Fiction that inspired Traveller

[AndrewW]

Also, I have not read Starship Troopers, but I enjoyed the film as a teen until I saw it again in university and decided it was very much a "jock film" with unlikeable lead characters (the side characters, Xander excepted, were all great however - plus Clancy "Kurgan" Brown as a goody? Nice!)

The movie's ok, but the book is better.

 

[GypsyComet]

More pointedly, the movie is okay as long as you don't know there is a book, and remains acceptable as long as you forget they are theoretically related.

The movie is fairly typical action fare, with a large side order of satirical patriotism and a taste of "growing up the hard way".

The book's action is a frame in which Rico's transition to adulthood is depicted. That change from irresponsible boy to responsible man is the main point of the book, and of many other Heinlein books. It is also why many modern MilSF fans find the book, considered a classic of Military SF, so "boring".

 

[FreeTrav]

Not a source of inspiration, as it too was written well after Traveller, but very much in the 'mood' of Traveller would be the Republic of Cinnabar Navy series (also called the Leary/Mundy series or the Lt. Leary series) by David Drake. Currently at eight books, with a ninth due out soon.

 

[Greg Smith]

Maybe not quite an influence on Traveller, but I have just read Brian Aldiss' Equator. It is a terrifically paced conspiracy story between alien and human factions on Earth.