Redeployment

by Phil Klay
Redeployment cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Short Story Collections
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Paperback • £9.99
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  • ID: 8013
  • Added: 2025-12-19
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9780857864253
  • Publisher: Canongate Books
  • Published: 2014-03-06
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Redeployment is a critically acclaimed collection of stories that takes readers to the frontlines of the Iraq War and beyond, exploring the profound impact of combat on soldiers and their loved ones. Through vivid and haunting narratives, the book asks us to understand what happened in Iraq and what happened to the soldiers who returned, offering a poignant and unflinching look at the emotional and psychological toll of war. Praise for Redeployment includes accolades from notable figures such as Barack Obama, who described it as 'powerful,' and the New York Times, which called it 'searing.' The collection has been celebrated for its raw and honest portrayal of the soldier experience, making it a must-read for those seeking to understand the human side of war.

Reviews
Liz Durano's Blog · Liz Durano · 2018-03-05
harrowing 4.50

The collection is unflinchingly raw and powerful, offering a stark and unforgiving portrayal of the Iraq War. The stories are praised for their emotional depth and ability to convey the complexities of war.

Liz Durano from her personal blog lauds Redeployment for its unflinching portrayal of the Iraq War. She finds the stories to be emotionally raw and powerful, capturing the stark realities of war with a level of detail that is both harrowing and insightful. Durano appreciates the collection's ability to explore the psychological and emotional toll of war on soldiers, making it a compelling and thought-provoking read. The reviewer highlights the collection's emotional depth and its ability to convey the complexities of war in a way that is both honest and impactful.

Quick quotes

    Redeployment by Phil Klay is a collection of short stories about the Iraq War. It's unflinchingly raw, unforgiving, and powerful.

    It's listed as one of the best books about war.

    The stories are emotionally raw and powerful.

Supposedly Fun · Supposedly Fun · 2015-01-08
insightful 4.25

The collection is praised for its ability to explore different aspects of the Iraq War, providing a comprehensive view of its implications. The stories are both hilarious and sad, offering a unique perspective on the war experience.

The reviewer from Supposedly Fun appreciates the way Redeployment explores various aspects of the Iraq War, providing a comprehensive view of its implications. The stories are noted for their ability to capture the emotional and psychological toll of war on soldiers, as well as the broader societal impacts. The reviewer finds the collection to be both hilarious and sad, offering a unique and insightful perspective on the war experience. The stories are praised for their emotional depth and ability to convey the complexities of war in a way that is both honest and impactful.

Quick quotes

    What I really liked about Redeployment was the way Klay explores many different avenues of the Iraq war to give a full view of its implications.

    It's the best thing written so far on what the war was like.

    The stories are both hilarious and sad.

The Guardian · Stephanie Merritt · 2014-03-26
powerful 4.00

The collection offers a nuanced and powerful portrayal of the psychological toll of war on soldiers, capturing the complexities of their experiences. The stories are both harrowing and insightful, providing a raw and unflinching look at the realities of military life.

Stephanie Merritt from The Guardian delves into the intricate and often contradictory emotions of soldiers depicted in Redeployment. The stories are praised for their sophisticated portrayal of the psychological and emotional struggles that soldiers face, both during and after their deployments. Merritt highlights the collection's ability to capture the monotony, bureaucracy, and violence that make up a soldier's daily life, making it a compelling and thought-provoking read. The reviewer appreciates the raw and unflinching nature of the stories, which provide a deep and nuanced understanding of the war experience.

Quick quotes

    Here we have a series of increasingly sophisticated portraits of men pulled apart by competing and contradictory feelings.

    It's no coincidence that Klay's stories are so powerful.

    The collection offers a raw and unflinching look at the realities of military life.

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