When It Get's Dark

by Gary Topolewski

When It Gets Dark is a 600,000 word fictional Vietnam War drama based on the real events. An even more unsettling Apocalypse Now when two idealistic West Point grads fight in Vietnam their idealism and confidence takes a beating in their first tour. One platoon leader questions everything whereas his counterpart feels the need to join Special Forces to really make a difference in the war. Haunted by his charges being killed, maimed and disabled he questions his sanity about being a combat leader fighting over the same piece of real estate over and over.In the stripped-down, barbaric life of an infantryman, Michael McLachlan, a Harvard bound rich kid from Philadelphia elects to go to West Point and dismiss his chosen destiny to be an egg head lawyer working the Wall Street racket. His classmate Frenchie Goulet convinces him not to abandon Vietnam after one combat tour and join him in Special Forces. As he eventually agrees to Goulet’s badgering friends and family alike question his mental state. As they both become top secret SOG commandos they realize how dark their work is and how truly convoluted the Army is, the chain of command and other meddling departments of the US government and double dealing politicians. Even the four branches of the military go to war amongst themselves over turf wars, control of assets and bombing at the cost of the lives of Special Forces troops. Further the book explores the double dealing involving the State Department, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Congress and President Nixon as Watergate slowly destroys any chance of saving South Vietnam.When It Gets Dark is deeply inspired by the heroic men and women who served in Vietnam, a glimpse of the sacrifices and dedication it takes to be a soldier along with the frustration of fighting in that endless war.

726 pages, Paperback

Published September 12, 2018

Reviews

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written novel about the Viet Nam War! Two young lieutenants fresh out of West Point come face-to-face with the realities of war, themselves and the way things are in the real world. A 600,000 word novel that is as real as it gets. Take it from me, a 3 1/2 tour Nam vet this is the real deal! Excellent character development, action plus in a story full of angst, fear, and the rest of the intricacies of a war! I read this book in shifts a little each day as it brought home to me way too many memories but it ws cathartic and I enjoyed the read!

[Patti Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting perspective on Vietnam war

The premise takes you from gung no West point ring knockers to burned out cynical major. You suffer with him every step of the way as you see a winnable was was lost because the politicians and flag officers didn't want to do what was necessary and take the risks but rather fed the Berlin meat grinder for money and power ...the true losers were the grunts who were sold out by their own country and leaders

[David Hinkley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Giant Metaphor

Everything any tv show or movie that tried to explain Vietnam is in this book. Unrealistic vignettes and a dour outlook on the nation and the services. He got the rain right and some of the stink anyway. Ended up a chore to finish. A lot to read and walk away dissatisfied.

[Fred Ankersen]

The story was a typical VietNam war story, offering a bit of a return to my youth. That part I enjoyed.
However, there were far too many lapses in grammar and sentence construction. There were enough that I had to deliberately over-look them. Some were egregious enough that sentences had to be re-read for clarity.
I think this story could have been broken into two or three different stories.