Powered Armor in Literature
Stephen Karnas
I am aware of; if anybody knows of other works featuring powered armor,
I would like to know.
Robert A. Heinlein's STARSHIP TROOPERS (1959) may be the earliest
reference. The armor is an essential piece of equipment to the soldiers
of Earth; "Powered armor is the Mobile part of the Mobile Infantry".
Chapter 7 contains a detailed description of the nature and capabilities
of the armor, which includes (of course) jumpjets. As in our game,
Heinlein's armor comes in three classes: Scout, Command, and Marauder.
Apart from a script as weak and cliched as that of James Cameron's
TITANIC, the greatest tragedy of Paul Verhoeven's film of this book is
the omission of the armor from the film (I hear it was due to budget
overruns, but they made WATERWORLD, didn't they?)
C.J. Cherryh's RIMRUNNERS (1989) also features these handsome
endoskeletons. Though the armor doesn't enter until late in the story,
there is even more technical detail on it, as the main character is
called on to repair and fit two captured suits on short notice. I do
not recall any mention of jumpjets by Cherryh, but the battle in this
story takes place on a spaceship and a space station, not planetside.
I recommend both novels, though before reading RIMRUNNERS I advise
reading DOWNBELOW STATION first, and maybe MERCHANTER'S LUCK as well, as
it provides more background on the situation in RIMRUNNERS than the
brief historical synopsis that begins the book.
Again, anybody who knows of any other books with powered armor, let me
know.
Theta9
entropy23
Interstellar Fleet conflicts and the ongoing political tension between the
Republic of Haven and the Griffin Commonwealth, the marines on the larger
starships use powered armor with anti grav assisted jumping capabilities.
The ground conflicts are reminescent of capture and hold missions. Light
reading and fun stuff. Honor kinda reminds me of Ivanova from Babylon 5.
--
entropy23 aka Joxter
'exterminate all rational thought'
W S Burroughs, Naked Lunch
Stephen Karnas <acet...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:37C73382...@earthlink.net...
Poseur King
Stephen Karnas wrote in message <37C73382...@earthlink.net>...
>Our beloved armor has appeared in at least two works of literature that
>I am aware of; if anybody knows of other works featuring powered armor,
>I would like to know.
>
>C.J. Cherryh's RIMRUNNERS (1989) also features these handsome
>endoskeletons.
I think you mean exoskeleton. I'd hate to have to jam power armor into my
flesh to use it...
Omega Man
Stephen Karnas
ZerothAngel wrote:
>
> There's "The Forever War" by Joe Haldeman, a really good (IMO) piece of
> work. Obviously heavily influenced by Vietnam, it follows the life of one
> William Mandella who fights throughout the entire 1000-year war.
I HAVE read that, but many many many many (I'm gonna say it again) MANY
years ago and barely remember it.
I DO remember that it could be considered "the other side" of STARSHIP
TROOPERS (focusing more on the horrific aspects of war, rather than the
glorious).
> (Can you say 'relativity'? :)
I sure can; it figures heavily into space travel in Cherryh's
Alliance/Union millieu. There's "station time" or "ground time", and
then there's "ship time." Cherryh is currently my favorite hard sci-fi
writer, and I've only just started collecting her books (Cyteen is my
current #1, even though there's no armor in it.)
Thanx for reminding me of THE FOREVER WAR; I'll have to get a copy
again.
Theta9
Stephen Karnas
Poseur King wrote:
> >C.J. Cherryh's RIMRUNNERS (1989) also features these handsome
> >endoskeletons.
>
> I think you mean exoskeleton. I'd hate to have to jam power armor into my
> flesh to use it...
>
> Omega Man
OUCH! (sheepish grin) I stand corrected!
Oops,
Theta9
Stephen Karnas
entropy23 wrote:
>
> Check out the Honor Harrington space opera's by David Webber.
Thanx for the tip; I'll check it out.
> Honor kinda reminds me of Ivanova from Babylon 5.
That alone may be enough to recommend the series (is Honor a male or
female character?) As much as one can possibly be in love with a
fictional character, I LOVE SUSAN IVANOVA!
Theta9
ZerothAngel
> Again, anybody who knows of any other books with powered armor, let me
> know.
