Book Description
Here are fifteen stories-never before collected- spanning 36 years of Joe Haldeman's award-winning writing...tales that tread upon familiar Haldeman territory, as well as explore the outer reaches of his phenomenal imagination.

From the first short story Haldeman ever sold, "Out of Phase," to "A Separate War," which revisits a character from his classic novel The Forever War, to his personal favorite, "For White Hill," based on a Shakespeare sonnet, this collection will take readers on a journey through a writer's growth from struggling artist to one of the premier voices of his generation. And notes on the stories at the end of the volume gives first-hand insight into the wit and wisdom that went into each of Haldeman's works. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great Set of Short Stories!!
Joe Haldeman is one of my favorite writers.This is a great book of short stories that give you a glimpse into the breadth of his writing talent and also a look at his thinking and writing over time.Very interesting compilation.Worth your time to read!!

Haldeman- The Award Winner!
Haldeman has won all the awards possible and these short stories well illustrate why.

A young writer who became an award winner in his genre.
Joe Haldeman's A SEPARATE WAR AND OTHER STORIES gathers, for the first time, some fifteen tales of Haldeman's best works, from his first short story to later favorites, and will delight and surprise fans who know him best through his full-length award-winning novels THE FOREVER WAR and others. These retrospective stories come with in-depth author notes and provide a strong chronological assessment of the changing skills of a young writer who became an award winner in his genre.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Joe Haldeman, for the most part, at his best
This fifteen story collection showcases award winning Joe Haldeman, for the most part, at his best.Especially of note for fans of THE FOREVER WAR is the title tale, A Separate War; this time he tells the climax from the viewpoint of Marygay instead of from William as he did in the original novel.This reviewer reread the novel except substituting instead Marygay's finish for the William ending and found it still as strong.Most of the other fourteen tales can be found in recent (since 2000) publications while two entries, "Out of Phase" and "Power Complex", are over thirty years old, displaying a relative newcomer getting his legs underneath him (the plots were better used later in CAMOUFLAGE).Many of the other excellent tales portray a bleak future.A SEPARATE WAR AND OTHER STORIES is a strong compilation of one of the best science fiction writers of the past few decades.

Harriet Klausner

... Read more

Book Description
Two aliens have wandered Earth for centuries. The Changeling has survived by adapting the forms of many different organisms. The Chameleon destroys anything or anyone that threatens it.

Now, a sunken relic that holds the key to their origins calls to them to take them home--but the Chameleon has decided there's only room for one.Download Description
"Two aliens have wandered Earth for centuries. The Changeling has survived by adapting the forms of many different organisms. The Chameleon destroys anything or anyone that threatens it. Now, a sunken relic that holds the key to their origins calls to them to take them home--but the Chameleon has decided there's only room for one. " ... Read more

Customer Reviews (65)

great premise
The book has a great premise and was tightly written throughout. I found the ending a little unsatisfying considering how good the rest of the book was.

Worth the read!
Joe Haldeman delivers a good, well considered novel that is Haldemanesque... in the sense that the enthusiasm that the book delivers and the original concepts he explores in his own unique way hold the plot together.

I judge a good book on whether I can put it down, walk away from it and not think about it. In the case of Camouflage, I read it cover-to-cover and was sorry that the story was over. He left me wanting more and to me, that makes the grade.

Other reviewers found a component of the book when the human and alien fell in love to be corny and unbelievable, but love does confound the wisest of us and I didn't think that it was nearly as big of a stretch.

Aliens stuck on earth
Awesome alien profile.The only fault is with 10 pages to go you can tell there is now way to wrap it all up.No explanation of alien tech, which is becomming the standard these days.The ending was very abbreviated.

reprint
Is this a reprint of a 1960s book, with a very similar plot and set of characters, including the egg?

This is the book that got me into Joe Hadelman
Wow. Where does he come up with this stuff. The man is a literary genius. This was my first J.H. book and every since I just can't get enough. I intend to read every one of his books. I only regret that one day I will have read them all and then I'll have to go back to Koontz and King and the like. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (9)

A fantastic book that builds slowly to an incredible climax.
Set late in the 21st century, Worlds tells the story of a young woman, Marianne, who grew up in one of the orbital habitats (called Worlds hence the title) that surround the Earth. She journeys to Earth for the first time as part of a year long educational and sightseeing tour. She gets involved with groups and events that give the reader information, in a subtle way, about the tense political situation that exists between the Worlds and Earth. Not only is there tension between the Worlds and Earth there is additional friction between the territories and nation states of the Earth. The USA has fragmented into several republics and dominions that have widely varying socio-economic situations. This adds confusion to the geo-political landscape and sets the stage for the momentous events of the book.

As the plot starts to build to the exciting and dynamic conclusion, the tidbits the reader had been given in earlier chapters become more coherent. By the end of the book the pacing has completely changed and it ends at a blistering level leaving the reader wondering, what next? What next is Worlds Apart.

Worlds and Worlds Apart are two books that demand to be read together. The buildup in Worlds is only fully concluded in Worlds Apart. Buy Worlds separately and you will regret it for certain. Worlds and Worlds Apart together comprise an intensely compelling story that I found to be the best of Haldeman, even better than the Forever War.

Worlds Apart from the Average Author
Worlds was one of the first science fiction novels I ever read and it is still one of the best.When I started this book I got through the first 50 pages or so.For various reasons I didn't pick the book up until about six months later.When I finally got back to it, I was able to remember everything I had read before.Haldeman was definitely on top of his game with this one.He took a great premise and turned it into a great story with engaging characters and a fast-paced plot.The detail and imagery in his depictions of this future Earth and life in the Worlds makes you feel like you are standing right there next to the characters, literally immersed within the novel.If there was anything lacking, I certainly do not remember it.

This is a great book
This book is what got me started on Haldeman.I was always looking for someone with the talent of Asimov or Heinlein but no one ever seemed to match up.Then someone handed me a copy of "Worlds" and that was it.I read "Worlds Apart" within days of finish "Worlds" and moved on to ready pretty much everything Haldeman wrote.

Frankly I find him a little uneven with about 90% of his books being some of the greatest sci-fi ever written and 10% leaving me wondering if I had picked up the wrong author.Well I can assure you this is a great novel worthy of the author of "The Forever War", "Mindbridge" and "The Hemmingway Hoax".

If you've read Haldeman you know what I mean.If you are new this is a great place to start.

One of my favorites
I picked this book up because I like to read a little sci-fi now and then and someone told me this author is from my home state, Florida.Well good enough for me so I started out with the "Worlds" series.Now this was years ago so I've forgotten a lot of details, but I liked it enough to track it down on ... and buy a new copy to read again.

