Starship Troopers

By: Robert A. Heinlein

Narrated by: Lloyd James

Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Join the Army and See the Universe. That is the motto of The Third Space War, also known as The First Interstellar War, but most commonly as The Bug War. In one of Robert Heinlein's most controversial best sellers, a recruit of the future goes through the toughest boot camp in the universe - and into battle with the Terrain Mobile Infantry against mankind's most alarming enemy.

©1959 by Robert A. Heinlein (P)1998 by Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

• Hugo Award, 1960

Not very good voice talent or recording.

Great story marred by a bored naration. Mr. James manages to stay unenthusiastic and uninspired throughout this classic sci fi military fiction. Little to no character range and lack of passion despite plenty of opportunities for such during the narrative. The sound quality also fluctuates almost as though some sections were not restored properly when converted digitally. The audio does no justice to one of Heinlein's most memorable works.

Something new every time.

Once knew an SF Colonel that joyfully referred to this as his second Bible. Some of the philosophical points still ring true today.
Required reading if you are or ever have been a Grunt.

Best Leadership Instruction Book Ever

My military husband recommended this book, saying it was a great guide to the fundamentals of leadership. He was right. Whether you run a platoon, a scout troop, a household, or a boardroom, this is a valuable resource. Read it, study it, then read it again. Well worth your time.

Best book on the entirely of history

I've read this book every year since middle school. During deployments, our is the only book I read. I'll continue reading it at least every year until I buy my own farm. God bless the army.

jumpy recording

extremely jumpy audio and the narrator seemed like he didn't understand inflection nor pacing.

Glad I finished this book

I saw the movie before I listened to the book.
Okay. the book is really different.
Very different.
I'm glad I heard the book.
Let's me know how very very different the book is.

one problem

my only problems was that the audio sounds muffled in some parts. sounds like it was spoked through a door.

Not the movie.

While I enjoyed the movie as a child the book is completely different. Having just finished it, and not liking the ending, I'm still digesting it. The view points of the author are interesting and focus more on group rights (europe) as opposed to individual rights (U.S.). That being said I still think that overall the book was enjoyable.

Death by Monotone

In my opinion, this is a must read book for high school graduates, and in my mind holds a status matched by the likes of 1984 or Brave New World. There is a reason it is on the USMC Commandants reading list for young enlisted men and officers alike. This reading, however, made this book hard to get through. It’s hard to overstate how monotonous the readers voice makes this story, to the point that he could probably take some lessons from my 65 year old engineering professor who barely speaks english.

Explained to a friend

You know whats significant about this book thus far is that Juan Rico is neither exemplary or strange. This is the story of an average man’s time in the military in the far flung future devoid of parody or jest.