There's "The Forever War" by Joe Haldeman, a really good (IMO) piece of
work. Obviously heavily influenced by Vietnam, it follows the life of one
William Mandella who fights throughout the entire 1000-year war. (Can you
say 'relativity'? :)
The 'damage control' aspects of the later power armor is *very*
interesting. :)
- ZerothAngel
aka Allan Saddi
entropy23
> > Honor kinda reminds me of Ivanova from Babylon 5.
> That alone may be enough to recommend the series (is Honor a male or
> female character?) As much as one can possibly be in love with a
> fictional character, I LOVE SUSAN IVANOVA!
>
> Theta9
>
Honor is a two fisted, tough as nails/yet sweet as wine, nightmare in a
command chair ( for her enemies ) female. One of my favorite female
characters in Sci Fi (that goes double for Ivanova). Hey, did you know
Claudia Christian ( Ivanova ) is gonna be in the October issue of Playboy
nekkid! )? Heheheheheh *drooooool*slobber*pant*pant*pant*
entropy23
SHADOW EMPIRES, that has a massively Tribes-like feel to it. The story
involves a human Theocracy in conflict with an empire of parrasites a la
Heinlens Puppet Masters. Great powered armor, killer artwork and a very cool
story... anyone else seen it?
--
entropy23 aka Joxter
'exterminate all rational thought'
W S Burroughs, Naked Lunch
Stephen Karnas <acet...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:37C73382...@earthlink.net...
> Our beloved armor has appeared in at least two works of literature that
> I am aware of; if anybody knows of other works featuring powered armor,
> I would like to know.
>
> Robert A. Heinlein's STARSHIP TROOPERS (1959) may be the earliest
> reference. The armor is an essential piece of equipment to the soldiers
> of Earth; "Powered armor is the Mobile part of the Mobile Infantry".
> Chapter 7 contains a detailed description of the nature and capabilities
> of the armor, which includes (of course) jumpjets. As in our game,
> Heinlein's armor comes in three classes: Scout, Command, and Marauder.
> Apart from a script as weak and cliched as that of James Cameron's
> TITANIC, the greatest tragedy of Paul Verhoeven's film of this book is
> the omission of the armor from the film (I hear it was due to budget
> overruns, but they made WATERWORLD, didn't they?)
>
> C.J. Cherryh's RIMRUNNERS (1989) also features these handsome
> endoskeletons. Though the armor doesn't enter until late in the story,
> there is even more technical detail on it, as the main character is
> called on to repair and fit two captured suits on short notice. I do
> not recall any mention of jumpjets by Cherryh, but the battle in this
> story takes place on a spaceship and a space station, not planetside.
>
> I recommend both novels, though before reading RIMRUNNERS I advise
> reading DOWNBELOW STATION first, and maybe MERCHANTER'S LUCK as well, as
> it provides more background on the situation in RIMRUNNERS than the
> brief historical synopsis that begins the book.
>
> Again, anybody who knows of any other books with powered armor, let me
> know.
>
> Theta9
>
Stephen Karnas
entropy23 wrote:
>
> Hey, did you know
> Claudia Christian ( Ivanova ) is gonna be in the October issue of Playboy
> nekkid! )? Heheheheheh *drooooool*slobber*pant*pant*pant*
>
Hopefully with the full-frontal bit; all too often when a celeb poses in
Playboy they do that "peekaboo" shit where you're lucky to glimpse a
nipple. I'm with ya there, though!
Theta9
getting w00d thinking of Cmdr. Ivanova in the skin she's in ...
T. Erik Browne
Stephen Karnas <acet...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>Our beloved armor has appeared in at least two works of literature that
>I am aware of; if anybody knows of other works featuring powered armor,
>I would like to know.
There's the Sand Wars series, by Charles Ingrid, where the main character has
a suit of powered armor that becomes sentient.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T. Erik Browne | All operating systems suck.
tbr...@best.com | The sooner you learn this, the better.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Apparently I'm insane. But I'm one of the happy kinds!"
Stephen Karnas
"T. Erik Browne" wrote:
>
> There's the Sand Wars series, by Charles Ingrid, where the main character has
> a suit of powered armor that becomes sentient.
>
And thank YOU too. I never knew there were so many. Keep 'em coming,
people!
