Reviews

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman

7hm's review against another edition

4.0

A much happier ending than I expected. 

koelkat's review against another edition

2.0

I feel conflicted. The writer part of me likes this book: solid plot, excellent world, and great pacing. But the reader part of me isn't a fan: no characters to grasp onto, multiple info-dumps, and plainly unenjoyable. Though, I did like the subtle romance in the book.

Even though I enjoy science fiction and fantasy books, I can tell this book isn't for me. The world was always changing and reminded me of Kurt Vonnegut's "Galápagos". Even with "Galápagos" I enjoyed it. So why not this book? I have no idea.

Maybe it's just one of those books that I just don't like. To be honest, I skimmed through a lot of the ending. But it's not a bad book, just not a favorite.

selaana01's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

sidneyua's review against another edition

Мабуть, зараз не найкращий час для того, щоб читати воєнну фантастику, тим паче що вік книжки дуже сильно дається взнаки: від дивного акценту на куріння маріхуани до ідей примусового проміскуїтету.

todd_bissell's review against another edition

5.0

One of my top 10 book ever, sci-fi or otherwise! //TB

ramsfan1963's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Deeply affected by the Vietnam War, the author has created an anti-war military novel classic. While it was probably unrealistic to have one character survive from the start of the war until the end, which due to relativistic physics meant he had lived for hundreds of years, it gave the story a current viewpoint to how the Earth was changed when the soldier returned centuries later. 

chandlabing1987's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

3.0

prabhuakshay9's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

mandoreviews's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

8.5/10

I thought this was a great sci-fi war novel. It  questions war’s purposes by showing its inadvertent effects. 

#MandoReviews

bperl's review against another edition

4.0

Haldeman pulls from his Vietnam war experience to weave a compelling story of brutal training, hellish combat, and an eternally changing homefront - all in the context of space travel and battle. His use of time dilation is the main selling point, as it well should be. His soldiers are sent to the farthest reaches of the galaxy at the speed of light; they age very little, while earth goes through decades and centuries in the same time period. Fascinating? Absolutely. Chilling? For sure. Worthwhile? Definitely.