War Stories (Hardcover)

~ Joe Haldeman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Haldeman (Camouflage) is much more than just a military SF writer, but it's clear that Vietnam remains central to his existence and the nightmare inspiration for some of his best work. This collection brings together the author's two Vietnam novels, the autobiographical War Year (1972) and the later, more sophisticated 1968 (1994), along with a variety of stories and poems. The shorter work is all Vietnam-inspired, but each piece also qualifies as SF or fantasy. In the powerful "A Separate War," a sequel to the author's The Forever War, two soldiers have been sent on a series of missions at translight speeds. Though only a few years have passed for them, centuries have gone by on Earth and the soldiers find themselves more and more alienated from the culture they're supposedly fighting to protect. Two other stories, "The Monster" and "Graves," take place in Vietnam and involve possibly supernatural encounters with creatures brought to light by the horrors of war. Far from escapist, Haldeman's art provides a devastating retrospective of a particularly black time in American history. (Mar.)
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Product Description

An omnibus of Joe Haldeman's war stories, this will be an important book that gives massive insight into Vietnam from the perspective of one of the finest science fiction writers in the field. Includes the stories "War Year," "1968," "Time Piece," "The Private War of Private Jacob," "To Howard Hughes: A Modest Proposal," "The Monster," "Graves," "A Separate War," and "Giza." Plus the long narrative poems "Saul's Death" and "DX" as well as three essays by Haldeman about his experiences in Vietnam and about writing "The Forever War," "1968," "War Year," and short fiction.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 450 pages
• Publisher: Night Shade Books (October 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597800228
• ISBN-13: 978-1597800228
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #981,712 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars War Stories a Must Have for Haldeman fans, October 30, 2006

By	Steven Samuels (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've been enjoying Haldeman's new work so much that I forgot how focused and powerful his older writing was. While not as polished as the writer he is today, the emotional impact of this book is simply unequaled. It took me back to the first time I read Herbert's Dune, Simmons' Hyperion, Tepper's Grass, etc.

The two bookends of War Stories (novels in their own right), War Year and 1968, are the kinds of books you can't put down, but absolutely need to for sanity's sake. Both are semi-autobiographic in that they are both stories of Viet Nam combat engineer (although they are not Haldeman's specific story). It is a good thing these are separated by several short stories and poems as they are simply too intense to read back-to-back. Even separately, they leave the reader shaken... for all the right reasons.

The middle portion of short stories and poems contain old favorites, sharp interludes, intense horror, fun, sadness... your basic Haldeman buffet.

Before each section, Haldeman gives personal insight into the situations surrounding the writing. All-in-all, a must have for Haldeman fans and readers of war fiction from someone who's been there and lived through it. I think I speak for Haldeman when I say even when you live through it, a piece of you is left behind. This collection helps you remember and cherish those forgotten pieces.