The Second Sun

by p t deutermann

1 pages, Audio CD

Published March 18, 2025

Reviews

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this thought-provoking, informative, and suspenseful story set shortly after Germany's defeat in WW2. The war with Japan was still going on. Why did America aim to develop its defeated enemies, Germany and Japan, into prosperous allies? This is well-written historical fiction, combining fact and speculation by P T Deutermann.
Captain Wolfe Bowen is ordered to inspect a large German sub captured and held at an American port. The Germans will become prisoners of war, and they are surprised to find a couple of Japanese men onboard. It is also discovered that the sub is transporting hidden ingredients for the manufacture of atomic bombs, and the destination is Japan. This speeds up the Manhattan Project, and bombs are developed to target Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
President Truman sent Bowen and Lieutenant Commander Janet Waring (fluent in Japanese) to investigate the progress of developing a Japanese nuclear bomb. America has already dropped bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They are to report on the devastating effects of the bombs on those cities and to interview Japanese survivors. They will report their findings to General MacArthur and later to President Truman. There is hope that America will build up and engage the defeated country of Japan as a major commercial and manufacturing partner to counterbalance e the rise of Communist China.

What they observed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki was heartbreaking and tragic. If you want to learn more about the destruction of those cities and the devastating aftermath, I urge you to read The Last Train from Hiroshima (non-fiction) by Charles Pellegrino. He has a second book coming soon, focusing on Hiroshima, which James Cameron plans to make into a movie.

The Second Sun is recommended and will be published on April 01, 2025.

[Ron Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had just finished The Hill of Secrets by Galina Vromen when I saw that The Second Sun was available; two WWII atom bomb books in a row! P.T. Deutermann is probably my second favorite author after John Sandford. The Second Sun is written from a different perspective than The Hill of Secrets, though there is a lot of historical overlap. The plot revolves around the discovery that Japan, like Hitler's Germany, was also working on an atomic bomb, as well as how that was discovered and confirmed (according to the story). Certainly gives one pause for thought. After some of the descriptions of the aftermath of the two bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I think most of us would agree with Albert Einstein's 20/20 hindsight, "If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker." I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to Deutermann's next novel (hopefully there is one in the works). It gets a bit technical at times, but nothing on the order of Tom Clancey. I highly recommend this book.

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story on Manhattan Project with good insight into political and technological issues of program. Thoroughly enjoyed!

[Perry Fong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Attention to details and thought provoking...never knew about the Japanese atomic bomb project.

[Jan Rhein · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent story about the atomic bomb and the Second World War. A reminder of the terribleness of war and how it rarely solves problems, just creates more.