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Field of Honor: A Novel (Volume 48)
In D. L. Birchfield’s Field of Honor, a secret underground civilization of Choctaws, deep beneath the Ouachita Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma, has evolved into a high-tech culture, supported by the labor of slaves kidnapped from the surface. Underground, long yellow rows of corn stand tall and ripe in immense, brightly lit greenhouses, and great games of stickball are played in the dark in huge stadiums with glowing balls.
The twentieth century has been one long, golden summer for this underground Choctaw community, where nothing is more important than the ball games. Here Choctaw traditions are safe from the cultural genocide being waged in the world above. But crisis is about to strike the underground community, threatening its continued existence.
Into this idyllic underground Choctaw world stumbles P. P. McDaniel, a half-blood Choctaw Marine Corps deserter from the Vietnam War who has the great misfortune of suffering from Stockholm Cowardice Syndrome Dysfunction. Reeling from culture shock and struggling for his own survival, McDaniel becomes entangled in political intrigue and an unlikely romance in this rich satire.
The twentieth century has been one long, golden summer for this underground Choctaw community, where nothing is more important than the ball games. Here Choctaw traditions are safe from the cultural genocide being waged in the world above. But crisis is about to strike the underground community, threatening its continued existence.
Into this idyllic underground Choctaw world stumbles P. P. McDaniel, a half-blood Choctaw Marine Corps deserter from the Vietnam War who has the great misfortune of suffering from Stockholm Cowardice Syndrome Dysfunction. Reeling from culture shock and struggling for his own survival, McDaniel becomes entangled in political intrigue and an unlikely romance in this rich satire.
- GenresFiction
224 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2004
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 21, 2023
This book had me bubbling with quiet laughter throughout its protagonist's absurd adventures. I don't know that I always understood the satire, but it succeeded in being endlessly amusing and I couldn't put the book down.
October 21, 2012
Patrick Pushmataha McDaniel, half-blood Choctaw, has been hiding from the U.S. Marine Corps for ten years, ever since he deserted during the Vietnam War. When his secluded Oklahoma valley home is overrun by the U.S. military on some kind of secret investigation, he stumbles upon an underground Choctaw civilization. What follows is McDaniel's entanglement in the culture and politics of this hidden, high-tech community where the traditional ball games rule.
It's important to note that Field of Honor is intended to be rather bizarre satire, because after realizing that, one can accept just about any weird, unrealistic thing that happens. And there are many weird, unrealistic things that happen from the beginning to the end of the book, so just sit back, suspend your disbelief, and enjoy the strange ride. I found Birchfield's satirical gibes at American politics, history, and culture totally hilarious, though I think giving them away would ruin the enjoyment of surprise. The Vietnam War, of course, comes under attack, as does the English language, North American colonialism, Anglo-American heritage, 20th-century presidents, Texans, and many, many other subjects. It's quite fun. At the same time, the novel also teaches a great deal about Choctaw culture and history, albeit in a very unique and unexpected way.
The only issue I had with Field of Honor was I would have liked it to be longer. McDaniel is becoming embroiled in the intrigues of this underground Choctaw group, but the book ends soon after without much closure. There's no resolution to what's going on with the Choctaws, even though some of the issues could have disastrous consequences for both them and others. It's a rather quick and unsatisfying conclusion to an otherwise very well-developed and engaging novel.
It's important to note that Field of Honor is intended to be rather bizarre satire, because after realizing that, one can accept just about any weird, unrealistic thing that happens. And there are many weird, unrealistic things that happen from the beginning to the end of the book, so just sit back, suspend your disbelief, and enjoy the strange ride. I found Birchfield's satirical gibes at American politics, history, and culture totally hilarious, though I think giving them away would ruin the enjoyment of surprise. The Vietnam War, of course, comes under attack, as does the English language, North American colonialism, Anglo-American heritage, 20th-century presidents, Texans, and many, many other subjects. It's quite fun. At the same time, the novel also teaches a great deal about Choctaw culture and history, albeit in a very unique and unexpected way.
