Nebula Award Best Novel Winner
The Forever War
by Joe Haldeman
Summary
Joe Haldeman follows soldier William Mandella through a centuries long interstellar war against an alien species called the Taurans, where relativistic travel means each tour returns him to a human society he barely recognizes. The novel uses time dilation to dramatize the alienation of veterans and the absurd momentum of warfare. Drawing on the author's own combat experience, it stands as one of the most powerful military science fiction novels ever written.
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Historical Context & Significance
The Forever War won the Nebula, Hugo, and Locus Awards and is widely read as a response to Haldeman's service in the Vietnam War.