Two Hours to Darkness

by Antony Trew

Paperback. Several scores on covers. Vertical creases on spine. Leading corners, edges and spine are worn. Spine is slightly cocked. Page block is tanned. Foxing in the volume. Binding is intact, contents are clear. AM

254 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

Antony (Francis) Trew was a South African naval officer and writer. In World War II he served with the South African and Royal Navies in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Western Approaches. As such he was in command of the escort destroyer HMS Walker. He also served on the Arctic Convoys and was awarded the DSC (Distinguished Service Cross). After World War II he resumed his work with the AA (Automobile Association) of South Africa as Director General.

(source wikipedia)

Reviews

[Gloria]

Four books in one, from Readers Digest, along with "A Christmas Carol”, “The Colonel’s Son”, and “A Sense of Values” Not sure when finished this, but guessing 1964

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Positively hurtles to a conclusion. And I appreciated the moral turnabout at the very end.

[VT · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I finished reading this book yesterday, I did so leaving dog ears in several places, intending to refer back throughout the book while writing a more detailed review. I feel like this book (somewhat surprisingly) deserves a detailed review. It's got more going on than I expected.
Unfortunately, I am very tired. I am feeling the effects of working outdoors in wildfire smoke today. (Maybe part of the reason I enjoyed reading this book in particular over these past few evenings, is because it takes place in a world so utterly different than western Canadian mountains on fire.)
I will not be able to give a detailed review at this time - I'm just going to try and get a few things down, and perhaps, some day, I will encounter this book again.
(The copy I have been reading I am going to be putting into the recycling. It's more a loosely assembled stack of pages than a bound book now and fortunately this book seems relatively easy to get if I want to get a better copy at some time to re-read in the future.)

This is a story about the commander of a nuclear-armed submarine who is... lets just say he is losing his grip.
His officers have to deal with what to do when they learn he's planning to step out of the bounds he is meant to operate within.
There were things I wanted to say about this that I can't even begin to articulate now.
Anyway, that's the basic plot. It's not an original plot, but it does make for high-stakes.
It's from the 1960s, so the Cold War is very much on.
Up until the very end I was hoping the captain would either snap out of it or he'd prove to be right about at least some of his suspicions. What does that say about my assumptions around characters/people in positions of authority? I don't know, but probably something.
(Earlier I wondered if he was supposed to be bipolar, and indeed towards the end of the book the doctor onboard describes him as "manic-depressive.")

There are perhaps a few too many technical details in this book for it to flow completely naturally for me (I like stories with submarines, but I don't know - or really need to know - the particulars of how they actually worked in the 1960s - nor am I particularly fussed about the correct depiction of naval protocols unless you're doing something obviously ridiculous) - however, I did appreciate the strong sense I was in the hands of an author who knew what they were talking about. And I learned that apparently, at least at this time, British Polaris submarines all had an American officer on board to make sure they didn't fire off any missiles without American approval (seems a bit insulting, although *plot spoiler could go here*) and also, they were supposed to let HQ know every time they planned to conduct a dive.

The writing is sometimes a bit basic (it is, after all really a pulp novel) and both of these things detracted from the story enough for me not to give this a full four stars - but I did find it to be enjoyably if not compulsively paced, and there was more nuance and shading in characterization than I expected. (Although I wouldn't go into it expecting everyone to have a great depth of character, if I were you.) There is some humour. There is some romance. I'm not sure I believed in all of the interactions between all the characters, (there are a fair number of characters to try and keep track of, and I'll admit there were a few I grew kinda vague and forgetful about as I read this in fifteen to twenty minute bites over a week) but that's okay. There were some surprises for me. There is a submarine. I actually wish it was a bit longer, it's only 250 pages and I felt like there was a lot more story available.

I'll give this pulpy escapist book 3.5 stars out of 5.

P.S. - Ahhh, I just realized something - this book seems to have been a sort of speculative fiction at the time it was released, as it was first published in 1963, and this was, according to wikipedia, several years before Polaris subs actually went into service!

[Michael Wallin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a few of Trew’s novels. I think he’s underestimated and of course forgotten, this book was published 1963 in the UK. He understands people and gets under the skin of his characters which makes for more interesting reading compared to many other suspense writers. His books are very realistic and you really notice that he knows what he’s talking about since he has spent many years at sea.
The issue of nuclear weapons was high on the agenda when this book was published following the Cuban crisis the previous year.

[John Pitcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I was in the US Navy, as part of a NATO fleet of destroyers from various countries in the north Atlantic, you can easily guess that I really enjoyed this book. Also, later on, I was able to spend a day on a US nuclear submarine which also added to my enjoyment.