>Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 01:03:28 EDT
>From:
Mbdlevin@aol.com
>Subject: RARA-AVIS: Crumley
>Crumley also wrote a Vietnam Vietnam novel, which I
haven't read: "One Count
>to Cadence." I think it is his first novel, hard to
find (?), well-respected
>in the literature of Vietnam (maybe?--that's another
list and something I
>know little about). Doug
"'James Crumley is the James Jones of Vietnam.' --Chicago
Sun-Times"
"The time: late Summer, 1962. The place: Clark Air Force
Base, the Philippines. Sergeant Jacob 'Slag' Krummel, a
scholar by intent but a warrior by breeding, assumes command
of the 721st Communication Security Detachment, an
unsoldierly crew of bored, rebellious, whoring, foul-mouthed,
drunken enlistees. Surviving military absurdities reminiscent
of those in CATCH 22 only to be shipped clandestinely to
Vietnam, Krummel's band confront their worst fears while
finally losing faith in America and its myths."
...of course my reaction is (mildly) influenced by the fact
that a bit later on in the 60s ('67-'68) I spent 17 months of
my 3 years 9 months 4 days -- but who's counting *what*! --
in the Air Farce, stationed at Clark, living in a world more
alien than any this lifelong sf fan has ever read about...
but I'd definitely recommend ONE TO COUNT CADENCE to anyone
who did time in Southeast Asia in the late 50s thru the mid
70s.
The book's mini bio says Crumley "served three years as an
enlisted man in the U.S. Army", but is no more specific than
that. Copyright 1969, it is by no means a 'mystery', but
definitely has the 'hard-boiled' tone and absurd ambience of
his later work.
I really have no idea how well it would 'read' to a non-vet.
I'd be curious to hear....
[The copy I have is a Vintage Contemporaries tpb from the mid
80s, in the same design as a couple of his other books I
have. I don't recall it being that hard to track down. Once I
heard about it....]
And let me add my voice to the chorus in Praise of THE LAST
GOOD KISS!
--- Bill Bowers | <Bill@Outworlds.net>
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