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)

Must read

It’s a chilling story it’s a sad story and it’s a great story I am honored to have listened to it .

OMG, 6 stars!!!! Writer and narrator both!!

This book is one of the finest examples of writing, character development and narration That I have EVER listened to. I am not even going through try to describe or give a synopsis of the book, my words can only be a crude nailing together of rough boards compared to the finely crafted finish carpentry of the author, BUT the narration, by a narrator at the top of his craft, is the difference between 5 star writing and a 6 star listening experience. Just get this!

Great Story

What an amazing story of sacrifice, bravery, and brotherhood. It’s thrilling, suspenseful, and emotional all at once. It’s one of those books I just couldn’t put down, I’d recommend this book to anyone.

entertaining

hated to see it end. the characters were easy to accept as people and seeing them die or sent back with injury felt like losing a friend. some parts were brutal. some funny. some sad. several story lines brought together in a very entertaining way.

Best War Fiction

Don't hesitate to undertake this epic story. It continues to cascade all the way through the finish. This is quite possibly the best war fiction I've ever read.

I haven't read a book this good in a long time.

I have always stuck to historical accounts of prior conflicts. As a prior marine and history buff I was unsure whether I would enjoy a 'novel' about Vietnam per se. I am glad I took a chance (and thanks to all the other reviews) on this book.

I may have to come back and rewrite this review after some time has passed, but it ranks up there with the best of them. The author (and narrator - Pinchot is my favorite) did an incredible job of bringing the details (so satisfyingly accurate) and characters to life. The story arc is riveting, hysterical, maddening and heartbreaking. I was deeply connected to the individuals portrayed in the book; they are so real, and so close, to me.

Honestly, I am somewhat at a loss for words...

(The second (and third) listen will be even better. I usually rotate my favorites back in to my listening every second or third book; I may have to bump this one up again much sooner.)

The best war novel I've ever read.

Same shit, different war. Anyone in the service will recognize the personalities, but most impressive is the way Marlantes captures the emotional bonds that form between men, units, and even the patch of dirt they call home.

I can't stop thinking about this book

I've always judged a good book as one that I enjoy reading and a great book as one that I can't stop thinking about once I've finished it. Two weeks out from finish and there's not a day that goes by that I don't think about something from Matterhorn.

It was tough getting through the first one or two chapters. I found the author's style clumsy and thought the protagonist a bit two dimensional. Heck, there were even times when I felt I was being whacked with an allegory stick. But that was just ME being lazy. once I slowed down and read (listened) I was engrossed.

I want to say so much more but...you need to read it yourself. I will say this thought. If like me, at the end of chapter one you think you don't like Matterhorn, don't stop. The journey may appear arduous and arbitrary and some of the characters a bit simple, but it was, sometimes is and many, many are. Stop looking for meaning in everything and just solider on.

Moving

The story of the men of Bravo Company was extremely powerful. The narrator was dramatic in his story telling and drew you in with each word, sentence and paragraph. This is the best story of Marine in Vietnam I have listened to. It drew emotions from joy to angry. Moving.

damn fine story

Dont know about validity or accuracy but the story is raw and compelling. The narration is excellent and easy to follow. Characters wonderful but this is a no nonsense and quite vivid war story. Worth the listen.