I think that this is my sign to read more science fiction novels. I was really into them as a kid, and even now, I have never been more entertained. The novel goes into a dystopian future where we fight another species light-years away. It touches on the horrors of war and the inhumanity of forcing people to fight others.
The novel focuses on Mandella, a soldier who was drafted to fight in an UN effort to destroy the Taurans. A lot of Mandella's squad were killed in many battles, and we really dive deep into the mind of a man who really didn't want to fight. He fought to survive, not to kill. It's really an interesting read, and the action kept me on my toes throughout the book.
Both forces travel around space through wormholes (like Interstellar!) and they build bases on random planets, and made very dangerous suits on planets not suitable for habitation. It's so sad seeing many people die from the suits alone, and as many years passed, the war kept on dragging on and on. The romantic relationship that Mandella had was also very interesting, as it added so much flair to the already depressing situation that humanity was in.
WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS!
The ending of this book was so satisfying. I'm so amazed that, after so many tours, Potter was still 25, and both of them seemed so changed. It's probably a commentary of military veterans today, where many get to the point where they fight to survive, not necessarily to kill the people their mission wants them to kill.
Through the tragedies that they faced when their close family members died, we see how they felt trapped in their shitty world which didn't care about most people. Ironically, the UN seemed to be the only organization to accept them. It's so sad to see how they felt so powerless in a world that seemed to crown them as these amazing heroes who mercilessly killed aliens many light-years away.
It was also really funny seeing Mandella become the commander of the ship. We all knew that he only joined because he wanted to survive and have a better life, and he really didn't care about killing Taurans. But seeing him assume command and defend against them was so satisfying. I was cheering him on on the sidelines! And seeing the linguistical changes that happened was amazing as well. It really shows the thought that Haldeman put into this book, and that's exactly why this book deserves such a high rating. Impeccable all around.
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