"Nobody would publish (The Short-Timers) because Vietnam was a bad dream that we wanted to
tuck away forever.
    "It was like writing about cancer," Hasford says.  "Nobody wanted to read it, nobody wanted to publish it."

    "I wrote little sketches, bits and character studies -- elaborate notes -- until it evolved into a coherent narrative. When I'd submit it, editors would write to say they liked the manuscript.  But they'd always end their letters saying, 'Of course, we could never, never possibly ever publish this.'"

    "Well, it's a good life and a good world, all said and done, if you don't weaken, and if you know that the big wide world hasn't heard from you yet, no, not by a long way, though it won't be long now."