The Forever War Review

Mini-review #9
This is a series of short reviews for military SF and mecha SF.  You will not see a review of something I don't like as it isn't worth writing about in that case, but I will tell you what works for me and what doesn't about the stories I did like.  When I was writing my Exocrisis Blue stories and trying to find places to post about it or reviews of other mecha SF I was unable to find any, so I'm creating my own hub. Now onto the review.  For the master list of reviews, click here.

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman is an old military classic, much like Heinlein's Starship Troopers.  Both of these novels feature not just military action, but serious social commentary.  In the Forever War, the novel is is an anti-war novel in many respects as it addresses topics such as the alienation of soldiers who have returned from war, conscription, the dehumanizing military machine, and even questions the reasons for engaging in warfare.  Haldeman served during the Vietnam War and it is widely believed that this science fiction novel's themes reflect upon his wartime experiences.

Flickr / procsilas

I read this novel years ago and it deeply engaged me on multiple levels.  It is a very well written story that is a Nebula award winner too!  There is good action, plenty of deep science fiction elements, and great characters.  The hero, William Mandella, is a conscript sent out to fight against the Taurans who apparently attacked human colony ships.  There is some brutal training on Earth then out on a moon of Pluto.  Many casualties ensue between the hostile environments and the use of live weapons.

Later on, they engage in ground combat.  At first it is very one sided, but later on the Terrans are outmatched by superior alien weaponry.  The war is fought in real time, but transportation happens at relativistic speeds so centuries of time pass between battles.  The novel chronicles the problems that the batch of soldiers have in adjusting to "future shock" when society changes on them so they are outcasts that don't fit in.  You really have to feel for them.

This is a good read.  Rumour has it that Heinlein even said it was the best futuristic military SF he had read.

Does it have a cast of characters listing? 
No.  

What is the scope / scale of the story? 
Mainly platoon, company, and battalion level within a much larger campaign over many worlds and vast stretches of time.

Does it have likeable characters?
Very much so.  Characters seem real and caught up in changes beyond their control.  Over the centuries of war they remain static - like remnants of the present caught in the far future and unable to cope with massive societal change.

Does it have an entertaining storyline?
Yes.  It is a long war story over many campaigns.  Our hero becomes a veteran by skill and accident over time.  Like I said before, a good story.  You do wonder how it will turn out at the end.

How is the internal consistency / plausibility?
Very good. It is well thought out. I like the future society building element a great deal.

What cool bonus features are there?
Time dilation effects as you travel near light speed and the many implications that it causes.  Leapfrogging technology as the war continues. Battlesuits, laser rifles, death in hostile terrain or by enemy fire, limb and organ regeneration, cloning all in the proper place.