MISSION M. I. A.

by J. C. Pollock ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 1, 1981

There's certainly emotional potential in the idea that American POWs may still be alive in Vietnam. But, instead of dramatizing this question in the compelling, serious style of a Friendly Fire, first-novelist Pollock has merely turned it into a let's-get-the-old-gang-together-and-go-kill-gooks novel: ""mere"" fiction of the crudest sort. He begins with lurid scenes of POW Frank Detimore being tortured in a 1981 Quang Tri Province prison camp--having been captured eleven years before on a Green Beret mission into Cambodia. But, though Frank manages to smuggle a letter to wife Betty back in the States (via an escaping Montagnard prisoner), the US government refuses to take this as proof that Frank is alive--or to do anything to rescue him. So Betty, bankrolled by her wealthy father, seeks out Frank's old Green Beret buddy Jack Callahan--who brings together the surviving members of that Cambodia mission (a stereotyped multi-ethnic group) and plans an independent, renegade rescue operation. The guys train to get back in shape. Heavy-duty weapons are purchased from the arms-merchant underground. And, while POW Frank is failing in an escape attempt, the ex-Green Beret team heads for Nam, links up with some local mercenaries, and drops into the jungle (a dangerous ""High Altitude-Low Opening"" jump); they find the prison camp, kill the guards, liberate the American POWs, watch approvingly as one of the POWs tortures and immolates the sadistic/psychotic camp adjutant (""Scratch one slope motherfucker""); and they finally get into pretty full-scale warfare with the enemy before returning home. So, though many readers may be initially responsive to the M.I.A. issue, only macho-combat fans with pre-Vietnam sensibilities will want to follow this old-fashioned adventure pulp as it marches crassly, predictably, along.

Pub Date: Jan. 1, 1981

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Crown

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1981

Categories: FICTION