All the Ruined Men

Stories

By: Bill Glose

Narrated by: Shawn Compton

Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

For fans of Phil Klay, Kevin Powers, and Tim O'Brien: Dramatic, powerful, authentic short stories of soldiers fighting a "forever war," in combat and back home.

Combat takes a different toll on each soldier; so does coming home. All the Ruined Men by Bill Glose comprises linked stories that show veterans struggling for normalcy as they grapple with flashbacks, injuries (both physical and psychological), damaged relationships, loss of faith, and loss of memory. Beginning in 2003, All the Ruined Men spans ten years, from the confident beginning of America’s “forever war” to the confusion and disillusionment that followed.

As a former paratrooper and Gulf War veteran, author Bill Glose is closely bound to these stories. Drawing from his own experiences and military knowledge, Glose presents a cast of complex and sympathetic characters: young men who embraced what seemed like a war of just cause, who trained and fought and lived and died together, and who have returned to families, wives, children, civilian life, and an America that has lost its way.

Unforgettable, moving, filled with moments of anguish, doubt, love, hope, and other emotions, All the Ruined Men is a singular debut collection.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.

©2022 Bill Glose (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Brutally honest.... An important book all Americans should read to understand the fallout from 20 years of continuous war." (Brian Castner, author of The Long Walk)

"This accomplished book is more than a collection of war tales. It's a reckoning." (Matt Gallagher, author of Empire City and Youngblood)

"Glose rivets the reader’s attention with gritty, convincing detail.... A tribute to those whose lives were wrecked by fighting in America’s longest war, All the Ruined Men is one of the most moving collections I’ve ever read." (David Poyer, author of Violent Peace and Heroes of Annapolis)