Slow Walk In A Sad Rain

by John P. McAfee

Here, from a remarkable new literary talent, is a novel destined to become the Catch-22 of the Vietnam War--a poignant, darkly comic tale based on the author's own experiences as a Green Beret in Vietnam. This deeply affecting novel follows the trials of a Special Forces Unit dispatched to the Laotian jungle who stumble upon a heroin operation.

Genres: War, Fiction, Historical

239 pages, Hardcover

First published February 8, 1993

About the author

Born in Clovis, New Mexico in 1947, John grew up with his brother on large ranches in West Texas: Ft. Davis, Alpine, and Van Horn. He led a Huck Finn life and was probably the only kid who had an antelope named Governor for a pet. It slept with him every night until it got too large and aggressive and sent to Yellowstone National Park for breeding stock. His father was a ranch foreman and spent much of his life working ranches for absentee owners. His mother was a professional politician in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he spent many summers fishing the Pecos River and attending the Santa Fe Opera. He was educated through high school and junior college at New Mexico Military Institute, and was commissioned as second lieutenant in the Infantry. He served with the 8th Special Forces Group in South America (Ft. Gulick, CZ) and 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam. He has a BA in English from University of Texas-El Paso and an MA in Education Administration from Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina. He is married to the whimsical artist, Elizabeth McAfee, and they have a son, John Lewis McAfee, who along with his wife, Amy, work in the U.S.Citizenship and Immigration Services for Homeland Security. After a long career in teaching, coaching, and administration, He is now a full-time writer.

Reviews

[Jonathan Pruden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in high school and couldn’t understand it. Years later after losing my leg as an Infantryman in Iraq I read it again. It all made perfect, ludicrous, sense. McAfee vividly weaves a story that highlights how the moral quagmires, the calculus, and insanity of combat operations are perennial.
I often share it with Warriors coming home to let them know that they are not alone in their suffering and that normal really is just a setting on a washing machine.

[Donald B. Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a veteran. I don't want to be. I was too young by months to be drafted, a trick of the calendar that makes me perennially grateful. As a result I've been a student, among other things, of war. I'm not sure John McAfee wanted to be a veteran, either, but like so many others he followed the currents of his time, and played the tragic, horrific, impossible hand that life and Cold War politics dealt him and so many others. I'm glad the game of war saw fit to send him home, so he could tell us of his experiences in clear, concise, picturesque, and wholly memorable terms. So that maybe, just maybe, some generation in our foreseeable future will see how colossally stupid war is, and stop sending brilliant young men around the world to fight them.

[Benjamin Jamison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild story. An emotional rollercoaster. Great read

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth really is stranger than fiction. I met the author of this book when I was in college, and his stories gripped me. I didn't know much about Vietnam, having been born around the time of the end of the war, we never really made it quite that far in American History classes... but hearing his stories and reading this book were more than any lesson could have taught me and is the reason I chose to be a part of a veteran's organization.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy but very enjoyable read. I liked learning about the Green Berets and some of the crazy stuff that went down. My uncle was MACV-SOG and a friend of the author's. He is the basis for one of the characters in the book so I had a special reason to read it. I recommend it to those interested in the military, special forces, or Vietnam.

[Julian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished the book today , i have no words to describe how close i felt to the author's memories , he certainly has an original style both intelligent and humoristic way of writing. I have a great admiration for John P. McAfee and I wish i could have met him and I'm also looking forward any books he has written !

[Denise Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know the arthur personally. He is a great man. Taugh my daughter and was my boss for a few years. That was why I bought the book. Then I read it, and loved it. This is not my usual genre so I was surprized. It's not your typical war story. I laughed and cried throughout the book. Try it you may just be surprized too.

[Delaine Dills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by my favorite teacher of all time, high school english teacher, Pat McAfee. Laughing, crying through the whole book! Reading his written word, it was much like being back in Mac's class, without the colorful language of course. He taught life,things he taught us came back to me at the oddest times the last 30 years,and surprise,we learned the English as well.

[Miki Davis]

I met this author while out in Wilmington, NC and have a signed copy. Hearing the story behind it has intrigued me, so I want to read it when time allows. I'm not a history or war story buff, so it is hard to get started on it.

[Naomi F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just WOW. A story that isn't necessarily true but is based on true stories that the author heard from real Vietnam Vets. Insane weapons you never heard of, REAL conspiracies, the craziness of war.

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reasonably okay war story. It is granted a higher rating because it looks at the aftermath of the events on the soldiers more closely than is actually comfortable.

[Feistync · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was written by my high school drama teacher. I liked it because it gave me insight into what he went through in Vietnam - and what a lot of guys went through.

[Hans Melius · Rating 5 out of 5]

War. War is hell.

Great, easy to read book. Really puts into perspective what a waste the Vietnam War was, and what horrors our soldiers had to endure.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Good Read!

[Han · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Normal is a cycle on a washing machine”

[Grammarbroad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing story of serving in Vietnam written by an incredibly gifted writer. I have to thank the person who recommended it. And I thank the Vietnam vets. WELCOME HOME!

[J.M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't get into it.

[Gregory Olivier · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book about the Vietnam war.