Starship Troopers is a 1959 military science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein (pictured). The first-person narrative follows Juan "Johnny" Rico through his military service in the Mobile Infantry, most of which takes place during an interstellar war between humans and an alien species known as "Arachnids" or "Bugs". Interspersed with the primary plot are classroom scenes in which Rico and others discuss philosophical and moral issues, including aspects of suffrage (restricted in Rico's society), civic virtue, juvenile delinquency, and war; these discussions have been described as expounding Heinlein's own political views. A coming-of-age novel, Starship Troopers also critiques the US society of the 1950s, arguing that a lack of discipline had led to a moral decline. Starship Troopers brought to an end Heinlein's juvenile novel series. It became one of his best-selling books, and won the Hugo Award for Best Novel. The story has been adapted several times, including in a 1997 film version.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_Troopers

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1843:

During a period of activity known as the Great Eruption, Eta Carinae briefly became the second-brightest star in the night sky. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eta_Carinae

1984:

The anime film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind by Hayao Miyazaki was released. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nausica%C3%A4_of_the_Valley_of_the_Wind_%28film%29

2011:

A massive earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan and triggered a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_nuclear_disaster

2012:

U.S. Army soldier Robert Bales murdered sixteen civilians and wounded six others in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandahar_massacre

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

new normal: (chiefly Canada, US, idiomatic) A current prevailing situation which has emerged recently, that differs dramatically from the previous one and is expected to remain. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/new_normal

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

My favorite word is "redemption." I like both its meaning and the sound. My least favorite word is "maybe." "Maybe" is almost always a "no" drawn out in cruel fashion.   --Libba Bray https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Libba_Bray