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Harm's Way
“I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm’s way.” John Paul Jones, USN.
The year is 1941.
The Japanese have struck a mighty blow against America at Pearl Harbor.
In its aftermath America has begun its struggle with Japan for control of the Pacific Ocean.
Captain Rockwell Torrey, USN, commanding officer of the heavy cruiser Old Swayback, is sent out on a search-and-destroy mission against their foes.
This is no simple mission as Japanese submarines lurk in the murky depths and threaten to destroy Torrey’s task force at every opportunity.
Harm’s Way is a thrilling novel of naval fortitude and survival in the combat for the Pacific Ocean. It culminates in a brilliant sea battle off the coast of the strategic island of Levu-Vana where the fate of the Pacific conflict hangs in the balance.
James Bassett’s novel Harm’s Way was made into a film in 1965 that was produced and directed by Otto Preminger. It starred John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Henry Fonda.
During World War II, James Bassett was a staff officer intimately associated with the late Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey, and handled his press relations from the Guadalcanal campaign to the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay. Although he won the Bronze Star with combat clasp, he is proudest of this inscription on a photograph of the famed “Wild Bull”: “To Jim Bassett, tried wartime comrade, shipmate and friend.” Harm’s Way drew greatly upon his wartime experiences and was published in 1962. Bassett retired October 1977 after serving 43 years on the staffs of the Los Angeles Times and The Mirror. He died in 1978.
The year is 1941.
The Japanese have struck a mighty blow against America at Pearl Harbor.
In its aftermath America has begun its struggle with Japan for control of the Pacific Ocean.
Captain Rockwell Torrey, USN, commanding officer of the heavy cruiser Old Swayback, is sent out on a search-and-destroy mission against their foes.
This is no simple mission as Japanese submarines lurk in the murky depths and threaten to destroy Torrey’s task force at every opportunity.
Harm’s Way is a thrilling novel of naval fortitude and survival in the combat for the Pacific Ocean. It culminates in a brilliant sea battle off the coast of the strategic island of Levu-Vana where the fate of the Pacific conflict hangs in the balance.
James Bassett’s novel Harm’s Way was made into a film in 1965 that was produced and directed by Otto Preminger. It starred John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Henry Fonda.
During World War II, James Bassett was a staff officer intimately associated with the late Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey, and handled his press relations from the Guadalcanal campaign to the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay. Although he won the Bronze Star with combat clasp, he is proudest of this inscription on a photograph of the famed “Wild Bull”: “To Jim Bassett, tried wartime comrade, shipmate and friend.” Harm’s Way drew greatly upon his wartime experiences and was published in 1962. Bassett retired October 1977 after serving 43 years on the staffs of the Los Angeles Times and The Mirror. He died in 1978.
446 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1962
456 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
About the author
James Bassett
33 books5 followersJames Elias Bassett Jr. (1912-1978) was an American newspaper editor and author born in Glendale, California and raised in Mamaroneck, N.Y. He graduated cum laude from Bowdoin College in Maine, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. After college, after which he returned to Los Angeles, California and joined the Times as a reporter. He later served the paper as aviation writer, political analyst and director of the editorial pages until he was named associate editor in 1971. At it's sister publication, The Mirror, he held the posts of political editor, feature editor and city editor.
He entered the United States Navy as lieutenant junior grade in 1941, and went on to become public relations officer for Fleet Admiral William F. (Bull) Halsey. He later retired from the service as a captain, and returned to work at The Times. He held the Bronze Star Medal with combat V.
Bassett took leaves from The Times to serve in Richard Nixon's vice presidential and presidential campaigns of 1952, 1956 and 1960 and was public relations director for the Republican National Committee in 1954.
He drew on his World War II experiences for his novel Harm's Way, which became a bestseller after its publication in 1962 and was made into a motion picture, In Harm's Way starring John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Henry Fonda.
Other works include, Commander Prince, USN published in 1971, a novel dealing mainly with the events surrounding the Battle of the Java Sea, and The Sky Suspended, published in 1968.
Bassett retired October 1977 after serving 43 years on the staffs of The Los Angeles Times and The Mirror. He was working on two books at the time of his death - one an autobiography and the other a volume on great sea admirals he had observed in the Pacific in World War II. He died in Malibu, California.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...
He entered the United States Navy as lieutenant junior grade in 1941, and went on to become public relations officer for Fleet Admiral William F. (Bull) Halsey. He later retired from the service as a captain, and returned to work at The Times. He held the Bronze Star Medal with combat V.
Bassett took leaves from The Times to serve in Richard Nixon's vice presidential and presidential campaigns of 1952, 1956 and 1960 and was public relations director for the Republican National Committee in 1954.
He drew on his World War II experiences for his novel Harm's Way, which became a bestseller after its publication in 1962 and was made into a motion picture, In Harm's Way starring John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Henry Fonda.
Other works include, Commander Prince, USN published in 1971, a novel dealing mainly with the events surrounding the Battle of the Java Sea, and The Sky Suspended, published in 1968.
Bassett retired October 1977 after serving 43 years on the staffs of The Los Angeles Times and The Mirror. He was working on two books at the time of his death - one an autobiography and the other a volume on great sea admirals he had observed in the Pacific in World War II. He died in Malibu, California.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
August 1, 2011
If "The Caine Mutiny" was the penultimate Jack London-esque sea story and "The Sand Pebbles" was the tale of an archetypal sailor (or it could be argued "The Last Detail"), "Harm's Way" is the definitive Admiral's novel. The author, James Bassett was a Public Affairs officer on Admiral "Bull" Halsey's staff during WWII and I assume, his observations of that period are the basis for this novel.
Bassett's characters are finely rendered, especially the protagonist, "Bull" Halsey's doppelganger Adm. Rockwell Torrey (played by a subdued, cancer-stricken John Wayne in the film version). Speaking of which, if you've seen the film, there are enough differences in the book to make it worth your while. After having read the novel, I can appreciate the fantastic job Otto Preminger and his screenwriters did in translating it to celluloid.
