THE FOREVER WAR by JOE HALDEMAN | Sci-Fi Book Review

This science fiction classic is one of the most acclaimed books in the genre. What did you think of this war novel?

[@PieGuyBill]

As a Vietnam veteran, I’ve been meaning to get to this. Something I may be able to relate to….Good review.

[@WordsinTime]

Thank you for your service Bill! It would be interesting to get your perspective on this book!

[@willforlife_]

you speak well easy to listen to ,looks like you know good books too

[@WordsinTime]

That’s great to hear William! Thanks for the kind words and welcome to the channel!

[@plopping-wetlyacademyofmot9639]

Excellent review. 2/3 of the way through the book rn and this is 100% accurate review so far. I did not enjoy the book much at first because of having sooo many characters to keep track of but they do grow on you eventually. The level of detail the author uses is usually pretty great. Not super fast paced but I keep coming back to it. This review made me more optimistic about the ending. Thank you!

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks for the kind words! This book was not quite what I expected, but it did end up making an impact. Let me know your thoughts after you’ve finished. Welcome to the channel!

[@joshythehand2960]

So ahead of its time. From the complex war armor many modern sci fi books use today.. to the fact that they went into "the matrix" and learned new skills while sleeping.. but training for years in the computer program.. 40 years before we conceived of that type of interface.. to the fact they took into account the time change at light speed.. so it was decades or more after every short trip.. And maybe the craziest.. and maybe what our gov is really doing now... their projections of population models show that mankind's birth rate is unsustainable.. so they do a full court press to get as many people as they can to enter same sex marriages in an effort to keep the number of births down. This book was 50 years ahead of its time in every way. .

[@WordsinTime]

Definitely ahead of its time! You can feel it’s influence on so many things that came after it!

[@joshythehand2960]

@@WordsinTime I could not agree more. I'm an older guy.. in my 50s now.. And I've been a hard core scifi/fantasy fan my entire life. Literally bought an read 2 books a week for decades. And as time progressed into the 80s and 90s.. I was FLOORED by how much of the genre took on so many aspects of the forever war. From the computer interfacing.. matrix.. to the mech armor. By the mid 90s there were dozens of different series based on mech armor. And each time they came back there were advancement of problems we see today.. climate and pollution issues. Over pop issues ect. And what gets me is we may see a similiar future.. with a homogenized population of 1 race. Where direct mental link to a world wide web makes it easy to solve basic problems and advances our intelligence 10 fold. Sooooo much of this book is on point. And ty for your reply. I'm also a huge fantasy fan so I hope you do some reviews of older fantasy series.. can't lie.. Raymond e feist is my fave. I love all of the 30 books now from the rift war saga and the following books.

[@joshythehand2960]

Sorry to keep going on lol.. I subscribed and am scrolling through.. but have you yet done a review on another of the all time classic sci fi.. THE MOTE IN GODS EYE. Followed by THE GRIPPING HAND ? Many folks consider those absolutely essential sci fi reading. I'll quit bugging you now lolol

[@WordsinTime]

@@joshythehand2960 That’s awesome, thanks for sharing! I have not been reading as long but hope to build up a collection like yours! I am focusing on sci-fi at the moment as that’s my favourite genre and there aren’t as many sci-fi KZbin channels, so hopefully I’m providing content that people might be looking for. However, I am interested in reading more fantasy in the future and Rift War is on my list!

[@joshythehand2960]

@@WordsinTime I hope it is.. but don't let me sway you lol. You are correct that we need sci fi reviews. It's def an area lacking reviews and promotions of great works. Keep it up and I wish you success.

[@thomaswrites]

A fantastic book that I read a couple months ago. It was awesome to see how thematically rich and timeless of a story it is. :)

[@WordsinTime]

I’m glad you enjoyed it too! It’s one that has really stayed with me!

[@FalkinerTim]

There is just so much in this book. Excellent review.

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks Tim! I’m glad you enjoyed it as well!

[@FalkinerTim]

@@WordsinTime I put this book into the same category as another "big" book which gives insight into the human condition and the flow of time. That book is She by Rider Haggard.

[@WordsinTime]

@@FalkinerTim Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll check it out!

