Starship Troopers (novel)

Robert Heinlein published the novel Starship Troopers in 1959.^[1] Empire magazine asserts Heinlein appears to have written it in "a fit of pique", in reaction to Americans who wanted to cap the World's stockpiles of nuclear weapons.

The plot of the novel, such as it is, follows the enlistment, training, and heroic battle career of Johnie Rico.^[1] Rico is portrayed as a somewhat spoiled teenager who learns the value of discipline, and love for humanity, during the course of his grueling training, and combat.

Heinlein tucked lectures to his readers in the instruction offered to Rico.

Powered Armor

The troopers in the novel were trained to use powered armor, making each individual soldier extremely powerful.^[2] Heinlein's description of powered armor, in this novel, is widely believed to be the first instance of a now very powerful trope in science fiction. Troopers armor contained mechanical supplements that enable them to lift extremely heavy weights, and deliver crushing blows. The armor was equipped with jets, so they could jump over buildings. When Rico is promoted to NCO his armor is equipped with compact nuclear weapons.

Easter egg

Rico's nationality is not explicitly stated, until the last page of the novel, and American readers were extremely likely to assume he was an American. But, on the final page of the novel Rico mentions that his mother tongue is Tagalog, and that he is ethnically Phillippino. Heinlein wrote the novel at a time when the US Navy was segregated, and Blacks and Phillippinos were only allowed to serve as cooks, mess attendants, or stewards.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 "Triple Dutch: Paul Verhoeven's sci-fi trilogy". Empire magazine. 2014-02-12. Archived from the original on 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2026-06-05. Heinlein's book, written apparently in a fit of pique after he had come across a campaign against US nuclear weapon testing in 1958, is in essence a series of stern lectures on the subject of the value of military service and citizenship (it apparently is said to remain on the US Marines' official reading list). A little of its queasy blend of machismo and romanticism can be gleaned from its dedication: 'To drill sergeants everywhere who have laboured to make men out of boys.'
↑ Noah Shachtman (2004-12-12). "Exoskeleton Strength". ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2025-03-08. Retrieved 2026-06-05. The sci-fi author Robert Heinlein had the idea first: in his 1959 novel, "Starship Troopers," soldiers stepped into suits of powered armor to make themselves stronger, faster and generally better prepared to fight off alien hordes.

[empireonline2014-02-12-1] 1.0 ^1.1 "Triple Dutch: Paul Verhoeven's sci-fi trilogy". Empire magazine. 2014-02-12. Archived from the original on 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2026-06-05. Heinlein's book, written apparently in a fit of pique after he had come across a campaign against US nuclear weapon testing in 1958, is in essence a series of stern lectures on the subject of the value of military service and citizenship (it apparently is said to remain on the US Marines' official reading list). A little of its queasy blend of machismo and romanticism can be gleaned from its dedication: 'To drill sergeants everywhere who have laboured to make men out of boys.'

[nytimes2004-12-12-2] Noah Shachtman (2004-12-12). "Exoskeleton Strength". ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2025-03-08. Retrieved 2026-06-05. The sci-fi author Robert Heinlein had the idea first: in his 1959 novel, "Starship Troopers," soldiers stepped into suits of powered armor to make themselves stronger, faster and generally better prepared to fight off alien hordes.

[1]

[2]