The only issue I had with Field of Honor was I would have liked it to be longer. McDaniel is becoming embroiled in the intrigues of this underground Choctaw group, but the book ends soon after without much closure. There's no resolution to what's going on with the Choctaws, even though some of the issues could have disastrous consequences for both them and others. It's a rather quick and unsatisfying conclusion to an otherwise very well-developed and engaging novel.
April 2, 2013
Much like McDaniel, the protagonist, as I read this I felt as if I were tumbling down my own rabbit hole to another world. Very few books hold my attention for hours on end, but I drilled through this one in a matter of hours. Although I think it went off the rails in the end, this is still immensely enjoyable.
This multifaceted satire took aim at so many topics, I would struggle to list them all, and other reviewers already have. But while broad, it is also very effective, even laugh-out-loud hilarious in parts. Seeing how the modern Choctaw scientists misinterpreted the Americans above was particularly amusing and effective. As the book and McDaniel's journey kept spiralling into madness, it got even more engaging. However, at the very end of the book, the narrative dramatically changed in tone and setting, to the detriment of the story. I was disappointed to have such a huge change, and the story suffered for it.
Ursula Le Guin once said that 'true journey is return.' I'm inclined to agree. But when McDaniel completes his own full circle, I'm left wishing that he had finished what he started in Ishtaboli, resolving the numerous strands left uncut and with huge consequences, instead of coming back to the mundane world we share, and its mundane problems.
This multifaceted satire took aim at so many topics, I would struggle to list them all, and other reviewers already have. But while broad, it is also very effective, even laugh-out-loud hilarious in parts. Seeing how the modern Choctaw scientists misinterpreted the Americans above was particularly amusing and effective. As the book and McDaniel's journey kept spiralling into madness, it got even more engaging. However, at the very end of the book, the narrative dramatically changed in tone and setting, to the detriment of the story. I was disappointed to have such a huge change, and the story suffered for it.
Ursula Le Guin once said that 'true journey is return.' I'm inclined to agree. But when McDaniel completes his own full circle, I'm left wishing that he had finished what he started in Ishtaboli, resolving the numerous strands left uncut and with huge consequences, instead of coming back to the mundane world we share, and its mundane problems.
May 18, 2012
This is a great book. His style reminds me of Kurt Vonnegut. I think the way he ties Choctaw history and culture into this crazy ride is amazing. I would highly recommend this with the caveat that you should be prepared for an unusual story.
March 10, 2009
One of the best books I have ever read. Absurd and out of the ordinary but it forces you to think about what Native culture and the US military really are and their influence over lives.
October 20, 2015
I don't know how to classify this book other than "in a category with Slaughterhouse Five"
October 31, 2009
The book starts out making you believe it's Ramboesque. Then you're taken on a wild goose chase into places including underground tunnels and cities. It was not what was expected. While quite a bit of the historical information was accurate and interesting, the rest of the book left much to be desired in the way of plot. I read this book for a class in American Indian Literature and with the instructor friends with the author, even the Indian references were placed in weird spots and situations. It is filled with action, a little romance (not really but you can read into as such) and in the end, left a really weird taste in my mouth.
November 30, 2015
A truly bizarre book. Birchfield's writing is entertaining and parts of the book are comical. However, it could have used more of a coherent narrative and conclusion. After awhile the book became a series of satirical observations about both Choctaw and Anglo-American culture. It was fun at first, but then I was left hoping the story would go somewhere. The book feels like it contains the beginnings of numerous stories--McDaniel and Elena, the power structure among the underground Choctaws, the ball games, the army and oil--and none of them are wrapped up. That aspect of the novel was a bit frustrating.
Want to read
December 12, 2012Summary: Great book. Interesting and funny. Native American cultural influence.
Classroom use: Cultural fantasy fiction. Enhancement reading.
Classroom use: Cultural fantasy fiction. Enhancement reading.
May 16, 2016
Started promising but lost me when it unexpectedly became empty erotica with a not so subtle pedophiliac bent.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews