Customer Reviews

Lost Soldiers

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

WOW - what book did "Anchorage, AK" read? After finishing this book, I could not wait to way in with my thoughts.

I first became a James Webb fan with "Fields of Fire". I am not of his generation but I knew instantly that I was hooked on this writer as I finished that book and was left with a real sense of loss. His vivid details of the war and the culture of Viet Nam captured me and left me with a desire to learn more.

He has again captured me with "Lost Soldiers" as I felt like I have picked up 40 years later with the Viet Namese culture, with out missing a beat. My urge to learn was more than satisfied. I felt as though I was in Viet Nam with Brandon Condley. I felt the sadness and loneliness of the limited life of his cyclo driver, Dzung. The political manuverings of all the chess pieces (characters) was riveting and you know that all this was written with a great deal of accuracy. The plot is fresh and the insight into the history and culture of Viet Nam made Condley leap off the pages as he introduces you to unforgettable characters. How can you not feel for Condley and his sense of love for Viet Nam? I could vividly see Van, Colonel Pham's daughter. A beautiful women who can taste her freedom but is torn by her deep sense of love for her culture and heritage. A product of her past and Viet Nam's present. Colonel Pham is a well written character who's past combined with his current activities had me craving to know more of the inner workings of the government.

As a side note, the good humor of Condley's sidekick, Professor Muir, is classic Webb. This war hero sprinkles humor in all of his books (something I have always wanted to see more of) and does not dissappoint you here. Muir is a classic, a wonderful break from the tension that Webb creates in this powerful, beautifully written novel.

Highly recommend, has all the earmarks of a "National Best Seller" - Enjoy the read!

In 1966-67, I worked with the Marines at Fort Page, CAP Lima One, south of Chulai. It was a village of contradictions, of beer, peanuts, duck eggs and laughter during the day, and sudden firefights on the trails and among the hootches once the sun went down.

Author James Webb has captured the contradictory soul of that beautiful, tragic country, the conflict between an archaic communist system and the true character of the people, between a system which doesn't work and a people who never stop working.

His descriptions rival those of Conrad and, because they are fresher, are better than those of Graham Greene. In fact, he has written the book which explains Vietnam and the fascination it holds for those of us who fought there. He tells an adventure story which is a story of the soul.

James Webb has written a number of books of varied topics. Unlike some Vietnam veteran authors who seem stuck on Vietnam, Webb can certainly shift gears.

Former Marine Brandon Conley is the protagonist. In a word, Conley reflects what Webb is really like, at least in my humble opinion as one who has met him. I merely mention this as I think this is an important point to consider. Webb is fluent in Vietnamese, just like the character (alter-ego) Conley, he is steeped in the culture of the Vietnamese, and he does indeed offer prayers for deceased former enemies as in the book. In short, he is a complex character.

The understanding of Vietnamese culture is what comes out in the book. Yes the plot takes a back seat, but must we be so picky? Many of the incidents in the book actually took place during Webb's numerous visits to Vietnam. For instance, the North Vietnam driver really did turn to him when the officer left and speak pidgeon English to him, praising America. Webb thought it so great that he wrote that incident into the book. And Webb truly seems struck, as in the book when he offers a proper prayer in front of the family for their deceased family members. Webb describes in meticulous detail how the photos are arranged. The different generations, as exhibited by Colonel Pham and his daughter Van, who wants freedom and modernity, is what is truly happening in Vietnam

Also of interest are the descriptions of the former ARVN soldiers and the social discrimination directed against them. As a form of punishment, no former ARVN soldier is allowed to rise above menial labor. They are all placed in a ghetto in Saigon (or Ho Chi Minh City) so they can be watched. Webb shows their plight through an incident that exposes their inability to afford proper health care as well as a proper burial. They are constantly humiliated and reminded that they and their progeny will never rise any further.

