I'll be updating this blog when I've read a new book or an article in the news that I'd like to keep a track of. This is my way of keeping a running record of what I've read and what I thought of it.

Sunday 26 February 2012

Peace and War - Joe Haldeman


Three books for the price of one here...but I've already read the first one (Forever War) and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The second book is a continuation of Forever War and features the main protagonists from that novel.  Set 20 or so years down the line from the end of the first book this novel picks up the story with our heroes a little older and a little more cynical.  They decide to so something about it by returning to interstellar space travel and with it time dilation (more of less like travelling into the future).

I wont go into it too deeply but suffice to say the author sets off on a very different tangent to the first.  he puts forward a pretty out there theory for the existence of the universe but as with the first book the story moves along at a good pace and the characters keep it interesting.  not as good as the first one, but still an enjoyable read.

The final book in the collection seems to have no relation to the other two.  this one is set in the not too distant future (2040 ish) and tells of a world pitched into a resource war.  Not the type we're all expecting (water, oil etc), this one is caused by excess resources.  The US has developed machines that can manufacture anything cheaply and easily thus rendering imports useless and turned the economy of the world on its head.

They have also developed the ability to tap into the human brain and link minds with other people.  which makes for a whole new range of emotions and experiences.

Haldeman once again creates a fantastical world that nonetheless feels authentic and compelling.  I'm a big fan of his work and thoroughly enjoyed this book.

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