From Crimson to Black

From Crimson to Black is a profoundly moving novel depicting an aging Vietnam veteran and his struggle to write his memoir while grappling with the debilitating effects of the middle stages of dementia, attempting to rob him of his ability to remember tragic events during the Vietnam War.

From the projects of North Long Beach, California, to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco during the Summer of Love in 1967, and to the treacherous jungles of Vietnam, the narrative takes you on a journey of innocence, patriotism, and honor, capturing his horrific experiences in Vietnam, while showing the beauty of a country torn in half juxtaposed with the horrors of war and reflects on the emotional toll of both his military service and his current struggle with memory loss.

Through this personal journey, the novel highlights themes of memory, trauma, and the enduring impact of war on the human psyche, all while displaying the frailty of youth slamming into the reality of death to his friends and comrades.

From Crimson to Black is a novel that might bring you to tears as you contemplate the harsh reality of wars fought in a foreign land and the toll it takes on our sons and daughters while displaying the body count on the Vietnam Memorial Wall.

-- Stephen A. Martin