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Summary: A vivid satyre of not only Vietnam, but humanity in general
Review: WOW. . .I just finished this book, and I must say that it was one of the most insightful books I have read in a while. It is the tale of a young graduate student (majored in physics) who is drafted into the military to fight against an enigmatic race from a far off world who, supposedly, threatens the survival of our species. This book captures everything that makes science-fiction combat novels great (cool technology, exotic planets, unknown and mysterious races), but it also adds to it a very human element of the comradre built between the soldiers. It draws the parody to the problems of the Vietnam War with soldier's questioning "why are we fighting?" (a concept that is not fully explained until the last few pages [and 1122 years after his enlistment]) And not only that, he allows the reader to see peices of our species's future over the next 1122 years through relativistic travel. We get to see what becomes of us, flaws and strengths. I found it a very captivating book, so much so that I could not put it down for the three days it took me to read it. If you liked Robert Hienlien's "Starship Trooper", you will love this one.
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Summary: Best Sci Fi book i have ever read
Review: This is the best Science Fiction book i have ever read. If i had to compare it to another book i would say it is similar to Starship Troopers, but with so much more. Haldeman starts off a great trilogy with The Forever War. I have read this book through several times and actually wrote a term paper on it in college. I actually emailed the auther Joe Haldeman about the book and he resonded with helpful advice. If you have ANY interest in science fiction BUY THIS BOOK!
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Summary: A book that'll take you for a ride...
Review: Some books are written to *tell* a story, and some are written to *share* a story. This book clearly belongs in the latter category. While the book has all the elements of great fiction, (wonderful, likeable characters; a meaningful overarching plot, and enough little intellectual tweaks and subplots to keep the reader interested) it also has an intangible quality that is much more rare. Ender's Game had it, Enchantment had it, and The Forever War has it; it's the quality that draws the reader into the story rather than just telling him what's happening. It gives him the unmistakable notion that 'this is really significant,' but not in an overt, heavy-handed way. Whether it's due to the tone of the writing, the events in the plot itself, or some other factor I couldn't begin to tell you, but it's there. It's a deeper sort of involvement. It's a hard feeling to shake, but that only adds to the impact of the story. If you want to know what it's like to have nothing and loose even that, this book with give it to you.
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Summary: If you loved Starship Troopers, you'll love The Forever War
Review: Starting with the conscription of private Mandella into an elite fighting force, we follow him starting with basic training and following him from campaign to campaign. The science and technology in this book is interesting, and the book deal with the time dilation effects of relativity as a basic premise. The character development is particulary poignant, as Mandella goes through moderate personal experience - whilst the world around him accelerates away from the 20th century he was born in. If you enjoyed Starship Troopers or the Red Mars books, you'll enjoy this one.
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Summary: The best thing going in military sci-fi
Review: I have read "The Forever War" several times now, and I'm always amazed at just how good it is. On the one hand, it's loaded with action, has great characters and technology and is just a great read. On the other hand, it is a surprisingly thoughtful novel. Haldeman isn't just telling a story; he's examining why the human race seems to be constantly incited to violence, and the impact that violence has on us. His particular concern is the impact on the young soldiers drafted into an impossible conflict. In much the same way that soldiers in Vietnam faced an unknowable enemy with no home front behind them, so to do his characters face the ultimate enigma (an alien race) hundreds of millions of miles from home. Simply put, "The Forever War" is just an outstanding novel. Full of violence, compassion, dread and hope, it will stay with you long after you have completed it. Enjoy!
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Summary: fascinating!
Review: Very interesting. A book which superficially looks as though it should be out-dated, but it is not. clearly one of the better SF books I have read in a long time. Well written, well constructed and well though out. Definately recommend.
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Summary: Haldeman was a soldier.
Review: As an Israeli and veteran soldier, i found this book very realistic and shocking, Haldeman really shows the realistic side of war and military system. i don't think that i can add more except one thing: READ THIS BOOK!,it is great book, recommended espeically to people that want to understand (even partly) the meaning of war.
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Summary: The Forever (criitcal of) War
Review: Joe Haldeman's most critically acclaimed book, The Forever War, goes beyond traditional science fiction. Of course, the bulk of the novel focuses on the actual war and the requisite battle between humans and aliens, or good and evil. Haldeman is obviously critical of war, revealing his bias by putting so much emphasis on the battles themselves. He explores the interrelationships of this fictional military and exposes the real brutality of combat. He doesn't, however, put this trying experience into context. War is fought for a reason, and the reason (beyond the trite) is never fully explained or analyzed. The battles he undertakes are largely out of context, and readers are almost forced to have a negative impression of war upon finishing the book. Regardless, the book features more than the traditional perils of war tale. Haldeman also interjects his own social commentary during the period when Mandella returns home. He finds a different world with opposite stances on key social issues. For instance, homosexuality is now standard practice and justified as a form of population control. I don't quite understand Haldeman's message. His support of homosexuality is justified by its effectiveness in curbing population growth. He never comes out and gives a moral justification or approval for homosexuality. Mandella even says he feels uncomfortable seeing men together. It isn't clear to me whether he's advocating homosexuality or not. Also, he provides a vague explanation of the loss of private property ownership in the new world. Again, he hints at advocating socialism, but always leaves room for another interpretation. I wish Haldeman would have explored these issues more thoroughly during the book and trim a few of the battle scenes. He is trying to make social critiques, but they are muddled in his overall criticism of war.
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Summary: The Forever War
Review: The novel The Forever War was written by Joe Haldeman in 1975. He got many ideas for this book from his own personal experience in the Vietnam war. This is about a war between Earth and the Taurans, which are beings from another planet that there isn't all that much known about them. This war begins in the year 1997 and continues until the year 3138. The survival rate for the soldiers is very low due to the fact that the war lasted about 1200 years. Individuals to fight in the army is chosen differently than we are currently used to. The draft chooses college graduates and the most intelligent people. It is a hard concept to follow that time moves slower in outerspace than on Earth. Therefore, it may only seem like days in outerspace, but it has been months on Earth. The main character in the novel The Forever War is Mandella. Throughout the book it shows his personal experiences in fighting the war and it also shows him being promoted in the army. I believed that Mandella was one of the best fighters due to the fact that he survived the war. After the war he went on to get married and have a child. I definitely found The Forever War to be science fiction. There was a large amount of technology that was discussed through out the book. This book talked about traveling to other planets to fight aliens, special "suits" that the army would wear, and traveling in spaceships. The army could also take pills that would make them feel good but not to impair their judgment. I found this novel to be very interesting and easy to read. It kept my attention and I would recommend this book to any person interested in science fiction and the future.
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Summary: Great Read !!
Review: This book is one of the best Science Fiction books I have ever read. Its 255 pages read like a movie. I read it in one day. Haldeman makes a stunning presentation of what the future could be like. This book is also a social great commentary that made me think about what is in store for humankind. William Mandella is a wonderful representation of a war hero who ends up living for over two centuries. Born in the late twentieth century, Mandella is drafted into an elite fighting force that starts a war with an alien race called the Taurans. The war lasts for more than 500 years, and only ends because the two sides realize that neither wanted war in the first place. Along the way, Mandella is introduced to amazing social changes and finally settles in the end on a planet called Middle Finger. This is such a great book. I would recommend it for anyone over the age of 15. Easy read, great story, and wonderful presentation. I only gave it four stars because I wish I could have read the next piece of the story right away.
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