This is mostly a character-driven novel, with the majority (but not all) of the action taking place in various operations shacks and ship bridges from Hawaii to the South Pacific. In this book there are more pages devoted to bureaucratic bloodshed than that which occurs in battle. Bassett makes those behind-the-scenes conflicts compelling as any description of violent warfare. All said, this is an excellent volume in the canon of Naval literature.
Bassett's characters are finely rendered, especially the protagonist, "Bull" Halsey's doppelganger Adm. Rockwell Torrey (played by a subdued, cancer-stricken John Wayne in the film version). Speaking of which, if you've seen the film, there are enough differences in the book to make it worth your while. After having read the novel, I can appreciate the fantastic job Otto Preminger and his screenwriters did in translating it to celluloid.
This is mostly a character-driven novel, with the majority (but not all) of the action taking place in various operations shacks and ship bridges from Hawaii to the South Pacific. In this book there are more pages devoted to bureaucratic bloodshed than that which occurs in battle. Bassett makes those behind-the-scenes conflicts compelling as any description of violent warfare. All said, this is an excellent volume in the canon of Naval literature.
December 25, 2010
This title has been used multiple times so check the author on it (James Bassett). I would guess that (now) most who are familiar with this story will be more familiar with the John Wayne and Patricia Neal movie than the book. Still I ran the novel down back in the early 70s and quite enjoyed it. A "rousing" navel story of WWII.
It's a shame but the book has (like many) dropped by the way side and can be almost impossible to find. I had an old paperback that fell apart long ago. The story's romance isn't all that engaging for me (as is the case in some books) but over all it doesn't detract from the novel.
It's a shame but the book has (like many) dropped by the way side and can be almost impossible to find. I had an old paperback that fell apart long ago. The story's romance isn't all that engaging for me (as is the case in some books) but over all it doesn't detract from the novel.
February 15, 2023
3.5 STARS Again I do wish Goodreads had the half star setting.
Another novel from my later father's library.
For reasons that escape me the navy novels are some of the more readable military fiction. Authors such as (to name just a very few) Edward L. Beach, Herman Wouk, C.S. Forester, Douglas Reeman and even Alistair MacLean have produced some very readable military nautical novels over the years. As a veteran of the United States Army I've also read many a novel set in the Green Machine. Many of them were excellent as well, but overall the military naval novel has a bit more zip. Does it have to do with the mix of men, machines and water? The life of a sailor can be just as dirty and dangerous as an infantryman's existence. Yes they do have access to showers, hot water and better food, but when things go badly they often have a brutal fate. Torn steel bulkheads, high velocity shells and missiles, the ocean, sharks, fire and drowning are just a few of the things awaiting a sailor when a situation goes south. Perhaps the nautical life has attracted people who are more literary minded? Well whatever the reason the novels are often very readable.
Harm's Way is something of a modern classic and a good example of the genre. No doubt the 1965 movie version with John Wayne and Kirk Douglas has helped to ensure the book is still remembered and read. James Bassett was a newsman by trade, but during WW II he served as an officer with the U.S. Navy. Though a staff officer he saw action and was awarded the Bronze Star with the Combat "V" device (In the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard, the "V" is worn on the ribbon to denote combat heroism or to recognize individuals who are "exposed to personal hazard during direct participation in combat operations). Bassett wore the uniform for five years. By training, education and disposition he was an observer and recorder of people, places and events. His wartime experiences give the novel it's unmistakable air of authenticity and his writing ability provide the dramatic setting.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I dove into the book. Published in the early sixties I was half-expecting a flag waving rah-rah account in which as the men were brave and true and all the women were noble and self-sacrificing. I hadn't seen the movie so I was truly unfamiliar with the plot. What I discovered was a novel in which the navy is portrayed mostly in a positive light, but not all of it. After all a navy is both mechanical and Human and Mr. Bassett understood that. The people who serve in the navy are shown to be just like everyone else. A mix of good and bad, brave and cowardly, competent and incompetent and various combinations therein. Mr. Bassett understood that a navy is populated by all types, and he shows that. In other words, he wasn't Tom Clancy and there are no Jack Ryans in this book. I like that. I've spent my entire adult life in the military and law enforcement. I've served with all types, and I dislike the novels that portray us either as supermen or bastards. It's simplistic and actually does us a disservice. We're Human and that means we are just as complicated as the characters in "Breaking Bad", "Mad Men" and "House of Cards".
If there is any real weakness in the novel it would have to be the second half which consists of a fictional island campaign and a fictional naval battle. The island campaign is loosely based on the Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal) and the naval battle is modeled after "The Battle Off Samar" (see: The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour which took place in October 1944. As a military history buff, I found this part to be just too jarring. The first half takes place during the Battle of Pearl Harbor and the immediate aftermath. The book is at its best during that portion. The second half is fabricated, and I had a hard time with it. I kept wondering why Mr. Bassett didn't place his characters in the midst of an actual Pacific campaign. To me the fictional campaign setting feels contrived and weakened what was a good novel. This is why I can only give the novel 3.5 stars instead of four.
Despite the weakness of the fictional campaign and battle the book is very good. Some might say it's dated, but I would disagree. It will hold your attention and transport you to a time and place. If you aren't a military history wonk you will probably have no issues with the second half of the novel. Mr. Bassett didn't slack up in the quality of his writing. He just provided a made-up fight for his characters to participate in. All in all, a very good novel and worth the time and effort.
Another novel from my later father's library.
