I was thinking whether some of you Pacific Theatre buffs here could recommend some English language books on the subject. Currently I'm reading Ronald Spector's Eagle Against the Sun, but would also like some more detailed ones.
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Two excellent books I have read are:
Shattered Sword (Parshall + Tully) Potomac Books
The Forgotten Fleet (Winton) DB Books
The first is about the Battle of Midway seen from the Japanese perspective, while the second is about the British Pacific Fleet's contribution to the war against Japan. Both written in very readable styles and highly recommended.
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England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805
I was thinking whether some of you Pacific Theatre buffs here could recommend some English language books on the subject. Currently I'm reading Ronald Spector's Eagle Against the Sun, but would also like some more detailed ones.
Would appreciate any suggestions,
cheers
Macca
Hi , I just recieved the book today in the mail, how are you liking it?
I'd recommend Fire in the Sky , there are some here that don't share my enthusiasm for Bergerud's writing style but I thought both Fire in the Sky and Touched with Fire was fantastic and am eagerly anticipating Oil on the Water this September.
< Message edited by SuluSea -- 5/14/2011 6:21:33 PM >
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"There’s no such thing as a bitter person who keeps the bitterness to himself.” ~ Erwin Lutzer
I'm not far into the Eagle against the Sun, currently I'm reading the first Chapter about the state of the American armed forces prior to the attack on Pearl. So far I'm loving the book, the style is very accessible, it simply sucked me into it.
Though I am Polish I've always been interested in the Pacific Theatre. There haven't been many books on that topic translated into Polish so I'd like to look for some English language books...
and yes, Silent Service was a great series...Wish I still had my Amiga 500 and that lovely box.... maybe it is time to play somme SH4 or WITPAE;;)
You also might want to explore John B. Lundstrom's body of work. While his focus is mostly on carrier fighter divisions, he offers some Big Picture insights as well.
And if you're cheap, like me, most of his stuff is available for free via your local inter-library loan system. For free. Or did I mention that already?
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quote:
ORIGINAL: dorjun driver
You also might want to explore John B. Lundstrom's body of work. While his focus is mostly on carrier fighter divisions, he offers some Big Picture insights as well.
And if you're cheap, like me, most of his stuff is available for free via your local inter-library loan system. For free. Or did I mention that already?
He's in Poland. Does he have interlibrary loan with Britain or the US?
I would bloody well hope so. I received "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History: 1660-1805" from a library in Ireland through my podunk ILL system. The "copy" I got was published in 1890.
Even so, would the unavailability through a library disqualify Lundstrom?
I got it for Christmas almost 10 years ago. It is hard to come by now in complete form but is completely worth it.
The 15th and final book is also excellent because it contains an index that lists dozens upon dozens of other works that you can then branch out from and reference.
< Message edited by Fallschirmjager -- 5/15/2011 6:34:08 AM >
I got it for Christmas almost 10 years ago. It is hard to come by now in complete form but is completely worth it.
The 15th and final book is also excellent because it contains an index that lists dozens upon dozens of other works that you can then branch out from and reference.
Morison's 15 volume set has just been reprinted this year by the Naval Institute Press, and, like FJ, BigB, and DonB have said, is available from your favorite book source. I am sure you local brick and morter store could order them for you.
I had been looking for this set for years and am finally being able to get the full set in matching covers.
I bought my copy of that book new back in 1972, a very informative book (and nicely illustrated), and as the Amazon.com link above shows - it can still be obtained.
A review of this lessr known book today:
quote:
Jack Coggins' THE CAMPAIGN FOR GUADALCANAL is of a type never seen anymore. Every page is illustrated with drawings and/or maps-- there's not a single photo, yet they're not at all missed.
This oversized book is printed in two columns per page. Events that precipitated the clash over the strategically vital Solomon Island are covered in detail. Drawings of military equipment (planes, ships, armored vehicles, transports, etc.) for both sides are provided along with specs that allow the reader to determine at a glance which of two might have the edge in battle.
Motivations and military options are discussed; task forces are broken down into individual components. Simplified maps include clearly defined positions along with troop, ship or plane movements. Great insights into the strategic ramifications of the battle as well as the small details of both the US and Japanese men, equipment and tactics. There are abundant maps, drawings and sidebar discussions of related topics (like how to aim artillery if you cannot see the target, how to land a plane on a carrier, etc). The author's expressed desire to educate any newcomer to this battle's history is superbly realized through his concise text and unparalleled ability to make understandable potentially complicated material.
< Message edited by Big B -- 5/15/2011 8:25:17 PM >
It is readily available and best of all free. It contains many complete & detailed history books put online for free reading, and covers all theaters and phases of the war:
quote:
The content of HyperWar consists primarily of official documents produced by various agencies of the United States, United Kingdom and British Commonwealth governments.
I highly recommend Tennozan by George Feifer. It's an excellent and well researched book on the invasion of Okinawa. Posting from phone so won't get long winded...
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quote:
ORIGINAL: dorjun driver
Where is the love for anything by Dunnigan/Nofi?
I am disappoint... Yeah he's a hack, but he's our hack.
Dunnigan is such a hack that he ran SPI into bankruptcy at a time when they had the largest and most loyal wargamer base ever. They had to sell out to the Dungeons and Dragons people (TSR). Haven't forgiven him for that.
But I have Victory at Sea on the same shelf as some of the above mentioned titles. It has some usefulness as a general reference book.
I read a couple this year that were pretty good. "Neptunes Inferno" is an account of the US Navy's actions around Guadalcanal in late '42, early '43. Really vivid battle details and an interesting analysis of the decisions leading up to and following those battles.
The other one is "The Ghost Mountain Boys" by Campbell. It's about an American division (the 32nd I think--details are already fading) that fought in New Guinea. This book also gives some vivid details about what it was like to fight in that terrain (you'll never hear me complain about how long it takes a unit to march in the jungle and all the disruption it receives in AE). Not a lot of detail on what was going on elsewhere, but a very good look at the fight for New Guinea.
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Short of digging out some of mine to provide you a list, I recommend reading as many as possible by as many different authors as possible.
Doing this can help to reveal some of the bias and prejudice of various authors.
As an example one author portrays Kelly Turner as having walked on water and being singlehandedly responsible for the success of the American amphibious campaign. That same author portrays Fletcher as a complete coward who was the worst excuse for a carrier TF commander that ever existed.
Another author portrays Kelly turner as one of the most arrogant and difficult to work with SOBs to have ever existed and Fletcher as a prudent, cautious leader who deftly protected the vital carrier assets in the earlier days of vulnerablity.
Personally, I don't have strong feelings either way about either man and suspect that the truth lies somehwere in between the two extermes.
My point is to expose yourself to as many points of view as possible.
< Message edited by HansBolter -- 5/16/2011 12:28:41 AM >
I got it for Christmas almost 10 years ago. It is hard to come by now in complete form but is completely worth it.
The 15th and final book is also excellent because it contains an index that lists dozens upon dozens of other works that you can then branch out from and reference.
I noticed that when I posted, but those are used. My parents got my set for me. I have no idea where they got them from. For some reason I want to say that my mother perhaps ordered them straight from the publisher.
< Message edited by Fallschirmjager -- 5/16/2011 2:16:38 AM >
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Books about the War in the Pacific? - 
For free. Or did I mention that already? 
, hard to find books and videos can usually be obtained through online shopping.... 
Haven't forgiven him for that. 
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