Theta9
"For a limited time only, this handsome epidermis can be yours for the
eensy-weensy price of YOUR SOUL, and a BUTTLOAD of pay." - Clown
Randy Graham
<acet...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>
>entropy23 wrote:
>>
>> Hey, did you know
>> Claudia Christian ( Ivanova ) is gonna be in the October issue of Playboy
>> nekkid! )? Heheheheheh *drooooool*slobber*pant*pant*pant*
>>
>
>Hopefully with the full-frontal bit; all too often when a celeb poses in
>Playboy they do that "peekaboo" shit where you're lucky to glimpse a
>nipple. I'm with ya there, though!
But again the question remains - how good is she at Tribes?
>Theta9
>getting w00d thinking of Cmdr. Ivanova in the skin she's in ...
RagManX
ds
Stephen Karnas <acet...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:37C73382...@earthlink.net...
> Our beloved armor has appeared in at least two works of literature that
> I am aware of; if anybody knows of other works featuring powered armor,
> I would like to know.
>
Randy Graham
>You want us to read? I got a Public education, I can't read!!!!
Hey, check your spelling. It's public _educashun_ (thank goodness for
fonetix).
RagManX
Stephen Karnas
>
> You want us to read? I got a Public education, I can't read!!!!
>
educated in spite of the Public Education system; don't ask me how.
I've always liked to read.
Theta9
jsm...@tiny.net
>entropy23 wrote:
>>
>> Check out the Honor Harrington space opera's by David Webber.
>Thanx for the tip; I'll check it out.
>> Honor kinda reminds me of Ivanova from Babylon 5.
>That alone may be enough to recommend the series (is Honor a male or
>female character?) As much as one can possibly be in love with a
>fictional character, I LOVE SUSAN IVANOVA!
>Theta9
Too bad, because Honor is a very obviously updated Horatio Hornblower.
THe original HH was a fictional officer in His Majesty's Royal Navy during
the Napoleonic wars. Written in the 50's, I believe. Wonderful books.
If your library as them, check them out.
BTW, IMHO David Weber's books are light reading in the sense that they
flow well. He tells a cracking good story, with layer upon layer of
twists and subtexts. Go back and re-read them and you will find all kinds
of stuff jumping out at you.
--
Jim Smilanich | "A man should be able to pilot a
jsm...@tiny.net | starship, plan an invasion, diaper
Tiny (not) is my access | a baby.... specialization is
provider, so don't blame | for insects!" -- Lazarus Long
them for my opinions! | =PCI=SgtRock
ds
Like Mark Twain said "Never let your schoolin interfere with your education"
Right on!
-Shaft
Stephen Karnas <acet...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:37CA05E0...@earthlink.net...
Stephen Karnas
ds wrote:
>
> Yep, ameriken! dats mee! hehe....
> Like Mark Twain said "Never let your schoolin interfere with your education"
> Right on!
>
Not sure who Mark Twain is, though I do remember a Samuel Clemens who
said something like that as well. He also wrote some books, though not
under his real name ...
Theta9
"Of all God's creatures there is only one that cannot be made the slave
of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with a cat it
would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat." - Samuel Clemens
(1835-1910)
ds
Git a rope!
-Shaft
--
"Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens."
- Jimi Hendrix
Stephen Karnas <acet...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:37CB3778...@earthlink.net...
DanTanna
us poor country boys alls we care about is if ya can shoot straight
and keep your powder dry.
DanTanna.
JonnyDoH
briefly has some instances of Powered Armor-- mainly worn by Outworlders (kind
of similar to the people in Tribes, but mutated and relatively peaceful). A
really cool series by English writer Peter F. Hamilton, the Reality Dysfunction
Series, doesn't really go into depth about powered armor but illustrates space
suits with cool defensive capabilities.. (Either way, The Reality Dysfunction
Series is a really cool group of books-- I highly recommend them).
In terms of anime/animation, I know that there was a short lived adaptation of
Heinlein's novel (Starship Troopers)-- I have one old decrepit episode on
tape-- it's not much but I think it pays more homage to the book than the
Hollywood movie version. Other anime you should look at that has cool powered
armor:
Madox-01 (parody of powered armor, but with cool animation)
Bubble Gum Crisis (Several tapes are out-- babes in spiked heeled powered
armor..)
