I enjoyed the bookending with Johnnie becoming The Lieutenant of the Roughnecks. Ends the exact same way it begins, with nearly identical dialogue. Wondered about the change to it being Rico's Roughnecks, after the staunch refusal to change the name prior. Is that just Jelal not having the confidence in himself to accept leadership over the group, despite rising in rank by the time Johnnie gets back? Or do Jelal's motivations not matter at all and this was more of a contrivance by Heinlein to give our protagonist extra growth?
To me, it seemed like Jelal was the kind of guy who does the leading out of duty, because someone has to, not because he feels like he wants any of the glory. More of a temporary caretaker of the people than The Leader.
But that's just me, maybe I am completely wrong about it.
I enjoyed the bookending with Johnnie becoming The Lieutenant of the Roughnecks. Ends the exact same way it begins, with nearly identical dialogue. Wondered about the change to it being Rico's Roughnecks, after the staunch refusal to change the name prior. Is that just Jelal not having the confidence in himself to accept leadership over the group, despite rising in rank by the time Johnnie gets back? Or do Jelal's motivations not matter at all and this was more of a contrivance by Heinlein to give our protagonist extra growth?
To me, it seemed like Jelal was the kind of guy who does the leading out of duty, because someone has to, not because he feels like he wants any of the glory. More of a temporary caretaker of the people than The Leader.
But that's just me, maybe I am completely wrong about it.