View source for Forever Peace

{{Short description|1997 novel by Joe Haldeman}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox book | 
| name          = Forever Peace
| title_orig    = 
| translator    = 
| image         = ForeverPeace(1stEd).jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Cover of first edition (hardcover)
| author        = [[Joe Haldeman]]
| illustrator   = 
| cover_artist  = [[Bruce Jensen]]
| country       = United States
| language      = English
| series        = [[The Forever War series]]
| genre         = Science fiction novel
| publisher     = [[Ace Books]]
| release_date  = 1997
| english_release_date =
| media_type    = Print (hardback & paperback)
| pages         = 326
| isbn          = 0-441-00406-7
| dewey= 813/.54 21
| congress= PS3558.A353 F6 1997
| oclc= 36133306
| preceded_by   = [[The Forever War]]'' (1974)''
| followed_by   = [[Forever Free (novel)|Forever Free]]'' (1999)''
}}

'''''Forever Peace''''' is a 1997 science fiction novel by [[Joe Haldeman]]. It won the [[Nebula Award]], [[Hugo Award]] and [[John W. Campbell Memorial Award]] in 1998.<ref name="WWE-1998">{{cite web |author= icow.com, LLC |url=http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp? |year=1998 |title=1998 Award Winners & Nominees |work=Worlds Without End |access-date= 5 August 2009}}</ref>

==Plot==
Though its title is similar to ''[[The Forever War]]'', and both novels deal with soldiers in the future, ''Forever Peace'' is not a direct sequel and takes place on a different future of Earth in 2048.

Using remotely controlled, nearly invincible robots called "soldierboys", the [[first world|Alliance]] military fights [[third world|third-world]] guerrillas in an endless series of economy-driven wars. As only first-world nations possess the [[molecular nanotechnology|nanoforge technology]] that can produce anything from basic materials, conflict is largely [[Asymmetric warfare|asymmetric]].

The novel is told partly in first-person narration by the main character, Julian Class, and partly by an anonymous third-person narrator, who comments on aspects of Julian's personality and background.

The main protagonist, Julian Class, is a physicist and a mechanic who operates a soldierboy. Thanks to electronic "jacks" implanted in their skulls, mechanics are [[Brain–computer interface|remotely linked]] to the machinery as well as to each other, being able to experience battle through the machines and read the thoughts of other mechanics who are simultaneously jacked in.

After attempting suicide, Julian and his lover, Amelia "Blaze" Harding, are made aware of a problem with an automated particle physics project that could trigger a new [[Big Bang]] that would destroy the universe. The pair speculate that a given universe exists only until its [[first civilization]] attempts such a project. When Julian, Blaze, and another physicist submit their paper to a journal's review board, they find themselves the target of "The Hammer of God", a Christian cult bent on hastening an anticipated end of the universe. As the Hammer of God has a secret presence throughout the government, Julian and Blaze narrowly miss being assassinated.

Marty Larrin, one of the inventors of jacking technology, recruits Julian and Blaze in an attempt to use the technology to end war; a little-known secret is that jacking with someone else for about two weeks will psychologically eliminate the ability to kill another human being. By "humanizing" the entire world, dangerous technology would not be a problem for human survival. They do so, stop the particle accelerator's construction, and the war is eventually ended.

==Reception==
* Hugo Award winner, 1998<ref name="WWE-1998"/><ref>{{cite web |author=World Science Fiction Society |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1998-hugo-awards/ |year=1998 |title=1998 Hugo Awards |publisher=The Hugo Awards |work=thehugoawards.org/ |access-date=22 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507164742/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1998-hugo-awards/ |archive-date=7 May 2011 }}</ref>
* Nebula Award winner, 1998<ref name="WWE-1998"/><ref>{{cite web
 |author=SFWA 
 |url=http://www.nebulaawards.com/index.php/awards/nebulas/P10/ 
 |year=2010 
 |title=Previous Winners 
 |work=The Nebula Awards 
 |access-date=22 October 2010 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051217043400/http://nebulaawards.com/awards/archive/pastwin.htm 
 |archive-date=December 17, 2005 
 |url-status=dead 
}}</ref>
* John W. Campbell Memorial Award winner, 1998<ref name="WWE-1998"/><ref>{{cite web |author=McCitterick, Chris |url=http://www2.ku.edu/~sfcenter/campbell.htm |year=2010 |title=The John W. Campbell Memorial Award |publisher=Center for the Study of Science Fiction |work=www2.ku.edu/ |access-date=22 October 2010 |archive-date=11 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511204419/https://www2.ku.edu/~sfcenter/campbell.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Locus Award nominee, 1998<ref name="WWE-1998"/><ref>{{cite web |author=Kelly, Mark R. |url=http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Locus1998.html |year=2010 |title=Locus Awards |work=The Locus Index to SF Awards |access-date=22 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008045043/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Locus1998.html |archive-date=8 October 2010 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.worldswithoutend.com/novel.asp?ID=45 Forever Peace] at Worlds Without End

{{Foreverwarseries}}
{{Hugo Award Best Novel 1991–2000}}
{{Nebula Award Best Novel}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1997 American novels]]
[[Category:1997 science fiction novels]]
[[Category:American science fiction novels]]
[[Category:Fiction about brain–computer interface]]
[[Category:Hugo Award for Best Novel–winning works]]
[[Category:John W. Campbell Award for Best Science Fiction Novel–winning works]]
[[Category:Military science fiction novels]]
[[Category:Nebula Award for Best Novel–winning works]]
[[Category:Novels by Joe Haldeman]]
[[Category:Ace Books books]]