The protagonist in Camouflage is the changeling, a being that has wandered Earth for centuries (millennia?), masquerading as various sea creatures, and finally comes ashore as a human in the early 20th century, where it struggles to learn about human nature and fit in. Also on the scene is the chameleon, a different type of creature that can instantly mimic any human male, and has done so since the dawn of human history, taking joy in the carnage of war and generally acting like a psychopathic predator. Camouflage follows their paths as they converge on an unusual (extraterrestrial?) artifact and ultimately have the inevitable confrontation.

Haldeman won the Nebula for Camouflage, and I enjoyed it a lot more than The Accidental Time Machine. Haldeman seems to have a bit of a problem with endings if these two novels are any indication. Both cut off rather abrubtly—this one with a fairly unbelievable love story (really!). Still, I had a lot of fun reading it, and I'll probably check out The Forever War, which I hear is regarded as Haldeman's best, soon.