Klendathu
Encyclopedia
Klendathu is the fiction
al homeworld of the extraterrestrial race known as the Bugs (or, sometimes, "Arachnids"), in the fictional universe
of the Robert A. Heinlein
novel Starship Troopers
, and in the movie of the same name
(and its first and second
sequels, and spin-off television series
).
Immediately following the Bugs' attack on Earth, leveling Buenos Aires
, the Terran Federation attacks Klendathu. The attack is codenamed "Operation Bughouse". Heinlein makes clear in the novel that the attack on Klendathu is undertaken despite calls for additional defensive forces on the home world. "B.A. really stirred up the civilians and inspired loud screams to bring all our forces home, from everywhere—orbit them around the planet practically shoulder to shoulder and interdict the space Terra occupies," according to the novel version. In both the novel and the film, the attack on Klendathu is unsuccessful, leading Juan Rico
to call it "Operation Madhouse". Casualties are high and the assault needs to be abandoned—after eighteen hours in the novel, and only three in the film.
While Klendathu's terrain is never described in the Robert A. Heinlein
novel, the movie presents Klendathu (along with every other planet save Earth
) as a desert world. In the film, Klendathu is shown as dark blue with two moons around it, with no structures visible (perhaps to add to the portrayal of the Bugs as mindless brain-eaters). The location chosen for Klendathu was Hell's Half Acre
in central Wyoming. In the book, Heinlein depicts the important structures on Klendathu as subterranean, describes the tunnel interiors as glassy-smooth; and he makes it clear that there is a capital city somewhere under the surface of the planet. The Mobile Infantry
never come close to securing either the topside or the underground tunnels of the planet. After the assault on Planet P in the novel, the final chapter recounts the drop room scene as Johnny Rico, having become a lieutenant, prepares his "Roughnecks" for the climactic assault on Klendathu. As Heinlein describes the scene: "Each year we gain a little. You have to keep a sense of proportion.... 'This time...we take it away from them'."
The "Netnews" reporter's quote from the film sums it up:
This statement is immediately supported after the reporter says it, due to a Bug attacking him and slicing him in two, all the while being filmed by the cameraman.
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
al homeworld of the extraterrestrial race known as the Bugs (or, sometimes, "Arachnids"), in the fictional universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
of the Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
novel Starship Troopers
Starship Troopers
Starship Troopers is a military science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, first published as a serial in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and published hardcover in December, 1959.The first-person narrative is about a young soldier from the Philippines named Juan "Johnnie" Rico and his...
, and in the movie of the same name
Starship Troopers (film)
Starship Troopers is a 1997 American military science fiction film, written by Edward Neumeier , directed by Paul Verhoeven, loosely adapted from Starship Troopers, a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein. It is the only theatrically released film in the Starship Troopers franchise...
(and its first and second
Starship Troopers 3
Starship Troopers 3: Marauder is a science fiction film, written and directed by Ed Neumeier and starring Casper Van Dien from the original movie and Jolene Blalock. The film is a sequel to Starship Troopers and Starship Troopers 2. The film was released directly to DVD in the US on August 5, 2008...
sequels, and spin-off television series
Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles
Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles was a CGI animated television series based on both the novel by Robert A. Heinlein and the 1997 film adaptation directed by Paul Verhoeven...
).
Immediately following the Bugs' attack on Earth, leveling Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, the Terran Federation attacks Klendathu. The attack is codenamed "Operation Bughouse". Heinlein makes clear in the novel that the attack on Klendathu is undertaken despite calls for additional defensive forces on the home world. "B.A. really stirred up the civilians and inspired loud screams to bring all our forces home, from everywhere—orbit them around the planet practically shoulder to shoulder and interdict the space Terra occupies," according to the novel version. In both the novel and the film, the attack on Klendathu is unsuccessful, leading Juan Rico
Juan Rico
Juan "Johnnie" or "Johnny" Rico is the protagonist of Robert A. Heinlein's 1958 science-fiction novel Starship Troopers. He also appears in the films Starship Troopers and Starship Troopers 3: Marauder , and in the television series Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles.-Biography:In Starship...
to call it "Operation Madhouse". Casualties are high and the assault needs to be abandoned—after eighteen hours in the novel, and only three in the film.
While Klendathu's terrain is never described in the Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
novel, the movie presents Klendathu (along with every other planet save Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
) as a desert world. In the film, Klendathu is shown as dark blue with two moons around it, with no structures visible (perhaps to add to the portrayal of the Bugs as mindless brain-eaters). The location chosen for Klendathu was Hell's Half Acre
Hell's Half Acre (Wyoming)
Hell's Half Acre is a large scarp located about west of Casper, Wyoming on US 20/26. Encompassing , this geologic oddity is composed of deep ravines, caves, rock formations and hard-packed eroded earth...
in central Wyoming. In the book, Heinlein depicts the important structures on Klendathu as subterranean, describes the tunnel interiors as glassy-smooth; and he makes it clear that there is a capital city somewhere under the surface of the planet. The Mobile Infantry
Mobile Infantry (Starship Troopers)
The Mobile Infantry is a fictional military force in Robert A. Heinlein's novel Starship Troopers and in the movies Starship Troopers, released in 1997, the 2004 sequel, Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation, the 2008 film Starship Troopers 3: Marauder and the TV series Roughnecks: Starship...
never come close to securing either the topside or the underground tunnels of the planet. After the assault on Planet P in the novel, the final chapter recounts the drop room scene as Johnny Rico, having become a lieutenant, prepares his "Roughnecks" for the climactic assault on Klendathu. As Heinlein describes the scene: "Each year we gain a little. You have to keep a sense of proportion.... 'This time...we take it away from them'."
The "Netnews" reporter's quote from the film sums it up:
- It's an ugly planet; a Bug planet. A planet hostile to life as we know it.
This statement is immediately supported after the reporter says it, due to a Bug attacking him and slicing him in two, all the while being filmed by the cameraman.