The Fire Dream

by Franklin Allen Leib

This is a sweeping, gut-wrenching portrait of soldiers at war from a man who fought, and saw friends die, in Vietnam. It is a saga of men from all walks of life, thrown together by the arbitrary nature of enlistment and the draft, of how they are forged into a team. Then in the unrelenting combat of Vietnam, each man in the team is put to the ultimate test -- combat. How they respond dictates who will live and who will die in the treacherous jungles and waterways of Vietnam.

Genres: Fiction, War, Historical Fiction, Military Fiction, Historical

624 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Franklin Allen Leib, a Navy lieutenant during the Vietnam War, served as a gunnery officer, boat officer, and navigator in support of Marine and Army operations. Subsequently, he served as a counterintelligence officer assigned to the Naval Intelligence Command in Washington. Now an international banker, Mr. Leib has an AB from Stanford and an MBA from Columbia. He lives in Westport, Connecticut. His first book, Fire Arrow, is a high-tech military thriller set in today's North Africa.

Reviews

[Fred Lombardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the best Vietnam era story that I have read to date. Rich characters, detailed background and gritty scenes make for both a tragic and uplifting story. You bleed for the main characters, William, Coles, Hunter and Moser. This story crosses all the boundaries that seem to have separated the soldiers herein and binds them into each other out of love, respect and honor. I read this in paperback the first time and had to search high and low for a hardcover edition.
It remains one of my very favorite books.

[Ryan Mcghee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book quite frankly is a great tale of courage, heroism, love, and loss in the time of the vietnam war. The main character, William Stuart, is a man drawn in by the heat of conflict, which indelibly leads to more conflict as his fiance/wife at home can not see why he is continually drawn back to the jungles of Vietnam after being wounded before. Honestly this is one of if not the best book I have ever read, so much so that I've worn two copies out and I'm about to have to buy a third copy.

[Kathryn Bashaar · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book starts strong but seems to lose focus. It's kind of Clancey-esque in that it goes into a lot of military detail that is interesting to men but not to women and in that this author can't write a female character for S**T. The few women who appear are two-dimensional male fantasies. But as the wife of a Vietnam veteran, it was interesting to me to read something that was very realistic about what the war was like and how men forge bonds in battle.

[John Podlaski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many books about the Vietnam War, and don’t know how I overlooked this book which was written almost 30-years ago? Fire Dream is a story that engulfs readers in an emotional roller coaster ride. The story begins during SERE training, where it’s difficult to differentiate between reality and training…it’s so real! Later, many of the characters participating in this training cross paths again in Vietnam.

The battles are so realistic that breaks from reading will be necessary to get through it. I found myself invested in the main characters who came together in Vietnam and shared in their many experiences as if I were right there with them. Almost feeling like I knew them personally, I was deeply saddened when they were injured. A deep bond developed between these men…one that is very natural and duplicated throughout the many units in the war zone. I was also deeply moved when the LT visited Simon in LA…their sharing of a common love, pride and remembrance had no boundaries.

I highly recommend Fire Dream to anyone having experienced the camaraderie of military service in a war zone. Reading it will awaken many emotions and memories from those days long ago.

[Stephanie Pieck · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this book, I was often struck by the dialogue. People generally don't go around talking about "implacable courage"--courage, yes, but implacable is one of those words encountered more often on SAT's or on crossword puzzles.
The story was good, though, and readers grow to care about the characters..
But it took the author a long time to set each character up, describe his defining moments leading up to the point in the novel where they all finally got together in the action.
I don't regret reading this book. Every time I read a story, I learn small details that enrich my overall perceptions of particular ideas or situations. This book was no exception.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb.

This book brought me to tears. Thank you, Mr. Leib, for an engrossing and thoughtful story that ranks among the very best of the 40+ books I have read about the Vietnam war..

[Jean Darroch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as it followed an individual through his life of the vietnam war. It talked about the ups and downs of war. Even though it wasnt a true story it could have been very easily. I like how it was told as a story

[Charles Riddle]

Based on the Vietnam war background, this is a story of one who was there and tells the raw truth without politicizing the war.

[Mark Auman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addictive, and it will make proud.

You will agree if you read this one. Young men in combat who overcome their fears and fight for their buddies are too often unsung giants.

[Sherrill Watson]

See John P's review.

