I liked this book. Having said that, I almost quit reading it about half-way through. Although he has women in combat, there is a sexualization of women that makes me uncomfortable. And the homophobia just pissed me off. Like I said, I was ready to ditch it, which is unusual for me. If I can make it past the first couple of pages I usually finish. I went back and reread a couple of PBS members reviews and decided to tough it out. I am glad I did. Even though some of his language concerning the interaction between sexes and his portrayal of homosexuals is somewhat dated he was way ahead of time. I was wrong to label him as sexist and homophobic. The book was fist published in 1972. For his time, he was quite enlightened. It turned out to be a great story. A great anti-war story. I hear a movie is being made. They'll screw it up.

Starts a little slow, and is at first quite reminiscent of Starship Trooper (the book, not the horrible movie). The pace picks up about halfway through, and while it is ostensibly about a confusing war with an ill-understood enemy, the real story is about humanity and it's evolution (or lack thereof). Depressing as hell, but with a few rays of hope scattered in for good measure. Won both the Hugo and Nebula awards for "Best Novel of the Year".
Good read!

This is a good one. He's a warrior, reluctant, but good at it nevertheless. Thanks to Relativity, he gets way out of synch with those he takes into battle. It's a good read.

\"Private William Mandella is a hero in spite of himself- a reluctant conscript drafted into an elite military unit, and propelled through space and time to fight in a distant thousand year conflict. He never wanted to go to war, but the leaders of Earth have drawn a line in the intersteller sand- despite the fact that their fierce alien enemy is unknowable, unconquerable, and very far away. So Mandella will perform his duties without rancor, and even rise up through the military\'s ranks...if he survives. But the true test of his mettle will come when he returns to Earth. Because of the time dilation caused by space travel the loyal soldier is aging months while his home planet is aging centuries- and the difference will prove the saying: you can never go home again.\"

Written by a Vietnam veteran who has published many science fiction books, this novel is a classic.

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