Gundam Series (actually pilots who drive 40' tall powered armor "suits"; but,
what the hey-- THEY call it powered armor..)
Macross/Mospeada (american version is "Robotech")
And I'm sure there are more but I forget most of them...
In any case, enjoy.
--J
Peter Kelley
Honour Harrington is addictive. Some of the best military SF out there
if you
like ship combat. For infantry I would recommend Jerry Pournelle's
Falkenberg's Mercenary legion books.
Yellek
Peter Kelley
especially "Once a Hero"
David Weber and Steve White's Starfire tie in books have something called a
Zoot Suit.
The Game Designers Workshop Sci Fi RPG game Traveller (pre computer)
includes something called battle dress which is powered armour. You needed
battle dress to carry something called an FGMP-15 which was a Fusion Gun Man
Portable which basically heated stuff up till a fusion reaction began and
then spat it out the front in a continuous stream.
Yellek
jsm...@tiny.net
was 'grown'. Interesting take on the subject. Just defensive, though.
No powered weapons, no added mobility.
>Yellek
>Stephen Karnas wrote:
Major Frantic
guy that wrote those Star Wars books)
It's not strictly about powered armor exactly, but the concept of
servo-enhanced soldiers with implanted weaponry and programmed combat
reflexes. They're used as guerilla troops to blend in with normal humans
during an invasion.
It's a great book about the technology and the war, but also covers the
ethics, morality and what to do with enhanced-soldiers after the war they
were created to fight is over. (I'll leave the rest a mystery!)
Major Frantic
"A good book, a cold beer, who needs anything more?"
Stephen Karnas
>
> A really good book in this vein is "Cobra" by Timothy Zahn.
saw some.
> (Yes, the same
> guy that wrote those Star Wars books)
What "Star Wars" books? What's Star Wars?
Theta9
Randy Graham
<acet...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>> (Yes, the same
>> guy that wrote those Star Wars books)
>What "Star Wars" books? What's Star Wars?
You remember. The books came out in the mid-80s. They tell a
heartwarming story of a paranoid president who thought the big bad
enemy had really big explosive bombs pointed right at him. He set up
a network of special "super ray gun thingies in the sky" to shoot down
the really big explosive bombs. Very touching really - you should
look into it.
>Theta9
RagManX
entropy23
Randy Graham <rgr...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:37ca87cb....@enews.newsguy.com...
> On Sun, 29 Aug 1999 13:24:24 -0500, "ds" <dan...@texas.net> wrote:
>
> >You want us to read? I got a Public education, I can't read!!!!
entropy23
<jsm...@tiny.net> wrote in message
news:3Pny3.957$ok4....@ptah.visi.com...
> Stephen Karnas <acet...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>
> >entropy23 wrote:
> >>
> >> Check out the Honor Harrington space opera's by David Webber.
> >Thanx for the tip; I'll check it out.
>
> >> Honor kinda reminds me of Ivanova from Babylon 5.
> >That alone may be enough to recommend the series (is Honor a male or
> >female character?) As much as one can possibly be in love with a
> >fictional character, I LOVE SUSAN IVANOVA!
>
> >Theta9
>
I never caught the Horatio Hornblower connection but, it is there...
> THe original HH was a fictional officer in His Majesty's Royal Navy during
> the Napoleonic wars. Written in the 50's, I believe. Wonderful books.
> If your library as them, check them out.
>
> BTW, IMHO David Weber's books are light reading in the sense that they
> flow well. He tells a cracking good story, with layer upon layer of
> twists and subtexts. Go back and re-read them and you will find all kinds
> of stuff jumping out at you.
Yep, that is pretty much what I meant by light reading as opposed to say,
Frank Herbert's Dune stuff which is damn good but can DRAG ON at times.
Stephen Karnas
Of course! I remember now. In fact, that was his name, wasn't it ...
Ronald Raygun.
Personally I found that story too implausible, even for science fiction.
Theta9
jsm...@tiny.net
>Yep, that is pretty much what I meant by light reading as opposed to say,
>Frank Herbert's Dune stuff which is damn good but can DRAG ON at times.
