Letter: Called to book
As an author, my comment describing the book as "cartoon war porn of the lowest sort" has been widely repeated in the media - and I have no regrets about describing it as such.
Challenged recently by a reporter with my accusation that Matterhorn was "war porn", Marlantes responded in a manner that was utterly chilling: "If you're absolutely truthful about it, there's a part of all us that really likes violence and killing, but very few of us ever have to confront that …so if somebody has a thrill reading the novel, they're getting what a real soldier would get. It's a horrible experience but, within that, if you come out alive, believe me, you feel happy."
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Hide AdI served as a Special Forces officer in Vietnam and can truthfully say that the toughest, the bravest and most combat-experienced soldiers were those who hated violence and killing the most. Maybe it was different in the Marines.
EDWARD WILSON
Church Cottages
Chediston, Halesworth