Robert Heinlein was one of the “big three” science fiction writers of his era. Along with Arthur C. Clark and Isaac Asimov, his prize-winning stories were hailed, and his critique of conventional norms, such as nonviolence and pacifism, captivated his audience. In particular, the 1959 book Starship Troopers illustrated political and religious issues that continue to engage Christian Realists today. The book takes brutal aim at pacifism, and thirty-eight years later it was made into the popular 1997 sci-fi film of the same name. Starring Caper Van Dien. as “Johnny Rico,” the hapless high-school graduate who, looking for love, ends up enlisting in the military, fighting aliens, and transforming his life and world view. Starship Troopers reflects concerns about the Cold War, pacifism, and the struggle of American values.
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