[A] necessary work that succeeds in enlarging the perspective of English-speaking audiences through diverse, well-chosen Vietnamese voices . . . Not only are the translations in Other Moons skilled and considered, they demonstrate the tremendous importance of translation in portraying the complexities of a conflict, its traumas, and its people.
2020-06-03
Life in the shadow of half a century of war.
From 1945 to 1990, Vietnam was a nation ravaged by a succession of wars with France, the United States, and China. This anthology of 20 short stories, appearing in English for the first time, grapples with aspects of that prolonged conflict and the profound emotional toll it inflicted on the Vietnamese people. Unlike much of the large body of fiction from American writers that deals with what the Vietnamese call the “American War,” these stories, most of which are set in rural areas of the country and feature humble characters, focus less on the experience of combat and more on its lingering effects in the national life. That’s true in stories like “Brother, When Will You Come Home?” an account of one man’s search for the remains of his brother, one of the 300,000 declared missing in the war with the United States, or “Birds in Formation,” a reckoning with the pain caused by brothers who fought on opposite sides in that conflict. Several of the stories, including “Ms. Thoai,” “Red Apples,” and “They Became Men,” are noteworthy for their attention to an often overlooked subject—the experiences of women during and after wartime. To provide context to a Western audience, in addition to an informative foreword from Vietnamese novelist Bao Ninh, the editors/translators helpfully include a capsule biography of each author and a useful summary of the story that places it in a historical, and sometimes literary, context. The literary quality of the stories varies widely, as might be expected in a collection that includes both writers of some international stature and others for whom writing is not their principal occupation. Readers seeking a broader perspective on Vietnam will find much of interest here.
Vietnamese writers confront the country’s legacy of conflict in an often revealing and touching, but uneven, anthology.
A unique and deeply intimate portrait of human suffering and resilience through the somber accounts of a generation of Vietnam’s most talented writers, Other Moons conveys both the complexity of a war that remains profoundly misunderstood and the creative diversity of Vietnamese literary styles that are often misread as one-dimensional.
[This] accessible, entertaining and empathetic collection can be picked up by anyone that enjoys a good story or wants to be welcomed into the interior worlds of people who too rarely have their stories heard.
Other Moons makes widely read war fiction from Vietnam available in English translation for the first time. The stories offer a range of perspectives on the impact of the war, bridging the experiences of north and south, the home front and the battlefield, women and men, and even the living and the dead. This book will be welcomed by readers interested in how the war is remembered in Vietnam.
Long awaited in English, these stories are beautiful, nuanced translations from the Vietnamese side of the America-Vietnam War. One of the best collections I have read from postwar Vietnam, the stories illuminate the country’s darkest period with humor, shock, and touching insights. Other Moons is a remarkable achievement. Highly recommended.
Other Moons: Vietnamese Short Stories of the American War and Its Aftermath celebrates Vietnamese voices and gives English speaking audiences the opportunity to discover the Vietnamese perspective of the American War. This anthology proves how important translators are to the publishing industry and how necessary their work is.
Provide[s] a first-hand insight into how the war was perceived, experienced and lived by Vietnamese people.
A unique and deeply intimate portrait of human suffering and resilience through the somber accounts of a generation of Vietnam’s most talented writers, Other Moons conveys both the complexity of a war that remains profoundly misunderstood and the creative diversity of Vietnamese literary styles that are often misread as one-dimensional.
