"An all inclusive cultural history of the Vietnam War and its continuing impact upon contemporary American society."-- Library Journal "Coming to terms with the Vietnam War--the war that America lost--has been a long, grueling struggle, mired by historical denial and distortion and, as Franklin so formidably reveals, myths that have become entrapped in American culture. He presents a scholarly, yet personal and lucid investigation of how these myths evolved and why people depend upon them to answer the confusing questions that have become the legacy of the war."-- ForeWord "Franklin has written on other subjects over the years, but Vietnam has inspired some of his most probing work. Cogent cultural criticism."-- Booklist "Memories change and reconstruct the past, and in this provocative study, Rutgers cultural historian Franklin argues that the American memory of Vietnam has left fact and experience behind so that what remains is myth and denial."-- Publishers Weekly "A brilliant reinterpretation of the Vietnam War, showing how this dreadful war continues to infect the political imagination of America. Of particular value is Franklin's unique capacity to link the fantasies of science fiction with the construction of grotesque political myths glorifying warrior illusions.

At a time when the mainstream is struggling to put a silver lining around the collective memory of the Vietnam War, this book is indispensable."--Richard Falk, Princeton University "What marks this provocative and engaging book is H. Bruce Franklin's steadfast resistance to a society that takes 'plausible deniability' as its first principle. The range of subjects considered, Franklin's clear-headed analysis, and his impressive knowledge all make this an important contribution."--Marilyn B. Young, author of The Vietnam Wars, 1945-1990.