Fallen Angels

What does Myers convey about the ways in which war movies shaped the American concept of war and what it looks like? Does he present them as productive or reductive?

Perry witnesses several deaths during his time in Vietnam. How does the novel portray death in war? How might this relate to its portrayal of war films?

What is the significance of the discussions of Lobel’s sexual orientation? How does this relate to the theme of The Importance of Friendship and Camaraderie Between Soldiers?

Why does Myers use a first-person point of view? How would the novel be different if it were narrated from a different perspective?

Both Perry and Sergeant Simpson are given opportunities to return to the World, but they choose to stay in Vietnam. What do these decisions say about the role of camaraderie between soldiers in war?

Myers contemplates issues of racism and discrimination in American culture. Why do you think that Myers decided to include commentary on these complex issues in a story about the Vietnam war? How do these issues intertwine?

Perry’s brother is an absent but significant character in the novel. How does Myers characterize him? How does this characterization reflect on Perry’s own personality and growth throughout the war?

How does Myers represent South Vietnamese soldiers and the Viet Cong? What might these representations say about the theme of The Ambiguity of War?