Paperback. The realities of a futile campaign are portrayed in this novel of the Vietnam War. The action ranges from the White House to the jungle, from the American Embassy in Saigon to the front lines. Michael Peterson has also written "The Immortal Dragon". If you're looking for a Vietnam War novel, but you don't want to wade in too deep, this is perfect lightweight fare. Think of it as a cross between Tom Clancy and Graham Greene (see Orrin's review of The Quiet American)with the civil servant as superhero trying to navigate a moral cesspool. Bradley Lawrence Marshall is the blue blood, war hero, diplomat who is sent to Vietnam as the personal emissary of President Johnson, to find a way out. In country, he meets with real figures like General Westmoreland, who tries to convince him everything is copacetic. But he also meets folks like: his driver, Corporal Mead, a decent though violent American lad of ambiguous sexuality, who is sick of the war; Lacouture, a flamboyant, Guy Burgess-like, Frenchman who sells information to all sides and loves Mead; and the insidious CIA station chief, Wilson Abbot Lord, who lives to fight the Communists and, fearing that Marshall will end the war, plots to kill him. And it's all set against the backdrop of the Tet Offensive. The whole premise, of Johnson and a bureaucrat secretly planning an exit strategy, doesn't withstand much scrutiny and the stereotypes and cliches run rampant. But taken on its own terms, as a sort of politico-military potboiler with only mild pretensions of addressing issues in any serious way, it succeeds pretty well. It's certainly a more diverting read than many of the more critically acclaimed novels of the war. The realities of a futile campaign are portrayed in this novel of the Vietnam War. The action ranges from the White House to the jungle, from the American Embassy in Saigon to the front lines. Michael Peterson has also written "The Immortal Dragon." If you're looking for a Vietnam War novel, but you don't want to wade in too deep, this is perfect lightweight fare. Think of it as a cross between Tom Clancy and Graham Greene (see Orrin's review of The Quiet American)with the civil servant as superhero trying to navigate a moral cesspool. Bradley Lawrence Marshall is the blue blood, war hero, diplomat who is sent to Vietnam as the personal emissary of President Johnson, to find a way out. In country, he meets with real figures like General Westmoreland, who tries to convince him everything is copacetic. But he also meets folks like: his driver, Corporal Mead, a decent though violent American lad of ambiguous sexuality, who is sick of the war; Lacouture, a flamboyant, Guy Burgess-like, Frenchman who sells information to all sides and loves Mead; and the insidious CIA station chief, Wilson Abbot Lord, who lives to fight the Communists and, fearing that Marshall will end the war, plots to kill him. And it's all set against the backdrop of the Tet Offensive. The whole premise, of Johnson and a bureaucrat secretly planning an exit strategy, doesn't withstand much scrutiny and the stereotypes and cliches run rampant. But taken on its own terms, as a sort of politico-military potboiler with only mild pretensions of addressing issues in any serious way, it succeeds pretty well. It's certainly a more diverting read than many of the more critically acclaimed novels of the war. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780989901734

Contact seller

Report this item

Bibliographic Details

Title: A Time of War (Paperback)
Publisher: Pyramid Press, NV
Publication Date: 2014
Language: English
ISBN 10: 0989901734
ISBN 13: 9780989901734
Binding: Paperback
Illustrator: Bobby Campbell
Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

The realities of a futile campaign are portrayed in this novel of the Vietnam War. The action ranges from the White House to the jungle, from the American Embassy in Saigon to the front lines. Michael Peterson has also written "The Immortal Dragon". If you're looking for a Vietnam War novel, but you don't want to wade in too deep, this is perfect lightweight fare. Think of it as a cross between Tom Clancy and Graham Greene (see Orrin's review of The Quiet American)with the civil servant as superhero trying to navigate a moral cesspool. Bradley Lawrence Marshall is the blue blood, war hero, diplomat who is sent to Vietnam as the personal emissary of President Johnson, to find a way out. In country, he meets with real figures like General Westmoreland, who tries to convince him everything is copacetic. But he also meets folks like: his driver, Corporal Mead, a decent though violent American lad of ambiguous sexuality, who is sick of the war; Lacouture, a flamboyant, Guy Burgess-like, Frenchman who sells information to all sides and loves Mead; and the insidious CIA station chief, Wilson Abbot Lord, who lives to fight the Communists and, fearing that Marshall will end the war, plots to kill him. And it's all set against the backdrop of the Tet Offensive. The whole premise, of Johnson and a bureaucrat secretly planning an exit strategy, doesn't withstand much scrutiny and the stereotypes and clich�s run rampant. But taken on its own terms, as a sort of politico-military potboiler with only mild pretensions of addressing issues in any serious way, it succeeds pretty well. It's certainly a more diverting read than many of the more critically acclaimed novels of the war.

