On the Spotlight: 'Flight of the Blue Falcon' by Jonathan Raab
Title: Flight
of the Blue Falcon
Genre:
Fiction – Adult
Author:
Jonathan Raab
Website: http://www.warwriterscampaign.org
Publisher: War Writers' Campaign, Inc.
Watch
the Trailer
Purchase on Amazon
About the Book:
FLIGHT
OF THE BLUE FALCON
By
JONATHAN
RAAB
“Jonathan
Raab is not only a genuine advocate for veteran causes, he is a preacher of
their tales; both fiction and nonfiction. His writing will immerse you into a
combat environment that parallels the imagination of those who have never had
the pleasure.”
—Derek
J. Porter, author of Conquering Mental
Fatigues: PTSD & Hypervigilance Disorder
“Jonathan
Raab uses his experience to illustrate the raw world of the common soldier. His
masterful use of edgy humor and intellectual commentary creates a space for
discussing the military culture.”
—Nate
Brookshire, co-author, Hidden Wounds: A
Soldiers Burden
In
FLIGHT
OF THE BLUE FALCON (War Writers’ Campaign; July 2015; PRICE), a
chewed-up Army National Guard unit heads to a forgotten war in Afghanistan
where three men find themselves thrust into the heart of absurdity: the
post-modern American war machine. The inexperienced Private Rench, the jaded veteran
Staff Sergeant Halderman, and the idealistic Lieutenant Gracie join a platoon
of misfit citizen-soldiers and experience a series of alienating and bizarre
events.
Private
Rench is young, inexperienced, and from a poor, rural, broken home. He's adrift
in life. The early signs of alcoholism and potential substance abuse are
beginning to rear their ugly heads. He wants to do right by the Army, but
doesn't quite know who he is yet.
Staff
Sergeant Halderman has one previous combat tour under his belt. He got out,
realized his life was going nowhere, so re-enlisted to serve with the men he
knew, and to lead the inexperienced guys into combat. He is manifesting the
early signs of post traumatic stress, but is too focused on the upcoming
mission to deal with it. He sees the Army for what it is—a big, screwed up
machine that doesn't always do the right thing—but he doesn't think all that
highly of himself, either.
Second
Lieutenant Gracie is fresh, young, excited to be in the Army, and trying to
adjust to the new to the military and his life as an officer. Although he faces
a steep learning curve, he is adaptable and has a good, upbeat attitude. As he
tries to forge his own path, he nonetheless turns to the experienced NCOs in
his unit for guidance and support. He must continually make tough decisions
that have no "right" or textbook answers. Yet these decisions are
catalysts enabling him to grow in maturity, experience, and wisdom.
Preparation
for combat is surreal: Rench is force-fed cookies by his drill sergeants.
Halderman’s “training” is to pick up garbage in the blistering heat of the
California desert for four days straight. Gracie contends with a battalion
commander obsessed with latrine graffiti.
Once
they reach Afghanistan, things really get weird.
FLIGHT
OF THE BLUE FALCON is the story of three men who volunteer
to serve their country. It’s about what it means to be a soldier, to fight, to
know true camaraderie—and to return home.
This
is a war story. This is their story.
Only
the most unbelievable parts are true.
About the Author
Jonathan Raab is
a veteran of the Afghanistan war, where he served as an infantryman assigned to
a combat advisor team. He is the editor-in-chief of Muzzleland Press and an
editor for the War Writers’ Campaign. His work has appeared in The New York Times’ At War Blog,
CNN.com, the Military Success Network, Literati
Presents, The Stars and Stripes,
and many others. His second novel, The
Hillbilly Moonshine Massacre, will be available in late 2015. He lives in
the Denver metro area with his wife Jess and their dog, Egon.
Leave a Comment