The Forever War

From the moment I opened this book and all the way through to the end, I was mesmerized by the story, the characters, and the sheer excellence of this amazing work of Science Fiction. If you are a Sci-Fi fan and haven't read this, you are doing yourself a disservice. This novel, nearly fifty years old, is a classic work. It follows the military life of a physics student turned soldier, William Mandella, through his training and combat experience as a member of the UNEF Army. It is a compelling tale of a man who wants to go home but may not be able to continue to live his life the way he expects. While he serves a total of four years of his life, the travel from assignment moves at relativistic speeds and as we know, when someone travels at those speeds, time passes very quickly for those who are not along for the ride. Physics student William Mandella is conscripted as a member of a task force for the United Nations Exploratory Force to fight in a war against an alien race known as Taurans after presumed attacks by them on human colonist ships. Mandella undergoes intense training and is deployed to numerous places in the galaxy. While the ships that transport soldiers from one battle to another are very fast, traveling at relativistic speeds means that a lot of time passes off the ship than onboard. The first deployment for Mandella's group lasts two years from his point of view, but for the return to Earth, 27 years pass. In those times, there are drastic developments in technology, but there are also societal changes that are shocking. Mandella is part of the war for only four years of his life while centuries pass at home. The principal character, William Mandella, is an intelligent man who is made into a warrior. He isn't obsessed with killing but is merely doing a job he’s been trained for. He is quite resilient in that he understands his situation concerning time dilation, and what it might do to him. However, the time he spans outside his relativistic travel changes so drastically, he sometimes has a hard time keeping up with all the changes. He takes everything in stride as he moves forward, but still maintains his own identity. He wants all the things a professional soldier wants, but most of all, to come home alive to a world and to the woman he loves. We see most of the story through Mandella's eyes and the thoughts he has and so we get a combat veteran's view of life in and out of the military and observations of the social and political situations as they evolve over the period of a thousand years. My favorite point of plot in Forever War is how it illustrates the changes society goes through over a period of time. At one point, Mandella goes home and has a difficult time recognizing nearly everything he encounters. The changes are so extreme and bizarre that he finds he no longer can exist. He finally returns to the military because it is what he has become familiar with. It is no spoiler to say this tale is a metaphor for the Vietnam War. The author himself is a veteran of the Vietnam era, so the story is sad and tragic, but there are also moments of hope. Personally, the theme that stood out the most was how soldiers were regarded when they returned home. In the book, they are not treated well as they return to an Earth that has become a social and political ruin. Many are just trying to survive in an economy that is in shambles. When he feels as if he has been alienated from his home planet, Mandella, along with Marygay, re-enlists. As is typical of the military, after being promised to be assigned as instructors on Luna base, they are switched back to a combat unit and sent off to fight once again. Another thing that stood out to me was how Forever War and Starship Troopers (the book by Robert A. Heinlein, not the film) have some things in common. Both are a soldiers’ story that can give one a better understanding of what it means to fight in a war and then try to survive, not only in combat, but when returning home and having to adapt to all the changes one faces. My takeaway from The Forever War is to show how one can never return home. Nothing stays the same and life is full of change. Forever War is a classic work of sci-fi that holds up well and will speak to readers today. If there is a must-read list, this book should appear at the top. It has everything a fan of military sci-fi would enjoy, and I think many of those who have served would also appreciate what is in these pages. Mandella's tale is great on every level. It is brilliantly written because it is easy to understand and relate to. It is a fairly fast read at 236 pages, but at the same time, there is a lot of amazing story packed into that small space. I found Forever War to be entertaining, engaging, and emotionally charged.' Highest Recommendations!

Not bad. Very like Heinlein, but with a more modern voice and writing style. And no rah-rah, thank goodness. This is definitely an antiwar book. It is interesting, some new ideas, not much of a plot other than what the title implies. Abrupt ending. I enjoyed it although there were a few sections that dragged. I was amused by the concept of the civilians back on earth and other human planets going through fads in how people live. Mandella goes back to earth after a tour of duty, and his mother's a lesbian. He goes back again after another tour of duty, and everyone's homosexual. He goes back after his final tour to find out the war was a mistake, it had been over for a couple of centuries anyway, and, oh by the way, everyone's a clone. But they are starting to rethink the concept of test-tube clone babies and have established some heterosexual planets just in case the whole clone thing turns out to be a mistake.

