Rating: 
Summary: Good, but yes it truly is over-hyped.
Review: I'm not sure I've thought much about this book at all since I've read it. I think I actually have a more negative view of it in hindsight. As I recall it seemed just like the formula I heard for sf of that era i.e. Sex+bleakness=literature. Sex+bleakness can be literature, but you need more. Actually there was a little more. For example, it's got some humor & is fairly moving at times. Not enough more to justify the hype. All in all definitely not literarily great, not science fictionally great either, but above average. Interestingly that's my general feeling about Haldeman, but in Asimov's Magazine I read a poem of his I liked. Maybe he should of stuck with that instead of doing novels like this.
Rating: 
Summary: Everything it's supposed to be
Review: This book is not over-hyped; far from it. I'd read the first part before as part of an anthology, but the rest of the book was even better. Yes, it's dark and morbid and maybe even downright depressing, but when you're done reading it, you won't be able to stop thinking about some of the issues -- which was, after all, Haldeman's goal. The novel portrays a soldier who, far more starkly than any previous warrior, finds that the very people he is defending change far more than he would have liked. They are, however, still his people, and he has nothing else to which he can turn. Be forewarned: although this was written as something of a commentary on the Vietnam War, Haldeman (as he points out in his preface) wrote it as a commentary on war, government, and culture in general, and his points are still relevant -- even to the point of discomfort for many, including myself. This is not a novel I'll forget anytime soon.
Rating: 
Summary: Over Rated
Review: Boy...I believed all the stellar reviews of this book so I decided to purchase it seeing as lost material was added back in on top of it. I was glad it was under 300 pages because it had to be the most boring book I have read in a long time. I could have cared less for any of these characters. Plus the preoccupation with sex in this book was ridiculous. This book doesnt hold a candle to Heinleins Starship Troopers. Read that one instead!
Rating: 
Summary: Unfortunately, I Was Expecting So Much More...
Review: based on the reviews I read. But I was highly disappointed. Mr. Haldeman started with a great concept and theory. Unfortunately, the novelty of the concept just couldn't overcome the weakness of the storyline. It had no staying power and I became disinterested in what would happen to the main character. By the end, the story was just dragging on and I couldn't wait for it to finish. And the finish itself was so lame. Talk about anti-climactic. Usually the reveiws here(Amazon) are pretty reliable, but I guess this book was just one of those rare occasions where I'm off-kilter with everyone else.
Rating:
Summary: Give your mind a big ol' slice o' intellectual pie!
Review: For years, the name Herman Melville wallowed in relative obscurity as a great read known as Moby Dick collected dust on the shelves of publishers. Finally, a small group of people with more than the normal half a brain that everyone else got realized they were sitting on a cultural gold mine. Well, my friends, it's happened again. The question is: How long will it take posterity (and a culturally retarded America) to recognize Haldeman for the greatness he has shared with us? Any of the great, enduring classics are just that because of their timeless themes and fluid writing. They are also able to withstand the test of time because of their universal appeal. This book can be taken at face value and read for the story alone. I guarantee you that it will leave you with a feeling of awe. For those that wish to go deeper, make sure that a friend has also read the book because you'll NEED to discuss it. There's so much to captivate the mind and the ironies are so grand that this book must not be kept a secret. Heinlein has been recognized for his great works including Starship Troopers. But it is curious that the mirror image of that particular book seems to have been lost in comparable obscurity. I hope that this cultural mistake will be corrected sooner than the decades it usually takes. In addition, let me say that I am not a huge fan of science fiction. This book was recommended to me by a friend and I didn't even realize I was reading science fiction until I finished the book and read the back cover (I read the back cover because the book ended and I was desperately looking for more). Furthermore, I do my fair share of reading and this is the only book I've ever read in one sitting. No book has ever captured my attention so completely. And since it has only been a week since I finished my second read-through, I haven't yet made the declaration that this is my favorite book of all time - though I feel that such a statement is inevitable. In conclusion, READ THIS BOOK! It won't make your teeth whiter or your skin smoother. What it will do is make your brain wrinkly - and that's a good thing since there's far too many people with smooth brains and wrinkly skin.
