books 2013: The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman

I thought this was solid, if not spectacular, science fiction. I like the way Haldeman writes the science - for example, it's a lot more believable, to me, to imagine that humans have to be strapped down in special suits to survive the incredible pressure of near-light-speed travel than to imagine that they can just walk around fine all the time on a spaceship (a la Star Trek). I thought Haldeman also did a good job reflecting on the meaning of war. However, Haldeman is also playing with the concept of time travel: when traveling long distances at high speeds, the traveler barely ages while hundreds of years passes back home. And I have to say that other people do a more compelling job with that (notably Ursula K. LeGuin). Haldeman's book is still a good read, and I'm glad to have read it, but I wouldn't classify it as one of the best Hugo winners I've read.