Storyline: 4/5 
 Characters: 4/5 
 Writing Style: 3/5 
 World: 5/5 
 --Below information added approximately one year after original reading-- 
 This was my first serious relativity novel. Perhaps I wouldn't have liked it and revered it as much had I been more widely read. 
 I also think well of it, and think it deserves its positive reputation, for the juxtaposition of the individual soldier with the military system. There is something wildly comedic, tragically depressing, and unnervingly insightful about William Mandela and his lack of real agency. He gets pulled, pushed, coerced, and found along the military's agenda. Lurking throughout the pages is the comparison of Mandela with true heroes and ideal soldiers. Mandela knows he's not either, and as time goes on you have to wonder how much that really matters. 
 There was a lot going on in this novel, most of the rest of it lacking subtlety. Still, I liked that Haldeman was making an argument, generally agreed with the arguments, and thought the setting an entertaining and creative way to present the more serious topics.