Gustav Hasford Standalone Novels books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Gustav Hasford Standalone Novels series?"

"There are three books in the Gustav Hasford Standalone Novels series, published between 1979 and 1992."

Q: "What is the first book in the Gustav Hasford Standalone Novels series?"

"The first book in the Gustav Hasford Standalone Novels series is The Short-Timers, published in 1979."

Q: "Should I read The Phantom Blooper after The Short-Timers?"

"The Phantom Blooper is a direct sequel that continues Private Joker's story, so reading The Short-Timers first is necessary. The sequel is harder to find and less well known than the original, but it extends Hasford's unsparing vision of the Vietnam War."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	The Short-Timers	1979	Gustav Hasford	Buy
2	The Phantom Blooper	1990	Gustav Hasford	Buy
3	A Gypsy Good Time	1992	Gustav Hasford	Buy

Gustav Hasford published only three novels before his death at age 45. The Short-Timers, his 1979 debut, is the work that made his reputation. The book draws directly on his service in Vietnam and covers the war from Parris Island boot camp to the street fighting in Hue. Its influence extended beyond literature when Stanley Kubrick used it as the basis for Full Metal Jacket.

The Phantom Blooper, published in 1990, picks up where The Short-Timers left off, following Private Joker into North Vietnamese captivity. The book is even darker than the first and received mixed reviews, with some critics finding it powerful and others feeling it lacked the control of the debut. A Gypsy Good Time, Hasford’s only non-Vietnam novel, appeared in 1992 and is the hardest of his three books to find.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Gustav Hasford Standalone Novels series?

There are three books in the Gustav Hasford Standalone Novels series, published between 1979 and 1992.

What is the first book in the Gustav Hasford Standalone Novels series?

The first book in the Gustav Hasford Standalone Novels series is The Short-Timers, published in 1979.

Should I read The Phantom Blooper after The Short-Timers?

The Phantom Blooper is a direct sequel that continues Private Joker’s story, so reading The Short-Timers first is necessary. The sequel is harder to find and less well known than the original, but it extends Hasford’s unsparing vision of the Vietnam War.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order