For reasons that escape me the navy novels are some of the more readable military fiction. Authors such as (to name just a very few) Edward L. Beach, Herman Wouk, C.S. Forester, Douglas Reeman and even Alistair MacLean have produced some very readable military nautical novels over the years. As a veteran of the United States Army I've also read many a novel set in the Green Machine. Many of them were excellent as well, but overall the military naval novel has a bit more zip. Does it have to do with the mix of men, machines and water? The life of a sailor can be just as dirty and dangerous as an infantryman's existence. Yes they do have access to showers, hot water and better food, but when things go badly they often have a brutal fate. Torn steel bulkheads, high velocity shells and missiles, the ocean, sharks, fire and drowning are just a few of the things awaiting a sailor when a situation goes south. Perhaps the nautical life has attracted people who are more literary minded? Well whatever the reason the novels are often very readable.
Harm's Way is something of a modern classic and a good example of the genre. No doubt the 1965 movie version with John Wayne and Kirk Douglas has helped to ensure the book is still remembered and read. James Bassett was a newsman by trade, but during WW II he served as an officer with the U.S. Navy. Though a staff officer he saw action and was awarded the Bronze Star with the Combat "V" device (In the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard, the "V" is worn on the ribbon to denote combat heroism or to recognize individuals who are "exposed to personal hazard during direct participation in combat operations). Bassett wore the uniform for five years. By training, education and disposition he was an observer and recorder of people, places and events. His wartime experiences give the novel it's unmistakable air of authenticity and his writing ability provide the dramatic setting.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I dove into the book. Published in the early sixties I was half-expecting a flag waving rah-rah account in which as the men were brave and true and all the women were noble and self-sacrificing. I hadn't seen the movie so I was truly unfamiliar with the plot. What I discovered was a novel in which the navy is portrayed mostly in a positive light, but not all of it. After all a navy is both mechanical and Human and Mr. Bassett understood that. The people who serve in the navy are shown to be just like everyone else. A mix of good and bad, brave and cowardly, competent and incompetent and various combinations therein. Mr. Bassett understood that a navy is populated by all types, and he shows that. In other words, he wasn't Tom Clancy and there are no Jack Ryans in this book. I like that. I've spent my entire adult life in the military and law enforcement. I've served with all types, and I dislike the novels that portray us either as supermen or bastards. It's simplistic and actually does us a disservice. We're Human and that means we are just as complicated as the characters in "Breaking Bad", "Mad Men" and "House of Cards".
If there is any real weakness in the novel it would have to be the second half which consists of a fictional island campaign and a fictional naval battle. The island campaign is loosely based on the Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal) and the naval battle is modeled after "The Battle Off Samar" (see: The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour which took place in October 1944. As a military history buff, I found this part to be just too jarring. The first half takes place during the Battle of Pearl Harbor and the immediate aftermath. The book is at its best during that portion. The second half is fabricated, and I had a hard time with it. I kept wondering why Mr. Bassett didn't place his characters in the midst of an actual Pacific campaign. To me the fictional campaign setting feels contrived and weakened what was a good novel. This is why I can only give the novel 3.5 stars instead of four.
Despite the weakness of the fictional campaign and battle the book is very good. Some might say it's dated, but I would disagree. It will hold your attention and transport you to a time and place. If you aren't a military history wonk you will probably have no issues with the second half of the novel. Mr. Bassett didn't slack up in the quality of his writing. He just provided a made-up fight for his characters to participate in. All in all, a very good novel and worth the time and effort.
January 14, 2022
Excellent naval novel, it's about the men and women who server, command decisions and the ships. "They watched him depart, silently, and with a peculiar dignity. But his ramrod back seemed bowed for the first time from weariness that came more from the spirit than from his overtaxed physique. Nobody spoke for a moment after the blackout curtains dropped into place. Then Tuthill said slowly, “There, my friends, goes a man!”
Bassett, James. Harm's Way (p. 442). Interbank Books. Kindle Edition.
Bassett, James. Harm's Way (p. 442). Interbank Books. Kindle Edition.
March 24, 2014
I have a weakness for "sea stories," especially the military variety.
James Bassett's style of writing just barely works for me. In my view, an inordinate amount of prose is devoted to character study, which tends to undercut the action, the drama, even the story. That's just me. I'm persnickety. Bassett's writing is technically excellent, but I don't enjoy the way he reveals the story to the reader.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harm%27s... will give you the basics of the plot. Torrey, a navy captain in charge of a small group of ships right after the Pearl Harbor attack, stops zig-zagging to conserve fuel and stretch his range while searching for Japanese ships. His cruiser is torpedoed; but he saves the ship. Because he wasn't zig-zagging when hit, he loses command and is given desk duty. It begins to look like his career is dead-ended. Eventually the new CinCPAC promotes captain Torrey to admiral and gives him tactical command of an island operation which another "politically-connected" admiral is dithering away.
This is one of those instances where I prefer the movie version to the book version. (Otto Preminger: John Wayne; Kirk Douglas; Patricia Neal; Brandon deWilde; Burgess Meredith; Tom Tryon; Paula Prentiss; Franchot Tone; Henry Fonda.)
There are "false-notes" in both the book and movie. The strengths of the book are character and atmosphere and mood. The opening FEELS like Pearl Harbor just before the attack. The jungle island FEELS like the jungle. The movie is much stronger dramatically; the key events were re-written and re-staged and usually improved; still, the despair of fighting men bogged down in the jungle was missing from the movie. In the book, character details show how a new leader changed the mood of the fighting men from down to up. On film, this was glossed over (i.e.: John Wayne shows up to save the day) and the sets didn't feel or look like a jungle island.
@hg47
James Bassett's style of writing just barely works for me. In my view, an inordinate amount of prose is devoted to character study, which tends to undercut the action, the drama, even the story. That's just me. I'm persnickety. Bassett's writing is technically excellent, but I don't enjoy the way he reveals the story to the reader.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harm%27s... will give you the basics of the plot. Torrey, a navy captain in charge of a small group of ships right after the Pearl Harbor attack, stops zig-zagging to conserve fuel and stretch his range while searching for Japanese ships. His cruiser is torpedoed; but he saves the ship. Because he wasn't zig-zagging when hit, he loses command and is given desk duty. It begins to look like his career is dead-ended. Eventually the new CinCPAC promotes captain Torrey to admiral and gives him tactical command of an island operation which another "politically-connected" admiral is dithering away.
