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The Forever War Audiobook
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(4.00) - 37,256 listener ratings
Publisher Description
When it was first published over 20 years ago, Joe Haldeman's novel won the Hugo and Nebula awards and was chosen Best Novel in several countries. Today, it is hailed a classic of science fiction that foreshadowed many of the futuristic themes of the 1990s: bionics, sensory manipulation, and time distortion. William Mandella is a soldier in Earth's elite brigade. As the war against the Taurans sends him from galaxy to galaxy, he learns to use protective body shells and sophisticated weapons. He adapts to the cultures and terrains of distant outposts. But with each month in space, years are passing on Earth. Where will he call home when (and if) the Forever War ends? Narrator George Wilson's performance conveys all the imaginative technology and human drama of The Forever War. Set against a backdrop of vivid battle scenes, this absorbing work asks provocative questions about the very nature of war.
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"The war aspect of this book is mediocer. The mechanics of space travel are taken rather lightly. And the ships and weapons were, compairing to other novels, primitive. I was looking for something with those three aspects, as general as they are, very complex and imaginative. And for about a quarter of the story I fought with myself to keep on reading. Than the relativistic aspect came into focus. And that fact is the reason to really sit down and read it trough. I never really thought about what does the distance and near light speed velocity do to reality and people. It's something that you have to think trough and rethink again."
— Esghald (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“To say that The Forever War is the best science fiction war novel ever written is to damn it with faint praise. It is, for all its techno-extrapolative brilliance, as fine and woundingly genuine a war story as any I’ve read.”
— William Gibson, author of Neuromancer
Awards
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Winner of the 1976 Hugo Award for Best Novel
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Winner of the 1975 Nebula Award for Best Novel
The Forever War Listener Reviews
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alex cleppe, 3/5/2021
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" I'm not sure what I think about the book. The main plot thread of the book deal with a "man out of time" scenario and how he deals with societal changes across 1000 years. The biggest problem with the book however is in the cultural changes that occur during that time period (at least in the first 300 years). I suppose that if you grew up in the 1960's and 70's, the kind of distopian future described in the book might have seemed possible, however given how things turned out in the last 40 years, its so offbase as to be almost laughable. Overall, a decent book, given its flaws and the book had a very satisfying ending. "
— Jeff, 2/16/2014 -
" One of my favorites. Haldeman discusses time distortion, reintegration into society, and the absurdity of new technologies in warfare amazingly well. I bought this book on a whim before my first year at college. I stayed up all night and finished it. READ IT! "
— Sunil, 2/15/2014 -
" Well deserving of it's revered place in the science fiction canon. "
— Nalin, 2/2/2014 -
" Many reviewers seem to think this books rates up there with Heinlein's classic of military science fiction, Starship Troopers. Purely as a read, I have to agree. The ideas expressed about how technology might affect the span of the future over thousands of years were well rendered and plausible. And at the core were the characters - normal people from any time, placed in extraordinary circumstances. Good science fiction is at the core, fiction, that makes us dream about the potential of the future. This book facilitates that remarkably well. "
— Aaron, 12/9/2013 -
" A great read, which plays with great ideas! I would have given it 5/5, except that I believe Haldeman missed a trick regarding the ending. It's only my opinion, but I believe a twist with time differences would have been a better explanation for the war rather than *spoiler* differences in communication. "
— Rob, 12/6/2013 -
" What an amazing book !! This is the best sci-fi I have read, I will put it ahead of Foundation & Ubik. Will write a detailed review later. "
— Rudrangshu, 12/2/2013 -
" This book is about an astronaut going to the moon.While going into space the spaceship hade something wrong and he hade to jump out.His suit was messed up so he hit the ground hard but thankfuly he survived. "
— Garrison, 11/14/2013 -
" Great book. Deserves all the credit and awards it got. Go read it. "
— Psycho, 10/20/2013 -
" Although the description of Earth was a bit unrealistic it did serve the story line and the rest of the book was well though out and interesting to read. I was a bit disappointed by the ending, it felt that the author had to end the book and couldn't take more than a few pages for it. "
