Last week I spoke about one of my favorite Sci-Fi novels. I love Starship Troopers, I do, but it is not my favorite Sci-Fi novel of all time. In fact it isn't even my favorite power armor novel. No, that honor goes to Armor by John Steakley.
It is no coincidence that I not only love these two books but that I equate them with each other. Armor has a number of similarities to Starship Troopers. These similarities however, are only surface deep. While both books deal with a war between humans and insectoid aliens the main themes are very different.
Armor is more concerned with the psychological effects of violence on human beings. Unlike Starship troopers which was more concerned with politics and the military. The main story of Armor is split into two. The first part of the book follows a man named Felix as he fights in the Ant War. The second part deals with Jack Crow a former space pirate who has become quite notorious. Jack Crow works with a scientist who is running test on Felix's power suit. As such the two stories join together. John Steakley is able to weave these two narratives together with care and skill. At the end of the book you find yourself asking just one question. Is their more.
John Steakley has written two full length novels to date. Armor and Vampire$. He is presently working on a sequel to Armor. He is not the most prolific writer but what he had written makes up for the lack of quantity with amazing quality. Any one who enjoyed Starship Troopers will love Armor. And the people who where left cold by Starship Troopers may find themselves heated up by it as well.
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