This is one of those instances where I prefer the movie version to the book version. (Otto Preminger: John Wayne; Kirk Douglas; Patricia Neal; Brandon deWilde; Burgess Meredith; Tom Tryon; Paula Prentiss; Franchot Tone; Henry Fonda.)
There are "false-notes" in both the book and movie. The strengths of the book are character and atmosphere and mood. The opening FEELS like Pearl Harbor just before the attack. The jungle island FEELS like the jungle. The movie is much stronger dramatically; the key events were re-written and re-staged and usually improved; still, the despair of fighting men bogged down in the jungle was missing from the movie. In the book, character details show how a new leader changed the mood of the fighting men from down to up. On film, this was glossed over (i.e.: John Wayne shows up to save the day) and the sets didn't feel or look like a jungle island.
@hg47
July 7, 2008
A novel about the WWII set with the Navy in the South Pacific. Written in the 1960s, made into a movie with John Wayne. Very good book about the challenges of waging a navel war. Good character descriptions. Some good characters, some bad. The few battles and places in the book are probably fictional but yet they are done well enough that I learned about what it takes to be in a navel war. The story is mainly about one man, the John Wayne character in the movie. There is disappointment, love, and death in the story. I liked the book but those who aren’t interested in understanding war wouldn’t like it.
March 24, 2014
I assume this is the book on which the John Wayne movie is based. I barely remember it and again the movie memory overrides the book memory. The movie was titled "In Harm's Way" as are the other listed editions of this book. I chose this because there's a cover image. Not a bad movie but not that good either. Unusual for being in black and white. Directed by Otto Preminger. A great cast for sure... A fellow sailor from the USS Jamestown(Vietnam) in 1967(John Greer?) was an extra in the movie. That must've been in 1966. He's one of the sailors piling out of the back of a truck in Honolulu early in the film. He'd been stationed in Hawaii at the time. Date read is a guess.
August 8, 2015
Underrated, had been out of print. But a fine novel--a bit of a pastiche of War II Pacific Naval/amphibious action.
March 11, 2021
Set in the WWII Pacific, Capt. — soon to be Admiral — Rockwell Torrey's story begins at Pearl Harbor, and continues through a naval battle in which his tiny fleet faces a terrific Japanese opponent, including the battleship, Yamato. It's a story that delves into military strategy and tactics, but also into familial relationships and romance.
June 24, 2021
A reasonable book about a fictitious WW II campaign in the Pacific. A number of inconsistencies with reference to the military side of things, but it does capture a certain amount of the difficulties in the field, while at the same time ignoring others. A fun read, especially if you've seen the movie - but if you're a military buff looking for realism you'll be disappointed.
May 19, 2019
I have loved this movie since the first time that I watched it.I purchased the DVD a number of years ago.This is my first time reading the novel.I enjoyed it as much,if not more.The book goes into much more detail a and was able to see in my mind the actors and actresses who are in the movie as I read the book. I would recommend it to anyone who has a love of World War UK History.
June 10, 2018
The historical novel is a tricky thing; you want to add enough history for verisimilitude, but not enough to foul up the story. One of my favorite things is what Bernard Cornwell does at the end of his historical novels, where he spells out what is real and what isn't. James Bassett doesn't do just that, but it is easy to see the issue that he has here. HARM'S WAY starts out with Pearl Harbor--and, really, there's no way for Bassett to fictionalize that; everyone is going to know enough about Pearl Harbor to know you can't fictionalize that.
So the first part is about Pearl Harbor -- mostly about the stragglers of Pearl Harbor, an aging cruiser and an undermanned destroyer who escapes the attack, and the no-win mission they are sent on to chase down the fleeing Japanese fleet. But the second part is about Guadalcanal--except it's not about Guadalcanal, because we're told Guadalcanal already happened, so it's about an island and a battle that doesn't really exist. And the last part is about something that kind of sounds like the Battle off Samar, except that doesn't happen for two years later and isn't anywhere near Guadalcanal. So, historically, this is kind of a mess.
But nobody cares, because this is a book about characters--characters that were played to perfection by John Wayne and Kirk Douglas in the movie, and you can't help hearing their voices in the novel. As a character study of WWII sailors in combat, HARM'S WAY is very well done--focusing on both the men and women affected by the battles.
There's no way I can give this five stars, though, because whoever did the Kindle conversion didn't proofread it, and the book is riddled with typos. I was halfway through the book before I realized what I thought was Bassett's penchant for off-center compound words was probably due to the Kindle conversion smashing random words together. It's a shame.
So the first part is about Pearl Harbor -- mostly about the stragglers of Pearl Harbor, an aging cruiser and an undermanned destroyer who escapes the attack, and the no-win mission they are sent on to chase down the fleeing Japanese fleet. But the second part is about Guadalcanal--except it's not about Guadalcanal, because we're told Guadalcanal already happened, so it's about an island and a battle that doesn't really exist. And the last part is about something that kind of sounds like the Battle off Samar, except that doesn't happen for two years later and isn't anywhere near Guadalcanal. So, historically, this is kind of a mess.
But nobody cares, because this is a book about characters--characters that were played to perfection by John Wayne and Kirk Douglas in the movie, and you can't help hearing their voices in the novel. As a character study of WWII sailors in combat, HARM'S WAY is very well done--focusing on both the men and women affected by the battles.
There's no way I can give this five stars, though, because whoever did the Kindle conversion didn't proofread it, and the book is riddled with typos. I was halfway through the book before I realized what I thought was Bassett's penchant for off-center compound words was probably due to the Kindle conversion smashing random words together. It's a shame.
April 16, 2018
A view from a participant.
