New York: Dial Press, 1967. dj. SIGNED hardcover first edition - Dubus's first - and only full-length - novel, a story of military life in peacetime, but in essence about the conflict between idealism and expediency. Dubus served for 5 years in the US Marines and knew well the world of which he was writing. In comments quoted on the back cover, Richard Yates described this as a 'fine, tense, wholly absorbing novel. You can read it at one sitting and miss none of its power, but it deserves to be studied for the skill of its construction and the complexity of its interlocking ironies.' SIGNED on the title page and uncommon thus.