Night Letters: Inside Wartime Afghanistan

In this impressionistic first-person report on the Afghanistan war, emphasis is on the unique character of the mujahedin , the fiercely independent Muslim rebels, and their valiant struggle against the Soviet invaders. Schultheis, who covered the war for several U.S. newspapers, was impressed by the ``incredibly inappropriate sense of humor'' displayed by the Afghans during military operations. Typical example: a tribesman expresses his joy over the return of a friendly detachment by firing a rocket at them. Miraculously, no one was injured. All parties considered the explosive ``Welcome Home'' hilarious. Many vignettes and anecdotes in this entertaining book fall under the category of what Schultheis calls ``runaway craziness rushing into yet crazier craziness.'' Traveling across the bleak mountain ranges of Afghanistan with various guerrilla units including one he refers to as ``a merry band of muj straight out of Robin Hood,'' the author had several close calls, most of which he seems to have enjoyed. In this chronicle of high adventure Schultheis succeeds in conveying his exhilaration to the reader. (Apr.)