Starship Troopers

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I was never much of a fan of Heinlein's juvenile books, (mainly because of Scribners' censorship) but that was one of the better ones (perhaps why they rejected it?).

The only reason some of RAH's books get labeled "juvenile" is because the protagonist is young. He certainly doesn't talk down to them.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Enjoyed it. Agreed with some parts, disagreed with others.


Liked this statement:

While a judge should be benevolent in purpose; his awards should cause the criminal to suffer, else there is no punishment

To compare and contrast, read Haldeman's Forever War.

Robert was looking at one way society could evolve. The civilization of that timeline was rescued by veterans who re-established law and order in their home territories. It naturally follows that they would think that public service should be required for the franchise. And "military justice is to justice as military music is to music, a special case thereof."

[Geoff]

I was never much of a fan of Heinlein's juvenile books, (mainly because of Scribners' censorship) but that was one of the better ones (perhaps why they rejected it?).

The only reason some of RAH's books get labeled "juvenile" is because the protagonist is young. He certainly doesn't talk down to them.

True, but the Scribners editors, particularly Alice Dalgleish, insisted on so many cuts/edits, that they lost a lot of the essential irreverence of his adult works. Coincidentally, I've recently been re-reading "Grumbles from the grave".

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I was never much of a fan of Heinlein's juvenile books, (mainly because of Scribners' censorship) but that was one of the better ones (perhaps why they rejected it?).

The only reason some of RAH's books get labeled "juvenile" is because the protagonist is young. He certainly doesn't talk down to them.

True, but the Scribners editors, particularly Alice Dalgleish, insisted on so many cuts/edits, that they lost a lot of the essential irreverence of his adult works. Coincidentally, I've recently been re-reading "Grumbles from the grave".

Any chance of the uncut versions appearing?

[Geoff]

I was never much of a fan of Heinlein's juvenile books, (mainly because of Scribners' censorship) but that was one of the better ones (perhaps why they rejected it?).

The only reason some of RAH's books get labeled "juvenile" is because the protagonist is young. He certainly doesn't talk down to them.

True, but the Scribners editors, particularly Alice Dalgleish, insisted on so many cuts/edits, that they lost a lot of the essential irreverence of his adult works. Coincidentally, I've recently been re-reading "Grumbles from the grave".

Any chance of the uncut versions appearing?

Unlikely, although some of the removed passages are quoted in "Grumbles". Well worth a read, if you haven't already.

I have noticed, though, that in some of his books, the UK edition differs markedly from the US one, and is closer to his original ms. In "Podkayne of Mars", for example, the only version I was aware of (until recently) was the one in which she dies at the end (as he originally wrote), whereas in the original US edition, the editor insisted on a happy ending, so he rewrote it.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Unlikely, although some of the removed passages are quoted in "Grumbles". Well worth a read, if you haven't already.

I wasn't where I could get a copy when it came out. Not in English, anyway.

I have noticed, though, that in some of his books, the UK edition differs markedly from the US one, and is closer to his original ms. In "Podkayne of Mars", for example, the only version I was aware of (until recently) was the one in which she dies at the end (as he originally wrote), whereas in the original US edition, the editor insisted on a happy ending, so he rewrote it.

Is there enough "meat" to warrant looking for non-US editions?

[Geoff]

Unlikely, although some of the removed passages are quoted in "Grumbles". Well worth a read, if you haven't already.

I wasn't where I could get a copy when it came out. Not in English, anyway.

I have noticed, though, that in some of his books, the UK edition differs markedly from the US one, and is closer to his original ms. In "Podkayne of Mars", for example, the only version I was aware of (until recently) was the one in which she dies at the end (as he originally wrote), whereas in the original US edition, the editor insisted on a happy ending, so he rewrote it.

Is there enough "meat" to warrant looking for non-US editions?

Well, you can pick them all up cheaply on Amazon marketplace these days. Not really "meat" as such, perhaps; they're still aimed at teenagers. They tended to make cuts on the topics of sex (of course), gun control, religion, general "morals" as seen by 50's America, I guess.
Definitely get a copy of "Grumbles", though - it's a fascinating read.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Well, you can pick them all up cheaply on Amazon marketplace these days. Not really "meat" as such, perhaps; they're still aimed at teenagers. They tended to make cuts on the topics of sex (of course), gun control, religion, general "morals" as seen by 50's America, I guess.

It will be "fun" making sure I get a UK edition each time.

Definitely get a copy of "Grumbles", though - it's a fascinating read.

Through the haze I seem to remember reading it way back when. (Of course, I've slept since then, so any good memory is highly problematical.)

[AshtonBlack]

I've not read it but I love The Forever War.. maybe I should read Starship Troopers. Have you read The Forever war Ashton?

I have, fairly recently too. I really enjoyed that too.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I've not read it but I love The Forever War.. maybe I should read Starship Troopers. Have you read The Forever war Ashton?

I have, fairly recently too. I really enjoyed that too.

The think I like about that one the most is:

Trigger Warning!!!1! :

The pragmatic way the "new humans" kept a gene pool of "old humans" "just in case." Good planning on their part.

[Elessarina]

I liked the mixed shower scene

I took the book with me to the jungle. (Along with LOTR and Stranger in a Strange Land.)

The movie is about five percent of the book with a lot of shit thrown in.

Did you grock the fullness?

[Elessarina]

To compare and contrast, read Haldeman's Forever War.

I love The Forever War.. i've not read Starship Troopers though - you'd recommend it?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

To compare and contrast, read Haldeman's Forever War.

I love The Forever War.. i've not read Starship Troopers though - you'd recommend it?

It may be the most "butch" book RAH ever wrote, full of testosterone. If you don't mind that it's an interesting study of one possible course our society could take.

I liked the mixed shower scene

I took the book with me to the jungle. (Along with LOTR and Stranger in a Strange Land.)

The movie is about five percent of the book with a lot of shit thrown in.

Did you grock the fullness?

"I grokked that I didn't grok."

[Elessarina]

It may be the most "butch" book RAH ever wrote, full of testosterone. If you don't mind that it's an interesting study of one possible course our society could take.

I love that sort of stuff..

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It may be the most "butch" book RAH ever wrote, full of testosterone. If you don't mind that it's an interesting study of one possible course our society could take.

I love that sort of stuff..

I liked the way he made it possible to get the franchise at any point in your life, it was never "closed".