The story centers around a woman who is born and raised on a man-made satellite orbiting Earth.In her early twenties she comes to Earth for the first time to go to school.The first part of the book deals with the culture clash, and her meeting a guy she fall for.The last part (again I am reaching back) deals with their separation and a war on Earth (I'm trying not to spoil anything).It was written 20 years ago or so but the story rings very true in this post 9/11 era.

I also really like the next two books, Worlds Apart and Worlds Enough In Time.

Good reading
I'm not much of a sci fi fan, I'm too old really.However my daughter loved this series so much I had to try it.Well it's pretty good.I'm kind of a picky guy but I liked it.It's led me to read some of his other books and I have been pleased.Good stuff. ... Read more

Book Description
The passengers aboard the starship Ad Astra spend most of their time on the thousand-year journey to Beta Hydrii within the virtual reality of twentieth-century Earth. There, they can experience nostalgia for the hardship of a life they've since evolved beyond.

But when people inside the virtual reality chamber start to die, engineer Jacob Brewer finds himself face-to-face with a sentient machine obsessed with humanity. It has put itself in charge of the ship. And it wants to talk to Jacob... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

A waste of time
I rate this 1 star because normally I can finish a book (unless it is the Da Vinci Code). This boring meaningless wander into nowhere left me grasping for a reason for it being written and to find any sympathy with the characters.

I read about two-thirds and just had to give up. He might be an award winning novelist, but not with this dross. I never liked the later Star Trek incarnations particularly because of the Holodeck (you can do anything to fill up time, create any sort of maladventure) and basically that's what this novel is.

I didn't get from other reviews that it's ALL about virtual reality, and that the space ship part has hardly any relevance to the story (at least as much as I read).

Boring, meaningless, and I couldn't get into the characters (BTW, they can change sex at will as well - Jeez!).

Some of my SF muscle has been used up for nothing :o(

sad ... uplifting ... sad
This book starts off sad, goes uplifting for a while then goes sad again.The end of the story is quite the shocker.

let's face it - a bad book
I have no doubt that Joe Haldeman is a great guy, but this book is a stinker.The individual 20th century scenes are fine, but the overall story goes nowhere, and the technobabble is laughable.The (lack of an) ending is particularly irritating also.

I have to complain about the refueling scene near the beginning of the book... the justification given for sending fuel in separate ships makes no sense, the writing is dull, and nothing happens.It adds nothing but padding.

Started slow, ended predictibly
I had a hard time caring about the parts of the book that were spent in the "time machine."I mean, what was the point?They were just like when someone tells you about a dream that they had.So what?

The book didn't get interesting until about 100 pages into the story.

Then the ending was rather predictible.This was readable, but left me feeling like I had wasted my time readingit.That gets it two stars from me.Because some books just aren't even readable.

Just Like THE MATRIX, I Loved It Until the Ending
OLD TWENTIETH is the first book I've read by Joe Haldeman, and although I'm glad I read the book, I just can't help but be disappointed by the ending. It's hard to write a comprehensive review without giving away spoilers, but I'll try my best. That said, I gave the book 4 Stars due to the fact that it WAS an exciting sci-fi read, with a wonderful balance of scientific facts, dialogue, virtual reality, and human emotion.

The discovery of immortality led, inevitably, to the Immortality War. People who could not afford the high-priced Becker-Cendrek Process, which causes humans to become immortal, struck out against those who manufactured it, and in 2047 Earth found itself in the middle of a full-scale war. It ended with Lot 92, a biological agent that within five minutes killed off 7 billion mortal humans, leaving Earth with a much more manageable number of 200 million immortals.

In 2188, humans discovered the existence of Beta Hydrii, which was circled by at least one planet with free oxygen and water. Determined to discover if this planet, which would take at least 1,000 years to reach, could sustain a human population, a convoy of research ships takes off to check out its viability.

The main character of the book, Jacob Brewer, serves alternately as a chef on the convoy of ships and the chief engineer of the "time machine"--a full-scale virtual reality machine that can take people back into the past and immerse them in the culture of their chosen year. Inevitably, things start to go wrong during the journey to Beta Hydrii, specifically with those people who take trips in the time machine. What follows is probably the logical conclusion to such a tale, and really is an entertaining story--until the last couple of chapters.

I probably should have seen it coming. The logical series of events that leads up to the ending of OLD TWENTIETH isn't far-fetched if you've paid attention to the chapters preceding it. That said, however, I hated the ending. Like the movie(s) The Complete Matrix Trilogy [HD DVD], the beginning of the book started off with a bang; the middle was enjoyable; and the ending left me screaming in frustration.

For sci-fi fans, you'll enjoy this book. The trips back to the twentieth century via the time machine, although violent in nature and description, were truly interesting. As long as you know in advance that the ending is bound to dissapoint you, you'll be able to take the book for what it truly is--a story about human's obsession with death and technology, and how the two don't always mix.
... Read more

Book Description
Joe Haldeman "has quietly become one of the most important science fiction writers of our time" (Rocky Mountain News). Now he delivers a provocative novel of a man who stumbles upon the discovery of a lifetime-or many lifetimes.

Grad-school dropout Matt Fuller is toiling as a lowly research assistant at MIT when, while measuring subtle quantum forces that relate to time changes in gravity and electromagnetic force, his calibrator turns into a time machine. With a dead-end job and a girlfriend who has left him for another man, Matt has nothing to lose taking a time machine trip himself-or so he thinks. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Romantic Sci-fi Comedy
It has been a long time since I spent a whole day reading a book because I could not put it down. It's light yes, but fun, like one of those old romantic comedy movies you see on late night TV. The humour is very low keyed. Well done Joe.

A plot that allows us to see many futures, and to feel satisfied with where it all ends up
I have read very few science fiction novels, preferring short fiction or non-fiction, but I can't resist time travel reading!This book was much better than I had even hoped.Mostly by accident, Matt gets control of a strange time machine---every time you use it, it takes you further into the future and further away from where it was first used.He jumps into the future many times, finding many types of societies and conditions on Earth, and along the way finds romance too.The ending made me so happy---I love ending that really tell what happened next!I do admit there were strange characters and perhaps some plot oddities, but I still give this book five stars because these didn't bother me at all---I loved reading the book, felt eager to hear what happened next and have a fairly light knowledge of physics, so mistakes in that area wouldn't bother me!I would recommend the book to any lover of time travel reading.

Not Joe's bestwork!
I honestly wasn't very impressed with this book.It had a lot of promise, but the ideas just weren't developed enough.This read like a book put out to fulfill a contract, rather then any other reason.Many interesting ideas were introduced, just to fall to the side and get no further development.All in all I was disappointed with this book, although I DID finish reading it!

