Narrating the War on Terror: A conversation with Peter C. Baker and Phil Klay
More than twenty years after 9/11, the Global War on Terror is now the longest military campaign in American history, dragging on even after last year’s withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. How can writers help us make sense of it? In a conflict this sprawling—one that has remained a distant and remote reality for many Americans—what role should literature play in depicting and redefining the war? On June 7th, Peter C. Baker (author of the debut novel Planes, excerpted in issue 26) was joined in conversation by Phil Klay (author of the essay “False Witnesses” in issue 27 and the essay collection Uncertain Ground: Citizenship in an Age of Endless, Invisible War) to discuss these questions, their new books and more.
Moderated by Joseph M. Keegin and co-sponsored by the Seminary Co-op.
Book links:
PLANES by Peter C. Baker: https://www.semcoop.com/planes-1
UNCERTAIN GROUND by Phil Klay: https://www.semcoop.com/uncertain-ground
REDEPLOYMENT by Phil Klay: https://www.semcoop.com/redeployment
Read an excerpt of PLANES here: https://thepointmag.com/literature/se...
Read Phil Klay's "False Witnesses essay": https://thepointmag.com/criticism/fal...