that's what he wants to use it for then I'm not going to quibble. I don't mind unpopular ideas because they get people thinking and talking. You can't dislike an idea if you can't articulate why (well, you can't dislike an idea and be taken seriously anyway) and being able to do that is a good thing. Sometimes a philosophy that gets your back up helps you to see more clearly what it is you do think and sometimes it's not quite what you would have thought! That is cool stuff indeed.<br /><br />I also found the book Utopian in scope and it drives me nuts that it doesn't seem to realize it. Portions of the sermons go so far as to say that this set-up is based on the reality of how people act and that just seems preposterous. I think the whole theme would make a much better argument if it had more perspective...<br /><br />Great discussion! Books are awesome. :)<br /><br />btw, didn't know the Godwin's Law thing but I love it! I don't know that I've used it as a point in an internet discussion but I use the blanket Nazi phrase in real life all the time as a jokey way of immediately indicating that something is wrong. Tee hee.Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12471937819219493034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2856065630155928814.post-15503621612630217782011-07-01T09:43:19.661-07:002011-07-01T09:43:19.661-07:00As usual, another excellent book review that makes...As usual, another excellent book review that makes me look at the book from another perspective, Rachel. It brings up much to discuss!<br /><br />First, I think if I'd read this book at a younger age I would have had more of a connection with Rico (btw, this was the first Filipino lead protagonist I encountered ever in a book). However, your point that he's a sponge to the ideas he's absorbing is spot-on, and that what's coming down the pike is going to be new and enlightening, even if they may not be either.<br /><br />Second, for material written in the late-50s, it's remarkable that it predicted a more ethnically diverse state and military system, one made up of only volunteers. Along with a mechanized mobile infantry, the novel's concepts were forward thinking enough our military embraces a good portion of it today.<br /><br />Third, certainly author Heinlein was reactive to the time around him (the Cold War fears does seep through the work much like the old sci-fi/monster movies of that decade). Most critics see Heinlein speaking his own thoughts and ideology through the lectures of the History and Philosophy teachers and Mobile Infantry officers in the novel. I guess, it shouldn't be surprising this draws the most criticism from some for its point of view, which is decidedly anti-Communist and less liberal.<br /><br />The more authoritarian meritocracy the novelist presupposes in STARSHIP TROOPERS (almost utopian in nature) I'm sure splits the readership. You either see its ideal value or shake your head wistfully that human society just doesn't work that way. I've read that in any discussion of this book, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_Law" rel="nofollow">Godwin's Law</a> will quickly rear its head. It seems whenever Communism is brought up, its opposite number is the counter. Probably, this is why the film adaptation by Paul Verhoeven made Fascism the undertone.<br /><br />Still, it's an exceptional sci-fi novel whether one agrees with Robert Heinlein, or not (I'm more the latter). Another great selection for this series, Rachel. Thanks for bringing it up for this series.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.com