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Summary: In the bush
Review: I had watched many movies about the Vietnam War, but I'd never read a book about it. James Webb's "Fields of fire" was my first choice because of the high-rated reviews and praising I found everywhere I looked for information on this book. James Webb was in Vietnam, so he knows what he's writing about. His style is simple and direct; he didn't intend to create a poetic or philosophical book about the war. "Fields of fire" is a very graphic and accurate portrait of the real people who fought against the vietnamese. Characters are not stereotyped, but rather a display of the many kinds of men who were in SE Asia, and their different motivations or reasons to be there at the time. Interestingly, there are not that many battle scenes, but rather the plot of the book is a fabric of human behaviour during a war, with occasional fighting and changes thrown in the middle. This book is considered very good because the reader can sense that everything in the pages is real. Another thing comes to my mind now: the final chapter (and the ending) is one of the most sensitive, believable and, therefore, appropriated final moment of a book dealing with war that I've ever read. Congratulations to the author, who created a fine book about a gruesome subject. This is one more lesson about humanity in a society that seems to be flunking Citizenship 101. Grade 9.3/10
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Summary: PFC Goodrich finds Fields of Fire enlightening
Review: There is an element of truth in every good lie. While listening to a review of James Webb's newest book, Something to Die For, on NPR in May of 1991, it occurred to me that the James H. Webb, Jr. who recently had been SecNav was my Platoon Leader in Vietnam in early 1969 through 1 July 1969 when I was medivac'ed out of the field and into DaNang Naval Hospital for the second time in two months. While Jim had become a fairly successful lawyer/bureaucrat/writer, I returned to Purdue and finished my undergrad and MS degrees in Civil Engineering. Combat gives one a renewed sense of purpose and direction. I picked up a copy of Fields of Fire and noticed that the list of characters, any relationship of which to anyone living or dead being purely circumstantial, included a number of fairly identifiable idiosyncracies. When I located Jim Webb in Arlington, VA, I phoned him and we talked about common experiences and whatever happened to , but we didn't talk about any of his four books, as I had not yet read Fields of Fire (1978), A Sense of Honor (1981), A Country Such as This (1983), or the then-new (Feb. 1991) Something to Die For--a rather prescient fiction about Ethiopia and Eritrea (read "Iraq and Kuwait"). When I later read Fields of Fire, I identified with the character PFC Will Goodrich, as I had been in the Peace Corps before entering the Marine Corps, was booted out of the Peace Corps because my family was "too militarily-oriented", had thought I could get into the Marine Corps Band or the Drum and Bugle Corps (NOT!), and ended up a fairly inept warrier and was medivac'ed out with leg wounds. Having been unable to read books, see movies, or deal with other veterans for some time after my war was over, I appreciated the analysis contained in Fields of Fire. Interestingly, in my mind I created a myth that Jim Webb had simply maintained a journal of our exploits and spilled them out to produce a very readably, terrifying, and realistic tale. My little brother, coincidentally a plebe at USNA and a student of Instructor First Classman James Webb in 1968, sent me a copy of Robert Timberg's "The Nightingale's Song" this year. The segments about Jim Webb and his development as an author are stimulating and enlightening to one who invented the myth of "pouring out a prize-winning book". Because of my exposure to the events and some of the characters, and because of my personal admiration and respect for the author, I rate this book (and his 3 others) very high
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Summary: Must read for Marines and Vietnam buffs.
Review: Mr. Webb was among the first to tell of the war from the gritty, unglamorous viewpoint of the field Marine, the grunt. The book chronicles the operations of a rifle platoon operating in Vietnam at the height of the war, and the story circles around a young lieutenant who strives to survive and serve his rowdy band of drafted Marines while still completing the mission. Webb has an unusual writing style, but it works well within the story, especially the "street" style dialogue of the young combatants that depicts the manner in which Vietnam era Marines spoke. Unlike shelves of blase, feelgood snorers of military fiction out there, this book stands apart as one of the truly great war novels of all time. It is a must read for anyone who served or is currently serving.
