Matterhorn

A Novel of the Vietnam War

By: Karl Marlantes

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 21 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

An incredible publishing story—written over the course of thirty years by a highly decorated Vietnam veteran, a New York Times bestseller for sixteen weeks, a National Indie Next, and a USA Today bestseller—Matterhorn has been hailed as a "brilliant account of war" (New York Times Book Review).

Matterhorn is an epic war novel in the tradition of Norman Mailer's The Naked and the Dead and James Jones' The Thin Red Line. It is the timeless story of a young marine lieutenant, Waino Mellas, and his comrades in Bravo Company, who are dropped into the mountain jungle of Vietnam as boys and forced to fight their way into manhood. Standing in their way are not merely the North Vietnamese but also monsoon rain and mud, leeches and tigers, disease and malnutrition. Almost as daunting, it turns out, are the obstacles they discover between each other: racial tension, competing ambitions, and duplicitous superior officers. But when the company finds itself surrounded and outnumbered by a massive enemy regiment, the marines are thrust into the raw and all-consuming terror of combat. The experience will change them forever.

Matterhorn is a visceral and spellbinding novel about what it is like to be a young man at war. It is an unforgettable story that transforms the tragedy of Vietnam into a powerful and universal story of courage, camaraderie, and sacrifice—a parable not only of the war in Vietnam but of all war, and a testament to the redemptive power of literature.

A bonus PDF is included, with maps, a Chain of Command hierarchy, a glossary, and other interesting facts and information.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2010 Karl Marlantes (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“ Matterhorn is one of the most powerful and moving novels about combat, the Vietnam War, and war in general that I have ever read.” (Dan Rather)

“Brings a long, torturous war back to life with realistic characters and authentic, thrilling combat sequences.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“Unforgettable.… A beautifully crafted novel of unrivaled authenticity and power, filled with jungle heroism, crackerjack inventiveness, mud, blood, brotherhood, hatred, healing, terror, bureaucracy, politics, unfathomable waste, and unfathomable love." (Christina Robb, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist)

Sobering and Raw

While I am glad I stayed with the book to the end, it was a bit too technical for me, a female who has never had any military exposure. Much of the terminology and references were unfamiliar. Even so, the planning, execution and outcomes of the various scrimmages with the objective of 'taking the mountain' were gripping. Writing was profoundly moving and thought provoking, especially with regard to interaction of company troops. For those who have been close to such action, I am sure there will be moments of serious and possibly painful deja vu. If you can handle revisiting such dire circumstances this skillfully written manuscript is for you.

War is hell. Really. Not just because of the enemy

I grew up hearing stories about the conflict in Vietnam and was just one year away from draft age when it ended.

This story does a great job of bringing back the feel of that era. What these kids are put through because of miscommunication and outright hostility from their superiors is astounding. Technically it seems accurate but I will defer to someone who was there to make the final call. It's a compelling listen which more than once kept me in my vehicle after I had arrived at my destination.

The different voices are good but the switches between them is a little awkward. The ending is a bit anticlimactic.

An experience like no other

First off, this novel--to me--stands with the best war novels ever written. It's astoundingly good, and though I have never experienced combat, I felt an authenticity and conviction that rang disturbingly true to me.

But the narration was out of this world. The narrator is subtle with the inflections and dialects--but uses every hint of the story to cue his performance. You hear rage, you hear sadness, utter exhaustion, you hear someone speaking with a collapsed lung, you hear drunken friends, you hear horror. It reminded me why audio books are so damn important. This performance was a work of art on its own, and did the novel the justice it deserves.

Highly recommended. Worth every penny.

Amazing and gripping novel!

This is a very real-feeling and embedded account of what it was like to be a grunt in the Vietnam war. Vivid details, loveable characters and solid storytelling throughout. I couldn’t stop listening to this book! The performance was probably the best I have heard since embracing e books two years ago.

A walk with U.S. marines in Vietnam War

It took me a few chapters to get into the narrative style in the audio version, with the narrator switching character points of view in the first-year buy his voice maintaining a mostly third-person tone. Once I got used to the (lack of) vocal variety, I felt like I was in a company of men deep in the bush of the Vietnam War, risking my life and others by following the sometimes vicarious and uninformed commands of superiors in the rear, sometimes by the always-lurking and highly professional Viet Cong soldiers, and sometimes by the dangers posted by the jungle itself, whether tigers, mosquitos and the diseases they carry, or the skin rot of being wet and dirty for weeks on end.

Matterhorn took me into the U.S. soldiers' boots like never before, especially in a work of fiction. An enjoyable and informative read.

As a former grunt and combat veteran…

The only reason Matterhorn did not get five stars from this reader is because I’d read the Forgotten Soldier years ago, and in my mind, it remains the perfect War Reminiscence/Novel...But this book is certainly in league with “Once an Eagle” “From Here to Eternity”. “The Cross of Iron”. “Dad Boot” and other sobering reflections. Disclaimers up front: I am not a Vietnam veteran - and do not claim to have endured these particular brutalities - but I do know the author’s descriptions of infantry agony, the politics of command and his revelation of personalities that sweeps across-the-military-board will resonate with anyone who has ever shrugged on an overweight shouldered overwhelming burdens and “served with Joe.” . Even before I looked up the author I knew he’d been there and done that...a recipient of the Navy Cross, Purple Heart, etc confirmed he not only was telling HIS story, but that he had truly “been in the shit.” Bronson Pinchot does a superb job with the voices of the multiple characters. Highly recommended For those who did go… And particularly for those who did not.

Excellent

One of the best audiobooks! Great story and the narrator is excellent. I found this book to be every bit as good as The Help both in story and narration.

Illustration of the insanity of war

Felt the author and reader did a good job describing the insanity of war - specifically Vietnam. Wished for more closure. Maybe a follow up?

Excellent Chronicle of RVN troop life

This is a very long listen and it does take awhile to not only distinguish the various characters, but be patient with the storyline. Wow, once it gets it head of steam, it is really a great history lesson viewed through the eyes of the Marines on the ground in a winless war. Having served there, I could easily understand both the frustrations and the meaningless of the entire war with young American lives being thrown into situation not of their choosing. Depicting the constant frustration, racial tensions, and men doing their duty in spite of ridiculous orders from above, you have the reality of life in Vietnam during the war. I would consider this a must listen for anyone who has served in a war conflict overseas.

Very entertaining and realistic, but crude

I thought this book was very well-written, and very entertaining. I found myself feeling like the main characters were friends, and I couldn't wait to see how the plot developed. The detail, narration and story were very well done (the book's narration starts off horribly, be patient for a couple of minutes). My only complaint was the language. While I'm sure the crude language of the soldiers is very realistic, I found the swearing to be excessive and unnecessary. If you have more delicate tastes in entertainment, this book is not for you.