A great war novel taps into the universal tragedy that runs deeper than any biased account of heroics on one side versus evil soldiers on the other. At the heart of war is a haunting ache that festers long after the acts of brutality necessary for survival cease. War taints the soul. It goes deeper than the “kill or be killed” rationale that many believe absolves participants of blame. It is not that simple.
Poisoned Jungle book launch (September 12)
Many thanks to those who attended the Edmonton book launch of Poisoned Jungle on September 12. Thirty-five arrived despite a cool and overcast day. The rain that fell lightly earlier in the morning lifted and allowed the event to proceed. Held outside due to Covid-19 considerations where social distancing could be followed, the crowd fit nicely into the yard of Kimberley and Henry Howard. A special thanks to them for hosting the event.
Reflections on a Poisoned Jungle
In my view, the war was unwinnable. The Vietnamese had been there before with foreign invaders. That’s what we were to many Vietnamese. To this day I hear talk of tactics among the revisionists. If only the war had been fought better strategically, we could have won. In reality, we made many of the same mistakes as the French. We failed to learn from their miscues or our own. The Vietnamese were steadfast and patient in their resistance.
Update: Poisoned Jungle ARC
Writers become attached to some of their characters more than others. A favorite in Poisoned Jungle was Yardly, third platoon’s Montagnard Tiger Scout. Through his depiction in the novel, I hoped to convey part of the complexity of the situation for the Montagnard people in Vietnam. Portrayed as a boy soldier of sixteen who had seen his first combat at fifteen, I witnessed Montagnard soldiers as young as thirteen after a battle near the Seven Mountains. After treating many wounded in a mass casualty situation, I began asking an interpreter the ages of the youngest soldiers.
On writing Poisoned Jungle
In writing Poisoned Jungle, I have attempted to express through the characters the incredible complexity of going to war. Conflicts don’t end with the last shots fired; they send tentacles in numerous directions to twist and fester and entangle themselves into lives beyond the combatants.