Forever Peace, Joe Haldeman, Ace Books, 1997
This science fiction novel takes place in the middle of the next century. The Ngumi War has raged for the previous eight years, with Atlanta and San Diego having been destroyed by tactical nuclear weapons. Think of it as the First World against the Third World. The war is fought by soldierboys, indestructible war machines whose human controllers are actually hundreds of miles away. Julian Class is one of them, and he begins to think, because of what he has seen and done during the war, that killing himself is not such a bad idea.
He and his lover, Amelia Harding, have discovered a scientific process that could recreate the Big Bang and destroy everything. But there is a group of religious fanatics in high government positions who want the project to go ahead, thinking that God wants it to happen.
Also revealed is a process where being jacked into a soldierboy for just a few days longer than usual totally, and permanently, removes a person's violent, warlike tendencies.
This is a great novel. It has emotion, it has good characters, it has alternatives to war, and it has lots of blood. It is also highly recommended.
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