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The Forever War

By: Joe Haldeman
Narrated by: George Wilson
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Publisher's Summary

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.

©1974 Joe W. Haldeman (P)1999 Recorded Books

Critic Reviews

  • Hugo Award, Best Novel, 1976
  • Nebula Award, Best Novel, 1975

"A vastly entertaining trip." ( The New York Times)

What listeners say about The Forever War

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Poor version

There are multiple versions of this story. This one has loads of internal inconsistencies because of changes made that were not carried through the book.

A really crappy edit.

The performance is below average. I don't think the reader knew the story very well, and seemed to have odd pacing.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

The life of a pleb

The story is focused on the life of an everyday American who doesn't realise he is a pleb, he believes he is important but is mediocre in every sense. His life has no impact on the world, the universe or the war campaign and yet he still believes that he knows better than those around him.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Great concept but marred by dated attitudes

The underlying story of soldiers who skip hundreds of earth years every time they go out in space to fight (due to the time dilation of space travel) is a great concept.

The lack of information about - or interest in -their enemy is annoying.

But what really destroyed the book for me was the dated attitudes and understanding of both women and homosexuality. Women in the army seem to accept and even enjoy the requirement they service the sexual needs of their male counterparts. The greatest complaint is a reference to them feeling tired and looking forward to some rest after visiting a base where there had previously been only two women to service dozens of men.

Attitudes toward and understanding of homosexuality is even worse. It doesn't exist until they are propelled into a future where homosexuality is promoted and eventually mandated by the UN as a form of birth control.

While none of this will put off the target audience - heterosexual men who don't think much about other people, it is disappointing for the other 60% of us who cannot fully enjoy the great book this had the potential to be.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

PIAOWW! *laser finger*

Entertaining sci-fi which does a particularly good job in its portrayal of military strategies, time dilation and potential futures.

Brings a few original angles to some common genre themes. The narrative is a touch dated here and there as you’d expect from a book of its age but a thoroughly enjoyable story nevertheless.

If I had to be critical I’d say that The Forever War could be a little hammily performed by George Wilson; however, for me, that lent it a certain charm of its own.

Recommended for those that like a touch of Heinlein with their sci-fi.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Classic

Would you listen to The Forever War again? Why?

The story Is a classic.

What about George Wilson’s performance did you like?

Very listenable

Any additional comments?

Read this as a book and the audio was better

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

My favourite book since 2006

I bought the war and peace omnibus release in 2006 as a child, I loved it then and listening through the book this year on audible it’s just as good as I remember. If you like sci-fi you’ll like the forever war.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Time travel

I read it in 1978. It seems the predictions about society were pretty good. Aliens? Oh well, not yet.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

feels a bit dated

OK story. After the expanse it feels dated. I didn't particularly like the narration.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A good listen

Enjoyed this and the authors take on the future of the human race. A decent sci fi novel. worth a listen.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A Bit Weird For Me

I'm a pretty big fan of military sci-fi and always down for some creative and liberated visions of the future, but this has got to be one of the wackiest, most fetishized depictions of a futuristic military I've ever seen. It would be spoiling to get into the details but I feel that while some of the sexual attitudes of the book are kinda fair and logical from a cynical perspective, it really treats women in an unfair way in terms of both circumstances and characterization.

Don't get me wrong - you shouldn't feel bad for listening or enjoying this. But it may shock you or make you feel uncomfortable, depending on your expectations. Nevertheless there's clearly some good sci-fi in this and I may make an effort to return to it. So worth a try, I guess. It is considered a classic.

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