The Forever War by Joe Haldeman Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Forever War
Book Review: Future Shocktroops! Great Novel by Joe!
Summary: 4 Stars
In 1972 Joe Haldeman wrote The Forever War, a futuristic war that seems to me to be a criticism of the Vietnam War. And yet it is timely!
Mandala gets conscripted into the army and thus is thrust into an interstellar war against the Taurans, so called because the enemy's planet is near the Taurus constellation. As we travel with Mandalla, we see him going through military training and though the names are changed and the strange new weapons and battle suits are different, criticisms of army generals, commanders and the illogic of the military bureaucracy is very evident.
When we find that the reasoning for getting into the war was a flimsy one and has lasted a thousand years, the mind draws to not only the Vietnam conflict, but the more current (historically speaking) Iraq conflict.
Another strong theme is that of social changes that become so hard to understand and live with that the soldier ends up re-enlisting. I'm sure when the boys returned from Vietnam or even Iraq, they were having a hard time adjusting to the new changes in society.
In the book's fictional society, people are required to have bodyguards and arm themselves whenever they go outside. At any moment you may be jumped on and robbed! The security guard industry is booming. Raids are carried out by bad guys even on farms and smaller, unprotected villages. Time for Mandalla to leave!
The time dilation effect in zooming up to stars that have special properties makes a year or two change subjective time into hundreds of years go by to the imaginary viewer on Earth. Thus Mandalla has spent a 1000 year tour of duty fighting the Taurans.
Another theme is sexual attitudes. The army has changing partners, you can sleep with anyone you want to let off some steam. Even then, the pairing of people is fairly rare yet Mandalla finds solace in Marygay, a woman solider that he follows around and develops feelings for.
Much too is made of homosexuality on Earth. The society has changed so much that homosexuality is used as a birth control device! Heterosexuality is looked on as an aberration where people prefer homosexuality. Thus the Earth's former 9 billion becomes a stable 1 billion after some centuries.
The battle scenes are pure fiction, yet the space adventures on Charon (an ice planet outside Pluto's orbit) and another battlefield outside of the Milky Way galaxy, brings us much in terms of interpersonal relations, Mandalla's struggle with most of his crew hating him and other pressures of military life that are still true today.
The book is an easy read, provocative at times and makes for some great adventure.
Recommended.
Book Review: Good Sci-Fi
Summary: 3 Stars
I found Forever War to be an easy read. The time dialation was my favorite concept, although his choice of near future dates (the book was written in 1975) for some events had me taking his prologue advice of looking at the novel as a parallel world too often. I think if Ridley Scott gets a good screenplay for the movie, you get a good story with all of the stumbling points such as the creepy 70s feel scrubbed from an otherwise excellent study on time, war and humanity.Book Review: Good Science Fiction
Summary: 5 Stars
I had wanted to read this book for a while but just didn't get around to doing it, I am not disappointed in it. Awesome storyline, unlike anything else I have read. Haldeman creates insights on the sociology of the future and addresses concerns such as economics, sexual orientation, and overpopulation. It's one of those books that makes you think if the future portrayed could possibly be our own. Another fav of mine to add to my science fiction collection.Book Review: Great Book
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this about 25 years ago, always remembered what a great book it was, I recommended it,an easy read and entertaining to boot!Book Review: Great Book
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm not much for sci-fi, but this book came recommended and I was in the mood for something different. As a serviceman currently deployed, there are aspects of this story I could relate to. Good story, great ideas, easy read.