Genre
Military science fiction
Setting and Context
The novel is set on Earth, the planet Charon, and in space from 1997 into the 22nd century.
Narrator and Point of View
First-person narration from the point of view of William Mandella
Tone and Mood
Bleak, Daunting, Suspenseful
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: William Mandella; Antagonist: Taurans
Major Conflict
William Mandella has participated in the interstellar conflict between humans and Taurans for centuries in Earth time. Due to time dilation, he has only aged a few years which comes as a disadvantage since the Earth civilization has changed drastically. Mandella is also out of touch on the battlefield since he is among the few combatants from the old generations still in the war.
Climax
The climax perhaps occurs when the new clones of humans manage to communicate with Taurans and learn that the entire warfare was a complete misunderstanding.
Foreshadowing
“Not enough, because it was becoming clear that Hilleboe and I had rather disparate philosophies about how to run a company. It was true that running it was her job; I only commanded. But she was setting up a potential "good guy-bad guy" situation”
This foreshadows the lack of respect that Mandella receives from Hilleboe which is later exhibited by the rest of the company.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
The novel alludes to the Vietnam War in respect to the futile and longwinded nature of the war in the narrative. Time dilation that renders the veterans incapable to integrate back into society alludes to the realities of the Vietnam War veterans.
Imagery
“His face was very dark and seamed with wrinkles and scars. Half his left ear was missing, and his eyes were as expressive as buttons on a machine. He had a moustache-and-beard combination that looked like a skinny white caterpillar taking a lap around his mouth.”
Paradox
The paradoxical situation created in the narrative occurs due to relativistic time dilation. Fighting the interplanetary war leads the soldier to age slowly compared to Earth time. Therefore though they want to be discharged they cannot assimilate seamlessly into the new human civilization. Consequently, the veterans reenlist in the war even though they have run their course and want to retire.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
“Smoke 'em if you got 'em.”
Personification
“When the door hissed shut…”
