Re: TCF BC -----'Starship Troopers'-----

by ReconToaster on Tue Jun 09, 2009 3:04 am

the point of a book club is active discussion, Not selecting a book for everyone to read completely separately.

by **BBJynne** on Tue Jun 09, 2009 3:09 am

well, okay

I think that it was a lot different than the movie, and I was surprised by the lack of a federal news network

the suits were really cool I thought, especially the way a few guys could hold such a large area and bring a different kind of warfare than later sci-fi has in it

Training camp was my favorite part of the book though, it has some generic training camp parts that are basically obligational, but also some parts I've never seen before, like him overhearing the officers talking and how that shook him up

overall though, my main problem was that having watched the movie first, the book was very different than I thought it would be, but better

by TNine on Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:17 am

I would love to discuss, can we just throw away the schedule and have everybody discuss?

by Cheese on Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:27 am

The schedule is to avoid spoilers.

I'll have something by the end of the day. I've got a bit on my plate atm.

by capn qwerty on Tue Jun 09, 2009 2:19 pm

ReconToaster wrote:Oh well this is just sad

I'm sorry! The book still isn't here yet! IT'S NOT MY FAULT!!! *hyperventalates*

Lol. But seriously the book isn't here yet.

by **Rasq'uire'laskar** on Tue Jun 09, 2009 7:01 pm

Hmm, I thought this was dead.

ReconToaster wrote:I've read the first fours chapters. I'll admit that first person has never been my favorite perspective, but when it's done right (like Prey) it can be the most gripping writing style available.

I don't know. I think it can be good, but it's always something I've had trouble writing.

Who is the main character addressing? When it he addressing it? Recalling it from a long time afterwards? Writing it down in a journal?

I also like the flexibility and creativity that third/omnipotent offers.

ReconToaster wrote:Still, there have already been moments in the book that have really surprised me. The writing of monologues seems to be one of Heinlein's strong points. The segments from Johnny's government class, and the discussion with the recruitment officer were great I thought.

That is where Heinlein is his best. When he just lets go and has a character explain government, politics, tech, or society. Did you get to the part with the nukes and the 'slow planet?'

ReconToaster wrote:I do like the perspective it gives you on the military of the future. It is one consisting of specialists, rather than large armies of what are essentially canon fodder. It makes infantry out to be just a 'specialist' a unit as something like a ship, or tank.

And he did that twenty years before the US government started to listen.

ReconToaster wrote:It didn't say much about how his parents reacted to the whole thing... which seemed kind of... odd.

You get to that later in the book.

ReconToaster wrote:Anyways, I'm liking it so far.

So am I.

by TNine on Tue Jun 09, 2009 7:23 pm

Rasq'uire'laskar wrote:
That is where Heinlein is his best. When he just lets go and has a character explain government, politics, tech, or society. Did you get to the part with the nukes and the 'slow planet?'

He read the first four chapters. That comes in way later, if i remember correctly.

by capn qwerty on Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:03 pm

Well, I finaly got the book, and so far it's a good read. I'm on chapter 4 atm.

Anyone else notice some similarities between it and the Haloverse? Namely that the MI seems a hell of a lot like ODST's and that there are "Sergant Johnson" and "Jenkins" characters.

by **Rasq'uire'laskar** on Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:10 pm

capn qwerty wrote:Well, I finaly got the book, and so far it's a good read. I'm on chapter 4 atm.

Anyone else notice some similarities between it and the Haloverse? Namely that the MI seems a hell of a lot like ODST's and that there are "Sergant Johnson" and "Jenkins" characters.

That's how influential that book, and Heinlein in general, is.
Hell, you'd be surprised at the influence it's had on StarCraft. The Marines were originally called "Marauders".

And Heinlein was the first science fiction author to develop the idea of the exoskeleton.

by capn qwerty on Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:10 pm

Well, I finished it.

TCF book club #2