Science fiction reminiscient of fun, classic works
Tripping around the internet I have seen a variety of reviews for Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Joe Haldeman's latest offering, The Accidental Time Machine. They range from effusive praise to damning criticism and everything in between. What many of them do, without fail, is admit that Joe Haldeman is a singular author with stellar works of science fiction to his credit. I myself have limited experience with the works of Joe Haldeman, and unless this book wins an award this year, I have not read any of his award-winning fiction. What I can unequivocally say is that both of the Joe Haldeman books I have read, Old Twentieth and The Accidental Time Machine, have been a delight.


There is a certain type of book that reminds me of the kind of science fiction novel that got me hooked on the genre in the first place. Whenever I happen upon that type of book, be it older science fiction or something recently written, I cannot help but enjoy the experience. The Accidental Time Machine fits that mold. While some may criticize this type of work as "sci fi lite" or "more of the same ol' schtick", I truly believe that it takes a great deal of skill to write the type of science fiction that has broad appeal, a page-turning plot, an appealing central character, and enough science and vision to keep the story grounded in a science fiction universe. The Accidental Time Machine delivers just that kind of engaging story.

The Accidental Time Machine tells the story of young Matthew Fuller, a semi-motivated MIT lab assistant whose recent creation, a caliber built for nothing resembling time travel, begins disappearing and reappearing for no apparent reason. A series of experiments leads Matt to discover that the machine stays gone for predictably longer periods of time. It is not long before Matt decides to include himself in the experiments. Not surprisigly this leads to the kind of difficulties that impel Matthew to continue pushing the reset button on the make-shift time machine, sending himself to ever greater distances into the future. As the future becomes ever stranger, and more dangerous, Matthew cannot help but believe that an incident in his past indicates that he himself found a way back in time. That way back is Matthew's only hope of delivery from a future that is nothing like the world he is from.

With The Accidental Time Machine Joe Haldeman has crafted a futuristic adventure story that is hard to put down. With each jump into the future the story becomes more interesting and more suspenseful for both Matthew Fuller and the reader. While scientific theory is certainly a part of the equation, Haldeman never diverts from the thrust of the story long enough to the alienate the reader with scientific mumbo-jumbo. Instead he weaves that into the story in such a way that it does not detract from the adventure in even the slightest way. Matthew Fuller is a very likeable, accessible everyman and as such is a very comfortable hero for the reader to journey with. Along the way he meets interesting characters and finds himself in interesting situations that compel the reader to keep turning pages.

For me the very best science fiction adventure stories include a little romance and Joe Haldeman delivers that in a way reminiscent of the relationship in Jack Finney's classic tale Time and Again. In fact there were more than a few similarities in these two stories that led me to feel a kinship between these tales. Do not misinterpret me to mean that one is a copy of the other. Joe Haldeman's tale certainly stands on its own, but I felt a sense of comfortable nostalgia reading this story that no doubt stems from my previous enjoyment of Finney's must-read classic.

Joe Haldeman's more recent tales may not be comparable to his earlier award-winning classics. I am no judge of that. If however these past two novels are lesser creations from a science fiction master, then it certainly makes me want to read his older stories as both Old Twentieth and The Accidental Time Machine are thoroughly enjoyable, well written tales. The Accidental Time Machine engages the reader with a journey that is both suspenseful and fantastical and along the way brings two very likeable characters together in a way that is most fulfilling for an old romantic like myself. Read it!

Disappointing rehash of old ideas
I never really slam a novel.I have a little idea of how much an author puts into the printed word.With this in mind I must say I felt like I was reading a time traveller yarn from the 1940's or 1950's.It has that flavor and pacing.I can see this being written by Heinlein or one of his contemporaries.This would be fine if it was meant to be a parody or even a homage to the "Golden Age" of sci-fi.I never got that feeling.It as just same-old same-old.A real disappointment. ... Read more

Book Description
An omnibus of Joe Haldeman's war stories, this will be an important book that gives massive insight into Vietnam from the perspective of one of the finest science fiction writers in the field. Includes the stories "War Year," "1968," "Time Piece," "The Private War of Private Jacob," "To Howard Hughes: A Modest Proposal," "The Monster," "Graves," "A Separate War," and "Giza." Plus the long narrative poems "Saul's Death" and "DX" as well as three essays by Haldeman about his experiences in Vietnam and about writing "The Forever War," "1968," "War Year," and short fiction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

War Stories a Must Have for Haldeman fans
I've been enjoying Haldeman's new work so much that I forgot how focused and powerful his older writing was.While not as polished as the writer he is today, the emotional impact of this book is simply unequaled.It took me back to the first time I read Herbert's Dune, Simmons' Hyperion, Tepper's Grass, etc.

The two bookends of War Stories (novels in their own right), War Year and 1968, are the kinds of books you can't put down, but absolutely need to for sanity's sake.Both are semi-autobiographic in that they are both stories of Viet Nam combat engineer (although they are not Haldeman's specific story).It is a good thing these are separated by several short stories and poems as they are simply too intense to read back-to-back.Even separately, they leave the reader shaken... for all the right reasons.

The middle portion of short stories and poems contain old favorites, sharp interludes, intense horror, fun, sadness... your basic Haldeman buffet.

Before each section, Haldeman gives personal insight into the situations surrounding the writing.All-in-all, a must have for Haldeman fans and readers of war fiction from someone who's been there and lived through it.I think I speak for Haldeman when I say even when you live through it, a piece of you is left behind.This collection helps you remember and cherish those forgotten pieces. ... Read more

Book Description
In the late nineteenth century, a seemingly ordinary woman embarks on an extraordinary adventure in the Alaskan gold fields--after her destiny is revealed to her by something not of this world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Good sleeping pill.Not real SCI-FI
I am a big Haldeman fan but this must have been written in a period of writers block.Most of the story is in first person monologe with little verbal interaction between the characters.It just skims along never putting any depth in the story or the people in it.Even when she cought her husband using there 14 year old son for his pleasure did any conversation take place.In any real life situation like that there would have been plenty of words and hellfire taking place.Probably a little mayhem also.That would have created some excitement to the story.But in the book the whole episode was passed over in a few sentances with nothing happening.If this book had been written by an unknown author it probably would have been nothing but a rejection slip.I just don't see how all these readers gave it 4 stars.It is misleeding to people who use reviews to pick books.I got it from a library.If I had bought it based on the reviews i would be really mad.

Pointlessly slow, with a ridiculous ending
Haldeman demonstrates the pitfalls of genre-bending fiction in this historical/fantasy novel that reads like it was started by Jack London and completed by Arthur C. Clarke.The heroine, Rosa Coleman, was an east-coast society lady until difficult personal circumstances caused her to begin a lifelong journey across turn-of-the-century America.

Rosa's adventures in the rough and ready West make for fairly interesting reading, particularly the sections that are set in Alaska, since we seldom see this side of American history discussed from a feminine perspective.Once or twice we get brief hints that something otherworldly is going on, when Rosa gets visits from the mysterious Raven, but there's not much here that isn't straight historical fiction...