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Summary: A Heartbreaking Classic
Review: I've read Gustav Hasford's "The Shorttimers," and Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried." Both are excellent books and I heartily recommend them, but neither I think can compare to James Webb's classic "Fields of Fire."Webb's book is from the James Jones school of realism. The book has the stinging ring of authenticity and no wonder, Webb was a Marine officer in Vietnam himself and won the Navy Cross, a Silver Star and two Bronze Stars so he definitely knows of what he writes. But this isn't just a book written by an officer about officers. His portraits of the enlisted men are just as real and are full blooded characters. Some are tough, mean and unlikeable, but hey, that's real life for you. And just like real life, you'll find yourself bonding and getting close to these characters and when some are killed, you are affected. Be warned: "Fields of Fire" isn't a happy story. The ending is tragic but given the setting of the story, it's entirely appropriate. Mr. Webb has done himself and the Marines who served in Vietnam a great honor. Semper Fi Mr. Webb.
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Summary: From the eyes of a newer generation
Review: I cannot praise this book high enough, but I can try. About a year ago, maybe more, someone in my apartment building threw out a bunch of books. As an avid reader, I went through them. Fields of Fire caiught my eye, and I read the blurb. Vietnam had always intrested me, as it was so fantastically differant from any other war. Also, I thought that it would help me to get to know my uncle, who was in Nam, and I did not know well. To be honest, I did not have high hopes, but started into it anyway. I couldnt put it down. Recently, I was digging through my library, and came upon it again, joyfully, and have been re-reading it once more. A fantastic, well-writen, realistic novel, it allows you to experience the life, sympathize with the grunts, and shake hands with the charectors, who are done so realistically, it's almost frightening. Realistic enough that it's a sad ending. As someone in a previous review said "Everyone ends up casualties." Ironic as well. The people you love die, and the ones you hate eventually turn into people you like. A terrifying glimpse into the past for a junior in high school. And yet, at the same time, a growing experience, which allows you to perhaps view things mroe realistically. A must read for studying the time period, or if you are just in the mood for a good novel. As my copy proclaims upon the cover "One of the great war novels of our generation." Very true. I commend James Webb, and eagerly search for his others books, though still hold this close to my heart.
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Summary: By far the most realistic Vietnam book ever.
Review: This book should be required reading in college history classes. It is an amazing look into what was a difficult time in American history and tells the story of several soldiers in Nam in such a way that the telling of this story will stay with you forever. The Vietnam war was a conflict this nation had never seen the like of before or since and this book is a must read for any one who harbours any illusions that the soldiers over there were doing wrong. They were our citizens, sons, brothers and fathers and the way this nation disregarded them makes me ashamed and glad I wasn't yet born to bear witness. Anyways, I recommend this book and give it five stars. I also give thanks to the troops who servered there and did their best in a fubar'ed situation and I grieve with them for their losses.
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Summary: A mind boggling epic
Review: i read this book for my high school modern fiction class. It was one of the best books i have ever read. you truly connect with the characters and you feel as if you are in the bush, fighting ] along with them in their struggle in vietnam. this book will show you not only the war, but all the aspects of what goes on in thuis war. the story will change you and make you feel somthing. its amazing how much this book will have an affect on you. some parts although may feel slow, the ending battle will truly make you feel what the war was about. i would recommend this to anyone with a sense of adventure and a intrest in war
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Summary: Best book on the Vietnam experience
Review: I'm happy to see this book reprinted. I went through a period of depression many years ago and occupied myself with reading books about the war in Vietnam (it suited my mood at the time). This was far and away the best of the bunch. I really felt I understood what the experience was like for those who were there. One knows from reading it that the author had to have been there himself, and indeed this is true. If you want to know about the war in Vietnam from the perspective of the soldiers fighting it, this is the book to get.
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Summary: No support for the troops.
Review: Novelization follows war accurately. Details you won't get from a non-participant. Theme is about how we sent them there and then forgot them. Find out what it means: War is Hell. I looked at all the Vietnam lists on Amazon. My favorite is *Saigon* by Anthony Grey.
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Summary: Truly Original
Review: I first came upon the name James Webb from The Nightingale Song by Robert Timberg. It was Webb's relentless courage told in Timberg's book that made me interested in reading Fields of Fire. And this book is amazing. The characters are unique and play important roles as an ensemble to complete the book. I got a realistic sense of how people would act when placed in a situation as the characters themselves and tended to question my own sense of how I would act. This book makes you think.
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