When James Bassett wrote Harms Way he didn't know about Otto Preminger. He didn't know it would become a major motion picture. He didn't know his story would involve hundreds of sailors aboard the USE Saint Paul who manned her while John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Patricia Neal acted out the roles that seemed too have been written just got them. True, the title was changed to "In Harms Way" to make it sound more like the action story it was. I manned one of the firerooms on old CA 73 while the filming went on but never knew what the story was until I saw the film. Now I have read the book and feel like I am having a nostalgia trip back to my Navy days in the early 60's. An engaging story full of action and romance.
When James Bassett wrote Harms Way he didn't know about Otto Preminger. He didn't know it would become a major motion picture. He didn't know his story would involve hundreds of sailors aboard the USE Saint Paul who manned her while John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Patricia Neal acted out the roles that seemed too have been written just got them. True, the title was changed to "In Harms Way" to make it sound more like the action story it was. I manned one of the firerooms on old CA 73 while the filming went on but never knew what the story was until I saw the film. Now I have read the book and feel like I am having a nostalgia trip back to my Navy days in the early 60's. An engaging story full of action and romance.
September 25, 2022
Great book about war time leadership
This is a great war novel that actually focuses on leadership and the human doubts a wartime leader faces. If you are looking for blood and guts action you might be disappointed, but that isn't the focus of the story line. Being a leader as well as a human being is. My biggest complaint is that the author had a tendency to over describe settings, particularly in the opening chapters, as well as use a few ten dollar words when a fifty cent word would serve the purpose just as well. Book was the basis of a great John Wayne and Kirk Douglas movIe, In Harms Way. Novel fills in a lot of background the movie had to compress. Great novel.
This is a great war novel that actually focuses on leadership and the human doubts a wartime leader faces. If you are looking for blood and guts action you might be disappointed, but that isn't the focus of the story line. Being a leader as well as a human being is. My biggest complaint is that the author had a tendency to over describe settings, particularly in the opening chapters, as well as use a few ten dollar words when a fifty cent word would serve the purpose just as well. Book was the basis of a great John Wayne and Kirk Douglas movIe, In Harms Way. Novel fills in a lot of background the movie had to compress. Great novel.
February 22, 2018
Great story
Also watched the movie starring John Wayne, which followed the book pretty well.
Have to knock off one star due to however they magically create a Kindle book from print editions. There were just way too many mistakes that really distracted me. I've read many old books that were Kindleized and were fine.
But for the original? Great WWII Navy story!
Also watched the movie starring John Wayne, which followed the book pretty well.
Have to knock off one star due to however they magically create a Kindle book from print editions. There were just way too many mistakes that really distracted me. I've read many old books that were Kindleized and were fine.
But for the original? Great WWII Navy story!
February 18, 2018
Always A Good Read
I just like the book. The characters are so well developed,neither saints nor devils and although the war is decades in the past the action is still good stuff. Years ago I saw the movie and liked it but I think the book is even better.
I just like the book. The characters are so well developed,neither saints nor devils and although the war is decades in the past the action is still good stuff. Years ago I saw the movie and liked it but I think the book is even better.
February 28, 2018
Classic WWII history
This is a classic. I most likely saw the movie growing up in the 1960's. I'm happy I finally read the book and I farm looking forward to seeing the movie again.
This is a classic. I most likely saw the movie growing up in the 1960's. I'm happy I finally read the book and I farm looking forward to seeing the movie again.
February 5, 2010
The movie "In Harm's Way" (John Wayne, Kirk Douglas) is a faithful adaptation of this book.
August 1, 2011
The inspiration for the classic John Wayne movie about U.S. Navy officers in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. It's a fantastic read, especially the disparate characters.
June 14, 2024
Worth the read. Great Story with historical parallels.
Harm’s Way is a great piece of WW2 naval fiction. Which to me is harder to write than any land or air themed fiction from that era. Otto Preminger’s 1965 film In Harms Way is based on the Bassett’s Novel. The film follows, yet compacts, the plot line. With an all star cast: John Wayne (as the Rock), Kirk Douglas (as Eddington), Burgess Meredith (as Eagan Powell) and Patrica Neal (as Maggie) and the others of this star studded cast, all do great justice to Bassett’s menagerie of characters.
Bassett was Admiral William “Bull” Halsey’s Public Relations officer during the War and was first hand witness to many events in the Pacific War 1941-1945.
The novel is based principally on a secondary pacific area, ADTAC, loosely modeled as a portion of the historical Admiral Ghormley’s Southwest Pacific Area during the initial Guadalcanal Campaign. The book’s cautious and “lead from the rear,” Admiral Broderick is a personification of the somewhat inept Ghormley. The Rock, Rear Admiral Torrey is a watered down, in rank only, version of Admiral William “Bull” Halsey. Who later relieved Ghormley and was instrumental in winning the Guadalcanal and Solomon’s campaigns 1942-1943 and defeating the Japanese in the Central Pacific.
It incorporates, in a trimmed down fashion, nearly all aspects of combat and logistics faced by the US Navy in the Pacific and weaves rudimentary love, friendship and family interests and conflicts of its protagonist and the supporting characters
The book’s principle climactic sea battle “The Battle of Toko-Rotu” is based on the actual 1944 “Battle off Samar” where Japanese Admiral Kurita’s force centered on the Super battleship Yamato, encounters an six escort carrier task force under Rear Admiral Clifton “Ziggy” Sprague and six escorts known as “Taffy 3” brazenly fends off the Japanese in a do and die legendary though factual battle that turned back Kurita’s task force from General Douglas McArthur’s beachhead and amphibious force at Leyte in the Philippines. Thus literally saving the day!
The best and most excellent historical account covering this historical action is the late James D. Hornfisher’s “Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors.” A must read for any Naval Historian, Historian or laymen interested in WW2 pacific or just plain heroes. It is Americans fighting, in one of their finest hours in history.
There are many other historical parallels touched:
The Battle of Surigao Strait and some aspects of the Solomon’s Campaign.
As an historical fiction novel. Harm’s Way gives scope and glimpses into the Pacific Theater of World War 2 for its reader.