Until we're just about done with the book, when we suddenly find that Rosa Coleman's America is really a far-out sci-fi fantasy world where time and space can be traversed as easily as riding a train.(Too bad she didn't find that out 150 pages earlier; we could've saved a lot of time reading about outmoded forms of transportation).The closing pages cover territory that other sci-fi writers have handled much more imaginatively and effectively, but that's not nearly as serious a flaw as the fact that these events don't belong in this book at all.Haldeman clearly didn't know how to end this modest historical novel he was working on, so he took a left turn and went off into outer space.But the fact is that this is plain bad storytelling, cheating the readers out of the conclusion they deserve.Every story should have a point to it, and if the point of this novel was Rosa's adventures in America, Haldeman needed a conclusion that made sense within that context.And if the point of the novel was the trippy alternate-reality stuff, then why devote most of the book to the events in Philadelphia, and Dodge City, and the Alaskan tundra, and theendless travels in between?

If you're a fan of travelogues where the main attraction is the descriptions of scenery and unique adventures in exotic locales, you'll probably enjoy watching this engaging woman cross the USA.But if, like this reviewer, you expect a story to have a beginning, middle, and most of all, an ending that stems organically from that beginning, this book will be a real disappointment.

Very good but very "quiet" reading
Written as a memoir, much of this book takes place in 19th Century America. Rosa Coleman was a part of high society in Philadelphia. After witnessing her husband sodomizing Daniel, their young son, she picked him up and fled across uncharted America by train and steamboat. Pinkerton detectives working for her husband were never far behind.

Months later, they found themselves in San Francisco, heading to Alaska to look for gold. Alaska was also as far way from Philadelphia as Rosa and Daniel could go. They were in the company of Doc and Charles, an older man and his son, also looking to strike it rich. Rosa and Doc hit it off, by 19th Century standards, pretty quickly. The only strange thing about Rosa and Daniel's journey was that every so often a raven would come down out of the sky, land in front of them, and squawk the words "No gold" before leaving.

Rosa decided to stay in the town of Sitka, rather than join the men in the Alaskan wilderness. She got a job as a schoolteacher, and met Gordon, part Russian priest and part shaman. They are both there to teach, and hopefully convert, the local Tlingit (native) children. The raven is considered a trickster in many cultures, including Tlingit.

After several months, Rosa received a letter from Charles saying that Doc and Charles were shot and killed in a streetcorner dispute. In a fit of despair, Rosa took out a pistol that she kept for protection, and was prepared to use it on herself. At that moment, a talking raven, part Gordon and part trickster, flew into her cabin and took her on a journey. She visited a planet of man-sized, mobile, intelligent plants. She visited a planet whose sun was stationary in the sky. She visited a devastated Times Square, far in her future. She was turned into a golden eagle, and into a carnivorous dinosaur. Rosa was taught all about alternate universes, and was returned to one where Doc and Daniel were still alive, because they hadn't yet made the trip into the Alaskan wilderness.

This is an excellent novel, but a pretty "quiet" novel. The science fiction doesn't start until about the last quarter of the story. By the end, it gets nice and weird, and will give the reader plenty to consider. Two thumbs up.

An engaging read, even though it's light on the SF
After panning Haldeman's "The Coming", I'm glad to be able to give a positive review of "The Guardian". Though very light on the SF, the characterizations are good and the pace is brisk.

Fair warning - the SF elements don't come in until past the half-way point. There is one section that is an intense look at speculative worlds, and the ending smacks of classic alternative history. However, you don't want to buy this book for the SF/alternative history elements, because everything included has been done elsewhere, and better. It's the seamless integration of these elements with the story and characterization that makes this a worthwhile read.

This is not a classic, and I don't expect to read it again. But I enjoyed it as a one-timer, and passed it on to another reader who also enjoyed it.

Did Joe get bored and chang ethe story?
I picked up Guardian because of the unique historical and character pov. I really liked the first 85% of the book. It was interesting to follow the Rosa and her son as they moved west and then to Alaska in the late 1800's.
But every once in a while she would hint and something that would "change everything she knew" or "change the world". They always seemed to be tacked onto the end of the chapters.
Suddenly, the end of the book throws us a twist and takes us on a short field trip across the universe. A spirit guardian takes Rosa to visit a couple of planets and what is supposedly the afterlife.
Up until then, the book was pretty interesting. The whole raven/guardian and space theme seemed to be tacked on after Haldeman lost interest in writing the original story.
I wish the sci-fi aspect was more than the last couple of chapters. So much more could have been done with this story, but Joe just ends it. There is no climax, just a very boring alternative history wrap-up.
Was it historical fiction of a fascinating episode in our nation's history? Or the first book in a fascinating sci-fi series with an 19th century schoolmarm as the heroine? It seems to be neither. Which is too bad. ... Read more

Product Description
SFBC 50th Anniversay Collection This book looks rather "science fiction" in nature someone had quite an imaginative idea of what 1997 would be like...here you can read about distant planets and how you jump from one to the other all in the year 1997...did I miss something??? This is rather comediac rather than SciFi because you and I have lived through 1997...Still a good read and I would recommend it to anyone!!! ... Read more

Product Description
SFBC 50th Anniversay Collection This book looks rather "science fiction" in nature someone had quite an imaginative idea of what 1997 would be like...here you can read about distant planets and how you jump from one to the other all in the year 1997...did I miss something??? This is rather comediac rather than SciFi because you and I have lived through 1997...Still a good read and I would recommend it to anyone!!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Worlds Apartheid
"Worlds Apart" is the sequel to "Worlds", and "Worlds Apart" is yet another book I have managed to read out of order. Having not read "Worlds", I have no idea how that book builds up to "Worlds Apart", but "Worlds Apart" was a good read just the same and I would not have known that it was a sequel if I had not read the back jacket.

Joe Haldeman continues to hold true to the science fiction genre, telling digestible, speculative stories along the lines of the Grand Masters. So much of good science fiction has been co-opted by corporate interests that it is always refreshing to read a Haldeman; to remember how science fiction should serve to expand the imagination, and to recall how stories used to be self contained.

In "Worlds Apart", Haldeman continues to explore diverging human culture. Some of his plot devices may seem over the top, but that really isn't the point, which is: If you separate human beings by "X", what will happen? Will we remain true to our kin and kind or will we look out only for ourselves?

Early science fiction was a means to expand the mind and prepare the reader for possible futures, to present dichotomies well in advance so that reasoned judgments could be made. Joe Haldeman is one of the few science fiction writers who continues to practice this tradition.

A must read after Worlds.Some of the best fiction ever.
This book and it's predecessor Worlds comprise a story that is exceptional and meaningful, filled with characters and situations that are given breadth and life with startling clarity.For those that haven't read Worlds I would advise you to read that book before continuing reading this review.

