Starship Troopers

First published in 1959, this novel follows Juan "Johnny" Rico from a comfortable Buenos Aires home into the Mobile Infantry of a future Terran Federation. Citizenship and the vote belong to those who complete Federal Service. Rico endures boot camp under career soldiers, learns powered armor and small-unit tactics, and is sent into a war against the Arachnids, a hive species whose raids include the destruction of his home city. Between drops, classroom scenes debate civic virtue, punishment, and why societies fight. The book is military science fiction about training, combat, and franchise, not a field manual and not a history of any real war.

Quarter-bound in black blocked cloth with image blocked green metallic paper sides. Frontispiece and 6 colour illustrations, including 2 double-page spreads. Metallic coloured page edges. Dark green slipcase with a printed inset colour label.