The Forever War

About The Forever War

The Forever War is a 1974 science fiction novel by Joe Haldeman. It won the Nebula Award in 1975 and the Hugo Award in 1976. Both an action-laden and contemplative story of an interstellar war between humanity and the enigmatic Tauran species, it deals with themes like the inhumanity of both war and its attendant bureaucracy, as well as with the results of time dilation space travel which may cause a soldier to return to his home only after centuries have gone by.

There are also two sequels of sorts, Forever Free and Forever Peace (the latter only shares the theme, not the setting), as well as the novella A Separate War which is set in parallel to the latter part of "The Forever War". The three books are considered by some to constitute The Forever War series. It also inspired a comic book and a board game.

The novel tells the story of William Mandella, a university student conscripted for an elite UN task force being assembled for a war against the Taurans, an alien species discovered when they suddenly attacked human colonists' ships. They are sent out for what might be described as reconnaissance in force, though the politics of revenge are also a major factor in their formation.