Category: Features

by Reynold Starnes Since first published in 1959, Starship Troopers, several later novels have been compared to it, including but not limited to,  Haldeman’s The Forever War, Gunn’s Death’s Head, and Old Man’s War by John Scalzi.  Examining the similarities and differences between Starship Troopers and Old Man’s War provides insights into both. Authors Background and Comparison Robert Heinlein was a twentieth century man.  He was born in 1907 and died in 1988; he was a part of, and influenced by, major events of the century.  He graduated from  the U.S. Naval Academy and served on the first purpose built U.S. aircraft carrier under Captain Ernest King, who as Admiral King led the U.S. fleet in the Second World War. Heinlein had strong and determined political views, although they evolved over his life.  He was an active supporter of socialist Upton Sinclair’s campaign for the Governor of California in the… Read more »