Two remarkable works about soldiers offer unique insights into different aspects of military life. The first, a novella, focuses on marine reserves called back to training during the Korean War. It vividly描绘s the challenges and conflicts they face. The second, a play set in a venereal disease ward during World War II, presents a different side of the military experience.

Both works were published in different years, yet Styron's writing remains eloquent, passionate, and realistic. In "The Long March," the exploration of the relationship between power and the individual is captivating. The storyteller, Culver, records the conflict between Mannix and Pendleton. The long and grueling march ordained by the colonel tests the physical and emotional limits of the men. Styron's description of the artificial life on the base and the men's struggle for freedom and pride is powerful.
Similarly, in "In the Clap Shack," the characters and their interactions are engaging. The doctor's fascination with the causes of the disease and the confessional sessions add an element of drama. The conflict between Magruder and the doctor, as well as the tension between Schwartz and Clark, highlights the themes of individual vs. power and racial prejudice. The play also provides a glimpse into the medical treatment and jargon of that time.
Overall, Styron's works offer a deep and thought-provoking look at soldier life, exploring themes such as power, freedom, pride, and prejudice. His ability to create complex and interesting characters, and to write with such accuracy and beauty, is truly remarkable.

William Styron is a remarkable illustration of an extremely talented writer. He started with great promise, penning one or two outstanding early works. However, he then gradually descended into a lifelong struggle with alcoholism, depression, and various personal demons that slowly extinguished every trace of the great literary artist he could have been. These two short works vividly demonstrate his career trajectory.

THE LONG MARCH is among his earliest books and thus one of his finest. It narrates the story of a forced march by Marine reservists in a remote area of southern swampland during the height of the Korean War. The tale centers around Captain Mannix, a tough yet independent-minded Marine officer, and his growing animosity towards military authority, represented by his commanding officer Colonel Templeton.

Like much of Styron's work, THE LONG MARCH has its successes and failures. On the literal level, as a brutally realistic account of how Marines endure and torment each other during a grueling all-night march, this story is nearly flawless. The physical symptoms of exhaustion and dehydration are documented with almost clinical precision, and Styron's prose is as clean and precise as a surgeon's stainless steel scalpel. On a purely mechanical level, Styron had never written this well before – and he never would again.

But on the symbolic level, THE LONG MARCH is a huge letdown. Styron clearly desires the reader to embrace Mannix as the ultimate rebel outsider. He carefully inserts symbols and clues linking him to figures like Oedipus, Lucifer, and Jesus. The issue is that it simply doesn't hold up. Mannix never comes across as a genuine rebel or a true idealist. He goes from complaining about the colonel's orders to bullying his own men without any sense of irony. He never once seems to be acting out of selfless motives, but only out of personal spite and resentment. When he confronts Colonel Templeton at the end, all the CO has to do is place his hand on his pistol, and "tough guy" Al Mannix folds in a highly anti-climactic way. Indeed, throughout the story, he seems more like a big, dumb, bullying blowhard.

IN THE CLAP SHACK is a play written in the early seventies, long after Styron had succumbed to hopeless alcoholism and depression. The main sign of his decline is an increased sentimentality. In this play, the young Southern recruit wrongly diagnosed with VD is impossibly sweet, pure, and innocent. The insane doctor who attempts to manipulate his mind is a comic book villain. And the dying black man who torments the innocent hero is downright offensive. Again and again, Styron complains in wounded tones about the "reasonless, all-embracing hatred" of black men, as if he's on the verge of some profound philosophical revelation. But he's really just an anguished, guilt-ridden Southerner. He knows where the skeletons are buried, but he wants forgiveness without admitting guilt. He spouts liberal platitudes whenever necessary and distorts American history whenever he can get away with it. He doesn't truly want to understand black anger – he just wants to continue playing the wounded innocent.

