Russian Roulette: Afghanistan Through Russian Eyes

by Gennady Bocharov

This book is about the war in Afghanistan; it is a classic about war anywhere. It is by a Russian journalist; it will remind you of the best writing about Vietnam. The author takes us inside the war in Afghanistan — the Soviet Vietnam. The book is written in several voices: that of the extraordinary journalist that Bocharov is, & those of several ordinary Soviet soldiers who tell who they are (or were) & what happened to them. Taken together, theses parallel streams recreate the atmosphere of the war, its specific characteristics, & its moral cul-de-sacs & tragedies. This was the longest war waged by Russia since 1813.

Genres: Military Fiction

187 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1990

Reviews

[Spencer Willardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good companion to that I read not too long ago. In fact, I picked up this one because it was next to The Hidden War on the bookshelf at the library. I love serendipitous book choices.

I prefer Borovik's version, but this was a good companion. I think that Bocharov captures the cynicism of Glasnost and Perestroika and the futility of the war much more starkly. Borovik concentrates on the soldiers and their stories and is sympathetic.

This is a quick read and is a good window into a period of time. It is also true that it reflects attitudes and pathologies that were present in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars fought by the US.

"The trouble with advisors was not just that they didn't know Afghanistan. They did not know something even more important: how to run things in their own backyard, let alone a foreign country... So what of use could they possibly do here? Organize a "subbotnik"? Suggest that a green Muslim flag be replaced by a red proletarian one? Introduce coeducation?" (62)

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The echoes of history are strong. There are deep fundamental elements of human nature and war and this book displays many of those. I like the unique style of shifting perspectives back and forth from the journalist’s first person account to various perspectives from soldiers.

Paired with “The Bear Went Over the Mountain” and “The Other Side of the Mountain” this should have been instructive to the US foray into AFG. I’ll be interested to see what similarities there are when reading the history of America in Afghanistan.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting perspective and some similar themes to soldiers who have more recently been in Afghanistan