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The influence of Robert A. Heinlein's novel Starship Troopers (1959) on John Gardner's Cold (1996)?

DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
edited July 2016 in Literary 007 Posts: 18,297
I was discussing some reviews by the poster BluePencilReview on You Tube a while back and when discussing his You Tube book review of Cold (1996) by John Gardner. The poster then discussed what he saw as the links between the classic sci-fi novel Starship Troopers (1959) by Robert A. Heinlein (he's also the author of the famous novel Stranger in a Strange Land, (1961) and this novel's far right policies for the United States in the fascist takeover ordered by General Brutus Clay. I found this very interesting, hence this thread. Can anyone confirm the links here at all? If so, I'd be most grateful of hearing from you in this thread. Thank you for reading.

"I actually meant the book. In it, they basically argue that Brutus Clay's tactics would eliminate crime and make for a better world-no joke.

I more found it funny that Clay was using the policies in Starship Troopers. I can sort of see his illness in parallel with M's in the book. I was also a little harsh given Goldeneye had to be placed in this lot too."

You Tube BluePencilReview Links:

Cold

Starship Troopers

The Man From Barbarossa

Scorpius

Comments

  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,297
    Does anyone on MI6 know any more about this at all?

    I've not read Henlein's work, but I do find the potential connection between his work and Cold to be potentially fascinating. I'm hoping that wee do have a Henlein expert here on the boards!
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,297
    Thought I'd revive this one - hope someone can help me out on this?
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited July 2016 Posts: 18,297
    I've just found the novel Starship Troopers (1959) by Robert A. Heinlein in a bookshop today so I hope to read it in order to investigate if there are any links with John Gardner's Cold.

    I'd love to hear some thoughts on this thread if any members here know more about this...
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,297
    One last call - can anyone help me with this topic at all?
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,218
    Sorry, my friend. I can't help you with this.
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    3 separate threads about Cold Draggers? Really?

    Just hope you never start spamming us with the NSF threads!
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,297
    TheWizardOfIce wrote: »
    3 separate threads about Cold Draggers? Really?

    Just hope you never start spamming us with the NSF threads!

    Yes, well they all cover different areas and were written at different times.

    Sorry, old chap.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,297
    I suppose that you could say I was Cold calling... ;)
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,297
    Well only last night I found (quite by accident) my 1997 film tie-in of Robert A. Heinlein's Starship Troopers (1959) so I'm going to read it and also Len Deighton's Billion Dollar Brain (1966) for the possible influence there of General Midwinter on Cold too. I'll report back on my findings at a later date. I find this a fascinating subject, even if nobody else does. :)
  • MyNameIsMyBondRnMyNameIsMyBondRn WhereYouLeastExpectMeToBe
    Posts: 221
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Well only last night I found (quite by accident) my 1997 film tie-in of Robert A. Heinlein's Starship Troopers (1959) so I'm going to read it and also Len Deighton's Billion Dollar Brain (1966) for the possible influence there of General Midwinter on Cold too. I'll report back on my findings at a later date. I find this a fascinating subject, even if nobody else does. :)

    Go Ahead, Dragonpol; Source material are sometimes farfetched; You Might Even Have a point..!
  • Some_Kind_Of_HeroSome_Kind_Of_Hero
    Posts: 6,844
    Really looking forward to your findings, Dragonpol. I'm quite a big fan of Gardner's continuation novels (mostly the earlier ones) and definitely appreciate analysis of them. I'm afraid I can't be much help here though. It's been years since I read Starship Troopers (I'm due a reread). I recall enjoying Cold Fall (as it was known here in the states) when I read it as a youth; not so much when I revisited it more recently. Still, it had its moments.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,297
    Thanks for all of the support, chaps. I'm going to write a blog article on Cold focusing on the fascist coup plot against the US.
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