eBook Deals, or Books I Bought Recently

Again, no unifying theme this week, but I think these are some good ones.


The Forever War by Joe Haldeman ($4.99) - This is a classic and worth a read. Here's Alec's Review.
A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin ($2.99) - Orbit's Digital Drop
Snow in the Desert by Neal Asher (Short stories) ($1.38)
Manhattan in Reverse by Peter F. Hamilton ($4.99)
Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines ($2.99)
Wool (Omnibus, books 1-5) by Hugh Howey ($4.99)
Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut ($4.09) - Here's my review, I can't get enough of the Vonnegut.
Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal ($2.99)
Agatha H. and the Airship City by Phil and Kaja Foglio (FREE)

Giveaway: The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman

The Forever War [US][UK] is the book which simultaneously broke my addiction to epic fantasy and introduced me to science fiction. A strange place to start, some might argue, but one which I found and still find increadibly enjoyable. Mark at Walker of Worlds ran a Science Fiction Appreciation Month in which his favorite author, Peter F. Hamilton (another great SF author), wrote a short essay on the enduring quality of Haldeman's Forever War and its most deserved spot as a modern classic of science fiction literature.

After reading Peter's incisive analysis, I immediately proceeded to tear through my shelves in search of the book, determined to rearead it before the sun set. Needless to say, the Forever War was MIA and a quick run to the local B&N ensued. Four hours later, my freakishly strong urge to read the book was satiated and so was I. Did I mention that it is fairly short?

So, before blindly entering the giveaway check out my old review of The Forever War and see if you are interested. Now, if you still are, follow the exceedingly simple directions below.

How to Enter This Giveaway

E-mail me your name and address, with "FOREVER WAR" as the subject of the email. Snarky comments in your entry increase your chances of winning and win bonus entries for future giveaways. The giveaway is open worldwide as long as delivery doesn't require the mounting of an expedition into remote wilderness.

Memorial Day

     Memorial day, in America, is a time to pay tribute to soldiers that have fallen in war. For our international readers, Memorial Day began in the wake of the American civil war, and was later expanded to recognize all soldiers that have fallen in combat. Typically, the members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars accept donations for poppy flowers, a blossom that attained its significance during World War One through a moving poem by John McCrae (1872-1918), entitled In Flanders Field:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

     I think it is important to understand that regardless of political affiliation or one's opinions of American foreign policy, Memorial Day is meant as a simple yet heartfelt tribute to those who served their country, and gave the last full measure of their devotion. In the spirit of memorial day, I am inclined to have you take a look at The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman. The novel, above all else, is a meaningful tribute to those who have fallen, and while it criticizes the origins of war, it has nothing but respect for those who have braved its bloody struggles.

Review: The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman

The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman is a moving tale about war. There is no simpler way to put it. The great science fiction and fantasy books out there always carry a deeper meaning or theme; the better the book the more timeless that theme is.

The Setup

William Mandella is a time traveler and a soldier, suffering the relativistic effects of deployment to cosmically distant battlegrounds against the Taurans, earths only enemy. As he rises through the ranks, thanks mostly to an uncanny knack for survival, the reader is exposed to social and technological metamorphoses back on earth. These changes in turn effect Mandella's unit, the tactics and technology at his disposal, and even his relationship to his only love, herself a conscript in the war. A superhuman helping of grit and realism make this one of the quickest and most enjoyable reads I have ever had the enormous pleasure to consume.

My Take

Mr. Haldeman strikes a cord so deep and timeless that should The Forever War ever be forgotten, we would not recognize the world in which we live. The book springs from the heart of a psyche that has endured the pains of war and seeks to communicate the futility of violence to the world. The prose flows simply and beautifully and captures the essence of what it means to fight, to die, and to suffer the deprivations that war brings.
If all that is a bit too poetic for you, let me just say that a lot of stuff goes boom, again and again, in so many awesome and original ways its hard to count. The great thing about the way the book is structured is that it allows the reader to see the development of technology and social moors as a clear Hegelian clash between thesis and antithesis. Nothing is spared by the progress of millennia, only the War itself.

Your Take

The general consensus is that the Forever War is a timeless work of art, similar to Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein. There are a few detractors however, who find that some of the themes go against their moral grain. I personally loved it and found even the most daring turns to be thought provoking and intellectually stimulating. If you have read it, what is your view?

Ratings & Links

Amazon: 4.5/5
B&N: 4.25/5
My Rating: 4.75/5

Read a great interview with Joe Haldeman.

Piqued Your Interest?

This is, quite simply, not a book to be passed over. If you are a science fiction lover then The Forever War needs to be added to your repertoire. If you are just starting out in the genre, there are few better places to start.