In 1974 Joe Haldeman's The Forever War, a stunning account of an interminable intergalactic conflict between humanity and the alien Taurans, debuted to great acclaim. The novel, which Haldeman describes as "autobiography, refracted through the lens of science fiction," was honored with a Nebula, Hugo, and Locus Award.
Both The Forever War and its companion novel Forever Free were largely inspired by Haldeman's own experiences during the Vietnam War. Today, The Forever War's depiction of the brutality of combat and the struggles of returning to civilian life remains relevant, and Haldeman's sci-fi masterpiece continues to find new readers.
RELATED: Legendary Author Joe Haldeman Shares the Story Behind The Forever War
In addition to a rumored impending movie adaptation of The Forever War, the Forever War series has also found new life through Titan Comics. In 2017, Titan re-released The Forever War graphic novel adaptation in a new trade paperback, collecting three volumes of The Forever War graphic novel which Haldeman, his wife Mary Gay Haldeman, and Belgian artist Marvano collaborated on originally in 1988.
Now, the same creative team has come together again for a Titan Comics adaptation of The Forever War: Forever Free. Over email, The Portalist spoke to Haldeman about the future of the Forever War movie; great books that explore the American veteran experience; and whether or not we're all just living in a simulation.
Working on a comic seems inherently a lot more collaborative than working on a novel. In addition to collaborating with Mark Marvano, you also collaborated with your wife Gay on the Forever War and Forever Free adaptations, correct? What was it like to transition from a more isolated creative pursuit like novel-writing, to something a little more collaborative?
It's as different as apples and oranges. I don't mind collaborating on a movie or a comic, where skills other than writing are important. My experiences with collaborating on novels and stories have been almost all negative, unless the project is a goof. Then it can be fun, if everybody's in it to have fun.
![camera-icon]()
Joe Haldeman.
What books would you recommend to veterans who enjoyed the Forever War series and are looking for more writing that reflects their own experiences?
What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in the science fiction genre since the release of War Year and The Forever War?
It's a totally new ball game—you're talking about two generations of writers! It's a wonder we can even communicate with each other. A complete answer would be book-length, and I wouldn't be the person to ask. Perhaps the smallest change is the perennial popularity of inbred stories that wind up being about the nature of science fiction or the future or causality, where the main character may or may not hit the DELETE button ... these have been fun to write since about 1918.
I know there might not be much you can say about this, but do you have any updates on the Ridley Scott Forever War adaptation?
I haven't heard anything in years. That doesn't mean people aren't working on it. Movie producers have less than no interest in communicating with fiction writers who might incidentally have written a book related to their movie.
RELATED: Immortality Has a Steep Price in Joe Haldeman's Buying Time
Forever Free deals with themes like virtual reality, free will, and simulations. What do you think of the theory espoused by some physicists and philosophers that we’re all just living in a simulation?
I suppose if it were a perfect simulation, you wouldn't know you were part of it. What a great idea—somebody call the estate of Philip K. Dick! (Though other writers came up with the idea earlier, often to set up some hokey last paragraph. Having said that, I will now turn into a huge green paramecium with two fast typing cilia.)
Want more Joe Haldeman? Download these incredible titles below.
This post is sponsored by Open Road Media. Thank you for supporting our partners, who make it possible for The Portalist to continue publishing the sci-fi stories you love.
Featured photo from "Forever War: Forever Free" via Titan Comics