Highly recommended.
Harm’s Way is a great piece of WW2 naval fiction. Which to me is harder to write than any land or air themed fiction from that era. Otto Preminger’s 1965 film In Harms Way is based on the Bassett’s Novel. The film follows, yet compacts, the plot line. With an all star cast: John Wayne (as the Rock), Kirk Douglas (as Eddington), Burgess Meredith (as Eagan Powell) and Patrica Neal (as Maggie) and the others of this star studded cast, all do great justice to Bassett’s menagerie of characters.
Bassett was Admiral William “Bull” Halsey’s Public Relations officer during the War and was first hand witness to many events in the Pacific War 1941-1945.
The novel is based principally on a secondary pacific area, ADTAC, loosely modeled as a portion of the historical Admiral Ghormley’s Southwest Pacific Area during the initial Guadalcanal Campaign. The book’s cautious and “lead from the rear,” Admiral Broderick is a personification of the somewhat inept Ghormley. The Rock, Rear Admiral Torrey is a watered down, in rank only, version of Admiral William “Bull” Halsey. Who later relieved Ghormley and was instrumental in winning the Guadalcanal and Solomon’s campaigns 1942-1943 and defeating the Japanese in the Central Pacific.
It incorporates, in a trimmed down fashion, nearly all aspects of combat and logistics faced by the US Navy in the Pacific and weaves rudimentary love, friendship and family interests and conflicts of its protagonist and the supporting characters
The book’s principle climactic sea battle “The Battle of Toko-Rotu” is based on the actual 1944 “Battle off Samar” where Japanese Admiral Kurita’s force centered on the Super battleship Yamato, encounters an six escort carrier task force under Rear Admiral Clifton “Ziggy” Sprague and six escorts known as “Taffy 3” brazenly fends off the Japanese in a do and die legendary though factual battle that turned back Kurita’s task force from General Douglas McArthur’s beachhead and amphibious force at Leyte in the Philippines. Thus literally saving the day!
The best and most excellent historical account covering this historical action is the late James D. Hornfisher’s “Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors.” A must read for any Naval Historian, Historian or laymen interested in WW2 pacific or just plain heroes. It is Americans fighting, in one of their finest hours in history.
There are many other historical parallels touched:
The Battle of Surigao Strait and some aspects of the Solomon’s Campaign.
As an historical fiction novel. Harm’s Way gives scope and glimpses into the Pacific Theater of World War 2 for its reader.
Highly recommended.
December 27, 2025
This is one of WWII’s great historic novels about the battles in the Pacific. The title is based on a John Paul Jones quote, “I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast, for I intend to go in harm’s way . . .” During WWII, the story follows the career of a hardnosed captain, Rockwell Torrey (The Rock) who went by the book.
As a young Ensign fresh out of the Naval Academy, he had married a Boston socialite at the beginning of WWI. After the war, her family told Rockwell that he should resign from the service and earn a living in the family banking business. He failed to take their advice and was eventually assigned to duty in San Diego in 1924. That is when his wife told him she was not going to be a Navy camp follower, when you are granted leave, you may come home. Eventually ending their relationship in a divorce three years later. They had a son Jere, but the Rock hadn’t seen him in four years. When he learned that the boy had joined the Navy and was assigned to PT boats in the Pacific, they had an interesting reunion.
On December 7, 1941, his ship, a cruiser, the Old Swayback, was out of port on maneuvers. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was requested to have all ships converge on his location to assess their numbers and readiness. Then CINCPAC put him in command of a task force on a “Seek and Destroy” mission to engage with any enemy ships. Eventually His task force became low on fuel. He decided to cease zig-zagging to conserve fuel (a standard procedure when engaging with the enemy). As a result, his was torpedoed by a submarine and found in violation of standard orders. Then he was reassigned to a deck job of routing convoys in 1942, quartered with a reserve officer on the admiral’s staff. Then there was a certain nurse, Maggie Hanes, who had a hardened and realistic approach to Navy life. So how does The Rock go from an austere desk job to the middle of one of the most decisive battles of the War in the Pacific? That is what is in store for those who venture to read this marvelous wartime book for themselves.
Then there is Rock’s brash Executive Officer, Paul Eddington, whose brilliant mind for tactical naval warfare was couched by always being too eager to attack, along with his perchance for alcohol and a wolfish grin. His wife would die on December 7, with another man, while Paul was on sea patrol with the Rock. Serving during peacetime made both men feel like drydocked ships, rather than fighting sailors. The author provides a glimpse inside the relationship of those in high command with those they command.
As a young Ensign fresh out of the Naval Academy, he had married a Boston socialite at the beginning of WWI. After the war, her family told Rockwell that he should resign from the service and earn a living in the family banking business. He failed to take their advice and was eventually assigned to duty in San Diego in 1924. That is when his wife told him she was not going to be a Navy camp follower, when you are granted leave, you may come home. Eventually ending their relationship in a divorce three years later. They had a son Jere, but the Rock hadn’t seen him in four years. When he learned that the boy had joined the Navy and was assigned to PT boats in the Pacific, they had an interesting reunion.
On December 7, 1941, his ship, a cruiser, the Old Swayback, was out of port on maneuvers. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was requested to have all ships converge on his location to assess their numbers and readiness. Then CINCPAC put him in command of a task force on a “Seek and Destroy” mission to engage with any enemy ships. Eventually His task force became low on fuel. He decided to cease zig-zagging to conserve fuel (a standard procedure when engaging with the enemy). As a result, his was torpedoed by a submarine and found in violation of standard orders. Then he was reassigned to a deck job of routing convoys in 1942, quartered with a reserve officer on the admiral’s staff. Then there was a certain nurse, Maggie Hanes, who had a hardened and realistic approach to Navy life. So how does The Rock go from an austere desk job to the middle of one of the most decisive battles of the War in the Pacific? That is what is in store for those who venture to read this marvelous wartime book for themselves.
