DREAMING THE ENEMY

Two young Vietnam War veterans who fought on opposing sides return home and are struggling to recover from their experience. A powerful, heartfelt story of trauma, resilience and the challenging road to recovery.

Johnny Shoebridge has returned from fighting in the jungles of Vietnam. He no longer carries a weapon – only photos of the dead and a dread of the living. Pursued by a Viet Cong ghost-fighter called Khan, Johnny makes a last stand – knowing that if he cannot lay this spectre to rest, he will remain a prisoner of war for ever. Drawing on courage, loyalty, and love, Johnny struggles to find a way back from the nightmare of war to a sense of hope for the future. An elegant and deeply moving novel, set in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, by one of Australia’s finest writers. Author's note: ‘This novel is written for people who care about the suffering of others...the suffering especially of men ordered to kill, or operate in a military environment, and then left to recover on their own.... I hope it is a book about love....loyalty... hope and caring for others...’ David Metzenthen is unsurpassed in his ability to get inside the minds of complex young men, and make us feel deeply about what happens to them. He is one of Australia’s pre-eminent writers for young adults and children whose books have received numerous awards for excellence.