Starship Troopers - a fascist book and an anti-fascist movie

Robert A. Heinlein?s 1955 novel ?Starship Troopers? and its message could be described as fascist, provocative, irresponsible and unpalatable. Paul Verhoeven?s 1997 film Starship Troopers can, however, lay claim to being the ideological polar opposite of the novel. Verhoeven achieves this anti-fascist message within a fascist framework mainly through the usually subtle use of symbolism and satire Heinlein's 22nd century earth is at war with an arachnid "bug" race from another galaxy. "They are tough …

…for the slaughter of the whole species. And to teach the rouge reporter a lesson, he is killed in the opening sequences of the film. Heinlein?s novel and Verhoeven?s film may share a name, but they could hardly be more different in their message. The former creates a fascist utopia, the latter a flawed world of narrow-mindedness. Both beg the question, however, does the human race deserve to win this war of survival?