Forward, Children!

"Forward, Children!" by Paul Alexander Bartlett is an anti-war novel written in the late 20th century, nearly a decade after the author’s death. The novel vividly depicts the harrowing experiences of soldiers in World War II, focusing on tank warfare and the emotional toll of combat. The central character, Orville Dennison, navigates both the physical and psychological challenges of warfare while coping with memories of life before the chaos of battle. The opening of "Forward, Children!" sets the stage for the intense and grim atmosphere of tank warfare. It introduces Orville Dennison, a soldier awakened by his comrade Landel amidst the harsh realities of their situation—cold nights, the noise of distant shellfire, and the camaraderie among his crew as they prepare for their next meal and the day ahead. The narrative alternates between the immediate concerns of survival and Dennison's reflective memories of home and the passage of time, establishing a poignant conflict between hope and the brutal experiences of war. As Dennison prepares for the challenges ahead, readers are drawn into a world where the echoes of humanity clash with the starkness of military life.