Worlds, Joe Haldeman
Worlds, Joe Haldeman
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Worlds

Author: Joe Haldeman

Series: Worlds Trilogy

Narrator: Victor Warren

Unabridged: 8 hr 21 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 08/26/2025


Synopsis

By the close of the twenty-first century, almost half a million souls have already abandoned Earth to live in satellites orbiting the strife-ridden planet. Each of these forty-one Worlds is an independent entity boasting its own government and culture, yet each remains bound to the troubled home World by economic pressure.

A brilliant student of political science born and raised in New New York, the largest of the orbiting Worlds, young Marianne O'Hara has never been to the surface but now has a golden opportunity to continue her studies far below her floating home of steel. Life on Earth, however, is very different from anything she has ever experienced.

With power in the hands of a privileged few and unrest running rampant, the allure of radical politics might be too much for an idealistic and inexperienced young World dweller to resist. But even the best of intentions can have disastrous consequences, and Marianne soon finds herself unwittingly drawn into a wide-ranging conspiracy that could result in the total destruction of everything on Earth . . . and above.

About Joe Haldeman

Joe Haldeman is an American author of award-winning science fiction and nonfiction works and a part-time professor at MIT. He earned a BS in physics and astronomy, as well as an MFA in writing. Drafted into the military, he served in Vietnam as a combat engineer in 1968 and 1969, was severely wounded, and earned a Purple Heart. His experience in war and in returning to civilian life are themes he uses in much of his writing. He is the author of numerous novels and several series, including the Forever War series. His science fiction has earned many awards, including five Hugo Awards, five Nebula Awards, a John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, a Locus Award, three Rhysling Awards, a World Fantasy Award, and a James Tiptree Jr. Award. Haldeman was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America in 2009, received the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement in 2010, and was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2012.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jamie on June 19, 2025

DNF at 33%. I dunno, this feels like a less well written and compelling Heinlein story. Too much sex and fluff, with no action, mystery or suspense to hold one's interest. He doesn't ram the politics down your throat as forcefully as Heinlein, but I still can't escape the feeling this is more of a s......more

Goodreads review by Craig on March 19, 2021

This is the very enjoyable first volume of Haldeman's Worlds trilogy. He planned and plotted the narrative to be a trilogy, unlike the way the Forever War books evolved from one another. The book appeared in 1981, and was a near-future thriller, so it can't be judged as a contemporary novel, but I t......more

Goodreads review by Jim on October 23, 2014

Haldeman looks into the future & sees many splinter cultures moving into artificial satellites around the Earth. Our civilization is further splintered by colonies on the moon & other celestial bodies. Earth isn't in great shape & we're given a tour by our heroine from one of the splinter colonies. L......more

Goodreads review by Joey on February 04, 2015

I'm sad to say my first NetGalley read was not a very good one. Joe Haldeman may be an award winning writer, but I get a feeling this was not his best work. There are a LOT of issues with this novel but let me see if I can sum them up. 1. The authorial voice jumps around. I think Haldeman was trying......more

Goodreads review by Olethros on January 01, 2014

-Un vistazo imaginativo a un posible futuro próximo.- Género. Ciencia-Ficción. Lo que nos cuenta. En el siglo XXI comenzó la expansión de la Humanidad fuera del planeta Tierra y se fueron estableciendo colonias, hasta 41, de todos los tamaños y fruto de diferentes iniciativas. En Nueva Nueva York, má......more