Review

I first became aware of author Michael Peterson via a documentary on Netflix. The subject matter of that film had nothing to do with his writing, but I was curious to see if this man I was watching could actually write. And write he can! Michael Peterson's novel A Time of War reminded me of James Jones's From Here to Eternity. A Time of War did for me what From Here to Eternity did" "gave me a clearer picture of wartime (Eternity, of course, is World War II, while Time of War is Vietnam,) plus both novels give us beautiful portraits of those who fought, died, and lived through these wars. Peterson, who fought in Vietnam, has unique insight into the war. His characters are rich-blooded people who may or may not have been thinly veiled actual people he encountered. Certainly, his story is peppered with real people among his fictional ones. There is General Westmoreland and there is President Johnson. I was a teen during the Vietnam War, and I didn't really know Johnson. I don't know if Peterson captured the real Lyndon Johnson, but his painting of the man shows us a President who was funny, a bit bumbling, certainly not refined, and very concerned about how he would be perceived by his constituency and by history because of this war. I can believe, because of Peterson, that this is exactly Lyndon B. Johnson. The other, fictional, characters are created with detail that makes us care about them, feeling so deeply that we shudder when they are in danger, worry for their safety, and rejoice when they survive. But make no mistake, this is war, and some do not survive. And there is Michael Peterson's skill as a writer. This almost 750 page novel moves along with fluidity and purpose. And Peterson throws in literary allusions from time to time that make us realize this writer is more than a hack who decided to throw together a book. And I have to say, his treatment of homosexuality, though never graphic, is quite satisfying indeed, for amid the expected characters who think it disgusting, there is an equal number, many of them prominent characters, who show understanding and acceptance. This, I'm sure, since the fight for equality has been with us probably since time began, was unusual for the 1960s, when the gay rights movement was just getting started. Yes, Peterson wrote this in 1990, but his portrayal of the gay "dilemma" seems accurate for the '60s and wartime. My only criticism with the book is that Peterson's character names are a bit heavy-handed: the man who thinks he is God is named Lord; the saintly woman who is trying desperately to save the children is named Theresa; the main character is named Marshall, for he is trying to bring law and order back to the world in his efforts to stop the war. But in a huge epic novel, perhaps we need such character names to remind us of who we should be cheering for and who we should be booing. I'm surprised some enterprising, insightful movie maker has never found this novel, for it could be a star-studded blockbuster, as celebrated as the film of From Here to Eternity. A Time of War is the quintessential Vietnam War novel, in my humble opinion. -- Russell J. Sanders "Amazon"

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

The Nile Group Pty Ltd
42 Apex Drive, Truganina, VIC, 3029, Australia

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

We guarantee the condition of every book as it's described on the Abebooks web sites. If you're dissatisfied with your purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund within 30 days of the estimated delivery date. If you've changed your mind about a book that you've ordered, please use the Ask bookseller a question link to contact us and we'll respond within 2 business days.

Right of cancellation

If you are a consumer you can cancel the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF CANCELLATION

Statutory Right to cancel

You have the right to cancel this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.

The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us, AussieBookSeller, 19 Whiting Street, 2064, Artarmon, NSW, Australia, 61 1800987323, of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the attached model cancellation form, but it is not obligatory. You can also electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". If you use this option, we will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a cancellation on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.

Effects of cancellation

If you cancel this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel with contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us or AussieBookSeller, 19 Whiting Street, 2064, Artarmon, NSW, Australia, 61 1800987323, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of cancellation

The right of cancellation does not apply to:

the delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
the supply of digital content (including ebooks) which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not cancel it once delivery had started.

Model withdrawal form

(complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract)

To: (AussieBookSeller, 19 Whiting Street, 2064, Artarmon, NSW, Australia, 61 1800987323)

I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following service (*),

Ordered on (*)/received on (*)

Name of consumer(s)

Address of consumer(s)

Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper)

Date

* Delete as appropriate.

Shipping Terms

Please note that titles are dispatched from our UK and NZ warehouse. Delivery times specified in shipping terms. Orders ship within 2 business days. Delivery to your door then takes 8-15 days.

Shipping rates from Australia to U.S.A.

Shipping rates from Australia to U.S.A.
Order quantity	25 to 45 business days	8 to 14 business days
First item	� 27.69	� 32.93

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.