— Laurens, 10/14/2013 -
" Possibly my favorite people-in-space book I've ever read. The story is timeless - it feels impossible that this was written in the 70's and not today. "
— Jared, 8/5/2013 -
" His military history wrought in high science fiction, Haldeman crafts a gritty future that jumps centuries ahead. It's vividity and imaginative prowess makes The Forever War a classic science fiction work, despite in my opinion a mismatched ending. "
— Isuru, 2/12/2013 -
" The book was written in the 1970's and the setting started in 1997. Interesting to read what the author thought things would be like in the current (2012) past. Bummer that the "star-gate" wormhold thingy hasn't been found. Maybe not as good science fict "
— Mainrun, 2/5/2013 -
" Engaging and thoughtful, speculative in a totally plausible way. "
— Travis, 12/28/2012 -
" 3.5 Very good read and I enjoyed it a lot. Good pace, intetresting story and characters, and the description of life/army/politics seemed realistic. I also liked the ending. "
— Glenn, 11/24/2012 -
" Tragic nearly to totality, with an ending so refreshing I nearly cried from relief. "
— Robert, 7/24/2012 -
" Love this book! A play on Vietnam with time travel and spaceships. Heavy. "
— Michael, 2/7/2012 -
" Very readable, with enough interesting technical material that does not get in the way of the story. The story is a bit predictable, but you don't really notice. "
— Dave, 1/13/2012 -
" i really liked this book, its definitly a trip and not your atypical scifi fair but funny and vastly entertaining, almost the perfect vietnam baby "
— Mike, 9/28/2011 -
" Only one short story was weak, "The King of Norway". It was kind of run of the mill. I didn't like the characters and didn't care about what was going to happen next. The other stories were so good that it made up for the one weak one. "
— Darin, 5/13/2011 -
" Mostly just reading for GRRM Martin's "Hedge Knight" novella, though the stories by Saylor and Hobb (about ancient Rome and Carthage) were good too. "
— Bibliophile, 5/12/2011 -
" It's taken me a while to get through this, what with one thing and another! <br/> <br/>But....on the whole enjoyed them all. "
— Linda, 4/11/2011 -
" Have only read Lord John and the Custom of the Army short story of this anthology.<br/>5/23 These short stories are centered around the theme of war and warriors- not really my thing, but I am enjoying breaking up longer reads with some short stories. Liked Songs of Love and Death better... "
— Shanyn, 4/5/2011 -
" Not to split hairs, but only some of the stories are about warriors. That being said, another good collection of short stories and novellas. <br/> <br/>I Loved the third installment of Hedge Knight, The Mystery Knight. "
— Chris, 2/27/2011 -
" Only read one chapter in this anthology - a Lord John short story "The Custom of the Army" - and did enjoy it. Got this just for this story. I'll eventually get around to reading the others. "
— Sherdnerd, 2/15/2011 -
" I just got this from the library to read the "Lord John Grey" story in it by Diana Gabaldon, which was quite entertaining, with moments of excellent humor. "
— Laura, 2/14/2011 -
" The mix of stories in this anthology was really interesting. "
— Jenny, 1/16/2011 -
" Just read the Gabaldon story, but my husband read the book in it's entirety "
— Hannah, 12/29/2010
About Joe Haldeman
Joe Haldeman is an American author of award-winning science fiction and nonfiction works and a part-time professor at MIT. He earned a BS in physics and astronomy, as well as an MFA in writing. Drafted into the military, he served in Vietnam as a combat engineer in 1968 and 1969, was severely wounded, and earned a Purple Heart. His experience in war and in returning to civilian life are themes he uses in much of his writing. He is the author of numerous novels and several series, including the Forever War series. His science fiction has earned many awards, including five Hugo Awards, five Nebula Awards, a John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, a Locus Award, three Rhysling Awards, a World Fantasy Award, and a James Tiptree Jr. Award. Haldeman was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America in 2009, received the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement in 2010, and was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2012.
About George K. Wilson
George K. Wilson is a working actor in stage, film, television, and commercials with almost one hundred audiobook narrations to his credit. He began in broadcast journalism with American Forces Radio and Television and is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He had a lead role in the cult film classic Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and appeared on television’s One Life to Live, Ryan’s Hope, and The Doctors and has been heard on voice-overs for The Guiding Light and The Cosby Show, as well as many television and radio commercials.