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26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
well researched, but slow buildup, June 4, 2007
This review is from: MacArthur's War: A Novel of the Invasion of Japan (Hardcover)
This appears to be only the second book in English that describes a fictional invasion of Japan in the Second World War. The book has two points of departure. The first is where the US loses the Battle of Midway. Very plausible, because the actual US victory in our history was arguably a freakish event. The Americans had very good and improbable luck. But, as the text logically posits, even after losing at Midway, the Americans would still claw their way back, with immensely greater material.
The main point of departure is when the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos undergoes a meltdown. So the Trinity test at Alamogordo never happens, and atomic bombs are never developed. As an aside, there are two references to a White House meeting, where a fat, one star general shakes hands with Roosevelt. The general is never mentioned by name. However he is Leslie Groves, in charge of the Manhattan Project. The authors show good research in doing this, and knowledgable readers will pick up on it.
The Los Alamos accident is plausible. There was one actual instance in our history when a meltdown came close to happening. What stretches credulity is that the incident depicted in the text would cause the entire Project to fail. Oppenheimer, Feynman and Frisch are mentioned as being at that accident, in what are essentially cameo appearances. Even if all 3 had died (and this is not made explicit), the Project might still have chugged along, albeit delayed. Perhaps sufficient to cause an invasion. Without needing a delay long enough that atomic bombs were never made.
The invasion follows actual contingency plans drawn up by the American high command. These plans were declassified decades ago. They used code names based on American cars. Hence invasion beaches like Buick, Roadster, Pontiac. If the invasion had really occurred, these beach names would be as familiar to you as Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno and Sword. Some American readers wouldn't be here, because your fathers or grandfathers would have perished on the Japanese beaches.
The biggest problem with the book is that the titled "Invasion of Japan" only really happens in the second half. The first half does a thorough job of laying the groundwork. Especially in describing the internecine squabbles between the US army (aka. MacArthur) and the US navy. But in some ways, the groundwork is almost too thorough. A reader could well get impatient at the slow methodical buildup.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worth the struggle, May 29, 2007
This review is from: MacArthur's War: A Novel of the Invasion of Japan (Hardcover)
Two things to state up front: (1) this book is worth the time and the money and (2) the first half of the book is a struggle.
This is a well-written and exhaustively researched novel on the invasion of Japan by the United States. The first half of the book is focused on setting up the premise as to why we had to invade. There are a mix of characters who provide the viewpoint throughout the book, as well as some who appear and disappear. Many of these characters are very well-known historically (MacArthur; Roosevelt; King; Nimitz) others not so well known, but equally as significant historically (Vinson; Spruance; Halsey). The real "meat" of the story comes from the viewpoint of the "invented" people who have to carry out the biddings of the men in charge. The first half of the book is spent on intra-service rivalries and politics, and national politics to a lesser degree. To be honest, it dragged a good deal of the time.
The second half of the book made up for the first half (which was historically interesting, if not always exciting). The actual invasion of Japan was well-done, and the characters gained more depth and dimension. The combat scenes are very well written. The focus on a number of Japaneses characters was a welcome expansion of what is typically done, and it was also done with a great deal of dimension. There are very few cardboard characters in this book. (MacArthur's Chief of Staff, Sutherland, being a notable exception). The inclusion of Emporer Hirohito, as well as Japanese military and civilian characters, added a great deal to the book.
There is only one major shortcoming as far as I was concerned. The authors in a note following the text point to the Battle of Midway as being the point of departure in this alternate history. I know it's their book and they are in the best position to know, but I have to disagree. In the book, Japan wins the Battle of Midway. However, the United States achieves at least a strategic victory later in the mythical Battle of the Solomon Sea, so things are pretty much back to where they were historically at that point (1944). The true point of departure is when a catastrophic failure in New Mexico literally blows the Manhattan Project to pieces. That is why the invasion was necessary. If we had still developed the atomic bomb, the previous battles would have been largely irrelevant. The Manhattan Project is dealt with, and ended, in a few pages, and in a way that was completely unrealistic. I don't care how technologically ignorant we were in 1944 and 1945, no scientist would have done what the greatest physicists in the world did to cause the "oops" that ended the development of atomic weapons. It's a small point, but still one that is bothersome.
