Days of Infamy

Well worth reading

In the alternative history novel Pearl Harbor, authors Gingrich and Forstchen explored what might have happened if Admiral Yamamoto had directly led the attack on Pearl Harbor, rather than staying in Japan. Following up on that successful endeavor, they have written Days of Infamy which picks up right after the attack. As Days of Infamy opens, Admiral Yamamoto's task force of six carriers, supporting cruisers, destroyers and two major battleships launch an attack from the northwest of the Hawaiian Islands. They catch the American battleships lined up in rows and with a succession of three waves of planes eliminate the majority of capital ships of the United States Pacific naval forces. There is fear of an imminent invasion by Japanese troops and panic spreads throughout the islands. On a following night the Japanese battleships Akagi and Hiei launch a bombardment of much of the Island of Maui's infrastructure, firing repeatedly with their fourteen inch guns with shells the size of small cars. Admiral Bill 'Bull' Halsey is off to the southwest of Oahu with the aircraft carrier Enterprise carrying out special training when they hear of the attack. They desperately try to get confirmation of what and where the attacking forces are. Halsey also tries to get any information of possible ground invasions. He launches a series of scouting probes in the areas where they suspect the Japanese might be. Meanwhile, Admiral Draemel has collected several destroyers and one cruiser which managed to get out of Pearl Harbor and launches a series of attacks at the Akagi and Hiei using the cruiser's firepower to help suppress the firing on the destroyers while he launches attack after attack on the Japanese ships with the torpedoes of the destroyers. We're all aware of the history of the attack on Pearl Harbor and those who lived through it can almost recite the events. In Days of Infamy, however, the authors have added a fascinating twist to the story with the simple question of "what if?" What if Yamamoto had accompanied his fleet to Pearl Harbor? The authors have convincingly created an alternative history that reads true-to-life, wrapping real historical events with imagined twists. I found myself wrapped up in this account as the authors successfully brought history to life - I couldn't put the book down. The photos from the Naval archives help to refresh memories and support the story. Quill says: This story is well worth reading.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Well done sequal to "Pearl Harbor"

This book is a direct continuation to Pearl Harbor. It was action packed and interesting story of what could have happened in the days immediately after Dec 7, 1941.

The book was action packed and a page turner from cover to cover.

The Dark Days of WWII could have been Darker. Check this out!

A great follow on to the original Alternate History novel "Pearl Harbor", by the same authors. Picking up right where Pearl Harbor left off, we follow the same cast of characters, both American and Japanese, through the night and day after the Dec. 7 attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The daring Admiral Yamamoto has kept his raiding task force in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands, seeking to complete his victory over the U.S. Fleet by locating and sinking the few carriers plying the Pacific waters. The action is non-stop, deadly, but rife with courage on both sides. A great read for any history buff!

disappointed

not my cup o' tea

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Looks good

ToraToraTora

0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

i didnt even read the book b ut it looks good

lol

0 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

This Book is a Great "What If"

I belived that if the head of the Japan's Navy did lead the Pearl Harbor attack, this is how it would have played out. I would tell history fans to buy this book and the other books my Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

days of infamy

I thought the book remained close to history, but gave a different slant in the "what if" catagory. I had hoped that the pages would continue on through the entire war, but I guess that's for another book.

Excellent Revisionist History

I love the books by Gingrich and Forstchen. Their Gettysburg series awas also excellent, and they are doing the same with Pearl Harbor. They do a great job of telling the story of "what would have happenned" in a given battle and how the little choices could have had huge impacts on a given war and the fate of the world. They do a nice job of character development and really pull you into the story. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history and great story telling. I am looking forward to the third book in the series.

Fast read and entertaining. Second half can stand more editing.

While a fast read, the book can be confusing and contradictory. I enjoyed the book but it definitely can use better editing, particularly the second half of the book. There is lots of detail, more so than plot.