Webb also wove his book around the myth of Salt and Pepper. These two, one white and one black, supposedly went to the other side during the war. Their sightings were, to me, like sightings of Elvis and Sasquatsch. I really don't know if they existed, but I certainly heard about them while I was in Vietnam. Most soldiers telling me this actually believed all the stories circulating.

What Webb did was put the Salt and Pepper story into the context of the deserters who simply went to live in Saigon, making a living supposedly selling drugs. This was no lie, as there were estimated to be about 500 such souls at the end of the war. Since they took their weapons with them, the MP's became involved in firefights when they got too close. What became of them is anybody's guess (a great fictional plot device, like in the book).

Going back to Vietnam is a very tricky subject and can evoke a strong reaction from many Vietnam veterans. We all know of the beauty of Vietnam, but Webb know first-hand the ugly side of Vietnam and describes it well. I did not think this book warrented 5 stars, but would have given it 4 and a half if I could.

This is a great book on many levels. Just a terrific story. I learned a lot about Vietnamese culture and what has become--sadly-- of the South Vietnamese since the war. Mr. Webb is particularly good at evoking sights and smells and describing personalities. In short, a real storyteller. What I didn't like was Brandon Condley's affair with Van, the daughter of the Colonel. To me she wasn't brave and striving for independence but silly, shallow and their sort of sleazy affair was an intrusion in an otherwise excellent read. But still, a very worthwhile book that I highly recommend. As other reviewers have commented it is far and away superior to Clancy, Griffith or any other writer of this genre.

This is a very fine book - a 5 star book by a first class author. The story, centered around the search for remains of Americans left in Vietnam, is intriguing and the characters are engaging. The plot is well developed, even if it does come out of the blocks a little slowly.

Having said all that, let me water my praise down a little with the following: I am a huge James Webb fan. He's one of my favorite authors and I've greatly enjoyed all of his books. I looked forward to getting this book, particularly after his last book, The Emperor's General, which I thought was spectacular. As good as it is, I have to rate Lost Soldiers as the least of Webb's books; not nearly in the class of A Sense of Honor, Fields of Fire or The Emperor's General, and not quite as good as A Country Such As This or Something to Die For. Maybe it's the story, which just didn't flow as well as the others and which had a few over the top features that didn't seem needed. Or maybe the characters weren't quite as interesting as those in prior works, but whatever it was, I feel there's a good chance you'll be a little disappointed if you expect this book to be as good as the author's earlier work.

In spite of the prior points, I write this to praise the book, not bury it. I heartily recommend that you read it. If James Webb never again writes anything better than this, I'll still gladly read it all.

During the mid-term elections, Republican George Allen's campaign attacked Jim Webb for being "insensitive to women" and cited "Lost Soldiers" as evidence. I ordered the title the same day from Amazon. I read it cover-to-cover because it was a first rate page-turner. By 21st century standards, the sex was tame. The protagonist's code for female relations was traditional, if not old-fashioned. Perhaps the Allen wonks have not read enough books to know the difference between standard attitudes toward us women and those over-the-top. Jim Webb defeated George Allen by a comfortable margin for Virginia's junior seat in the U.S. Senate. Allen and his friends ought to use their newly found leisure to do some reading.

What a delightful book! Webb has given us a look at a Vietnam that we can only experience through a book like this. It is a work of fiction, of course, but it reads like non-fiction. The descriptions of Saigon, Bangkok, Moscow and Honolulu are as sharp and realistic as in any well-written travel guide.

The characters are well-drawn and robust, and in Dzung and Professor Muir the author has created top-notch supporting players for Brandon Condley, the ex-Marine lieutenant who is the main character.

The plot works well given the setting and the characters. and the book holds the reader's interest right through the last page. Some of the outcomes are a little stretched, but none farfetched.

This is a book about (and by) a man who loves Vietnam and the Vietnamese people. It is also a most pleasant reading experience.

James Webb has the notoriety of writing one of the best books about combat - certainly the best of the Vietnam War genre - in "Fields of Fire". Now, in "Lost Soldiers", he returns the reader to that land nearly 30 years later.

