Standing Orders by John Hooker

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Young Australian subaltern David Andersen battles the obscene and inhuman horrors of the Korean War and, together with English officer Tom Fleetwood, faces imprisonment and interro gation by the North Koreans and a dramatic escape Editorial Reviews From Library Journal This is a novel about old-fashioned virtues: bravery and responsibility, decency and caring. Hooker ( The Bush Soldiers ) describes the maturing of a young man under the stress of war. Military school had sheltered young David Andersen from family tensions and provided him with the chance to excel. Trained to be an officer, David proves himself a hero in Korea, first in battle and then as a prisoner of war. He eventually leaves the army; he can no longer tolerate killing. Home in Australia, he tries to piece his life together. He falls in love with a young married woman; reluctantly, they decide that they must deal honestly with her elderly husband. The ending is a shocker. This fine novel offers no frills; it simply tells an engrossing and moving story well. It is good in all the places a story should be, in characterization, action, and setting. David Keymer, Dean of Students, SUNY Coll. of Technology, Utica Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. Show more