More myth as history

The most dangerous aspect of this book is the claim of rigorous research during the writing however, most qualified research and history greatly refutes a great deal of the 'history' listed within this novel and its predecessor, 'Pearl Harbor.' This novel continues the excessive hubris of believing the entirity of Japanese naval strategy and effort focused itself on the attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet before anything else. The two authors never mentioned the British defenses on Kota Bharu were being shelled well before the first bomb dropped in Hawaii, about the same time the USS Ward was engaging the Japanese mini-sub. Many of the significant characters in Pacific War history are written out. Where is LCDR Edwin T. Layton, intelligence officer for Admirals Richardson, Kimmel and Nimitz? In his autobiography 'And I Was There,' he states the billet of intelligence officer for the U.S. Pacific Fleet had been gapped for some time before he took it under Richardson. Where is Joseph J. Rochefort? And who is Wade McCloskey? LCDR Clarence Wade McClusky was the 'CAG' for the USS Enterprise at the Battle of Midway, earning a Navy Cross. Admiral Nimitz stated his decision was the most critical decision made the Battle of Midway. There is a U.S. Navy ship named after him: USS McCLUSKY (FFG 41). Under what authority did Admiral Yamamoto dismiss the additional tasking for the Kido Butai? Following the attack on the U.S. Pacific fleet, two destroyers were to be detached to proceed and shell Miday Island--curious, the two authors have people guessing when Wake and Midway would be attacked, but in history, FDR mentions their attack in his famous speech on 8 Dec 1941. Amazingly, the brilliant attacks by the Japanese during the first 24 hours of the Pacific War seem to be forgotten by Gingrich and Forstchen. The seven landings on the Kra Isthmus, the march through Thailand, bombing of Singapore, bombing of Wake, conquest of Guam, shelling of Midway, attack on Hong Kong, etc. These two authors continue with the fantasy Japanese strategy revolved around the United States. There is a significant laundry list of better histories to read to understand the nature of the Pacific War, especially its opening moves. Unfortunately, there isn't sufficient space to list them all.

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Met both of them! Excellent people & even better authors

I once met both of them in Hawaii at a Freedom Rally. There I bought 'Pearl Harbor.' That book was good, this book is better. It reads smoothly and is historically accurate.

Disappointing and inaccurate

This book is fairly interesting, but what it is not is `historically accurate¿, even within the definition of alternative history. Gingrich and Co. manage to get dozens of details wrong, which might be ok if they didn¿t claim to be historians. It¿s obvious that they¿ve read Black Shoe Carrier Admiral by Lundstrom, but darn little else. Here¿s a short list of some errors. They get the gun caliber of the F4F-3 wrong. There were no F4Fs on USS Lexington, the fighter squadron flew Brewsters. The Hawaiian Air Force (HAF) did not fly Brewster Buffalos, which looked a lot more like a Zero than a P-40 did. The USS Enterprise did not have 20mm or 40mm guns in December 1941. There weren¿t any `B¿ model B-17s in Hawaii, and none of the early models carried a belly turret. A US heavy cruiser was unlikely to be knocked out by a single 17.7 inch Japanese aerial torpedo with a 452-pound warhead. The Japanese `Val¿ could not carry 500 kilos. And so on and so on. Even stranger is Gingrich¿s idea that three raids and a bombardment would knock out all the Navy¿s radios. The Navy had a landline to Midway and another station at Hilo, and all the large ships were designed to work worldwide. Also, only one of the numerous Generals and Admirals present comes out of hiding, a preposterous notion. The bombardment idea ignores the fact that Oahu was well equipped with Coast Artillery, who wanted nothing more than a shot at the Japanese. The publisher will probably sell a lot of these and people who don¿t have a clue will laud the book. But it¿s not history---even in an alternate universe.

BRAVO!!!!

Most will praise this book as one that effectively narrates a fictionalized account of a bloody battle between America and Japan, shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. While I¿m impressed at the book¿s ability to fictionalize, I choose to focus on what makes this book truly special ¿ its theme and emotion. At the opening, it becomes clear that the raging emotions of America and Japan are headed into a terrible battle. Thus, the book quickly introduces us to our main characters, whose perspectives we will see this battle from, including celebrated Japanese commanders like Yamamoto and Fuchida, as well as Dianne, a girlfriend of a fighter pilot within the story, among many others. As the book goes on, we go back and forth, from the White House, to command central with Yamamoto, down to Dianne (who is working on the ground, helping American units), and around various American battleships. As the bombs blast and the torpedoes fly, we feel the emotion of every character kick in. With Hawaii being mercilessly bombed in the beginning of the story, we follow our troops and feel their hunger to strike back. Yet, we also feel the emotions of our antagonist, Yamamoto ¿ his sense of honor, his love for his Japanese troops, and his great determination, naturally, make us fall in love with an enemy we ought to hate. Soon, everyone¿s lives intertwine. The narration of how ships are destroyed, airplanes are shot down, and buildings destroyed, naturally leaves us awestruck, as one moment we celebrate the destruction of a Japanese battleship, only to get depressed again as we read about the slaughtering of American fighter pilots. The story of soldiers who are left behind, both Japanese and American, is effectively told, in addition to the torture both sides inflict, as the battle wears on. Both sides are full of honor and vengeance, yet both feel deep pain ¿ the universal emotion that seems to unite every character in the book. As a reviewer, I have never been in a war or seen a war the greatness of this book is that, after reading it, I feel that this is the closest I have ever come to understanding what war is like and how painful it is, from all different angles. Interesting plots aside ¿ I¿m not as celebratory of Gringrich and Forstchen¿s achievement in fictionalizing a great turn in our world¿s history. Rather, I am in awe of their achievement to take us inside the world of a bloody battle, make us see all perspectives, only to leave us wishing that we never see or feel such a sight, ever, in our precious lives. My favorite line of the book would definitely be that of Commander Yamamoto, close to the end, where he reflects on his wins, loses, but most of all, his lost soldiers. In thinking about his upcoming report to the Japanese politicians, he says to himself, ¿Those back home wanted war, but never truly understood the price of war¿¿ -- The line leaves us depressed for those who have perished in war, and perhaps, confused about our own beliefs on war. History and narrative aside, read this book for its wonderful emotion.

