Rolf Margenau's Blog - Posts Tagged "coming-of-age"
Second edition of my Korean War novel here soon.
In 2011 I published Public Information, a story about a young man coming of age during this bloody and almost forgotten war. It became an Amazon best seller that summer, encouraging me to write three more novels. Many veterans of that war were generous with their comments, mostly positive, and some shared anecdotes of their own. Since then, new historical information (Japanese confirmation of their use of Korean “comfort women” and corruption in Syngman Rhee’s government, for example) has become known.
There is a rumor that Public Information is slightly autobiographical since some of it is based on the 300+ letters I wrote to my future wife when I was in Korea. This I neither confirm nor deny. However, the other veterans’ comments and new information refreshed old memories and, last year, I considered revising the novel to include new material.
Editing took longer than I expected. Beside adding fresh material, I needed to look again at the characters born five years ago, add dimension when needed and cut things that bogged down the narrative. Then my editor, proofreader and printer added a few more months.
However, the second edition will be available in about two weeks. The Midwest Book review said the first edition was “a fine read well worth considering for historical fiction collections.” And a fan, Ford Fifty-Six, called it “a new perspective on the military, war, love, journalism, humor and youth. Enjoy.”
In addition to blood and guts, glory and honor, the novel has accuracy, realism, and humor. Lots of humor. Veterans say it “tells it like it was.” The novel also explains the origins and history of the war, and is dedicated to the tens of thousands of GI's who served there. My hope is that younger readers will gain entertaining knowledge of this distant conflict and will wonder, as I do, why it cost the lives of over thirty-five thousand young Americans.
There is a rumor that Public Information is slightly autobiographical since some of it is based on the 300+ letters I wrote to my future wife when I was in Korea. This I neither confirm nor deny. However, the other veterans’ comments and new information refreshed old memories and, last year, I considered revising the novel to include new material.
Editing took longer than I expected. Beside adding fresh material, I needed to look again at the characters born five years ago, add dimension when needed and cut things that bogged down the narrative. Then my editor, proofreader and printer added a few more months.
However, the second edition will be available in about two weeks. The Midwest Book review said the first edition was “a fine read well worth considering for historical fiction collections.” And a fan, Ford Fifty-Six, called it “a new perspective on the military, war, love, journalism, humor and youth. Enjoy.”
In addition to blood and guts, glory and honor, the novel has accuracy, realism, and humor. Lots of humor. Veterans say it “tells it like it was.” The novel also explains the origins and history of the war, and is dedicated to the tens of thousands of GI's who served there. My hope is that younger readers will gain entertaining knowledge of this distant conflict and will wonder, as I do, why it cost the lives of over thirty-five thousand young Americans.
Reviewers Needed
This is to ask whether any of my friends would be interested in reading and reviewing the second edition of my novel about a young man growing up during the Korean War. When first published five years ago, The New York Review of Books called it a "modern Candide. Warm and funny. Veterans and adult readers love it."
Publishers Weekly said, "The sense of place he (Margenau) creates is strong and true. He also ably fleshes out his supporting characters and brings the disparate elements of his plot to a satisfactory conclusion."
The second edition of the book includes recently disclosed information, and scenes and observations drawn from the comments of many veteran readers. Since the second edition has an ISBN number different from the first, Amazon and other sellers can’t refer to reviews from the first edition. Hence, the need for fresh reviews.
Critics have called the story “CANDIDE meets MASH.” A curious, bright, but naïve young man arrives as an infantryman during the bloody conflict of the Korean War. Every indication is that he has limited chances for survival. Wylie Cypher is recruited to join the staff of a Division Public Information Office (PIO) where he reports on many aspects of the conflict. He uses his infantry training in bloody combat, makes many colorful new friends, learns how to maneuver through the military system, finds love and loss, and grows up in the turmoil of combat and the war’s aftermath.
Veterans have hailed the story as accurate, believable, touching, funny, and “the way it really was.”
The story is based on my experiences, careful historical research, and the 300 letters I sent my future wife from Korea. The story touches on prisoner of war experiences on both sides of the DMZ, the armistice, realistic scenes of combat, the many United Nations forces engaged in the war, and poignant and funny aspects of military service.
Please contact me at rolf@frogworks.com and I'll forward a copy.
Publishers Weekly said, "The sense of place he (Margenau) creates is strong and true. He also ably fleshes out his supporting characters and brings the disparate elements of his plot to a satisfactory conclusion."
The second edition of the book includes recently disclosed information, and scenes and observations drawn from the comments of many veteran readers. Since the second edition has an ISBN number different from the first, Amazon and other sellers can’t refer to reviews from the first edition. Hence, the need for fresh reviews.
Critics have called the story “CANDIDE meets MASH.” A curious, bright, but naïve young man arrives as an infantryman during the bloody conflict of the Korean War. Every indication is that he has limited chances for survival. Wylie Cypher is recruited to join the staff of a Division Public Information Office (PIO) where he reports on many aspects of the conflict. He uses his infantry training in bloody combat, makes many colorful new friends, learns how to maneuver through the military system, finds love and loss, and grows up in the turmoil of combat and the war’s aftermath.
Veterans have hailed the story as accurate, believable, touching, funny, and “the way it really was.”
The story is based on my experiences, careful historical research, and the 300 letters I sent my future wife from Korea. The story touches on prisoner of war experiences on both sides of the DMZ, the armistice, realistic scenes of combat, the many United Nations forces engaged in the war, and poignant and funny aspects of military service.
Please contact me at rolf@frogworks.com and I'll forward a copy.
