A Time of War

by Michael Peterson

Book Overview

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671683039
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 580 Pages
• Weight: 1.87 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Timely take on the futility of American military intervention

While this novel is not on the level of timeless literature, it is a compelling read filled with interesting characters, a serpentine plot, and lots of sex and violence, underpinned by a sharply critical perspective on the Vietnam misadventure. As you read it, you cannot help thinking of "Iraq." Example: "This is an enemy we cannot defeat and an ally we cannot prop." Adding to the tragic nature of this novel is the fact that its author, a Vietnam veteran, was convicted in 2003 of the murder of his wife and now serves a life sentence for the crime. A riveting documentary on the case "The Staircase" is available on dvd and is highly recommended.

Best of the Best

Undoubtably the best I have read. Although stated fiction I feel it was a lot of his personal experiences. A sad time for America, all that lived through it will always remember it. History changes as time progresses but the honor pride and men of honor that stood and fought this war can never be forgotten. They did what was expected for their country and all that stood next to them in their fearless ways. God bless them all and through novels like this we can remember them in our minds and hearts.

Wish it didn't have to end!

QUICK! Somebody grab Oliver Stone!! This book is the literary equivalent to Stone's Platoon, and on many levels superior! The characters are vivid. The scenery makes you feel like you're actually there, and the situations aren't so far fetched to make you doubt their plausibility. Peterson's biggest asset is his characterization. When a character is killed, you actually feel sorry for him. When two main characters are married, you feel tears of joy running down your face. The visualness makes you feel the action is unraveling on a big screen in front of you! Mr. Stone (or anybody in Hollywood, for that matter) had better hurry. I can see the film adaptation of this book becoming just as big a blockbuster as the book was a best seller!

Wouk meets Uris meets DeMille in Vietnam.

A powerful, moving (and fast-moving) drama of the Vietnam War with well-drawn and motivated characters,a compelling historical context, and the pace of a thriller. Much more like War & Remembrance (Wouk) or Armageddon (Uris) than like the typical Vietnam War novel. I highly recommend it.

WOW! WHAT A BOOK!

By far, the best Vietnam fiction I've ever read! Oliver Stone's gotta make a film based on this book