IN THE CLAP SHACK is a relatively harmless adolescent fantasy, but his "masterpiece" THE CONFESSIONS OF NAT TURNER is a work of great hypocrisy and malevolence. It's just as dishonest as GONE WITH THE WIND, but not nearly as entertaining.

That's a 4 for The Long March and a 2 for In the Clap Shack.

I guess during the middle of the Vietnam War, it might have seemed like a good moment to make a grotesque mockery of the "melting pot squad" cliches that were so prevalent in 40s Hollywood war movies. However, 40 years later, looking back on it is rather like attempting to have fond memories of toilet training.

The characters and the situation presented in Long March aren't really any less cliched. But the nested fragments of backstory that cut in and out during the first half are structurally quite interesting. Even with the 50s-style cleansing (at least there's no "fugging"), the dialog manages to ring truer. It gives the movie a certain charm and authenticity that makes it stand out from some of the other works of that era.

Perhaps it's this combination of interesting structure and relatively more genuine dialog that earns The Long March a higher rating compared to In the Clap Shack.

Solid and at times humorous tales of US Marines offer a unique perspective.

The Long March, a novella, delves into the lives of middle-aged Reserves in the early 1950s. They have grown accustomed to the peaceful existence of middle-class living but are suddenly called back to duty.

In the Clap Shack, a play, is set in a Urological hospital in the Southern US.

These are not your typical military tales. There is no heroic glorification here. Instead, both works lay bare the hard truths about the Marine Corps. They expose the psychotic authoritarians in charge and the callous apparatus they use to wear down the soldiers.

These stories provide a more realistic and often unflattering look at the military, challenging the traditional image we may have of it. They make us think about the human cost and the less-than-ideal aspects of military life.

Whether it's the disrupted lives of the Reserves or the harsh realities within the military hospital, these tales offer a window into a world that is not always as glamorous or heroic as we might imagine.

An interesting little book awaits the readers. It consists of one novella and a play that vividly depict the life of marines stateside during World War II. The stories within this book are a unique blend of funny and sad elements. The novella takes the readers on a journey through the daily experiences of the marines, filled with humorous incidents that lighten the mood. However, it also delves into the more somber aspects of their lives, such as the separation from their families and the uncertainty of the future. The play, on the other hand, presents a different perspective of the marines' lives. It showcases their camaraderie, their struggles, and their hopes and dreams. The combination of the novella and the play makes this book a truly engaging read, offering a comprehensive look at the life of marines during a tumultuous time in history.

Here is a good story about an alien that those who have gone to war will better understand.

There is also a script that the translator has passed through censorship very cleverly.

This story might offer a unique perspective on the experiences of soldiers.

The alien in the story could symbolize the unknown and the challenges that soldiers face in a foreign land.

By understanding the alien's situation, soldiers may be able to gain a deeper understanding of their own experiences.

The clever translation of the script also adds an interesting element to the story.

It shows how language and communication can be manipulated and how important it is to have a good translator.

Overall, this story and script offer an engaging and thought-provoking look at the world of war and the experiences of those who serve.

The tone of this work vividly reminds me of Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers. In that novel, the author seems to be a fanatic of the military cool-aid. However, there is a significant difference. Unlike Heinlein, who attempts to persuade readers that the military is this wonderful and benevolent leader as long as you shut up and follow the rules, Styron's military here is harsh and seemingly pointless.

Most of the characters in Styron's work are cruel, bordering on sadistic (if not actually crossing that line). They are also ignorant and racist. There are so many derogatory remarks and inappropriate jokes that it would even make Twain ashamed.

To further emphasize the lack of redeeming qualities, the characters are one-dimensional and vapid, and the storytelling is lackluster. Paragraphs go on for several pages without any apparent reason, making the reading experience rather dull and unengaging. It seems as if the author fails to bring the story to life and fails to create characters that readers can truly care about or identify with.

Overall, this work falls short in many aspects and fails to live up to the expectations that might have been set.