Outside the Wire: The War in Afghanistan in the Words of Its Participants

by Kevin Patterson, Jane Warren

A remarkable collection of first-hand accounts written by soldiers, doctors and aid workers on the front lines of Canada’s war in Afghanistan.

Visceral, intimate and captivating in ways no other telling could be, Outside the Wire features nearly two dozen stories by Canadians on the front lines in Afghanistan, including the previously unpublished letters home of Captain Nichola Goddard, the first female NATO soldier killed in combat, and an introductory reflection by Roméo Dallaire.

Collected here are stories of battle and the more subtle engagements of this little-understood the tearful farewells; the shock of immersion into a culture that has been at war for thirty years; looking a suicide bomber in the eye the moment before he strikes; grappling with mortality in the Kandahar Field Hospital; and the unexpected humour that leavens life in a warzone. Throughout each piece the passion of those engaged in rebuilding this shattered country shines through, a glimmer of optimism and determination so rare in multinational military actions–and so particularly Canadian.

In Outside the Wire , award-winning author Kevin Patterson and co-editor Jane Warren have rediscovered the valour and horror of sacrifice in this, the definitive account of the modern Canadian experience of war.

Genres: Military Fiction, Nonfiction, War, History, Canada

320 pages, Hardcover

First published December 11, 2007

Reviews

[Colin Freebury · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading about the experience of a variety of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan reminded me of the axiom that excellent tactics and bravery + poor strategy = disaster. For the war in Afghanistan was a disaster - the Taliban won - despite an enormous investment in hardware and personnel by the allied forces. One wonders what individual soldiers who survived think of the sacrifices made circa 2005, and of the situation in Afghanistan today, 18 years on.

One of the best chapters in the book is 'Mascara', by Marija Dumancic, who served two six-month tours helping establish two all-woman radio stations. Hilarious, but upon further reflection, tragic. And well worth the read, as are all the contributions to this collection of personal accounts of service in the Afghanistan War.

[Nic Hobbies · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic collection of stories inside the wars through many soldiers eyes. Gripping and each story is as endearing as the last.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of accounts by Canadians, soldiers and civilians, who served in Afghanistan during the first (bloodiest) half of our deployment there. Patterson, himself, served, and contributes a piece. Particularly poignant are those of Mike Frastacky and Capt. Nichola Goddard, in the form of letters and emails, which were provided by their families after their deaths over there. Goddard, some would remember, was the first Canadian female combatant fatality.
Captain Casey Balden makes an insightful commentary on the dislocation soldiers feel after returning to what the Vietnam vets called "The World" at the bottom of page 261.
One picks up bits from the stories that Patterson used later in his also fine Afghan novel, "News From The Red Desert".
This is an important book.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was funny, sad, heartbreaking, thoughtprovoking and so to the point. Some of which stuck with me was seeing the names of those lost, many of whom I knew. While I will never be able to say " I know what you went through" I can in fact say "I understand it compares to nothing else".

I now understand some of the long silences, the aloofness, the anger and the inability to let it go. The book has been edited and perhaps embellished according to some I have spoken to, regardless I highly recommend everyone reads this book.

[D.m. Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

An account of life in Afghanistan from the people that were there on the front lines. Some of it is humorous and some is heartbreaking when you learn the words full of personality and hope were written by a soldier whose life was cut short by the conflict. A great read for anyone who wants to understand more about this conflict from the point of view of the people that are doing the work on the ground.

[Tiffany Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was initially hesitant to pick up this book, as I worried it might be ideologically heavy-handed or particularly nationalistic. The sheer variety of voices rendered that nearly impossible; the breadth of experiences painted a distinct landscape under which hyper-real human emotions and interactions came to life. With tales from aid workers and soldiers, "Outside the Wire" juxtaposes a unique sense of orality and epistolary with its vivid and varied prose.

[Thalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays/short true stories from various points of experiance/views. Doctors, soldiers, aid workers, etc. I really liked some, others didn't do much for me. But it was definitely worth the read.

[Dave B · Rating 4 out of 5]

True stories told by Canadian Vets about themselves or fellow soldiers, some who were killed in action. You can’t help but get emotional reading these stories, some make you proud to be Canadian, some make you sad and others mad.