Joe Haldeman's The Forever War holds a place of honor on many a sci-fi shelf, but for me, it fell short of its reputation. While the central conceit of time dilation due to near-light-speed travel is interesting, the execution felt derivative.
The story of Private William Mandella fighting an interstellar war against the alien Taurans felt like a less nuanced version of Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers. Heinlein's gung-ho patriotism might not sit well with modern readers, but he delivered a more thrilling and action-packed military sci-fi experience.
The true potential of The Forever War seemed to lie in the societal commentary it promised. Returning to Earth after decades due to time dilation, only to find a world vastly changed by the war, offered a rich opportunity to explore the psychological impact and grapple with the futilities of war. Sadly, this intriguing thread was dropped too quickly. Mandella is whisked back to the fight before any real depth is explored.
The Forever War isn't a bad book by any means. The prose is clean, the action scenes are competent, and the concept is solid. But compared to the best science fiction I've devoured in recent years, it felt like a familiar tune played on a slightly detuned instrument. If you're new to military science fiction, The Forever War might be a decent starting point. But for seasoned sci-fi veterans, it might leave you wanting more.