And yes, you read that correctly - in the novel, Dizzy Flores is a man, a compatriot of Rico's in the Mobile Infantry who 'buys it' before the story has barely begun. Dizzy, meanwhile, only appears on a single page, and is dead when he first appears. In fact, the character of Zander doesn't exist in the original text, while Carmen is mentioned only a handful of times.

For those reading the book for its right wing political message, the film's clear satire likely ruffled more than a few feathers, assuming they noticed it. Though some critics didn't see it at the time, the film is an attempt by director Paul Verhoeven to criticize Heinlein's belief in a government ostensibly run by the military. But the book is indeed overtly political, with the Bugs described in no uncertain terms as representing communism, and several key passages muse on the benefits of authoritarianism over a free democracy. The book is also filled to the brim with minutiae and detail, exploring the command structure and tactics of the Mobile Infantry, making it often feel like a technical manual. For those familiar with the movie, it might raise an eyebrow to learn that the combat action only plays a small role in the book, with Heinlein much more interested in discussion of moral philosophy, critiques of early 20th century liberalism, individual rights, and responsibility to the collective.

Starship troopers novel