Show Notes
The Forever War is a book that asks "Who hurt author Joe Haldeman?” and the answer is: The United States Military.
This book is about a futuristic war fought by soldiers in power armour, but really it's about every war and every soldier. It was written in 1974, but feels disturbingly current.
Haldeman wrote this book after his experience as a combat engineer in the Vietnam War. So it reads as a scathing critique of American imperialism, the futility of war, and what it does to the people sent to fight it— and the ones left behind.
It’s the kind of book we need in April of 2026.
Tommy recorded this episode from the bathroom of a truly gross San Francisco hotel, which feels spiritually aligned with the time we’re living in.
Haldeman’s writing is sharp, disorienting, and surprisingly human. If you like your sci-fi with a true disdain for war, queer-stuff before its time, and a side of existential whiplash, this one delivers.
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