The Fire Dream [Mass Market Paperback]

Franklin allen Leib (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 28, 2003

An epic military novel of soldier's combat in Vietnam This is a sweeping, gut-wrenching portrait of soldiers at war from a man who fought, and saw friends die, in Vietnam. It is a saga of men from all walks of life, thrown together by the arbitrary nature of unrelenting combat of Vietnam, each man in the team is put to the ultimate test-combat. How they respond dictates who will live and who will die in the tracherous jungles and waterways of Vietnam.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Franklin Allen Leib is the author of six fiction novels. His first novel,FIRE ARROW, was published in August 1988.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: I Books (January 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743445562
• ISBN-13: 978-0743445566
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,301,825 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Novel on the Vietnam War, December 31, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Taylor, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fire Dream (Mass Market Paperback)

I read this book when it was published in 1989, and was so moved by it I am compelled to write a review 8 years later. An outstanding story about duty and honor that will be a real treat to anyone who was part of the war or is interested in military fiction. Navy Lt. Stuart, on assignment with the Army as a land-based "spotter" for Naval gunfire, is a rich character through whose eyes one sees the drama, intrigue, and emotional anguish experienced by those who served with honor and dinstinction in this unpopular conflict. This is remarkable and serious book -- not simply an "action" novel -- a book that will fill the reader with many of the same emotions as experienced by Lt. Stewert. Although the novel apparently was not commercially successful, Mr. Leib has done a great service to those who served by writing this book. I have not been as moved by anything I have read in the past decade, and regard my mint condition, hard-cover copy as a prize possession.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A noble effort at "The Epic Novel of Vietnam", December 4, 2007

By 

Jeff Kelleher (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fire Dream (Mass Market Paperback)

Like the protagonist, I was a Naval line officer who served first on a ship off the Vietnam coast, then attended Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape training, and then served an extended tour in-country, all at almost the same time as Lieb's LT Stuart. I was completely absorbed in this book, and it brought back a hundred memories.

I thought I was part of a very narrow audience who would appreciate it. I see that all 15 prior reviewers gave it the full five stars. I salute those who got so much satisfaction out of it, and I have no quarrel with their high rating.

The reason I give it only four stars is that I don't think the literary quality quite lives up that of classics like "Fields of Fire", "The Things They Carried" and "Dispatches". The plotting is a little too formulaic and the writing is all on the nose.

But for anyone on the fence, do by all means read it. Entirely worthwhile.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Without question, an outstanding book., September 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fire Dream (Audio Cassette)

This book focuses on the bonds between men during times of stress and peril. It helps the reader understand and appreciate the changes war creates in men and the deep relationships developed under those conditions. It is truly one of the finest and most moving books I have read.