Starship Troopers

This book shows Heinlein's transition from superb young-adult science fiction to flawed but wildly popular adult science fiction. Primarily a political tract, the story follows the career of a vapid, rich high school graduate now in the Mobile Infantry of planet Terra. Narrator George Wilson affects a breezy, document-ary style, avoiding characterization in pursuit of the smooth flow of the story. He doesn't sound anything like our hero, Juan Rico from Buenos Aires, probably would, for example. But he's an articulate and effective reader, and, in general, his presentation succeeds. (The recent movie version was rated R; the book is a PG.) D.R.W. (c) AudioFile, Portland, Maine