law dawg Wrote:I liked Armor better than Forever War. Just my opinion.

Bluesman Mike Lindner Wrote:Do you think it's =filmable=, Gerald? I just don't see how. The story takes place over a =long= time, and so much of the action takes place in William's head. My second favorite scene: Mandala watches Marygay's ship torch and go away. And ponders, "Should I jump?"

My favorite? If you're a romantic like meself, it's yours too: When Mandala is in the bar with Charlie and gets the letter from Marygay..."We've bought a starship, and we're using it as a time machine..."

GeraldRice Wrote:Uhhh, not only have I not read that book, I've never even heard of it. I wish I could contribute something real to the conversation.

bones weep tedium Wrote:Snap!

I thought that Armor was great fun, despite the spelling mistake in the title I think that Starship Troopers had so little action in it that it was more a study of a system of government than an adventure. Armor had some great fight scenes, whereas The Forever War was a bit drippy



I can see what you mean, Blues. But I don't think it's unfilmable... it'd just take a lot of special effects to get the different eras of Earth to look good. The main character doesnt age a lot in the story - it's just everything else around him.



It's about a war in the future, and the soldiers all travel in spaceships at near-light speeds to get from battle to battle. Becasue of Relativity, their journey of a few months actually takes hundreds of years in real time. T

his means that in a military careers spanning thousands of years they only ever fight 3 or 4 battles, and each time they arrive their enemies are a hundred years or so more technologically advanced than they are!

It's a good read. milewinkgrin:

Bluesman Mike Lindner Wrote:It's a =great= read, bones!
And I must disagree with you about STARSHIP TROOPERS action. There was big mucho =plenty=, to meself. The First Battle of Klendathu. The hit-and-run raids, while Terra was rearming. (Wasn't Heinlein really describing the Pacific War?)
BUGS, MR. RICO! ZILLIONS OF 'EM! I'M A-BURNIN' 'EM DOWN!

bones weep tedium Wrote:It's been a couple of years since I read it, so you're probably right. But what I remember of the book wasnt the battles, it was the classroom stuff about political theory and junk.

Would you agree that there was more action in Armor? :confused:

Bluesman Mike Lindner Wrote:Yes, there was. But I think Heinlein's raps about =why= men fight, and why it is sometimes necessary, and the responsibility of men and women for their civilization, were as interesting and as necessary to the book as the combat scenes.

=Any= sf writer worth his or her salt can write a war-in-space novel. RAH went deeper.

law dawg Wrote:Same applies to Armor. Felix's battles with bureaucracy and superior officers who throw away the lives of the troops.

I put Armor up there with Gates of Fire, Starship Troopers, Hard Contact and Night Watch on my must read list for people in warrior occupations.

Bluesman Mike Lindner Wrote:Lawdawg, have you read WE ALL DIED AT BREAKAWAY STATION?

law dawg Wrote:I have not. Author?

bones weep tedium Wrote:It's been a couple of years since I read it, so you're probably right. But what I remember of the book wasnt the battles, it was the classroom stuff about political theory and junk.