However, I wish to make the post script public, because I like to push the things I love ~ and I haven't found anyone yet on the internet ready to do that for this book.
I am well aware of the criticism of this book. It is plain from the linked resource that many readers, particularly critics, have brought a great deal of baggage about the military, politics and quite a lot of other things not included in a literal reading of the novel ~ and who have then argued that a literal reading of the novel is itself an unacceptable social and political reaction to the book. I consider all of this sentiment to be a load of dingo's kidneys. There are no statements of fascism in the book at all, except to those without any understanding of fascism. There are no statements of "rah rah military" in the book, except from those who plainly have no understanding, or no ability to understand, that the military is not a garden party, and that we do not make weapons nor teach the use of weapons so they can be held prettily in parades on Remembrance Day.
If anyone wishes to discuss the book with me, I would be delighted. However, if it is the reader's purpose to deride or criticise the message of the book, I had better see exact quotes from the novel, with specific page numbers or chapters, and context, or else I intend to delete your comment. Prior to writing this post, I read half a dozen criticisms of the book and not one of them gave a single quote from the novel. This is appalling. But then, it is also what I came to expect from some English and Poly Sci professors in university.
Huh. I love this book, have owned it for years, and have read it many times.
ReplyDelete[I'll say for the record that I'm also a fan of the Paul Verhoeven film, though for completely different reasons...I enjoy the over-the-top humor and snark immensely]
Just why it continues to draw me...well, there are a lot of reasons. I'm not a Heinlein fan; I've never owned or managed to complete reading any of his other books. I suppose Starship Troopers is more straightforward and accessible (plus its short) and offers an idealistic 'philosophy of merit' that appeals to my inner boyish ideas of manliness. I also enjoy John Steakly's novel Armor, which I find to be a somewhat repudiating retelling of Heinlein's "Bug War" from the perspective of a post-Vietnam War author.
[Armor has other entertaining virtues, but that's a whole other digression]
Once again, you tempt me to throw some money at your Patreon just to see what you're writing over there. Maybe tomorrow. However. for now I'll just say *I* don't find the book terribly offensive (considering myself a progressive and a pacifist), nor even particularly misleading. I find it interesting, at times thoughtful, and generally a "good read." I feel much the same about Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha, which sits right next to Starship Troopers on my book shelf (and has been read about as many times).
I haven't read any Heinlein in decades, so I cannot add any details or debate.
ReplyDeleteI just remember that I loved reading Starship Troopers. I recall mostly that it made me think in ways I hadn't considered, and it kept me turning pages.
Perhaps I should find a copy to skim as a refresher.
The full audio book can be found on YouTube.
ReplyDelete@JB, I really recommend you check out Alexis' other blog. His full post on this, paralleling the protagonist's experience with that of a D&D character, highlights a valuable part of the mindset for how both player and DM approach the game.
ReplyDelete