Book Review: Under A Sickle Moon: A Journey Through Afghanistan

Under A Sickle Moon: A Journey Through Afghanistan on amazon.com


Reader Rating = ******* (7/10)
Date: November 16, 2004 3:48:04 PM GMT+04:00

Salaams! Good insightful description of the author's incredible 1,500 miles journey in 1984 to far-flung parts of Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation. Hodson, a Brit, studied Farsi in university and could converse with the Mujaheddin he travels with and meets along the way. He also has interesting discussions with others in the local population--like the Nuristanis, who are "disdained" by the jihadi fighters for being lazy and having no interest in the war. Nonetheless, they end up making a good living off the thousands of Mujaheddin who traverse their villages to and from bases in Pakistan. A good, close-up portrait of the Afghan Mujaheddin and their fierce determination to face any/all odds in order to rid their country of the hated atheistic usurping power, back when there were no Stingers and they were heavily outgunned (mainly using old Lee Enfield WWII rifles). Hodson has some very interesting spiritual conversations/debates with various Mujaheddin over meagre meals and bowls of hot chai in/beside mosques, their most frequent overnight abode. He meets up with two other journalists and soon after narrowly escape a surprise Soviet offensive on the Panshir Valley--replete with Mi24 attack helicopters and MiGs on low-altitude bombing runs. Hodson and one of the journalists have malaria and/or hepatitis and yet, incredibly, in their weakened state, push hard night after night, over towering mountain passes, till finally reaching the Pakistani border.

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Book Description
In 1984 journalist Peregrine Hodson crossed the Pakistan border into Afghanistan with rebel mujahedin smuggling arms and ammunition, beginning a thousand-mile journey through the war-torn nation. Fluent in Farsi, he was able to observe the war with stunning intimacy and eloquently capture the essence of the Afghan people and their culture. As the travelers survived bombings by Soviet aircraft, an ambush by a rival faction, and becoming swept up in a major offensive, Hodson would come to gain a unique perspective on their hopes for peace and religious devotion. Bringing together travel writing, war reportage, and history, this is a richly rendered portrait of a complex people. "Gripping and moving ... [a] powerful account of a war that has often been described as 'forgotten.'" -- Gail Pool, The Christian Science Monitor "Will long remain the most vivid account of a strange and horrible wrong." -- Ahmed Rashid, The Independent (London) "Vivid and intriguing." -- Jonathan Kirsch, -- Los Angeles Times Book Review --This text refers to the Paperback edition

Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
In the spring of 1984, British journalist Hodson traveled 1500 miles in Afghanistan, walking, living and dodging Soviet attacks with mujahedin, the rebel fighters. In this well-written, vivid, poignant account, he paints a portrait of a struggle that seems to resemble the Vietnamese battle against U.S. forces 20 years ago. Soviet helicopters and jets dominate the skies and seem to have "free-fire" zones, but despite their high-tech edge, they have no effective control in the countryside. And the fighters Hodson met are instilled by a deep conviction in their cause. Typically one mujahed states, "If all the country is burnt, all the trees dead and all the rivers dry, we will still fight. Afghanistan is a battlefield in a war between God and Satan." Hodson's experiences are an adventure tale full of incongruities: he hikes through dangerous territory listening to Bob Dylan and Bach on his Walkman. He accompanies men bringing weapons into the country from Pakistan who then lose their munitions when they are ambushed by rival mujahedin. He loses most of his luggage fording a river and argues about religion with his hosts. Highly recommended.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Disguised as a native, British journalist Hodson traveled in 1984 in northeastern Afghanistan with some mujahedin resistance fighters. Although his account includes friendly camaraderie, beautiful landscapes, and interesting market towns, the gripping emphasis is on the hazards and hardships and the Islamic fervor that inspires the Afghans in their struggle against the Soviets. There are long grinding marches, the author's agonizing digestive problems and fevers, frequent danger in dodging... read more --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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