10 fiction and nonfiction books inspired by the Vietnam War

Vietnam has been dubbed the first "televised" war. However, it has also motivated successive waves of authors who delved into its roots, its atrocities, its consequences, and the fundamental errors and misjudgments that led the globe’s leading nation, the US, into an extended, ghastly, and seemingly endless struggle.

FICTION

"The Silent American," Graham Greene (1955)

Graham Greene’s British novel carries the weight of tragic foresight. The protagonist, Alden Pyle—a well-meaning but misguided CIA operative—dreams up an idealistic vision for Vietnam: a "Third Force" that would stand apart from both communism and colonialism, though this concept existed primarily within literature. His aspirations culminate in futile devastation. When the book first came out, America’s military engagement in Vietnam had barely started; however, it foreshadowed the extensive and fatal misunderstanding with which the U.S. struggled throughout their supposed efforts to aid the nation.

"The Things They Carried," Tim O'Brien (1990)

The Vietnam War marked the final prolonged engagement during which the U.S. maintained conscription, as well as the last one to generate substantial firsthand fictional works—none more acclaimed or widely read than Tim O’Brien’s 1990 compilation of linked narratives. Having served with an infantry division between 1969 and 1970, O’Brien crafted "The Things They Carried," a bestseller comprising various accounts such as those of soldiers wearing their girlfriends' pantyhose around their necks amid combat scenarios, alongside personal reflections like the author grappling with imagining the existence of a deceased Vietnamese fighter. This seminal work has solidified itself as essential literature regarding the war and fueled an exhibition at the National Veterans Art Museum located in Chicago.

“Matterhorn,” Karl Marlantes (2009)

Karl Marlantes, who holds a degree from the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship program and has served as a distinguished Marine commander, drew upon his personal experiences for his over-600-page novel. The book follows a fresh college graduate and his comrades in Bravo Company as they endeavor to reclaim an outpost close to the Laotian border. Similar to "The Quiet American," this narrative delves into themes of disenchantment, capturing how even formal education and social advantages cannot protect one from combat threats. As the protagonist reflects, "No plan is flawless; every decision comes with its own set of drawbacks."

"The Sympathizer," by Viet Thanh Nguyen (2015)

When he was only 4 years old, Viet Thanh Nguyen’s family escaped from Vietnam in 1975, ultimately making their home in San Jose, California. His debut work, "The Sympathizer," which won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize in 2016, stands out prominently within Vietnamese American literature. This novel is presented through the character's own admissions: an erstwhile spy for North Vietnam turned Hollywood adviser, before returning to fight with South Vietnam. “I am a spy, a covert operative, a phantom, someone with dual identities,” says the protagonist. “It should come as little surprise then that my thoughts too are divided.”

"The Mountains Sing," by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai (2020)

Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai was born in North Vietnam in 1973, just two years prior to the withdrawal of U.S. forces. She grew up listening to tales about her homeland’s tumultuous and valiant history. In her book, she switches perspectives between a grandmother who came into this world in 1920 and a granddaughter born four decades after. Through these characters, she guides us through significant parts of 20th-century Vietnamese experiences—from French colonization and Japanese occupation all the way to the emergence of communism and the escalating and harsh American military conflict against it. The author dedicated her work to several forebears, among them an uncle for whom "the youth were swallowed by the Vietnam War."

NONFICTION

"The Best and the Brightest," by David Halberstam (1972)

When he was a novice journalist in Vietnam, David Halberstam was one of the initial reporters to openly discuss the military’s setbacks and governmental misinformation. His bestselling work captured public attention with its catchy phrase, serving as an account of how some of the brightest thinkers from the post-World War II era—the key advisors within the Kennedy and Johnson administrations—could dramatically misjudge both the strategy and implementation of warfare along with their profound misunderstanding of the nation they were engaged in conflict with.

"Fire in the Lake," written by Frances FitzGerald in 1972,

Frances FitzGerald’s acclaimed book, released in the same year, joins "The Best and the Brightest" as one of the initial works that insightfully address the war’s aftermath. Having covered South Vietnam for publications like the Village Voice and The New Yorker, FitzGerald relied on her direct experiences and extensive investigations to argue that the U.S.’s lack of understanding regarding Vietnamese history and culture led to their critical misjudgment.

“Dispatches,” Michael Herr (1977)

Michael Herr, who later contributed to writing "Apocalypse Now," served as a Vietnam correspondent for Esquire magazine. He infused his critically acclaimed and impactful work with a casual yet intense rock 'n' roll vibe. In one dispatch, he recounted a story about a soldier who consumed medication indiscriminately: taking handfuls of stimulants from one pocket and sedatives from another. The soldier explained to Herr that these drugs balanced everything perfectly for him, enabling him to perceive the dense forest at night almost as clearly as if viewed through a starlightScope.

“Bloods,” Wallace Terry (1984)

“Bloods,” which stands as a milestone publication, was one of the initial works to focus on the experiences of African American veterans. The book, assembled by former Time magazine correspondent Wallace Terry, compiles oral accounts from 20 black servicemen with varied backgrounds and different ranks. Among these interviews, one participant named Richard J. Ford III recounted his multiple wounds during service and recalled how he received visits from high-ranking officials like generals who praised him for his bravery and considered him part of "America's finest." However, upon returning home, those very same individuals refused to acknowledge him.

"A Brilliant Clear Lie," Neil Sheehan (1988)

In his reporting, Halberstam drew from insights provided by Lieutenant Colonel John Paul Vann, a U.S. advisor to South Vietnam who later emerged as a vocal critic of America’s military command before meeting his end in combat in 1972. The narrative of Vann's life unfolds comprehensively in "A Bright Shining Lie," authored by Neil Sheehan, the renowned New York Times journalist famous for unveiling the Pentagon Papers and exposing the U.S. administration's chronic misinformation regarding the conflict. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1989, this book found its way onto television screens when it was turned into an HBO film featuring Bill Paxton portraying Vann.

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For more coverage of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War’s end, visit https://apnews.com/hub/vietnam-war .