Forever Peace by Haldeman

For May and June 2022, we read Haldeman's Forever Peace. We read Forever War a few years back, and decided to read one of the companion books this spring. 

I really enjoyed the book. The American War in Viet Nam has always fascinated me, perhaps because it was always on the television news when I was young. Haldeman is a veteran of that War, and that influence is pervasive. The central conflict of the main character, Julian Class, has to do with his accidental killing of a child in a combat situation. (This happens pretty early in the book, and has little to do with the overall plot.) 

I also enjoyed the shifting perspective. At times, it is as though we are "jacked in" to Class, and able to see the actions through his perspective. Other times, though, we get an omniscient third person narrator and get a broader perspective on the story. 

Discussion Questions for Second Half (there are definitely spoilers here): 

1. Do you think completely understanding other people (being humanized) would really eliminate violence? 

2. There are certainly ethical issues with "jacking" unwilling people. How is this similar to or different from drafting (or conscripting) people to be soldiers, who are "jacked" to do certain jobs in this military? 

3. How is forcing people to "humanize" different forced conversion to a particular religion, such as historical conversions of people to Christianity?

4. There is a cult (whose members are called "Enders") who are waiting on the end of the world so God (or gods) can wipe out our galaxy and start over. What do you think motivates people like this? How is their suicidal ideation different from Julian's?

5. Since we were looking for the shift in narration in this half of the book, what did it add? How effective was it? 

6. Haldeman doesn't seem to have a lot of use for extremists. And yet, his protagonists are surgically altering every person they come in contact with. Do you think this contradiction is resolved?

7. Haldeman is criticized for his characters being interchangeable or even unlikable. Do you agree? If you disagree, which characters would you want to be friends with? Hang out with? 

8. What did you think of the ending? Did it seem abrupt? Or a seem to have a little deus ex machina going on? Or did you think it was well supported?


Reviews of Forever Peace: 

https://prometheus-unbound.org/2012/03/01/book-review-forever-peace-by-joe-haldeman/

https://www.sfsite.com/11a/fpeace20.htm

http://speculiction.blogspot.com/2012/12/review-of-forever-war-by-joe-haldeman.html

https://www.mostlyfiction.com/scifi/haldeman.htm

http://www.benespen.com/journal/2017/6/15/the-long-view-forever-peace (This one spends a lot of time on the economic system Haldeman outlines)

Reddit discussion of Forever War: https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/6mg1of/i_just_read_the_forever_war_by_joe_haldeman/

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