Joe Haldeman's 1974 novel The Forever War won both the Hugo and Nebula awards, and Haldeman has won many awards since for his other work. Despite being a fan of science fiction, I'd somehow never read any of Halderman's work before picking up The Forever War. After thoroughly enjoying The Forever War, though, I can guarantee it won't be the last Haldeman I read. The book begins in 1997 with Private William Mandella of the United Nations Exploratory Force (UNEF) in training to become part of the first unit to engage the Taurans, mysterious aliens that appear to have suddenly started attacking human spaceships. By the time Mandella returns to Earth after this brief engagement and is discharged, decades have passed on Earth, thanks to the effects of relativity shortening Mandella's subjective timeframe. Earth has changed almost beyond his comprehension, and he re-enlists - not because he likes the military, but because it's the only place he still fits. Mandella continues to serve, living only a few years in his subjective timeframe while hundreds of years pass on Earth. Eventually, the Earth he's fighting for no longer bears any relationship to the Earth he left, and the soldiers he serves with and eventually commands - born hundreds of years after he enlisted - can't relate to him and his ancient ideas. The thematic heart of the novel is the alienation a soldier experiences when returning from war. Haldeman, a Vietnam veteran, uses the science fiction trappings to illustrate this idea extremely well. Mandella's isolation as the centuries pass is entirely believable, and the reader gets a sense of how lost a former soldier must be when returning to the world. The science fiction and military elements of the novel are excellent, too. The science of space travel and relativity is portrayed in a way we don't often see in science fiction, but really ought to for space fiction that doesn't involve hyperspace or warp speed or the like. When the enemy has a hundred years of their time between you leaving your planet and arriving at the objective, you are essentially fighting foes with an extra hundred years of technology. Fortunately, this can work in your favor as well, as between Mandella being injured on a mission and returning to the human hospital planet, several generations have come and gone and an entirely new and more effective type of treatment has been invented. The military engagements are believable and really focus on the chaos and complete chance that determines whether or not any specific soldier survives. It's much more about luck than skill or bravery. At one point, Mandella mentions how John Wayne heroics don't work. Unfortunately, the officer he's talking to - born hundreds of years after Wayne died - has no idea what he means. I read the 2011 e-book version of the novel, which is based on the 2006 definitive edition. This current edition features several changes to return parts of the story to Haldeman's original vision that were changed by the publisher in 1974. The Forever War is a fantastic novel. Haldeman manages to weave together a military tale with the science of relativistic space travel and the human condition of alienation and succeeds at every level. I highly recommend The Forever War, and am looking forward to reading more of Haldeman's extensive award-winning work.

