13 Must-Read Joe Haldeman Books

One of the most influential war novels in any genre, The Forever War was inspired by Haldeman's time in Vietnam. The story follows William Mandella, a man from Earth conscripted to fight against the alien Taurans. Due to time dilation, when Mandella returns home, the world has changed drastically during his time away. 

The Forever War's sci-fi concept perfectly captures the alienation and disorientation many soldiers experience when returning to civilian life. It was followed by the novella A Separate War and the sequel Forever Free.

Judging by the title, you might think that Forever Peace is a direct sequel to The Forever War. But while both stories deal with similar themes of futuristic warfare, the two works are not directly linked. Where The Forever War follows reluctant physics student William Mandella as he's conscripted into service, Forever Peace tells the story of burned-out soldier Julian Class who's searching for a way out.

The Forever War may be Haldeman's best-known work, but Forever Peace is no slouch either. The work won the 1998 Awards for the Hugo and the Nebula.

Stephen King himself wrote of the first novel in this sci-fi trilogy, "there are scenes in Worlds I will remember forever." 

The series is set after humans leave Earth to inhabit free-floating artificial habitats, or 'Worlds.'  The Worlds Trilogy centers around Marianne O'Hara from childhood through adulthood as she rebels against the universe's status quo to fulfill her destiny as a leader. 

The message reads only “we’re coming...."

In the opening of this first contact novel, Earth is in the midst of climate change, World War III, and a renewed surge of fascism. But when an American scientist receives a cryptic message from extraterrestrials, Earth's future is changed forever in this novel Locus praised as “compelling and provocative.”

Readers looking to explore Haldeman's poetry should seek out Ellen Datlow's anthology Blood Is Not Enough. The collection features contributions around the theme of 'vampirism' from authors like Haldeman, Dan Simmons, Tanith Lee, Fritz Leiber, and other legends. 

Haldeman's contribution is "Time Lapse," a dark poem about a voyeuristic father who pushes his daughter to the brink. 

Otto McGavin used to be a pacifist who truly believed he could help others through working for the Confederación. But now that he's nearing the end of his career, Otto must acknowledge he's been transformed into someone sinister by the mysterious, powerful agency. 

Otto hasn't helped the universe as he planned—instead he's been an agent of chaos. And time is running out for him to find peace with his sins. 

A thought-provoking novel about life, death, and the role that class plays in both, Buying Time is set in a post-mortality world. The Stileman Process allows those who can afford it to live forever. 

Dallas Barr has paid for this procedure numerous times. But as his next Stileman Process approaches, Earth's oldest man uncovers shocking secrets about what it really means to live forever....

This collection of 13 short stories features work from early in Haldeman's career, including the Hugo Award-winning "Tricentennial." Publishers Weekly said that Infinite Dreams "amply demonstrates" the author's domination of the sci-fi genre. 

What if aliens came to Earth before the dawn of humanity? Haldeman's Camouflage explores the idea that two immortal, shapeshifting aliens might have been among us all along. The status quo is disrupted when an artifact is discovered on the ocean floor off the coast of Samoa. It draws the aliens, though each of them has a different purpose in obtaining it. One alien wants to help humanity, the other intends to harm it. 

Camouflage won the 2005 Nebula Award for Best Novel.

Since its discovery, the Levant-Meyer Translation has allowed humans to travel throughout the universe searching for planets to colonize. The humans entrusted with exploring the galaxy are called 'Tamers.'

But when newly-appointed Tamer Jacque Lefavre discovers a mysterious, mind-reading creature on the planet Groomsbridge, his first mission may be his last. 

War Year isn't a sci-fi/fantasy novel, but those who love Haldeman's work will appreciate this insight into the author's experience. Haldeman served in the Vietnam War, and his time there shaped him into the author we know today. War Year follows combat engineer John Farmer during one year in Vietnam. While the story is fiction, it undoubtedly reflects Haldeman's own time in the military, which helped shape his thoughts about war and peace that we see reflected in his better-known works.

There Is No Darkness is a family affair, co-written by Haldeman and his biologist brother, Jack. 

In this coming-of-age story, Carl earns a scholarship to Starschool and has an opportunity to explore life throughout the galaxy. But he soon realizes that his background puts him at a disadvantage compared to his affluent peers, and Carl is forced to earn money as a fighter if he wants to continue his education. 

Carl's adventures take readers across the universe to reveal the secrets behind the galaxy's most prestigious school. 

The best of the best of Haldeman's short fiction and poetry, More Than the Sum of His Parts brings together his anthologies None So Blind and Dealing in Futures. 

Standout works include his award-winning poem "Saul's Death"; short story “The Hemingway Hoax," for which Haldeman won both the Nebula and the Hugo Award; and "Graves," which took home the Nebula and Locus Award.