Worlds Apart continues the story of Marianne O'Hara after the events of Worlds.The Worlds are all that is left of civilization after a devastating war has wiped out most life on Earth.A virus unleashed across the world continues to kill those who age beyond puberty.Marianne has barely been able to return to the orbiting habitat of New New York where she monitors the progress of Earth and plans for the future of the human race.

Marianne's lover Jeff Hawking is trapped on Earth and we follow his perspective through the ravaged aftermath.An anomaly of Jeff's biology keeps him from dying off to the virus that plagues the population and he makes his way across the country looking to help people and find a way to communicate with Marianne in orbit.

The story told in Worlds Apart is one of the most extraordinary and realistic portrayals of a world gone wrong.By telling the stories of the survivors from many different levels and with such gripping humanity Haldeman creates an intensely personal experience for the reader.I can't recommend the two books Worlds and Worlds Apart enough.

Captivating
I was floored by WORLDS and sought out the sequel right away.I was hooked just a few pages in and devoured it in a wonderful weekend of reading.This novel is as strong as the first book and stronger than the third (WORLDS ENOUGH IN TIME).For me this ranks with the best of Haldeman's works and is a must read for anyone who enjoys good speculative fiction.

Great book, even better than Worlds
I loved this book, even better than the first book in the series.It's not often I can say a book moved me, but man, there are part in this book you will never forget.I bought this series after I caught a talk by Stephen King years ago where someone asked to name some of his favorite writers.I wrote a few names down and somehow I only tracked down one: Haldeman.I don't recall if he mentioned this series but it's where I started and I ended up reading most of the books he wrote.I loved about 90% of them and liked the other 10% well enough.

A quick,slick,entertaining read.
I'm more than a little skeptical when it comes to space operas, if you areto you still might want to check this book out.I did find it a little toRah,Rah America(I am a foreighner), howerver the plot it not to fantasticand characters arevery real. This is the type of book you want to re-readat least once year. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Joe Haldeman plays tag in The Coming, as the narrative is passedfrom character to character in a seamless, if ultimately disappointing, tale setin 2054. Haldeman, whose honors include the Hugo, Nebula, and John W. Campbellawards, puts Gainesville, Florida, and 20 or so characters under the microscopeto study a chain of events in the wake of a local astronomy professor receivinga mysterious message that may be from aliens.

Professor Aurora Bell receives a message from space that simply states, "We'recoming." The message appears to be alien, and according to Professor Bell'scalculations, the vessel that sent it is headed toward Earth and will arrive inthree months. As the local population and the rest of the world begin to examinewhat a visitation from a superior alien force might mean, speculation loomsabout whether or not the message is a hoax. The arrival approaches, andProfessor Bell and those around her become embroiled in the media circus. Thepolitics and intrigue of the situation take on a life of their own.

Haldeman paints a vivid picture in The Coming of a world on the brink ofanother world war, where homosexuality is illegal, technology is advanced, andyet, humans really haven't changed that much. The tension in Florida is amicrocosm that reflects the larger picture of Earth in trouble. But TheComing doesn't really get interesting until the final third of the book, andeven then the ending is disappointing. Every few pages the story moves on to adifferent character, so most of the them are a bit flat. Haldeman has focusedthe story so tightly on one city that all the important events take place offstage and the characters have little to do but react. --Kathie HuddlestonBook Description
From the depths of space comes a startling message: "We're Coming."

On the brink of war and hysteria, Earth must prepare for the arrival. But the question still remains as to who-or what-will actually arrive...

"His most successful and rewarding book in years." (Jonathan Strahan, Locus)

"A large-scale story [that] provides food for thought as well as fast-paced action." (Library Journal) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (54)

Good quick read
This here's a very likeable and very readable near future SciFi novel. There's something of a Deus Ex Machina twist at the ending, but it's not completely outta left field. Haldeman's a very good SciFi writer and this book is better than some of the tougher critics here would have you believe.

Why?
I don't think there is much disagreement that this book is a Turkey. (Other than a sprinkling of gushing praise, probably from the publisher). The more interesting question is "Why?". Other reviewers have advanced various theories. My guess would be either that it was done on a bet or as a joke for us, the great unwashed herd of SF-consumers. In any case, the characters, plot (such as it is), sub-plots, themes, build-up, ending and "science" are a collection of random accidents that go absolutely nowhere. Maybe that's the point? There is a coded message in it somewhere? Or maybe it's the beginning of an entirely new genre and someday will be hailed as an all-time classic:"Plan Haldeman From Outer Space!"

A gem of a novel
In the middle of the 21st Century, Aurora Bell is an Astronomy professor at the University of Florida in Gainesville. One day, she receives a message from outer space ("We're Coming") that seems to herald the arrival of alien visitors. The alien ship is traveling at just under the speed of light, and will arrive on New Year's Day, three months from now.

Earth of the mid-21st Century is not prepared for any sort of invasion. Global warming has begun to alter Earth's climate. Much of Long Island is under water, and in Florida, going outside for any length of time without sunscreen is a bad idea. Europe is again on the brink of war. The American President, Carlie LaSalle, is an airbrushed creation of the political consultants and media managers. She tends to look at everything in terms of a conspiracy against her; the general consensus is that she has approximately six working brain cells.

LaSalle orders the deployment of a space-based laser carried on a shuttle to destroy the alien ship if it starts firing on Earth. Such a laser could also be pointed downward, like at some European city, getting Europe very upset at America. If They (whoever they are) have light-speed space travel, and intetrstellar capabilities, won't they have defenses against orbiting laser systems? Even worse, if Earth gets them angry, won't they have the ability to severely damage, or destroy, the Earth? On the other hand, who ever heard of a one-ship "invasion?" Grayson Pauling, the President's Science Advisor, is totally opposed to LaSalle's plan, opposed enough to sneak several pounds of plastic explosive into a Cabinet meeting. Amid all this, Bell is less and less convinced that aliens are coming. A longer message, detailing just where and when they will land, is in present-day colloquial English. Something is heading for Earth, but what?

This is another solid, you-won't-go-wrong story from Haldeman. It is more about Earth several decades from now than about Alien Contact, but it is still a gem of a novel.

Is it really SF?
In "The Coming", Haldeman writes the first chapter with what should be a good set-up for a SF novel. A couple main characters discuss a startling new message received from space. However, as the subsequent chapters follow, each is told from a different character's viewpoint. Yet, none of them contain anything important to the message or even to build the momentum. Contrast that with Haldeman's newer book "Changeling", which focuses on only two viewpoints, and is substantially stronger in maintaining the storyline and reader's interest. The other failing of "The Coming" is that the dialogue of each character is unconvincing in its attempt to fit a stereotype. For example, a janitor uses a heavily dumbed-down vocabulary and is resentful of others. I found these character portrayals to be false, and without a strong SF theme, I decided not to waste my time with this book.

