Prior to reading Forever War, I had only read one other of Joe
Haldeman’s novels. I'm afraid I didn't care for that one, and to avoid further
discussion, I will decline to reveal the title. However, when I talked about
that book with a friend, he told me I shouldn't give up on the author because
he is an amazing writer and teller of stories. My friend recommended Forever
War as an example of great Sci-Fi writing. So, as I was between books, I
thought it would be a good time to take care of an obligation to myself and to
my friend.
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!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Well, there it is...
Qapla!
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