A review by johndiconsiglio
Redeployment by Phil Klay

4.0

There’s no shortage of fine lit on the Iraq war, from the poetic Yellow Birds to the satirical Billy Lynn to brilliant nonfiction like The Good Soldiers. Redeployment, boots-on-the-ground stories by a Marine vet, is a worthy if uneven addition. It’s as gritty & unsparing as you’d expect. At its best, it leaves you dazed & disturbed. Still, I was struck by its familiarity. Not Klay’s fault. He writes what he’s seen. But where are the other viewpoints? Where is the war through a woman’s eyes? A gay soldier? Heck, an Iraqi? There’s room in this cannon for more voices.