JOHN BOYKO is the author of seven previous books, including Cold Fire- Kennedy's Northern Front, which was shortlisted for the Dafoe Literary Award for non-fiction, and Blood and Daring- How Canada Fought the American Civil War and Forged a Nation, which was shortlisted for a Governor General's Literary Award for its English-to-French translation, Voisins et ennemis. La guerre de Secession et l'invention du Canada. Boyko is an op-ed contributor to the Globe and Mail, Calgary Herald, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Maclean's, and more. He also writes entries for the Canadian Encyclopedia. He has addressed audiences across Canada and appeared on radio and television discussing his books and various historical and current political issues. The Globe and Mail has called Boyko ""a distinguished scholar of Canadian political history"" and the Winnipeg Free Press has praised his ""encyclopaedic knowledge of Canadian history."" Boyko has earned degrees from Trent, Queen's and McMaster universities, served on and chaired many boards, and been elected to municipal office. He lives in Lakefield, Ontario.
ADVANCE PRAISE In his trademark style, Boyko delivers another fast-paced narrative, exploring Canada's contentious and contested involvement in the Vietnam War. . . . In this revealing book, Boyko lays bare the lies and lessons of a foreign war that bled into Canadian society, and which still remain relevant. --Tim Cook, author of The Fight for History PRAISE FOR COLD FIRE [E]ngaging. . . . Cold Fire is a well-researched political page-turner featuring penetrating portraits of the key players, behind-the-scenes manoeuvring, and backbiting comments. Boyko also shows, as others have, that in the most anxious days of the Cold War, Canada was one of America's most trusted allies, yet Canadian leaders could not be pushed around or taken for granted. --Allan Levine, Maclean's Boyko's detail and fluid storytelling make some of what is now ancient history come alive. . . . This book pumps life into the people and times and is an object lesson for current politicians, diplomats and followers of the news. And it busts myths. --Allan Bonner, author of Political Conventions, Troy Media Clearly, Boyko has done his homework. Heavily footnoted and brimming with quotes from primary sources (talking both on and off the record), Cold Fire ably recreates the tense and dangerous era of the early 1960s. Conversational accounts offer a compelling fly-on-the-wall viewpoint. . . . There are also a few bombshells, as well as some refreshingly assertive analysis. . . . Cold Fire illustrates a crucially important pivot point in Canadian politics--and makes for a great cautionary tale. --The Georgia Straight