I love the Forever War. You are right about Haldeman writing it based on his experiences in the Vietnam War. It is almost autobiographical. The last name is an anagram of his own name, Marygay is named after his wife, and Haldeman/Mandella were both physics students. I read it for the first time like 15 years ago and it left a lasting impact on me. I still think about it after all this time. I need to read it again. Great review!
@bookswithzara I have not read Forever Free. I have read Forever Peace which places like Goodreads claim is part of the "series". It is most certainly not. It is good but you can't compare it to Forever War. The only other Haldeman I have read is "All my Sins Remembered" which feels like a Phillip K Dick meets Alfred Bester novel. It is trippy and brutal. It revolves around a man having a mental breakdown as he relives past events. It was such a strange read that I need to read it again to see if it holds up. It definitely has a "vibe" 😅.
I really enjoyed this book when I read it a few years ago, especially moreso in retrospect when I read Heinlein's Starship Traders not very long afterwards and found it to be an interesting contrast. I later learned Haldeman was responding to Starship Troopers with Forever War. I still have yet to read the sequels, maybe someday I will but I was satisfied with what we got. Btw, if you want to see a great film that loathes the book its adaptating, check out Starship Troopers.
Ahh had no clue about it being a response to ST. I have that book as well, maybe I should read it this month. Lol re the film. I'm so done with poor adaptations.
I’ve been a trekie for sometime and one thing that is true about Star Trek is that there are no aliens. Oh sure there’s Klingons and Vulcans but really they are just stand ins for other ppl who may not live or look the way “we” do…. whatever “we” means. The other thing it reminds me of is KJ Parker’s chapter in Academic Exercises titled “On Sieges” where he talks about how sieges, war, caused civilization. That last quote points in that direction too.
Yeah I like that take. Even call them 'other beings' doesn't feel right as it has a negative connotation, because while they may be 'other' to us, that doesn't reduce their place in society. I think you'd like this book quite a bit, Billy! Hope you consider picking it up.
I honestly did not like this book at all. While the character wasn’t a cartoon hero, I thought he was too generic. I thought he could have been developed more and built into the story to make the theme of a changing society hit harder. I just didn’t feel it. That, and the ending was last straw.
I recently reread this incredible book, and I agree that it continues to be meaningful and impactful to this day. I did my own review just a couple months ago ruclips.net/video/ms79givTPRI/видео.html
I love the Forever War. You are right about Haldeman writing it based on his experiences in the Vietnam War. It is almost autobiographical. The last name is an anagram of his own name, Marygay is named after his wife, and Haldeman/Mandella were both physics students.
I read it for the first time like 15 years ago and it left a lasting impact on me. I still think about it after all this time. I need to read it again.
Great review!
Thanks Joseph! Ah that's great to know. Had no clue about the anagram but that's smart. Have you read the second one?
@bookswithzara I have not read Forever Free. I have read Forever Peace which places like Goodreads claim is part of the "series". It is most certainly not. It is good but you can't compare it to Forever War.
The only other Haldeman I have read is "All my Sins Remembered" which feels like a Phillip K Dick meets Alfred Bester novel. It is trippy and brutal. It revolves around a man having a mental breakdown as he relives past events.
It was such a strange read that I need to read it again to see if it holds up. It definitely has a "vibe" 😅.
What impeccable timing. The Forever War is currently free on Kindle Unlimited. Instant download. Thanks for the recommendation Zara!!
Whoop whoop!
I must get this book 📕 and read it as soon as I can thank you for sharing a wonderful book 📕 ❤❤
You'e welcome, John!
@ no thank you Zara
Great Review! My tbr is full for tge foreseeable future but since this book isn't that long maybe I'll try and fit it in for when I need a breather.
Yeah it's a quick one. Hope you like it Andrew. Let me know your thoughts.
I really enjoyed this book when I read it a few years ago, especially moreso in retrospect when I read Heinlein's Starship Traders not very long afterwards and found it to be an interesting contrast. I later learned Haldeman was responding to Starship Troopers with Forever War. I still have yet to read the sequels, maybe someday I will but I was satisfied with what we got.
Btw, if you want to see a great film that loathes the book its adaptating, check out Starship Troopers.
Ahh had no clue about it being a response to ST. I have that book as well, maybe I should read it this month. Lol re the film. I'm so done with poor adaptations.
@bookswithzara It's worth a watch. It's less of an adaptation and is a satire.
I’ve been a trekie for sometime and one thing that is true about Star Trek is that there are no aliens. Oh sure there’s Klingons and Vulcans but really they are just stand ins for other ppl who may not live or look the way “we” do…. whatever “we” means.
The other thing it reminds me of is KJ Parker’s chapter in Academic Exercises titled “On Sieges” where he talks about how sieges, war, caused civilization. That last quote points in that direction too.
Yeah I like that take. Even call them 'other beings' doesn't feel right as it has a negative connotation, because while they may be 'other' to us, that doesn't reduce their place in society.
I think you'd like this book quite a bit, Billy! Hope you consider picking it up.
I honestly did not like this book at all. While the character wasn’t a cartoon hero, I thought he was too generic. I thought he could have been developed more and built into the story to make the theme of a changing society hit harder. I just didn’t feel it.
That, and the ending was last straw.
Fair enough!
Great review. Sorta reminded me of this stand up bit. m.ruclips.net/video/0ov-HwofD0c/видео.html&pp=ygUXTGV3aXMgYmxhY2sgY2hpY2tlbiBlZ2c%3D
I recently reread this incredible book, and I agree that it continues to be meaningful and impactful to this day. I did my own review just a couple months ago ruclips.net/video/ms79givTPRI/видео.html
Very cool! Added your review to my watchlist :) Thanks for sharing!