Fantastic reading

Can't wait for the next book in this series. Reading it made you a part of the history of the event and was spellbounding.

Incredible storytelling

Admiral Yamamoto orders Imperial Japanese Naval Air Forces to attack the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Three waves of bombings destroy much of the American fleet and leave the island in chaos. He believes the Americans reeling from the assault will sue for peace.----------------- However, Yamamoto is stunned when he finds out his own government betrayed his confidence in them. He warned the Foreign Ministry to openly declare war before he ordered the attacks because he understands the American mindset having lived there. He was promised and set his date and time from the first wave accordingly. Instead he knows the Americans will not negotiate a settlement before the hostilities as they perceive this as a sneak attack. They will go all out in an acrimonious avenging extended war in the Pacific that Japan cannot win if it stretches too long. Yamamoto knows his majesty¿s only hope for victory is an all out ruthless assault on the American military throughout the Pacific and he knows his side may not survive the retaliation and counter attacks. Admiral Halsey leads the American response.------------ The concept is excellent as Yamamoto concludes the narrow-minded idiot politicians back in Tokyo did not do him or the country any favors when they failed to simply formally inform FDR of the war declaration as he knows the sleeping giant has been awakened into an angry snarling tiger. The execution by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen is superb as the audience will believe the sequel to Pearl Harbor: A Novel of December 8th, 1941 is plausible. What if fans will appreciate this fast-paced war in the Pacific alternate history as the military and political action never slows over a few days of infamy in December 1941.---------------- Harriet Klausner

Second in a Great Alternate History Series

The first book in this series, Pearl Harbor, was just the opening act in a days long horror that will set the Pacific ablaze as two of World War II's greatest commanders, Yamamoto and Bull Halsey, clash in the greatest naval battle never to have happened. It is the narrative genius of Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen that makes one think that the battle in Days of Infamy must have happened. Days of Infamy is also a meditation on one of the essential truths of war. Whatever the issues, whatever the cause, whatever the failure that led up to it, the one thing that is true of every war, especially World War Two, is that young men die decades before their time. There is plenty of such death in Days of Infamy, much of it heartbreaking. In Days of Infamy young pilots take off from the pitching deck of a carrier with the dawn, knowing that very likely they will not live to see the dusk. Some face that prospect with resolution, some with terror. Even more horrendous than the terror of battle thousands of feet over the Pacific, taking minutes or even seconds to resolve, is the horror of the aftermath. Days of Infamy tells about burning ships, taking on water, and crews desperately trying to keep them afloat and operational, or at least moving toward some form of refuge. Death by fire or death by water is the fate of too many long after the din of battle stills. In Days of Infamy Gingrich and Forstchen have done it again, as they did with their epic Gettysburg trilogy, and have captured what war is like, in all of its horror and glory, by showing the reader events in another World War Two that never happened, but might have.

historical look at a 3rd japense strike on pearl

'days of infamy' is the second historical world war 2 novel on the pacific that newt gingrich and wm forstchen have written but what makes this one special is the arthurs take a serius look at what would have happened had the japanese come back for a third strike agaist pearl harbor and like the other military novels that the arthurs have writtion the details are all historially acurate and there are also very timely lessons to be learned. great gift idea for a family member or friend or soldier serving over seas.

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No text was provided for this review.