Now, THAT I'll buy. I read _Dune_ and _Dune Messiah_, but could not
finish _God Emperor of Dune_ because it did drag on. I thought _Dune_ was
by far the best of the three, anyway.
entropy23
> Now, THAT I'll buy. I read _Dune_ and _Dune Messiah_, but could not
> finish _God Emperor of Dune_ because it did drag on. I thought _Dune_ was
> by far the best of the three, anyway.
My experience exactly with the Dune trilogy.
Phil Knuth
disappointed with the movie, I do have to state the reason why there was not
any armor. You cannot have any kind of character development when you have
someone encased completely in armor. The people watching simply don't care
about a character unless you can see his face. This has been tried and
proved in many instances on television and movies. I think the only
exception would R2D2. But in many instances this has plagued moviemakers and
goers.
As to the other part of the question, John Steakely's book Armor, is truly
excellent, I think you'll enjoy it especially if you liked Heinlein's work.
Steve Herrin
thereafter but still haven't finished it because it drags on.
--
Steve Herrin
aka MtDew
Remove the nospam in my address to reply
entropy23 <microc...@atziluth.com> wrote in message
news:rt745l...@corp.supernews.com...
T. Erik Browne
entropy23 <microc...@atziluth.com> wrote:
>
> > Now, THAT I'll buy. I read _Dune_ and _Dune Messiah_, but could not
>> finish _God Emperor of Dune_ because it did drag on. I thought _Dune_ was
>> by far the best of the three, anyway.
>
>My experience exactly with the Dune trilogy.
Trilogy? It's a six-book series, and Herbert's son just released a seventh.
entropy23
It reeks of the Gravy Train, as all the Star Trek garbage ( I love the
original Trek and most of TNG but the rest is Gravy Train crap ) does
lately. There is a lotta shit at the bottom of the barrel. That is why you
should never scrape it. And I can't stand Herberts son. Read something by
him once and I can't beleive I actually made it all the way through the
novel. It was just stupid.
--
entropy23 aka Joxter
'exterminate all rational thought'
W S Burroughs, Naked Lunch
T. Erik Browne <tbr...@best.com> wrote in message
news:7r1cig$eh0$1...@shell5.ba.best.com...
entropy23
Phil Knuth <phk...@dacor.net> wrote in message
news:ZoPA3.26220$R84.4...@typ12.nn.bcandid.com...
> I am also a big fan of Heinlein's Starship Troopers. While I was
infinitely
> disappointed with the movie, I do have to state the reason why there was
not
> any armor. You cannot have any kind of character development when you have
> someone encased completely in armor. The people watching simply don't care
> about a character unless you can see his face.
Another reason is in the book one guy in powered armor could hold down many
square kilometers of terrain. I guess they thought it would be pretty boring
to watch Johnny Ricco bounce around by himself.
It wouldn't have that military feel of large troop actions.
Peter Kelley
Phil Knuth wrote:
> I am also a big fan of Heinlein's Starship Troopers. While I was infinitely
> disappointed with the movie, I do have to state the reason why there was not
> any armor. You cannot have any kind of character development when you have
> someone encased completely in armor. The people watching simply don't care
> about a character unless you can see his face. This has been tried and
> proved in many instances on television and movies. I think the only
> exception would R2D2. But in many instances this has plagued moviemakers and
> goers.
> As to the other part of the question, John Steakely's book Armor, is truly
> excellent, I think you'll enjoy it especially if you liked Heinlein's work.
Character Development ?
Starship Troopers ?
Bwahahahaha..........
Yellek
jsm...@tiny.net
>In article <rt745l...@corp.supernews.com>,
>entropy23 <microc...@atziluth.com> wrote:
>>
>> > Now, THAT I'll buy. I read _Dune_ and _Dune Messiah_, but could not
>>> finish _God Emperor of Dune_ because it did drag on. I thought _Dune_ was
>>> by far the best of the three, anyway.
>>
>>My experience exactly with the Dune trilogy.
>Trilogy? It's a six-book series, and Herbert's son just released a seventh.
Oh, God! There's more? I'm glad I stopped when I did. ;)
jsm...@tiny.net
[snip]
>Character Development ?
>Starship Troopers ?
>Bwahahahaha..........
