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A review by stephen_arvidson
The Beardless Warriors by Richard Matheson
5.0
Germany. December, 1944: 18-year old Everett "Hack" Hackermeyer joins a squad of fellow beardless warriors during the assault on the Siegfried Line, only to find himself thrust into a maelstrom of death, carnage, and fear. Led by Sergeant Cooley, a grizzled proto-father, Hackermeyer and a band of ragtag youths race across war-torn enemy lines in an effort to capture a small stain on the map called Saarbach. While there are no assurances with war, one thing remains certain: every one of these young American boys will be forever changed as a result.
Having read Matheson's first six novels, including I Am Legend, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and A Stir Of Echoes, I feel comfortable in saying that The Beardless Warriors is my favorite of the lot, thus far. Not only is the character development exceptional when compared to Matheson's previous works, but there is also a level of refinement in his writing style that lends itself to this powerful story. Matheson's prose are quick and concise, offering little respite, and he makes the reader feel as though they are actually there amidst the riveting action. You can almost feel the reverberation of the mortar shells slamming into the ground from all around, and the zipping of bullets flying just overhead. Matheson's treatment of Hackermeyer's inner turmoil is compelling, and I thought it fitting how this inexperienced youth ultimately grows to become an assured leader, guiding a fresh batch of cherries into the bloody brotherhood of combat.
The horrors of war are real, as this book deftly reminds us, and Matheson (having served a tour of duty with the 87th Division in Europe at the tail-end of the war) masterfully details both the grim brutality of modern warfare and how it degrades us as human beings. Despite being a tad rough around the edges, The Beardless Warriors is a solid war novel, both engrossing and redemptive; a page-turning experience.
Having read Matheson's first six novels, including I Am Legend, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and A Stir Of Echoes, I feel comfortable in saying that The Beardless Warriors is my favorite of the lot, thus far. Not only is the character development exceptional when compared to Matheson's previous works, but there is also a level of refinement in his writing style that lends itself to this powerful story. Matheson's prose are quick and concise, offering little respite, and he makes the reader feel as though they are actually there amidst the riveting action. You can almost feel the reverberation of the mortar shells slamming into the ground from all around, and the zipping of bullets flying just overhead. Matheson's treatment of Hackermeyer's inner turmoil is compelling, and I thought it fitting how this inexperienced youth ultimately grows to become an assured leader, guiding a fresh batch of cherries into the bloody brotherhood of combat.
The horrors of war are real, as this book deftly reminds us, and Matheson (having served a tour of duty with the 87th Division in Europe at the tail-end of the war) masterfully details both the grim brutality of modern warfare and how it degrades us as human beings. Despite being a tad rough around the edges, The Beardless Warriors is a solid war novel, both engrossing and redemptive; a page-turning experience.