[@FalkinerTim]

As Wikipedia describes it, She is one of the most influential novels in modern literature, with authors like Rudyard Kipling, Henry Miller, Graham Greene, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Margaret Atwood all acknowledging the importance of the work to their own and others writing. Such was the popularity and influence of the novel that it was cited in the psychoanalytical theories of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, the latter describing the character of She as a manifestation of the anima figure. One writer noted, "She represents everything men long for, project onto, desire, and are appalled by in women." Though CS Lewis wrote, “The mythical status of She is indisputable. As we all know, Jung went to it for the embodiment of an archetype. But even Jung did not, I think, get to the centre. If his view were right, the myth ought to function only for those to whom Ayesha is a powerfully erotic image. And she is not so for all who love She. . . . Ultimately the life of the myth is elsewhere. The story of Ayesha is not an escape, but it is about escape ... (no spoilers)

[@WordsinTime]

@@FalkinerTim Very interesting! Thanks for sharing!

[@AmbientWalking]

Thanks for this!

[@WordsinTime]

You’re welcome!

[@maximillianexcaliber6593]

Whenever doing a review, whether for a movie or book, it is important to judge it within the time it was written. For example, one shouldn't technically compare the the 1950s War of the Worlds by today's standards. Consider what the contemporary standards and competition were at the time. One question to ask might be 'Was the story, when it was written, unique and entertaining?'

[@WordsinTime]

That is an interesting thought. When I discuss books I am not trying to provide an objective criticism of the quality, I am sharing my own personal level of enjoyment. I see the value in what you propose, and I do consider the context, but I was not alive at the time and I am not a historian. I’m just sharing my experience as a modern reader.

[@xXTwinFusionsXx]

great review mate

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks so much for the kind words! I’m glad you enjoyed the review and welcome to the channel!

[@khomo12]

Great review!

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it. Let me know your thoughts on the book if you read it!

[@CD287-]

Haven't read it yet, and not sure it'll be for me, but I have a physical copy!

[@WordsinTime]

It might not be for everyone, but if you have a break in your reading schedule it might be worth a try as you already own it and it’s less than 300 pages. If you decide to read it, let me know what you think of it!

[@joshythehand2960]

It's sooooooo ahead of its time. From while in hypersleep they are in the matrix.. training for years within the program . To tech battle armor , which is now a mainstay of.modern sci fi... And to something I believe is a real thing now.. science models project that mankind's population growth is unsustainable the 3rd time they come back to earth.. so same sex marriages are encouraged and you even get things like tax breaks for it. This book was 40 years ahead of its time across the board.

[@CoreyBrass]

I'm with you on the tax thing. I get frustrated trying explain a progressive tax to people. 😄

[@WordsinTime]

Haha I’m glad someone else can relate to this rather niche observation

[@megacaptiansuprclint]

Well done

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@LordSesshaku]

4:10 Joe Haldeman is a veteran of Vietnam. So he's not being absurd, he's narrating his own frustration in the way US treats veterans. The 90% tax is due to the absurdity of compound interest when you're technically working for millions of years.

[@WordsinTime]

I totally agree with his point in regard to how veterans are treated. But the book specifically says their income bracket taxed them 90% on their entire income, which is not how tax brackets should work.

[@deckiedeckie]

How 'bout the Forever Peace??......

[@WordsinTime]

Haven’t read that one as of yet!

[@RobertJones-gq3jq]

I liked how they talked about pronouns in an objective way, very matter of fact in the book. It reenforced that pronouns have been around, at least, since 70s

[@WordsinTime]

I don’t recall the specifics, but that’s an interesting observation Robert!

[@sIither]

It's odd that this book gets a lot of positivity online mostly. Myself, I absolutely rage hated this book and I've never met anyone in person who liked it, which leaves me to wonder, do the people who like this book only live online. 🤔 This curious bit of speculation leads me to believe I am living in a simulation.

[@WordsinTime]

I know one person in real life that also enjoyed this book, but perhaps what I think is real life is just a simulation 🤯

[@janharml]

I know this is just an online review, but I liked it. I read the commics by Marvano(Mark van Oppen) in the late 80's. And only by the internet I became aware of the book itself somewhere in the 2010's. I don't know if they are available in English, but maybe you would like them beter?

[@Cosmic-Industry]

I absolutely love this book! It’s in my top 10 of all times! But unfortunately this is just another online comment.