Feast of Bones [Mass Market Paperback]

Daniel P. Bolger (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bolger, an officer in the U.S. Army and author of two studies of contemporary military affairs, makes an outstanding fiction debut with this military procedural. Captain Dimitri Donskov of the desantniks , the Soviet Army's elite air-assault forces, moves from a domestic training ground to Grenada to Afghanistan, learning the craft of war as practi c ed in modern Russia and discovering the limitations of Soviet methods against the mujahidin. Dogmatism, careerism and materialism presage defeat in Afghanistan as Donskov's superiors recruit him and his men for a desperate mission: ensuring Gorbachev's succession as premier and party chairman. Compelling descriptions of combat are juxtaposed with scenes illustrating the internal dynamics of Soviet leadership. Yet Bolger never abandons storytelling in order to explain or instruct. By novel's end, readers will know and respect the blue berets of the 688th Reconnaissance Company as fighting men to test the temper of any enemy. Convincing on all fronts, Bolger's effort triumphs as a war novel. 50,000 first printing; $100,000 ad/promo.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This is a war story with a different twist: It is set completely within the world of the Soviet soldier. Dimitriy Donskov is a natural soldier, independent and alert, courageous in battle and loyal to his comrades; the older and more seasoned officers select him for special missions, where he is blooded in vicious campaigns. Finally he faces the ultimate challenge--a mission which may change the destiny of his nation. Donskov is a desantnik , a Soviet paratrooper fighting in Afghanistan, in the very combat headlined in the news. Bolger, an active duty U.S. Army officer specializing in military history, writes with assurance and a sure command of military life. A glossary is included. On its own very limited terms the book succeeds, but only military buffs will care to read such a singleminded story. Buy for your war-gamers.
- Elsa Pendleton, M.L.S., Computer Sciences Corp., Ridgecrest, Cal.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (July 30, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080410834X
• ISBN-13: 978-0804108348
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #165,217 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Feast of Bones is a worthy wartime read, October 18, 1999

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Feast of Bones (Mass Market Paperback)

Having stumbled across Daniel Bolger's Feast of Bones in a used bookstore, I had no idea of the quality of the narrative, character development, and objectivity of the point of view. Since it takes place in Russia and Afganistan, and it takes the Russian paratrooper sight-line, the reader might find it difficult at first, if one is hardliner anti-Soviet. Feast of Bones reminds me of other novels written by 'natives,' like Das Boot. Bolger gets inside the Russian military mind with his lead character Desantnik D. I. Donslov's singleminded commitment to fighting a war intuitively, instinctively, and historically. I was so impressed by Bolger's ability to create fiction from fact that I turned to Amazon.com to find anything else he's done, besides his military textbooks, only to find that Feast of Bones is out of print. For a 1990 title, it's too bad, and warrior readers' loss. Knowing this, I'll keep my copy... wishing that Bolger would write another novel one of these days.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Does a Superb Job of Capturing the Universal Ethos of the Professional Soldier, March 29, 1999

By 

Christopher M. Coglianese (Fort Hood, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Feast of Bones (Hardcover)

I have read every one of Lieutenant General Dan Bolger's books. This one is among his very best in my opinion. His writing is crisp, his knowledge of soldiers and soldiering is unmatched, and the story is compelling without some of the folksy writing that occasionally works its way into his non-fiction works. His background, both military and academic, guarantee the authenticity of the details that make this compelling reading. Like RED ARMY, by Ralph Peters, FEAST OF BONES is an easily readable insight into the force that routinely gave American military leaders sleepless nights from 1945 to 1991. I had the privilege of serving with Lieutenant General Bolger, in peace and war, in the 101st Airborne and 1st Cavalry Divisions and he convinced me to major in military history at West Point many, many years ago in just 3 minutes. If you can get your hands on this book, read it. Infantry Officers will find Cadet Donskov's training particularly compelling and may bring back a few flashbacks from Darby Phase. A superb precursor to viewing the movie 9TH COMPANY. [Updated review in 2010 from initial review in 1999].