William Mandela is a genetic throwback, one of the small group of humans who fought and survived the Forever War. They returned to find humanity has evolved into a group mind called Man. Seeking familiarity, the veterans seek to live a normal life on a harsh planet they've named Middle Finger. Man is happy with the arrangement, seeing the humans as a genetic failsafe, a baseline to return to if successive generations of Man corrupt its group mind. Surrounded by a society that is too autocratic and intrusive, living a dull existence which cannot compare to the certainties of combat and feeling increasingly alienated, the veterans plan an escape to the future by means of space travel and relativity. But when their ship starts to fail, their journey becomes a search for the Unknown, the elusive entity responsible.
Forever Free
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Product Description
Book Description
The sequel to Haldeman's hugely successful and seminal SF classic THE FOREVER WAR.
About the Author
Joe Haldeman studied physics and astronomy before serving as a combat engineer in Vietnam from 1967-69. Upon returning he took up writing full time, which he now combines with a his post as an adjunct professor teaching writing at MIT.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Davywavy2
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
The Forever War is one of the best, most intriguing Sci-Fi books ever written.
Forever Free follows that intriguing, thought provoking thread until about halfway through, and then suddenly if turns to mush. The setup itself is wonderful. In trying to use the time dilation effect as used to such good effect in The Forever War to escape from a stultifying society, the lead characters encounter increasingly unusual physical effects until the entire universe seems no longer to be what it once was.
And then the denouement, in which all is explained, is possibly the biggest let down I've ever read. Origianl Series Star Trek could not have done it worse.I won't spoil it for you if you decide to read it, but trust me. There are better things you could be doing with your time. It is as if the author had a wonderful idea for a book, but no idea at all of how to finish it; and so chose the cheesiest, most cliched, most unsatisfying explaination possible.Avoid.
Forever Free follows that intriguing, thought provoking thread until about halfway through, and then suddenly if turns to mush. The setup itself is wonderful. In trying to use the time dilation effect as used to such good effect in The Forever War to escape from a stultifying society, the lead characters encounter increasingly unusual physical effects until the entire universe seems no longer to be what it once was.
And then the denouement, in which all is explained, is possibly the biggest let down I've ever read. Origianl Series Star Trek could not have done it worse.I won't spoil it for you if you decide to read it, but trust me. There are better things you could be doing with your time. It is as if the author had a wonderful idea for a book, but no idea at all of how to finish it; and so chose the cheesiest, most cliched, most unsatisfying explaination possible.Avoid.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was extremely excited when I discovered that there was a sequel to the Forever War - a truly memorable piece of fiction - which is why I think my disappointment was so great. It's as if this book was written by someone else, someone without the talent of the writer of The Forever War. As mentioned by other reviewers the writing is lazy and the ending just utterly ridiculous. Avoid at all costs.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By j.d
Format:Paperback
Forever Free is a continuation and development of many of the elements present in its predecessor - The Forever War. For instance, the nature of combat, specifically it's affect on the psyche - on man as a being, whilst highly important in the first book, now gives way to analysis of a life without combat for one who has lived so close to it. Ultimately Haldeman moves into increasingly existentialist territory. Having established a character whose life is combat (as far as the reader is concerned) he then utterly transposes the character into a somewhat mundane setting. By creating such a setting Haldeman can ask: what if it were possible to place you life in hiatus, at least as far as your relation to contemporary society is concerned? This novel deals with escape, past anachronism, a failure to adapt, a failure to change. And yes, religion, or at the very least the concept of a power beyond man's imagining. As many have commented, the ending is odd. I should say however that rather than "coming out of nowhere", its a theme which perhaps Haldeman wished to deal with earlier, and possibly felt he did. I will say that the idea of an intellectual, or academic, conception of fate, or as is said in the book, "a truth behind appearance" is fascinating. Haldeman does what one should do in science fiction, he allows us to view our own world, our own lives, and race from a different perspective. I actually highly enjoyed this book, just as I did the forever war. I think there is some trick to identifying the themes which Haldeman is dealing with, but upon doing so, I found the book hugely thought provoking and ultimately rewarding.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
best sci-fi series
In my opinion the best sci-fi series about soldiers.
If you love sci-fi then read all the forever * books . you'll love it!
If you love sci-fi then read all the forever * books . you'll love it!
Published 3 days ago by karel
3.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
If like me, your're a big fan of the original Forever War, then prepared to be let down.
In the Forever War, the protagonist William Mandella falls victim to an enemy far more... Read more
In the Forever War, the protagonist William Mandella falls victim to an enemy far more... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Dave L
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why wouldn't you love it?
Please don't be put off by the 1-star reviews of a truly great book.
In my view, Haldeman has written an allegorical work about the psychology of war and warriors, and... Read more
In my view, Haldeman has written an allegorical work about the psychology of war and warriors, and... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Kevin Scullion
5.0 out of 5 stars
Forever Free
Forever Free follows on after the events of The Forever War where the protagonist tries to live in a world so different from his past; isolated on a harsh planet far away from the... Read more
Published 18 months ago by DeltaCmdr
1.0 out of 5 stars
Garbage
I am in complete agreement with the other people who gave it one star what a massive disappointment after the Forever War which is a real classic SF novel. DO NOT BUY
Published 19 months ago by Sir Sidney Ruff Diamond
3.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing Sequel
ery different from the previous instalment, it is arguably a needless development of the story which was nicely wrapped up at the end of The Forever War. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Mike Andrew Dawson
5.0 out of 5 stars
stunning book !
I have read all the other reviews and can only conclude that the ratings are low since the book is being compared to the first book. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Johan RF
1.0 out of 5 stars
Truly awful
I loved The Forever War, it's an extremely imaginative, tightly paced and well written book. With an almost perfect ending. Read more
Published on 21 Oct 2008 by S. P. Robinson
3.0 out of 5 stars
Quite a let down
I have liked most of Haldemans books, The Forever War being rightly recognised as one of the most important works in SF, but his others books are often just as good. Read more
Published on 11 Nov 2002 by E. Nolan
2.0 out of 5 stars
Oh Dear........
It must be very difficult even attempting a follow up after writing the classic that is the Forever War. Unfortunately this book fails to come even close. Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2001
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