Authenticity
Joe Haldemann served in Vietnam as a military engineer. His experiences during this period significantly influenced the Eternal War . This is mentioned in the introduction by John Scalzi and the author himself, so when we start reading, we expect that the world and events, having a science fiction staffage , have a grain of authenticity in them.
The reader, familiar with the fate of William Mandela, feels that the author knows exactly what he is writing about. Of course, the awareness of the writer’s involvement in the events in Vietnam affects the reception of the work, but even without this knowledge, the characters and the plot are convincing.
Opposition to the war
Eternal war can be read as a protest against or a warning against armed conflicts. The main character and his companions were torn from their lives to serve in the army. The first members of the unit die already at the training stage. Then, in subsequent skirmishes, death also takes its toll.
However, the end of many soldiers’ lives was not the only negative aspect of the war indicated by Haldeman. The problems of the conflict in which Mandela participates also include the pointlessness of the fight itself and the price paid by soldiers returning from the front. It has been known for a long time that it is not easy to enter the familiar ruts of life after spending time in the trenches. The author, thanks to the possibilities of science fiction , adds to this the trauma related to the great social changes that take place during the decades and hundreds of years of Mandela’s absence from Earth.
Time skips
In Eternal War, combat takes place on different planets and also in outer space. The technology in the presented world allows you to travel at relativistic speeds, which makes the passage of time on the ground much faster than for the heroes. On the one hand, this procedure allows to deepen the sense of alienation of soldiers returning from the front. On the other hand, it reveals a peculiar nonsense of the fought fight.
Humans and Taurans are unable to communicate, instead they fight a fight. However, distances and the laws of physics significantly change the nature of the conflict. For how is there any sense in waging a war if it could take more than a hundred years to hand over an order? The reader, of course, raises the question of whether such a fight is worth fighting for. The same doubt can be applied to real conflicts. Haldeman observes that waging a war is not unfounded, but at the same time seems to question the sense of these foundations.
The reader does not live by the message itself
The book is characterized not only by the message itself, but also by the way it was written. There is definitely nothing to complain about here. Eternal War is just great to read. The pace of the action is right. The story is neither boring nor rushing forward at breakneck speed. The reader quickly starts to like the main character, and this is important for the enjoyment of reading.
In the novel, the visions of changes in society on Earth are quite surprising. It can be assumed that the author deliberately described a world so completely different from ours to emphasize the isolation of the characters. Unfortunately, this procedure makes the described society less convincing. Despite this, Eternal War is an interesting and engaging reading.
Summary
Haldeman’s book is a really good novel with a relevant subject matter. War and struggle have accompanied mankind since the dawn of time and, unfortunately, they will probably continue with us. Although they seem to be an inseparable part of our reality, it is worth pointing out the horrors and the problems associated with them. The author in Eternal War not only illustrates the wrong side of armed conflict, but also provides readers with entertainment.