>Yellek
A comment obviously made by someone who never spent time in uniform.
Read it again and think about how Rico's attitudes towards life in general
change. All of us who have spent time in service recognized the
transitions that he goes through.
Phil Knuth
>
>A comment obviously made by someone who never spent time in uniform.
>Read it again and think about how Rico's attitudes towards life in general
>change. All of us who have spent time in service recognized the
>transitions that he goes through.
>
Well spoken, I do admit, I got more out of the book... The propaganda
machine was unique and a punfully wonderful blend of WWII propagand films
and internet surfing.
Peter Kelley
jsm...@tiny.net wrote:
> Peter Kelley <pke...@au1.ibm.com> wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
> >Character Development ?
> >Starship Troopers ?
>
> >Bwahahahaha..........
>
> >Yellek
>
> A comment obviously made by someone who never spent time in uniform.
> Read it again and think about how Rico's attitudes towards life in general
> change. All of us who have spent time in service recognized the
> transitions that he goes through.
>
The book I would be prepared to agree with you on although it is a LONG time
since I read it (like more than 15 years ago). I was talking about the movie
which I found shallow and charicatured (sp?). You are right though, I have
never spent time in uniform. Heinlein was in the navy wasn't he ?
Have you read the Jerry Pournelle Falkenberg's mercenary legion books ? How
real a portrayal of military life are they ? I'm thinking particularly of
"Prince of Sparta" and "Go Tell the Spartans"
Yellek
jsm...@tiny.net
>>
>>A comment obviously made by someone who never spent time in uniform.
>>Read it again and think about how Rico's attitudes towards life in general
>>change. All of us who have spent time in service recognized the
>>transitions that he goes through.
>>
>Well spoken, I do admit, I got more out of the book... The propaganda
>machine was unique and a punfully wonderful blend of WWII propagand films
>and internet surfing.
?? I'm sorry I'm missing your point.
jsm...@tiny.net
>jsm...@tiny.net wrote:
>> Peter Kelley <pke...@au1.ibm.com> wrote:
>>
>> [snip]
>>
>> >Character Development ?
>> >Starship Troopers ?
>>
>> >Bwahahahaha..........
>>
>> >Yellek
>>
>> A comment obviously made by someone who never spent time in uniform.
>> Read it again and think about how Rico's attitudes towards life in general
>> change. All of us who have spent time in service recognized the
>> transitions that he goes through.
>>
>The book I would be prepared to agree with you on although it is a LONG time
>since I read it (like more than 15 years ago). I was talking about the movie
>which I found shallow and charicatured (sp?). You are right though, I have
>never spent time in uniform. Heinlein was in the navy wasn't he ?
Sorry. The movie was such a travesty I've worked very hard to remove
every reference to it from my mind. :) I had no idea that's what you
were referring to.
Yes, Heinlein was in the US Navy from 1916? to 1934. He got a medical
discharge and served as a civilian consultant at the Philadelphia Naval
Yard during WWII along with Isaac Asimov, L. Sprague DeCamp, and others.
>Have you read the Jerry Pournelle Falkenberg's mercenary legion books ? How
>real a portrayal of military life are they ? I'm thinking particularly of
>"Prince of Sparta" and "Go Tell the Spartans"
Mercenary service is different in many ways from service with a country's
armed forces. As far as I'm concerned, he gets most of the details of
life in uniform right. I think his battle descriptions are a bit muddy,
though. David Drake, David Weber, and others do a better job of both the
'life in the trenches' and the battle sequences.
Stephen Karnas
entropy23 wrote:
>
> > Now, THAT I'll buy. I read _Dune_ and _Dune Messiah_, but could not
> > finish _God Emperor of Dune_ because it did drag on. I thought _Dune_ was
> > by far the best of the three, anyway.
>
> My experience exactly with the Dune trilogy.
Trilogy, hell! I had trouble getting into DUNE MESSIAH, and abandoned
it about a third of the way in. As far as I'm concerned, DUNE is a
stand-alone.
Theta9
Stephen Karnas
> >Starship Troopers ?
>
> >Bwahahahaha..........
>
> >Yellek
>
> A comment obviously made by someone who never spent time in uniform.
