By Robert A. Heinlein

The Folio Society, out now

 

Juan ‘Johnny’ Rico signs up to the military to help defend Earth from the advances of alien ‘Bugs’, with only his mechanised suit, weapon and wits to protect him on the frontline.

For many, their connection to Starship Troopers will be via Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 movie and its variable sequels, possibly unaware of Robert A. Heinlein’s Hugo Award-winning 1959 novel. And indeed there’s another group that focus on the books overly militaristic ‘war is good’ fascist stance, an aspect mercilessly mined to comedic effect in Verhoeven’s movie. But the author’s 1959 novel is a lot of different things, ranging from a time capsule of Cold War American paranoia to a treatise on US foreign policy to a rip-roaring adventure story.

What’s undeniable is the impact that the novel had on the genre, and this is acknowledged by author Joe Haldeman in this edition’s foreword, his classic The Forever War (another Hugo winner) being informed by the legacy of Heinlein’s novel. This edition by The Folio Society also features artwork by Stephen Hickman (the third Hugo winner in this release) and you’ll have seen his work on countless paperback covers from Heinlein to Tolkien to Lovecraft. He contributes a frontispiece and six vibrant colour illustrations, including 2 double-page spreads. In a way, they’re a little too gaudy for such a quality edition, better suited to a battered paperback on a book rack. But then that’s the beauty of The Folio Society’s editions – everything from literary classics to pulp favourites.

Verdict: The Folio Society again prove to be the gold standard in hardback books, and even if you find Heinlein’s political views troubling, you can still enjoy a book that’s both old-fashioned and futuristic at the same time. Oh, and I love the shiny blue page edges! 9/10

Nick Joy

 

Illustration ©2018 Stephen Hickman from The Folio Society edition of Starship Troopers

The Folio Society edition of Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein, introduced by Joe Haldeman and illustrated by Stephen Hickman, is available exclusively from www.FolioSociety.com