Bozeman Magazine

From Fobbit author David Abrams, is a compelling novel of war, brotherhood, and America. Spanning eight hours, the novel follows a squad of six AWOL soldiers as they attempt to cross war-torn Baghdad on foot to attend the funeral of their leader, Staff Sergeant Rafe Morgan. Cut off from all communication with their company headquarters back on the base, they find themselves struggling to survive in an inhospitable landscape. As the men make their way to the funeral, they recall the most ancient of warriors while portraying a cross section of twenty-first- century America—sometimes strong, sometimes weak, but subject to the same human flaws as all of us.

Drew is reliable in the field but unfaithful at home. Cheever, overweight and whining, is a friend to no one—least of all himself. Specialist Olijandro, or O, is distracted by dangerous romantic thoughts of his ex-wife. Fish’s propensity for violence is what drew him to the military and could be a catalyst for the day’s events. Park is the quiet one, but his quick thinking may make him the day’s hero. And platoon commander Dmitri “Arrow” Arogapoulos is stalwart, yet troubled with questions about his own identity and sexuality. As the six march across Baghdad, their complicated histories, hopes, and fears are told in a chorus of voices that merge into a powerful portrait of the modern war zone and the deepest concerns of us all, military and civilian alike. Moving, thoughtful, funny, and smart,

BRAVE DEEDS is a gripping story of combat and perseverance, and an important addition to the oeuvre of contemporary war fiction.

David Abrams, a U.S. Army veteran, is the author of Fobbit, which was a 2012 New York Times Notable Book and a finalist for the Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction. His stories have appeared in Esquire, Glimmer Train, Narrative, and other publications. He lives in Butte, Montana.