Mr. Webb features the protagonist Brandon Condley, a world-weary man still wrestling with the demons of combat but a love for the country of Vietnam, as he tries to unravel the mystery behind an MIA's remains holding the dogtags of another soldier. Condley's investigations branch out in several different subplots and assorted side stories, providing an expansive, multi-layered tale that quickly ties back together in a fast-paced conclusion. The plot itself is rather ordinary as action-mystery tales go, though it does have some interesting twists and turns that only Mr. Webb can provide through the focus of the plot and the setting of the book.

However, the plot really takes a backseat to the vivid descriptions of modern-day, post-war Vietnam. While this is indeed a criticism of the overall work, this focus on the setting is surprisingly interesting and appealing. Not much is written in any medium about the Vietnam of today, so getting a "look" through a piece of fiction is quite welcome. Mr. Webb certainly knows of what he speaks, so there is no better to describe the utter poverty, the scars - psychological and otherwise - of war that won't heal, the growing infusion of capitalism, and the ominous grip of communism. It is a fascinating, yet somehow troubling, mix that is all found on the streets of Saigon.

All in all, "Lost Soldiers" is an enjoyable read among the fiction released over the past year. Again, more could have been done with the plot, but being placed as a sidenote to the descriptions of modern-day Vietnam does not hurt the overall work as much as it would seem at the outset. That being said, I must give it four stars out of five.

Also, a word of caution to those who are trying to compare this to the outstanding "Fields of Fire". Don't compare the two, because in trying to do so, one only comes away more disappointed by this book. "Fields of Fire" and "Lost Soldiers" are two very distinct, separate works that draw on two completely different eras. While "Lost Soldiers" is not of the same caliber as "Fields of Fire", Mr. Webb has bridged these eras very well, and has composed a good read. But the two works should stand independently of one another.

I had not read anything by James Webb before, and admit to being a little put off by the backgrounds of the cover-blurb writers. They may be war heroes, but do they know about writing? The setting of the novel intrigued me, and I'm glad I did not let the military presentation of Webb put me off "Lost Soldiers" before giving it a try. The publisher might consider text praising Webb in literary as well as military terms, because he is a good writer and this is a good book.
Former Marine Brandon Conley searches for missing soldiers, dead or alive, in Vietnam. The passage of time would lead him, and us, to believe that most of the lost soldiers will be dead, but a surprise is in store. Conley is lead to believe that one of these missing Americans is alive and thriving in Southeast Asia's underground economy. The soldier deserted in 1969 and killed a fellow soldier before joining the Viet Cong, so Conley would really like to catch him.
Most of the action takes place in Vietnam, and it is obvious that Webb loves that country and its people. The Vietnamese characters are full of spirit, especially Conley's friend and pedicab driver Dzung and the mysterious Colonel Pham. The fact that Conley speaks Vietnamese gives us insight into the lives of the people of post-war Vietnam that is touching and thought-provoking.
The Vietnamese characters are by far the most interesting. Except for his linguistic skills and kindness toward this Vietnamese friends, Conley is a fairly typical ex-Marine kind of buff, romantically wounded, Levi-wearing hero-but then he'd probably have to be to do what "Lost Soldiers" asks of him. He has a buffoonish anthropologist sidekick who wears Hawaiian shirts, too. They're both fine, but I wish that a little of the nuance tenderly used on Dzung and Colonel Pham had been left over for them.

I loved Lost Soldiers. I haven't read James Webb since Fields of Fire and found that he hasn't lost his magic touch.

I'm a Vietnam vet with service as a military policeman in Saigon from 1969 through 1970. I found Webb's description of the city, its people and their customs to be right on the mark. It even made me want to go back, but I'm sure if I just sit for a while the feeling will pass.

Good story and fantastic descriptions of a country and a city that still has a salient place in this veteran's mind.

Loren W. Christensen, author of Warriors and co-author of On Combat with Lt. Col. Dave Grossman