Der ewige Krieg – und er ist tatsächlich fast ewig: über tausend Jahre. Nur nicht für den Protagonisten Mandella, der das von Anfang an erlebt – dank der Relativität der Zeit, die beim Reisen durch den Raum auftritt. Das Buch startet 1997 - Die Menschheit hat relativ kurz vorher eine Möglichkeit gefunden, weit und schnell durch den Raum zu reisen und ihn zu besiedeln (Dank sogenannten Kollapsaren und Portal-Planeten), sind dabei auf Ausserirdische gestossen – und die sind offensichtlich nicht friedlich. Darum werden auf der Erde aus den Universitäten die besten Köpfe ins Militär rekrutiert und für die Verteidigung der besetzten Planeten und den Kampf gegen die Ausserirdischen („Taurans“ genannt) ausgebildet. Dabei weiss man noch kaum etwas von ihnen, ausser dass sie ebenfalls die Raumfahrt gefunden haben. Durch die Augen von Mandella sieht man, wie blöd und furchtbar so ein Krieg ist. Die Umwelt (der Weltraum) ist lebensfeindlich, man wird ausgebildet aber ohne Hintergrundwissen losgeschickt um strategische Aufgaben zu erfüllen, Stationen zu errichten und zu verteidigen, feindliche Stationen einzunehmen und eventuell einen Tauran zu Forschungszwecken zu erwischen ... und all das kostet Leben. Und Zeit. Aber Mandella findet daneben auch Freundschaft – und eventuell Liebe: Marygay. Feste Beziehungen im Militär werden zwar nicht gerne gesehen – sind aber möglich. Als grösstes Problem stellt sich die Zeitverschiebung heraus. Anfangs scheint sich das noch zu seinen Gunsten auszuwirken – man muss nur 20 Jahre in der Armee verbringen –Erdzeit. Bei der ersten Rückkehr zur Erde 2023 -Monate nach Eintritt in die Armee für Mandella – sind dort 26 Jahre vergangen. Die Zeit blieb nicht stehen, es wurde weiterentwickelt (Waffen, Ausrüstung, Technologie) und die Umstände ändern sich. Jetzt können sie aus der Armee austreten – Sold haben sie genug bekommen (plus Zins), aber ... die meisten, die sie von früher kannten sind jetzt entweder viel älter oder schon tot. Homosexualität wird von den Regierungen unterstützt – um der Überbevölkerung entgegenzuwirken. Geld ... gibt es so auch nicht mehr, man zahlt in Lebensmittelpunkten und man bekommt nur solange man jung ist Zugang zum Gesundheitssystem. Nach einer Weile merken die „Veteranen“, wie sie nicht mehr hineinpassen – und viele melden sich deshalb wieder ins Militär. So auch Mandella und Marygay ... unter der Voraussetzung, dass sie zusammenbleiben dürfen und nicht direkt in den Kampf geschickt werden. Doch genau das passiert. Noch weiter weg als bisher. Inzwischen ist es um 2100 Mandalla und Marygay werden bei einer Kampfhandlung verletzt: Mandella verliert ein Bein, Marygay einen Arm. Sie werden auf Heaven, einen geheimen erdähnlichen Planeten geschickt, wo sie neue Glieder bekommen und sich erholen können – bevor sie befördert und wieder in Kampfhandlungen geschickt werden. Getrennt dieses Mal. Und wegen der unterschiedlichen Ziele würden sie auch durch Jahre der Zeit getrennt sein – eine Trennung für immer. Mandalla bekommt die nötigen Informationen und Erfahrungen eingepflanzt um ein Kommandant zu sein und reist zum nächsten Einsatz- dem entferntesten Collapsar überhaupt, um dort eine Station zu bauen. Erdzeit ca. 2400. Heterosexualität gilt inzwischen als (behandelbare) emotionale Disfunktion, als Krankheit, Kinder werden in künstlichen Gebärmüttern herangezüchtet, die ganze Gesellschaft ist auf den ewigen Krieg ausgerichtet. Mandella ist damit so ziemlich der einzige heterosexuelle ... der sich auch nicht behandeln lassen will. Ein Relikt aus vergangenen Zeiten, obwohl selber noch nicht einmal 30 Jahre alt. Damit wird er zusätzlich zum Aussenseiter, auch wenn er ein paar Freunde findet unter der neuen Mannschaft. Auf dem unwirtlichen Planeten am anderen Ende des Collapsars angekommen, erbauen sie die neue Station ... dann heisst es warten und sie gegen eventuell auftauchende Tauraner zu verteidigen. Die kommen dann tatsächlich ... mit Masse und neuen Technologien. Mit Mühe und einer üblen Finte überleben es Mandella und ein Teil der Soldaten und beschliessen eigenständig den Rückzug. Kommunikation ist über diese Entfernungen nicht möglich. 340 Jahre später (aber nur ein paar Wochen für sie) treffen sie auf Stargate ein – dem ursprünglichen Kollapsar ... und bekommen ein Briefing über die aktuelle Situation. Der Krieg ist vorbei. Tatsächlich endete er 221 Jahre vorher Inzwischen ist es das Jahr 3138. Sie sind die letzten Soldaten, die zurückkommen. Die Menschheit besteht nur noch aus Klonen – einem perfekten weiblichen Klon und einem perfekten männlichen Klon. Neue Individuen gibt es nur, wenn alte sterben und alle sind im Bewusstsein miteinander verbunden. Für die Veteranen gibt es spezielle Planeten, auf denen sie leben können, wie sie es gewohnt waren. Ach ja und: Der 1143 Jahre lange Krieg war unnötig. Die Erklärung fand ich super – die muss man aber selber lesen. Aber das beste: Maragay, deren Einsatz 300 Jahre vorher endete hat Mandella eine Nachricht in seinen militärischen Unterlagen hinterlassen. Und die spricht von Hoffnung ... Ich fand das Buch toll. Sollte die Menschheit wirklich einmal so in den Weltraum reisen, ist das Problem der relativen Zeitverschiebung ein nicht zu vernachlässigendes. Und ich habe noch kein Buch getroffen, das das Problem derart gut zeigen kann. Zeit kann genau so eine Grenze sein, wie räumlicher Abstand. Und die Dinge (viel!) verändern sich mit der Zeit. Sogar Menschliche Beziehungen und der Mensch selber ... 1970 geschrieben hat das Buch nichts verloren. Krieg ist nie schön – aber dieses Buch demonstriert wunderbar wie unnötig, unmenschlich, unlogisch, stumpfsinnig, grausam das auch ist. Manches Mal musste ich mich deshalb fast zwingen, weiterzulesen. Es hat sich aber gelohnt. 5 Sterne für dieses Buch!

The actual story is OK, but not really special. But it is a carrier for all kinds of aspects I actually never thought about. What happens when you travel at light speed, slow down and move back? Time dilation. Ah. Need to think a little longer. And gerichte second book of the series. Good oh.

Uma excelente história de guerra! O livro ainda é relevante, e a ficção científica envelheceu bem. Alguns aspectos da Sci-Fi ficaram ultrapassados, mas dão um toque nostálgico. Outros são bem embasados em teorias físicas e dão veracidade à obra. As personagens são maravilhosas, e o final foi muito satisfatório. Eu já tinha a versão impressa em português, e comprei a versão kindle em inglês para reler.

Un livre superbement pensé à lire en VO. Écriture claire et agréable, sans détours. Des concepts de SF précis et compréhensibles (dilatation temporelle)qui produisent une métaphore filée sur la vie d'un vétéran du Vietnam. Critique antimilitariste sans concession ni facilité, héros attachant et humain, tout y est. On peut à juste titre se demander pourquoi le livre n'a pas été adapté en film après le graphic novel... A masterpiece and a one_of-a-kind SciFi work. A too-human hero you can root for right from the beginning on to the end. Filled with despair on the cruelty of our humanity yet a striking commentary on war, especially when one knows the author's background as a Vietnam veteran. The scientific concepts are still solid long after its first release, it's quite an easy read without being oversimplified. The only thing I keep asking myself: why oh why hasn't there been any movie adaptation?

I love sci fi novel that makes me think about things like: could this be...? This story had time travel, futuristic fighting, altered concepts of sexual morality, etc, etc. It's interesting reading a book written in the70's ...sexual revolution era of course smoking dope had to feature a lot and taking drugs, a great read I enjoyed it a lot.