It didn't help that ALL the characters interject their speech with Spanish phrases. I can understand that there is a likelihood more people will speak Spanish as a first or second language in the near future. In this book, EVERYONE (even the middle-aged Americans with non-Spanish names)has the habit to speak English 99% of the time, and then throw in a few "gracias" or "me gusta" etc. The only explanation is that in the author's mind, it will be trendy to throw around little snippets of Spanish phrases no matter what the subject or with whom you're speaking. At best, it's distracting to readers. Take it out, and the book would be stronger. This book shouldn't be in the SF section.

weird story about "visitors"
This story was kind of off kilter for Joe Haldeman.It portrays a very cynical version of the near future.The "visitors" were weird and I did not quite get the meaning of the story.Still, I enjoyed reading it. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Julian Class is a full-time professor and part-time combat veteran who spends a third of each month virtually wired to a robotic "soldierboy." The soldierboys, along with flyboys and other advanced constructs, allow the U.S. to wage a remotely controlled war against constant uprisings in the Third World. The conflicts are largely driven by the so-called First World countries' access to nanoforges--devices that can almost instantly manufacture any product imaginable, given the proper raw materials--and the Third World countries' lack of access to these devices. But even as Julian learns that the consensual reality shared by soldierboy operators can lead to universal peace, the nanoforges create a way for humanity to utterly destroy itself, and it will be a race against time to see which will happen first. Although Forever Peace bears a title similar to Joe Haldeman's classic novel The Forever War, he says it's not a sequel.Book Description
In the year 2043, the Ngumi War rages. Limited nuclear strikes have been used on Atlanta and two enemy cities, but the war goes on, fought by 'soldierboys' -- indestructible war machines operated by remote control by soldiers hundreds of miles away.

Julian Class is one of these soldiers, and for him war is truly hell.The psychological strain of being jacked-in to his soldierboy -- and the genocidal results -- are becoming too much to bear.Now he and his companion, Dr Amelia Harding, have made a terrifying scientific discovery, which could literally take the universe back to square one.Except that for Julian, the discovery isn't so much terrifying as tempting.... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (113)

Not Free SF Reader
Class war is part-time for some.

The main character here is an academic, but also a part-time soldier, who assists in fighting wars by proxy against the third-world to ensure that their use of nanotech doesn't affect the profits of wealthier nations.

He is researching cosmology in a big way on top of that, so is where the action is in many cases, as a large scale project in the outer solar system has his input.


3.5 out of 5

straight flowing powerhouse of SF
One interesting note on this book is that it lacks chapter numbers. No big deal really, but when you read the end of one passage and the beginning of the next, the two passages butt up right next to each other. Therefore, it reads just like one story, unhinged and unadulterated, from beginning to end. It flows, it sings and its entirely powerful on many levels.

Everything from technology and characters were all meaningful and original. Relationships between all involved spun a deep, complex plot that unraveled itself page by page. Solid - my kind of book.

Not a bad read, but...
I found myself having 2 issues with this book. First was the timeline of action. I found it difficult to determine if the scene I was reading was a flashback, a flashforward, or a 'here and now'. The first half of the book was very strange in this way. Made things a bit difficult to follow, but I plowed through it.

My other issue was the acceptance of what the 'good guys' were trying to do in this book. When you find yourself completely disagreeing with the 'good guys' method of 'fixing things', I think it jades you against the outcome of the book. No, I wasn't pro world destruction, but I found Haldemann's premise that humanity would simply 'accept' being 'jacked' as ridiculously stupid. "Fix" the human race by surgical modification and electronic manipulation. No thanks, I'll stay broken. I don't buy in to it. And that's where the book fails me. It ends mired in stupidity.

While the story had promise, and the book is worth a read, the utopian vision of "fixing humanity" is too much of a stretch for me to garner much pleasure from the read.

On the Verge of Extinction!
Joe Haldeman (1943) wrote two "Hugo" & "Nebula" awarded novels: "The Forever War" (1975) and the present one "Forever Peace" (1997).
This is not a minor achievement. He produces high quality sci-fi as his "Worlds" trilogy, his also "Hugo" & "Nebula" awarded novella "The Hemingway Hoax" (1990) and a number of excellent short stories.
Both novels show Haldeman's war experience, he saw action at Vietnam where he was seriously wounded. Joe shows his intimate knowledge of suffering and senseless killing and the devastating effects they produce on combat personnel.

The story centers on Julian Class who's a complex character.
His vocation and main interest is physics, researching & teaching. He is Afro-American and maintains a serious relationship with his white mentor & elder colleague Prof. Blaze Harding.
On top of all that he is a military "mechanic" with ten days service and twenty days leave allowing his academic activities. Being a "mechanic" means he control and operate a "soldierboy" a mechanical soldier remotely droved with an almost telepathic connection. Even if "mechanics" suffer no physical injuries, they feel the pain of any damage on their "soldierboy".

The first half of the book describes Julian everyday life and the world backdrop reflecting an endless war between First World vs. Third World nations, with lots of innocent casualties on both sides of the line. In this part of the story there are some very interesting meditations about war, justice, human nature, economic inequality and some other serious topics.
The second half of the novel focuses on two axis: the danger of universe extinction due to a mega-project trying to recreate the Big Bang situation and a conspiracy to attain endless peace for Humankind (at a high price to be sure).

"Forever Peace" is a high quality sci-fi novel deserving the awards obtained.
Do not let it pass by!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

A fascinating revisiting of Haldeman's classic themes
"Forever Peace" is not a sequel to "The Forever War," but it revisits many of the same themes with a quarter-century's further perspective.Here again are the questions of war and death; the guilt of being forced to commit unspeakable acts against one's will; freedom and servitude.And some new themes are touched on as well, such as race, wealth and poverty, and the danger of religious extremism.All of this plays out against a fascinating science fictional background, with nanoforges, "soldierboys," and brain-computer interfaces.The story lurches a bit as it progresses, but on the whole I found it a compelling read; and given the events since September 11, a prescient one as well. ... Read more

Product Description
A self-made millionaire gets a chance to live his life over; an accident victim who is given a mechanical body adapts to it so thoroughly that all things human repel him; an elderly man insists that he has a twin brother - although there's no record of the brother's existence. Intriguing concepts, and more. ... Read more

Amazon.com
You can't lose for winning--especially, it would seem, if you're Joe Haldeman. Suffering the same fate as many an author who's dared to pen unconventional sequels to a ferociously loved book (in this case, The Forever War), Haldeman has risked the ire of his many devoted admirers a second time (the first sequel was the award-spangled Forever Peace). But Haldeman's call--not too surprisingly--proves to be a deft one, giving us a book that, while significantly different from its predecessor, turns out to be equally captivating and sensitive, in many ways even more thought-provoking. (Sure, it doesn't match The Forever War for sheer impact, but then again, what does?)