Then there is Rock’s brash Executive Officer, Paul Eddington, whose brilliant mind for tactical naval warfare was couched by always being too eager to attack, along with his perchance for alcohol and a wolfish grin. His wife would die on December 7, with another man, while Paul was on sea patrol with the Rock. Serving during peacetime made both men feel like drydocked ships, rather than fighting sailors. The author provides a glimpse inside the relationship of those in high command with those they command.
February 27, 2018
I enjoyed this book (to be fair I enjoy a good period piece wrapped around a major conflict with dramatic fiction intertwined with the non fiction). While a few spots do get a little flat, I found these to be short and necessary to build the coming parts of the story.
The overview of the book: it centers around a high ranking military naval officer who goes through the ups and downs starting at Pearl Harbor on December 7th to a deadly south pacific sea battle approximately a year later. A middle aged head nurse plays his better half and there are a cast of military characters surrounding him (some close by, some in his periphery). One thing that strikes me about this book is the main characters are complex(most of them). There really isn't one character that is completely virtuous and one that is completely villainous. They all come with their baggage, they're demonstrably affected by their baggage, and the baggage is what brings some of their forthcoming actions. Even the worst character commits a deed that allows him a modicum of redemption.
If you enjoy a period piece set in world war II that includes fictional drama (some of it edgy drama) I suspect you'll enjoy this book. A note about the movie adapted from this book: the main character in the book seems almost written for John Wayne's persona. I wouldn't say he 'nailed' the character from the book but it was in the ballpark. In general the movie is pretty good as it does capture the complexity, largely, of the characters in the book.
The overview of the book: it centers around a high ranking military naval officer who goes through the ups and downs starting at Pearl Harbor on December 7th to a deadly south pacific sea battle approximately a year later. A middle aged head nurse plays his better half and there are a cast of military characters surrounding him (some close by, some in his periphery). One thing that strikes me about this book is the main characters are complex(most of them). There really isn't one character that is completely virtuous and one that is completely villainous. They all come with their baggage, they're demonstrably affected by their baggage, and the baggage is what brings some of their forthcoming actions. Even the worst character commits a deed that allows him a modicum of redemption.
If you enjoy a period piece set in world war II that includes fictional drama (some of it edgy drama) I suspect you'll enjoy this book. A note about the movie adapted from this book: the main character in the book seems almost written for John Wayne's persona. I wouldn't say he 'nailed' the character from the book but it was in the ballpark. In general the movie is pretty good as it does capture the complexity, largely, of the characters in the book.
January 16, 2019
The short version first ...
Harm's Way by James Bassett is a fictional tale set in World War II in the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO). Written in 1962, Harm's Way was made into a motion picture in 1965, entitled In Harm's Way, starring John Wayne as the Captain of a United States Naval heavy cruiser, nicknamed "the ol' Swayback." The ship is never given its accepted name or numerical designation during the film, but its "name" applies to most of the operational heavy cruisers in the United States Navy, at that time. When looking at a broadside picture of those ships, a distinctive lowering in their midships silhouette was a common feature in the of most heavy cruiser class ships that were then serving in the United States Navy. Captain Rockwell Torrey, Wayne's character, is removed from the crew of the cruiser and assigned shore duty as punishment for failing to follow a zigzag course as ordered by the Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC). The zigzag maneuver makes a torpedo attack by submarines more difficult due to the persistent changes, of course, that zigzagging requires.
After being assigned shore duty as a convoy router, Torrey finds that he sees more of his Executive Officer, Paul Eddington. Played by Kirk Douglas, Eddington was Torrey’s Executive Officer (2nd in Command) on the ol’ Swayback. They continue their friendship throughout the picture as well as the book. The other characters include Commander Egan Powell, played by Burgess Meridith; First Lieutenant Maggie Haynes, RN (Patricia Neal); Tom Tryon; Larry Hagman; and Henry Fonda, as well as several other actors and actresses who worked in the early 1960s (The motion picture itself wrapped in 1962). There have been several remakes, extended releases, and offshoot pictures with either the same or similar names over the years.
The setting of the work takes place first in the Hawaiian Islands in late 1941. After which, the action moves to the South Pacific to some fictional islands Gavabutu and Levuvana; which have a strong resemblance to the Solomon Islands. The Solomons and Guadalcanal were the original scenes of most of the early 1940’s; and, there are several books I have reviewed about the actual and fictional battles that occurred in that area. It was the location of many naval battles in the early years of WWII. So much action happened there that certain areas took on new nicknames such as Iron Bottom Sound and the Marianas (more in the Western Pacific) where the Mariana’s Turkey Shoot, one of the early aircraft conflicts which went in favor of the Allies.
The story develops the characters and portrays them as human beings who sometimes do silly, crazy, or dangerous things. There are cases of marital infidelity, sexual assault, drunkenness, and suicide as well as incredible bravery, self-sacrifice, and selfless behavior. All of which provide a cast of characters that are as human as you or I; and, as fallible as you or I am, as well. The book is a great read, and it will provide you with a good, but a fictitious story about the last global war we fought where the enemies were well-defined; the losses were high; and the national existence of the combatants changed due to the raging conflict, each in its own fallible and inexorable way.
The film is a classic seen during most of the remembrance holidays like Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day; and the Fourth of July. The book which is no longer in print is in most libraries, and even a few bookstores as well as their online venues. It is an excellent, well-produced and directed, classic movie, just as the book is a good read. The adult themes and events should be the guide to use in governing its readership exposure.
Recommendations:
Older students, faculty, and students working on research projects, deserve consideration as probable readers. Parents need information about the film’s content before its screening for students. Its downside does not detract from the fact that it is considered a five-star read by many including this reviewer. It is classic Hollywood; and the book is an excellent, complex tale about nations fighting nations and the personal events that constitute similar but more confined conflicts and interactions as should be expected from adult humans being adult humans. Do not look to this work as being entirely historical, although the general themes and overarching vistas of a world at war over the largest ocean in the world is expansive, vast, and richly deserves a place where men, machines, and nations all find themselves “in harm’s way” to one degree or another.