All in all, this is definitely worth your time.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yesterday and Today, April 5, 2008
This review is from: MacArthur's War: A Novel of the Invasion of Japan (Hardcover)
When I was a teenager, I was fascinated by the early 20th century, particularly the period just before WWI and continuing through WWII. Although I read other history and fantasy/sci fi, the sheer magnitude and the compelling nature of the stories during that period kept me coming back. Completely identifying with the Allies and the Americans, both wars involved extreme hardship, were filled with larger-than-life characters, had masterful and (in the case of WWII) truly villainous enemies, and ended in victory (the good guys won). While WWI was not as satisfying to me at the time as WWII, it was the perfect set up to explain the events that lead to WWII, and the first war set up the victory in WWII as so much sweeter. So I read biographies, histories, technical discussions -- indeed, it got so bad that my grandmother, who lived through and lost much in the war, berated me for reading so much about Hitler.
Later, as I came to study history and dig a bit deeper, I started learning about, and exploring the darker side of American involvement in the wars. I began to understand the true horror of global war. While the stories remained compelling in the sense of how humans respond to far more trying times, my boyhood enthusiasm was significantly tempered. A deeper understanding made me question things a bit more. In time, I discovered alternative history and became fascinated by historical twists and their repercussions.
With this background, I thoroughly enjoyed Michael's and Doug's (the books are truly co-creations of both men) Fox on the Rhine and Fox at the Front duology. That appreciation continued unabated in their latest, MacArthur's War. I could revisit my youthful enjoyment of an epic and compelling story of good vs. evil. I was also given some insight into the humanity of the enemy, the horror of the Japanese treatment of prisoners (while also getting a window into why they acted as they did), the sheer panic and mind-boggling bravery/stubbornness of soldiers, and the darkness inherent in all of us, even the "good guys." Finally, I could explore an interesting series of events, alternative to what actually happened. Kudos to both authors for the nostalgia they awoke.
The compelling story lines, both political- and combat-oriented, were highly entertaining. While not as action-packed as the combat, I found the beginning political maneuverings to be more interesting. I've read many, many fight/combat scenes. As I get older, they hold less attraction. The interplay of personalities, motivations, societal forces, and luck that occurs in the political arena, both in the halls of power of the Americans and the Japanese, presented me with something novel and unique. I enjoyed the portrayal of the various personalities of the major historical figures, and seeing their impact on the nameless, faceless support personnel (who were given both names and faces in this book). No portrayal of a historical figure is going to be 100% accurate, or without some kind of coloring. The question is whether the characters are grounded, interesting, and serve the story. I found those answers in the affirmative in MacArthur's War.
The slice-of-life aspects, exploring what day-to-day life was like for common and uncommon folks in those days, are also a special part of this book. The impact of nascent sci-fi on a few of the soldiers, the origin of skip bombing, the lot of Japanese citizens (particular when faced with the horror of the American fire bombing), how a combat veteran brings himself to return to battle again and again, the crucial part that Roosevelt's evening soirees played in policy formation -- all these were fascinating glimpses of another time and another way of life.
Finally, despite the numerous books I've read about WWII, I've never undertaken any systematic study of the time, its tech, or its events. I do know that Doug and Michael are pretty serious about their research, and the impression given by MacArthur's War is one of accuracy and precision. No doubt they got some things wrong, and perhaps even purposely adjusted some facts to better fit the storyline. None of that lessened this book's enjoyment for me. The details are interesting, none of them struck me as ridiculous, and they helped enrich the larger story. All good, in my view.
As a final note, like Matt, I have a disclaimer to make. I have been good friends with Michael for longer than either of us care to remember. I've spoken to him on several occasions about the book, and its drafting process. It took me a while to clear my plate enough to read this book, and a bit longer still to write this review, but it wasn't for a lack of positive impressions. If I didn't think so highly of the book, I simply would have kept my peace. In this case, that alternative never crossed my mind.
Thanks for an enjoyable read, gentlemen. I recommend it to all.
Alex Jurkat
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