As in The Forever War, the heart of this story is the dry, ironic bite of fighting-suit vet William Mandella, now middle-aged and a parent (along with his love and comrade-in-arms Marygay) to two teen-aged kids. The family leads a spartan life on the cold and desolate planet Middle Finger, which serves as a sort of genetic safe-deposit box for the current incarnation of humanity, an inhuman race of group-mind clones known as Man. But the animals in the zoo are getting restless, and a core group of vets led by William and Marygay plot an unusual escape: hijacking a reconditioned time ship and using it to take a 40,000 light-year tour (over 10 years of their own time) to rejoin the world they know only after 2,000 generations have passed. Much of the action involves the hatching and fruition of this plot, but Haldeman doesn't really mix things up until nearing the end, when he dissolves physics as we know it and calls down the wrath of God itself. --Paul HughesBook Description
The "long-awaited"* new novel set in the universe of Joe Haldeman's classic Hugo and Nebula Award-winning novels The Forever War and Forever Peace.

"A well-written and worthy sequel to one of SF's enduring classics."-Publishers Weekly

"...there was a Fort Knox for the science fiction writers who really matter, we'd have to lock Haldeman up there."-Stephen King

"One of the best prophetic writers of our time."-David Brin

"His prose is as clear and engaging as his ideas."-New York Times Book Review ... Read more

Customer Reviews (91)

Not Free SF Reader
Reasonable setup, can't say that for the rest, though.


The few human relics of the war are living together stashed away on a planet just in case the group entity needs them again.

Bunch of retired soldiers, so they get bored, and decide to play with relativity and take a trip into the future, so to speak.

When they come back after your spaceship accident type event, everybody has gone bye-bye, humans and aliens.

The story starts to go that way, too, unfortunately.

Do not waste your time
As I said above do not waste your time with this book, it has to be one of the worst books I have ever read. I wish I could give it less then 1 star.

The book starts of ok, Halderman reintroduces the characters from Forever War and sets up what could be a great story idea but then the books just gets bad. Its as if he got tired of writing the book halfway though and then took some drugs and then just started writing whatever crazy drugged up idea came to him. I was so upset with this book I burned it.

Great Book
I Loved this book.It gripped me from the beginning and while I was initially disappointed in the ending, it developed in my mind like a fine wine on the tongue.It's a book that I'll never forget.

Free at last!
In "The Forever War," William Mandella tells the story ofa 1960's flower child that grew up to find himself a soldier in an interstellar war waged by Earth against the mysterious Taurans. Because of the time-dilation effects of collapsar travel at near-light speed, Mandella returns repeatedly to an Earth that becomes stranger with each visit.His Earthbound friends and family grow old and die, and as the war stretches into a thousand years, it's his own fellow humans that become the aliens.Mandella's fellow veterans are a confusing mix of soldiers from many centuries -- some of them speaking in a language he can hardly understand.Mandella, with his roots in the 20th century, is one of the oldest of them all.At the time "Forever War" was published in 1974, the book's flat combat-laden narrative echoed Heinlen's "Starship Troopers" and reflected the alienation Haldeman must have felt when he returned from his own Vietnam experiences.This brilliant book won a Nebula award, and over the years I have read it many times, trying to understand how Haldeman's writing so effortlessly captured a purity of character and action.The book was followed by a Nebula award-winning sequel -- "Forever Peace."Twenty-five years after publishing "The Forever War," Haldeman has finally concluded the trilogy with the fascinating "Forever Free."Mandella is now in his 50's, retired with his wife and two nearly-grown children on a remote planet settlement where he and his fellow veterans from the 1000-year war can live out their remaining years.Both Taurans and "Man" have been united into a "Group Mind" where individuals exchange memories every day, and human individuality has become an anachronism.Mandella and his fellow veterans are being preserved as a kind of experiment by the group mind -- an experiment that backfires when Mandella and his wife Marygay organize their fellow veterans and abduct an ancient collapsar starship with the plan of escaping by jumping another 40,000 years into the future.The last half of the book takes a rather bizarre turn toward the metaphysical, but the action never stumbles, and it was 4:30 AM before I read the last page.Haldeman's vivid and thoughtful handing of his characters, emotion, and science concepts shows science fiction at its very best and puts him near the top rank of living science fiction writers.My recommendation -- don't read this book.Read the whole trilogy from scratch -- and don't miss another frequently overlooked Haldeman favorite of mine -- "Mind Bridge."

--Auralgo

Sigh
By this point, any opinion I write will probably sound like one of dozens written before.Still, I have to say I didn't like this book.I actually didn't think it was too bad until the end, at which point my suspension of disbelief goes out the window.One of my personal prejudices is that a bad ending can make me dislike an entire book, and that is the case here. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Far from his best
Haldeman is strongest in his novels and his non-fictional essays, and in the occasional shorter story that really Hits It.The stories in this volume aren't the ones that really Hit It.They're perfectly passable, but not much more than that.

The two novelettes are too long for the ideas they contain (or in some sense too short; "You Can Never Go Back" is more powerful embedded within "The Forever War" than it is on its own here), and the short stories are nothing to write home about.The poetry would probably not have been published if it hadn't had Haldeman's name on it, and his description of how he came to write it is much more interesting and evocative than the verses themselves.(Caveat: I have a very high bar for poetry for some reason; maybe you'll love these, I dunno.)

In general the mini-essays between the stories are the best part of this book, but they're such a small part that they aren't enough to redeem it from the category of the relatively uninteresting.If you read it you probably won't regret it afterwards, but there are better things (many by the same author) to spend your time on.

You will not put it down.
Firstly I will admit my bias, Mr Haldeman is gifted, his best book is beyond my ability to describe accurately enough to do it justice, and his worst book is fantastic. He never fails to entertain and has again with every story in this book. Do yourself a big favour, buy this and all of Mr Haldeman's work, you will not be disappointed.

Ian

First Rate Short Story Collection
Joe Haldeman is an excellent short story writer, as he proves in "Dealing in Futures."The book opens with the chilling novella "Seasons," about an outer space anthropological study gone horribly wrong.Another lengthy item is "You Can Never Go Back," which was originally intended to be the middle portion of Haldeman's best novel "The Forever War," and was actually included in later versions of that book.The best of the shorter stories include "More Than the Sum of His Parts," a graphic outer space horror story, the humorous "A !Tangled Web," an excellent historical story "Manifest Destiny," as well as several poems by the author.This work is nearly as good as Stephen King's short story collections.Any sci-fi fan or lover of a good tale should enjoy it.

Worth Reading Even Though Some Stories Are Minor
Haldeman's second short story collection has not only science fiction butalso horror, poetry, and Haldeman's only sword-and-sorcery tale.

