Major Issues
Author Links
Essay Questions

Major Issues

Tim O達rien is an important fictional chronicler of the Vietnam War and his work is often discussed in the context of war writing. "How to Tell a True War Story" is both the title of one of O達rien痴 short stories and a theme that recurs throughout his works. Critics point out, however, that O達rien痴 fiction deals with moral issues and universal themes that go beyond the war scenarios that he creates: including death, imagination, and memory. Perception of reality has been identified as an important philosophical concern in O達rien痴 literature. Scholars have labeled O達rien a postmodern writer. He intermingles historical and fictional figures; blends fictional and nonfictional writing; and challenges readers to find patterns and meaning in the collage of materials he presents.

Author Links

Tim O達rien on the WWW
This helpful site includes a short biography, lots of interviews, essays, and reviews, selected bibliography, and many links.

Tim O達rien
A critical overview of O達rien痴 major works and his place as the "pre-eminent American novelist of the Vietnam experience."

Featured Author: Tim O達rien
Reviews of O達rien痴 books, plus articles by and about O達rien from The New York Times archives.

Plausibility of Denial
This essay examines O達rien痴 important contribution to the literature of the Vietnam war.

Artful Dodge
A 1991 interview in which O達rien discusses writing in and about Vietnam, violence, suffering, autobiography, and other topics.