First: The book does not glorify historically existing fascism, no.
But I believe that it is at least a half-serious argument, that Heinlein actually believes that a society like the one in the book wouldn’t be the worst.
I don’t believe that Heinlein supported racism or the oppression of “lesser” people. He made that point pretty clear, in interviews, life choices, other stories or by famously revealing (iirc) that Ricoh was brown-skinned.
But the militarism, united humanity in a hostile universe, the weird ideas about authority and merit, and the per aspera ad astra part? I do believe that he’s at least in part making a sincere argument, wrapped in an action story as a vehicle. The world he creates resonates too well with Heinlein’s biography, imho.
First: The book does not glorify historically existing fascism, no.
But I believe that it is at least a half-serious argument, that Heinlein actually believes that a society like the one in the book wouldn’t be the worst.
I don’t believe that Heinlein supported racism or the oppression of “lesser” people. He made that point pretty clear, in interviews, life choices, other stories or by famously revealing (iirc) that Ricoh was brown-skinned.
But the militarism, united humanity in a hostile universe, the weird ideas about authority and merit, and the per aspera ad astra part? I do believe that he’s at least in part making a sincere argument, wrapped in an action story as a vehicle. The world he creates resonates too well with Heinlein’s biography, imho.
Yeah, it is trying to show that a united authoritarian Earth could work if we have aliens around to be the enemy ‘other’.
Personally, I prefer the movie’s take on it.