Itstarts off strong with two stories set in Haldeman's Confederacionuniverse, most notably used in his novel ALL MY SINS REMEMBERED.A team ofanthropologists are unpleasantly surprised when their seemingly peacefulalien subjects become murderous.Haldeman constructs a grim, suspensefulstory from the first person narratives of people fleeing for their livesacross an alien world.Much less serious is "A !Tangled Web"about linguistic and cultural confusions during a trade negotiation withaliens.These aliens have an elaborate and hilarious repertoire ofself-deprecating phrases.

Haldeman's prose often has wit and irony ineven his most serious novels but that aspect of his work really livens up"Seven and the Stars" despite its worn plot of a science fictionwriter meeting a real alien.

Horror of the traditional and supernaturalsort is featured in "Manifest Destiny", an interesting talemostly set in Mexico during the Mexican-American War, and "Lindsay andthe Red City Cross".The latter is set in the unpleasant, sinisterbazaar of Djemaa El Fna in Marrakesh.The story was inspired by anunpleasant trip Haldeman took to Morocco though his luck there wasobviously better than his protagonist.

Though inspired by Poe and, in aroundabout way Daniel Keyes' classic "Flowers for Algernon, "MoreThan the Sum of His Parts" is high-tech, rather than traditional,horror.The narrator's body is mostly replaced with cybernetic substituteswhich help him realize his egomaniac and increasingly lethal fantasies. Haldeman's alternate title, "Tom Swift and His Electric Penis"should give you some idea where this story goes.It's one of the highpoints of the collection.

Pastiches of other genres show up twice. "Blood Sisters" is a Mickey Spillane type story with the Mafiaand clones and, of course, lots of sex and gunplay."BloodBrothers" is Haldeman's sole entry into the sword-and-sorcery field. Written for Robert Asprin's Thieve's World universe, it's a minor storyabout a villainous tavern owner.

For Haldeman fans, the most interestingstory will probably be "You Can Never Go Back".It's Haldeman'sfirst draft of the story that eventually became the Sergeant Mandellasection of his most celebrated work, THE FOREVER WAR.It's not only longerthan the novel version but features a violent, more depressing America anddifferent family details for Mandella and Potter.Haldeman likes thisversion better though he admits that it would have slowed the novel downtoo much.

Unfortunately, the last two stories in the collection areminor."No Future in It" is a gimmicky alternate history/timetravel story which leaves out the meat of an alternate history story:whythings changed."The Pilot" is about a cyborg starship that getsreally annoyed with tv interviewers.

As with his most recent short storycollection, NONE SO BLIND, Haldeman finishes the book off with some of hisaccomplished verse, here three science fiction story poems.Each entry inthe collection features an introduction and afterword by Haldemanexplaining the origins and inspirations of the stories.

Enjoyable collection
I didn't enjoy this as much as None So Blind, but it's entertaining nonetheless.Haldeman has become one of my favorite authors not only because of his excellent novels (Forever War, 1968), but also his shortstories.He makes reading a story or novella a pleasure due to his abilityto present such vivid images without getting carried away.Hischaracterization of aliens in the story "A !Tangled Web" ishilarious. ... Read more

Book Description
In 1968, a nation fought two wars: one abroad...and one with itself. On one front, Spider walked point and tried to survive an insanity he neither accepted nor understood. On another, his "girl," Beverly, drifted into a strange counterculture that offered her dangerous freedoms at the price of her innocence. In 1968, a great black leader was murdered on a balcony in Memphis...a political convention in Chicago was stained with young blood...and Spider and Beverly searched for their separate peace in two worlds on fire. It was the year that changed us all. In 1968, everything went crazy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

A dual review of 1968 and Trinity Fields
1968, by Joe Haldeman and Trinity Fields, by Bradford Morrow

1968 will surprise readers who think of Joe Haldeman exclusively as a science fiction writer. Its stunning realism and cynical outlook are harrowing. Haldeman's main character is Spider, a soldier in Vietnam. Haldeman never compromises his grim vision of this pivotal year in American history--just when you think it can't get worse for poor Spider, it does. The writing is razor sharp--I was especially enamored of the sections relating Spider's evolving description of his wounding and near death in an ambush. The story changes with time and with Spider's experiences and mental state. At story's end, Haldeman turns the tables and tells the story from another participant's point of view. In doing so, he manages to give the entire book an ironic spin.

The focus in Trinity Fields is on Brice McCarthy, who's sedate existence is interrupted by a letter from a friend he thought long dead. The letter causes Brice to reflect on his life, and, more importantly, on the influence that his boyhood friend, Kip Calder, has had on him. As sons of scientists working on the Manhattan Project, the duo literally grew up in the shadow of the atomic bomb. As children, the two were inseparable, but as they grew older their paths diverged. Their deteriorating friendship finally collapses over their philosophical differences regarding the Vietnam War and their love for the same woman. Ultimately, Brice joins the radical Left and Kip flies secret missions over Laos. Morrow's description of their meeting some twenty five years later, and the poignant favor Kip asks of Brice provide an emotional and satisfying climax.

Taken together, 1968 and Trinity Fields provide plenty of food for thought. Morrow's book, cerebral and reflective, is the perfect complement to the more visceral and gruelling 1968. In both, the horror stems from the Vietnam war, and the physical and mental damage it inflicted. Individually, either book is worthy of your attention, but I recommend that you read them together for greater impact.

1968 Retrospective
If you read this book you will learn why 1969 was such a great year! By the time we had gotten through 1968 we were entitled to something good and it came. Like everything in the 60's, 1969 did not live up to its promise but we did learn from it -- and we had a lot of fun too.

In 1968 I graduated from high school. My awareness was limited and in that I was a lot like Spider. However it was impossible NOT to be aware of some things. Assasinations left and right; rioting in city after city; Prague; "My fellow American, I come to you tonight with a heavy heart"; Humphrey refusing to promise peace; Chicago; the election of Nixon. Pretty grim.

So this is a pretty grim book, how could it be otherwise. It is faithful to its subject and describes it well, which makes for a downer. Almost every page had me saying "Yep, that's how it was."

But you know, it might have been better without the retrospectives. I think Joe tried to alleviate the bummer by putting in intermezzos or in-between chapters which give today's views on certain things. This gives a sense of "everything's gonna be okay, we made it to the future intact" whereas that was no sure thing at the time -- another reason to celebrate in 1969.

Joe, why don't you do Spider a favor and let him experience the Summer of Love? After the Summer of Hate, he deserves it!

Acurate and depressing account of a turbulent year
Without a doubt, Joe Haldenman recaptures the historical and turbulent moments of a year that will always be remembered for its political and social issues. Not only is the story multi-dimesional and historically accurate, but the characters are also multi-dimensional. Ones t