> Read it again and think about how Rico's attitudes towards life in general
> change. All of us who have spent time in service recognized the
> transitions that he goes through.
>
film by the same name. In this he is quite correct.
The only movie I've ever seen that's weaker on story and character
development is Chris Roberts' abysmal WING COMMANDER. Shit, the GAME
WC3 had better characters and story than that wretched film!
Having read Heinlein's book, I don't think Kelley's comment can be
applied to it.
Theta9
Maetryx
news:ZoPA3.26220$R84.4...@typ12.nn.bcandid.com...
> As to the other part of the question, John Steakely's book Armor, is truly
> excellent, I think you'll enjoy it especially if you liked Heinlein's work
*THIS* suggestion above is the suggestion you have all been waiting for.
John Steakely's novel reads like two books in one, because there is a plot
contemporary to the novel's setting, and a plot that is pretty much
"flashback", but the flashback is actually recorded, 1st person experience
in the data-corders (whatever) of a discovered piece of scout class (light)
armor.
I feel the book drags a little in a few places, and that the author figured
out where he was going sometime after he started writing. Nonetheless, this
book is a good read. The movie Starship Troopers probably resembles this
book more than it resembles its namesake by Heinlein.
That said I've probably turned away as many people as I've intrigued (2 each
or some such).
-Maetryx
David Ainsburg
David Weber's Honor Harrington series- while the heroine is a spaceship
captain, all the marines use active body armor. There's of course the
Battletech series, in which the Clan Elemental units are all genetically
engineered warriors specializing in anti-Mech tactics using body armor. I
seem to recall a very old sci fi story as well, where anyone can buy a new
artificial "body" to wear over their own, and they had gladitorial games
with them as a sport- at the end of the story, our hero defeated an
artificial body wearing champion without wearing one, and started THAT as a
new twist to the sport! Can't remember it's name or author though....C.M.
Kornbluth maybe?
ds <dan...@texas.net> wrote in message
news:XWey3.25551$gO1.9...@news2.giganews.com...
> You want us to read? I got a Public education, I can't read!!!!
>
> news:37C73382...@earthlink.net...
Bangalore
David Ainsburg wrote:
> God, there are tons of books with active body armor or variants.
I remember reading a compilation of science fiction short stories many moons ago
called "Body Armor 3000" or something like that - Edited by Joe Haldeman, I
think. It contained an abbreviated version of Haldeman's Forever War (Which I
haven't seen mentioned in this thread yet - I might be mistaken). Some others
fragments that I remember from this book:
1) A sort of History of Humanity that chronicles the first use of armored suits
in a war against China, all the way through to something called an Alakar
(Warrior in a skimpy-looking set of light armor that could withstand a nuclear
barrage in the flesh and command "memory metals" in a sort of pseudopodic
battle). Full of illustrations of the various armors. Neat reading.
2) Story about a human power-armor mercenary unit that attacks human-held worlds
for an arachnoid race called the Dravians. "The Traitor", or something like
that.
3) A combat-suit battle between a galactic empire and some rebellious offshoot
called the "Edinberghers"...It opens with a sergeant throwing a knife at a
trooper's face while he's sitting in his bunk, in order to test his reflexes.
4) Gordon Dickson's "In the Bone", which I've read elsewhere.
Been looking for this for quite some time, and never have been able to find it.
Guess I need to prowl around used bookstores more often.
--> Bangalore@MrC
Bangalore
Oh yeah...And don't forget the MHW suit from Alan Dean Foster's "Sentenced to
Prism"...Or Leto II's sandtrout getup from the Dune series.
--> bangalore@MrC
Stephen Karnas
(snip)
> think. It contained an abbreviated version of Haldeman's Forever War (Which I
> haven't seen mentioned in this thread yet - I might be mistaken).
Wow, this thread is still here?
I posted the original message about 2 or 3 weeks ago (citing Heinlein's
STARSHIP TROOPERS and Cherryh's RIMRUNNERS).
"ZerothAngel aka Allan Saddi", who brought up THE FOREVER WAR, was one
of the first to reply.
Thanks for the mention of that book. I'm compiling quite the list here.
Theta9
Jeff Lambert
in with the TRIBES idea of power armor.
--
"Now THAT'S entertainment!" -Vlad the Impaler