Customer Reviews

Starship Troopers: A Company of Stars (Pan Science Fiction) (Starship Troupers)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Personally, I think that this is Stasheff's best single book, with the possible exception of Warlock In Spite of Himself. The characters are interesting, and different, as is the situation. It's not just the same old story rehashed for the umpteenth time, like too many of the author's works. Of course, this series does become repetitive after the first book, but not so much so as the Warlock books (not to mention the Rogue Wizard series). At least, in this book, it's the first time he's used this formula. And, of course, being Stasheff, it's loads of fun! He's got to be doing something right to keep me reading all his books.

Being a longtime theatrical participant myself, I found I rather enjoyed this nice science fiction tale, first of the Starship Troupers series. When Ramou Lazarian is fingered as the parent in a pregnancy he knows full well is impossible, he flees to New York City to make his fortune. Ramou stumbles upon Horace Burbage, an aging actor who is helping to establish a new theatrical company to take live theatre to the Terran colonies on other planets. Ramou signs on as assistant technical director and he, Horace and the group's leader, Barry Tallendar, begin to recruit actors and crew. As they work to build their company, however, the Star Company has fallen under the gaze of Elector Rudders, whose disdain of live theatre threatens to shut them down before they even have a chance to lift off.

This was a fun book, with a light comic touch that really made it feel authentic in terms of characterization. Actors have been the same since the dawn of time, and there's no reason to believe they'd be very different 500 years in the future. However, public opinion does change, and that leads to the fundamental weakness of the story, our villain Rudders. The character -- who in this book appears only in television (or "3DT" broadcasts) and interviews -- is a caricature of the Bible-thumping, moral policeman that has been such a cliched villain over the years. It's hard to believe that a man like Rudders would become such a media darling, as even in this day and age such a person gets targeted by the media and Hollywood alike, who stop at nothing to ridicule him into obscurity.

The book also has a slight problem with shifting viewpoints. The story bounces from Ramou's first person viewpoint to Horace's fairly regularly, and without any sort of set transition. Sometimes it's easy to tell a bounce has taken place, but sometimes it isn't, and that leads to confusion.

Still, the book is funny enough and appeals very much to the performer in me. It's a lot of fun, and I look forward to reading the other two volumes in the series.

I've been in theater as a working technician for most of my adult life. Of course I've read a few backstage mysteries and behind-the-scenes dramas in that time. Well, Chris is the first one to get it right! He is also one of the few writers of any form or ilk I've seen who "gets" technical theater. The interactions between his young techie and the rest of the cast are spot-on and hilarious.

But this isn't just a techie's book. This is a book for the "Man of the Theater" (as Cris has someone refer to one of his characters); a book that understands and celebrates that gaudy, claptrap, whimsical, marginal, mercenary, spiritual, and ever-so-essential creature we call Theater. The backstory conflict with the Lords Party, though overdrawn, amplifies what we in the theater recognize; that we are a voice, a Jiminy Crickett for our oft-fickle public, and a country without street poets and folk singers and live theater is a country that is dying inside.

Okay, it is a bit space-opera with a thin plot and more incident then story. But as a chance to live the dream of live theater and see it go to the stars, this is not a book to pass over lightly.

This book is immensely funny, written in the tradition of Robert Heinlein. It is a pitty the series is out of print.

The Starship Troupers series is Stasheff at his best. With a good original story and entertaining characters. My only disappointment is that only 3 books have been done. There is a developing story line which proved to be of intrest in all 3 books. The Troupers are a group of performers and misfits. Setting out to bring culture to the masses through live Theater. Believe me when i say "You'll never look at theater again the same way." The Chaos which follows them is very entertaining and informative about the value of an informed citizenry.

An interesting, original premise, not often explored. Gets preachy on the politics and stereotypical (despite the obvious effort to avoid creating stereotypes in some areas). Extremely witty and enjoyable - I laughed aloud while reading it, and read both sequels.

The witty reparte (yeah, I know, it's cliche, but how else can I describe it) left me giggling, and the author obviously knows his way around backstage. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

I loved the suspence of the chase throughout this storie, and the use of LIVE theatre in a futuristic sense, this is a must read book !