I started this book because there wasn't anything to read that I had not read and I was in the middle of a snowstorm. 600 pp later and several days, I felt I understood war a little better; I felt their joys and their tears, and the characters seemed real. (Never mind Stuart nor anyone ever caught a cold or virus or got sick.) Gosh, I would have liked to meet Lieutenant William McGowen Stuart, Moser, Coles, MacIntyre (well, maybe!), even Hunter, Billy and the rest of the guys. It did not matter that this was about Vietnam, or that some of the officers or enlisted men were black, (which I forgot!) or oriental, or even green. The Vietnamese were all nameless, faceless 'gooks' but this WAS a time when it was about Us against Them. There were just the beginnings of murmurs against this war at the time.
Note: There were no women in the service, in this book.

Some quotes: Billy Coles "Non morituri to salutamus" -- ". . . let the other guy do it"

"One of the monk's arms rose from his lap and seemed to gesture. Stuart watched with increasong horror as the arm broke off at the shoulder. Still the monk sat and still he burned. The head, blackened and seemingly stripped of flesh, lolled forward, and with a soft, barely audible pop, the skull exploded. Stuart trued to shut his eyes against the sight, but he could not. The smell and taste of gasoline and burning flesh reached his nose and mouth. Finally the body toppled over on its side, and the flames subsided. Stuart shut his eyes tightly and trued to hold his breath. He felt himself dizzy, swaying, his knees rubbery. Strong hands grasped him and swung him around. He opened his eyes and saw the frightened face of the waiter who was speaking to him loudly in a language he could not understand. The waiter pushed hm into a dim interior of the restaurant. Stuart found himself in a small, brightly lit bathroom. He fell to his knees in from of the French-style toilet and closed his eyes again as all the contents of his stomach rushed out of his mouth. He braced his hands on the floor and heaved until he was empty."

Hooper: . . . "The First General Order?"
Stuart: . . . "Accomplish the mission."
Hooper; "And the second?"
Stuart: "Take care of the men."

It's not, 'my country, right or wrong, it's
Professor Kraft: "My country, may she ever be right. But right or wrong, my country." Patriotism is not required to be without doubt. . . We in the armed forces or the United States protect your right to question, to doubt."
"But as a soldier, you're not free to doubt."
"On the battlefield . . . doubt is the precursor of disaster."

A highly readable, timeless book, for men (a little lightweight?) or women, to learn more about what we have to do to protect our freedoms.

[Hans Brienesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a story I enjoyed it but to be fair I did not feel drawn enough into to have stated like some others that this was "the epic novel of Vietnam". It seemed to me as if the author had attended a whole slew of Veterans Reunions and collected a plethora of anecdotes most of which were applied to the central character. The chief protagonist must be the luckiest man alive with degree of continuity applied to this story. To repeatedly survive the situations described and to display what appears to be a 150 plus IQ in solving problems; and to be able to have persons follow with "gifted" weapons just jarred with all other accounts of military life both inside and outside of combat.
But, this is only how I saw it; others may have differing opinions. As a story- enjoyable enough, as a fictional description of the Vietnam conflict it left me feeling let down.

[Upformore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complete and necessary shift in my attitude!

I have never read a book that has touched me, challenged me, lifted me and made me squirm quite as much as this book has. I am a Coast Guard veteran who lived through the time period of this book, but stateside. I have friends who were in country, one of whom saw heavy action as a Navy Medic attached to a Marine Corps battalion. Another friend played in a jazz band in Saigon at the Officers Club and drove a ski boat for the officers. The war was a jigsaw puzzle not a single event.
This book draws into sharp focus the warriors life and struggles and fears and strengths. Ultimately, quite unexpectedly, it’s a book of duty, honor, doubts and LOVE!

[RJ Stayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read, not my normal genre but loaned to me from a friend who told me I would enjoy the book. Some of the best books I have read have been given or loaned to me and I am always compelled to read and almost always; I really enjoy them. This book was a real page turner as I found myself awaking in the middle of the night and getting up to read a chapter. The book is lengthy but well written and a compelling story. Glad I took the time to read this book.

[Joel B Champagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superior read

All therequisire parts of a great, inspiring story. Characters are flawed but overcome their flaws to become heroes with their own story to tell. One of the best inspirational stories of the Viet Nam war. One can always do better. Highly recommended reading.

[John Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding read!

This was a hard book to put down. I loved the way the author developed the characters and brought them to life. I'm actually sad the story ended.

[Helen Bonanomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Viet Nam war fiction that I've read.

[Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. It was as if you were there. The characters were brought to life.

[Patrick]

Fiction, Vietnam War - fantastic novel, great characters. My favorite Vietnam book by far.

[Sharon Carpenter]

Awesome read, depicts integrated forces as I have not read before about Vietnam Nam. Highly recommend for all service men & women, retired and active alike.