Rating:
Summary: Timely not timeless.
Review: I read some of Haldeman's stories in Asimov's & elsewhere, but this is the first novel of his I've read. When you consider the amount of technospeak in this book ,above average even for hard sf, it is perhaps strange someone would think this should have been the science fiction novel to "break out" & win a Pullitzer. It does have a pretty bleak view of the near future & lots of sex (with the exception of me science fiction readers tend to associate those 2 things with depth) I have got to admit at first I though it was going to be funny ,the first pages are, & so I might have turned mildly hostile to it because it turned depressing. Nevertheless it is well written, funny at times, & I like the stuff about estrangement through time dilation. Sadly it is one of the only science fiction books I have read that seems to be of its time & not transcendant of its time. In short I have read science fiction books twice as old that are much more relevant to our times. It is pretty good though just don't get your hopes up too high if you did not live in the period from '65 to '75.
Rating:
Summary: Starship Troopers, retold in the hip thinking of the 70's
Review: Written at the end of the Vietnam War, whenanti-establishment paranoia was reaching fever pitch in the UnitedStates, this book is very much a product of its time. Originally turned down by over a dozen publishers, "The Forever War" has become a classic of science fiction, albeit a controversial one. Haldeman creates a future society where rampant sexual promiscuity is the norm in an uncaring military regime. Although there are exciting scenes of battle, much of the book is taken up with an exploration of the philosophical ramifications of such a society. The book discusses the necessity of government-imposed homosexuality as a form of birth control and the importance of using mind-altering drugs in the military culture. Haldeman's social theories are quite unpalatable and occasionally irresponsible. However, the book is frequently exciting and the details of the society are fascinating. This is an entertaining and thought-provoking book, but it should not be used as a political manifesto. The most interesting feature of "The Forever War" is its fascinating glimpse into America's struggle for a post-Vietnam War identity, told as a heroic tale of interstellar conflict. Sounds familiar? The military culture described in this book is closer to that which was parodied in "MASH", "Kelly's Heroes" and the other hip war movies of the 70's, and would probably not be very effective if it existed in reality. In summary, this book is not only derivative but also readily dates itself. Frankly, I enjoyed watching the movie "Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery", a lot more than this book.
Rating:
Summary: The Only Truely Great Novel Joe Haldeman Ever Wrote...
Review: Joe Haldeman himself has said this novel was written as a response to Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers. This is the only novel of Haldeman's worth taking the time to read. It may, in some ways, actually be better than Heinlein's original. After reading The Forever War, I eagerly sought other Haldeman novels to read...and was terribly disappointed. Even Haldeman's sequel, Forever Peace, is a disappointing waste of the reader's time. Just get this novel, then switch to John Varley or Spider Robinson...
Rating:
Summary: Great. One of the best SciFi books written.
Review: I reread this book at least once a year. It is real science fiction, of a type that makes the story and the times very believable. The protagonist is dynamic, and empathetic, which is why the story of the war surrounding him works so well. The science in the novel is very well executed, and is easily understandable in terms of the novel. A great, fast read. Still one of Haldeman's best.
Rating:
Summary: best damn book I've read in a long time.
Review: Haldeman has a refreshing writing style. At first glance, I wasn't sure what to think about the book, but just one chapter in I was hooked. Stories just don't get much better than this. What really got to me was Haldeman's vision of earth in the future, all the 'what if' kind of stuff. It really made me stop and think. Definitely one of the books I'd recommend for anyone to read. The book was so good, it made me buy another Haldeman book, FOREVER PEACE. While that book was good, this one is a whole lot better. So if you enjoyed FOREVER PEACE, just think what awaits in THE FOREVER WAR...
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