Starship Troopers

By Robert A. Heinlein

Authority and Duty

Robert Heinlein's controversial classic follows Johnny Rico through boot camp and into interstellar war against alien "Bugs." But this isn't just military sci-fi—it's a philosophical treatise on civic virtue, earned citizenship, and the moral weight of service. In Heinlein's society, only those who serve gain the franchise. Is citizenship a right or a responsibility? What do we owe to the society that protects us? Through Rico's journey from spoiled teenager to hardened soldier, we explore duty, sacrifice, and what it means to truly serve the common good.