“I think any writer keeps going back to
some basic theme. Sometimes it's autobiographical. I guess it usually is.” –
Joe Haldeman
Many
of Haldeman's works, including his debut novel War Year and his second
novel The Forever War, were inspired by his experience serving in the
Vietnam War – where he was wounded in
combat – and by his adjustment to civilian life after returning home. But while he used his war experience to start
as a writer, it’s been his skill fashioning works of science fiction that have
highlighted his career and a place in the Science Fiction Writers Hall of Fame.
Winner
of numerous Hugo Awards (a top award in science fiction) for novels, short
stories and novellas, this Oklahoma native also had a most interesting idea –
weaving together a story of an attempt to produce a fake Ernest Hemingway
manuscript with themes concerning time travel and parallel worlds. That one won both a Hugo and a Nebula.
The
author of 20 novels and many collections of stories and essays, in a recent interview he
called himself “Jack of all trades and master of none.” Regardless, he’s earned
many, many admirers
and been a leader in the Sci-Fi world, including being selected by the Science
Fiction Writers of America officers and past presidents for its coveted “Grand
Master” designation.
Born
on this date in 1943, Haldeman is an “old-fashioned” writer in the truest
sense, writing all of his works by hand.
“There's something special about writing by hand, writing with a
fountain pen, and something special about writing into a book, to take a blank
book and turn it into an actual book,” he said.
“I like the physical action of writing down by hand.”
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