Review of James Bassett's Harm's Way by Richard W. Buro is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37888386-harm-s-way.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at Since publishers are not clear, my advice is to ask the question from the bookseller. Specifically address your query about subrights, subsidiary rights, or permissions..
Harm's Way by James Bassett is a fictional tale set in World War II in the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO). Written in 1962, Harm's Way was made into a motion picture in 1965, entitled In Harm's Way, starring John Wayne as the Captain of a United States Naval heavy cruiser, nicknamed "the ol' Swayback." The ship is never given its accepted name or numerical designation during the film, but its "name" applies to most of the operational heavy cruisers in the United States Navy, at that time. When looking at a broadside picture of those ships, a distinctive lowering in their midships silhouette was a common feature in the of most heavy cruiser class ships that were then serving in the United States Navy. Captain Rockwell Torrey, Wayne's character, is removed from the crew of the cruiser and assigned shore duty as punishment for failing to follow a zigzag course as ordered by the Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC). The zigzag maneuver makes a torpedo attack by submarines more difficult due to the persistent changes, of course, that zigzagging requires.
After being assigned shore duty as a convoy router, Torrey finds that he sees more of his Executive Officer, Paul Eddington. Played by Kirk Douglas, Eddington was Torrey’s Executive Officer (2nd in Command) on the ol’ Swayback. They continue their friendship throughout the picture as well as the book. The other characters include Commander Egan Powell, played by Burgess Meridith; First Lieutenant Maggie Haynes, RN (Patricia Neal); Tom Tryon; Larry Hagman; and Henry Fonda, as well as several other actors and actresses who worked in the early 1960s (The motion picture itself wrapped in 1962). There have been several remakes, extended releases, and offshoot pictures with either the same or similar names over the years.
The setting of the work takes place first in the Hawaiian Islands in late 1941. After which, the action moves to the South Pacific to some fictional islands Gavabutu and Levuvana; which have a strong resemblance to the Solomon Islands. The Solomons and Guadalcanal were the original scenes of most of the early 1940’s; and, there are several books I have reviewed about the actual and fictional battles that occurred in that area. It was the location of many naval battles in the early years of WWII. So much action happened there that certain areas took on new nicknames such as Iron Bottom Sound and the Marianas (more in the Western Pacific) where the Mariana’s Turkey Shoot, one of the early aircraft conflicts which went in favor of the Allies.
The story develops the characters and portrays them as human beings who sometimes do silly, crazy, or dangerous things. There are cases of marital infidelity, sexual assault, drunkenness, and suicide as well as incredible bravery, self-sacrifice, and selfless behavior. All of which provide a cast of characters that are as human as you or I; and, as fallible as you or I am, as well. The book is a great read, and it will provide you with a good, but a fictitious story about the last global war we fought where the enemies were well-defined; the losses were high; and the national existence of the combatants changed due to the raging conflict, each in its own fallible and inexorable way.
The film is a classic seen during most of the remembrance holidays like Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day; and the Fourth of July. The book which is no longer in print is in most libraries, and even a few bookstores as well as their online venues. It is an excellent, well-produced and directed, classic movie, just as the book is a good read. The adult themes and events should be the guide to use in governing its readership exposure.
Recommendations:
Older students, faculty, and students working on research projects, deserve consideration as probable readers. Parents need information about the film’s content before its screening for students. Its downside does not detract from the fact that it is considered a five-star read by many including this reviewer. It is classic Hollywood; and the book is an excellent, complex tale about nations fighting nations and the personal events that constitute similar but more confined conflicts and interactions as should be expected from adult humans being adult humans. Do not look to this work as being entirely historical, although the general themes and overarching vistas of a world at war over the largest ocean in the world is expansive, vast, and richly deserves a place where men, machines, and nations all find themselves “in harm’s way” to one degree or another.
Review of James Bassett's Harm's Way by Richard W. Buro is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37888386-harm-s-way.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at Since publishers are not clear, my advice is to ask the question from the bookseller. Specifically address your query about subrights, subsidiary rights, or permissions..
September 26, 2020
If you liked the film, you’ll really like the book
In Harm’s Way has been one of my favorite films so when I came upon the book I was very interested to see how much different the book would be vs. the film.
Books can do so much more will story & characters than film so I was very pleased that the film didn’t stray far from what I read here. While my images of the characters were influenced by the film (sorry, John Wayne will always be Rock Torrey), this was not a detriment for me though some of the people in the book didn’t match up in their film characters but that wasn’t a big deal.
A couple of character developments (or plot lines) were a bit of a surprise and were not followed by the screenplay for the film. I don’t know how spoilers are to be treated in these reviews, but I’ll just say the relationship with Rock and his son Jere is different than what is in the film. I wish they would have used the book’s version.
Again, my apologies for using the film as a reference point, but I found myself using the film as my filter as I read. The actors in the film were my imagined characters as I read. It worked really well for me, it might not for you.
This is a WWII Navy story that begins on Dec. 6, 1941. One does NOT need to have seen the movie In Harm’s Way to enjoy this read. If one likes WWII history & historical fiction, you will enjoy this book.
In Harm’s Way has been one of my favorite films so when I came upon the book I was very interested to see how much different the book would be vs. the film.
Books can do so much more will story & characters than film so I was very pleased that the film didn’t stray far from what I read here. While my images of the characters were influenced by the film (sorry, John Wayne will always be Rock Torrey), this was not a detriment for me though some of the people in the book didn’t match up in their film characters but that wasn’t a big deal.
A couple of character developments (or plot lines) were a bit of a surprise and were not followed by the screenplay for the film. I don’t know how spoilers are to be treated in these reviews, but I’ll just say the relationship with Rock and his son Jere is different than what is in the film. I wish they would have used the book’s version.
Again, my apologies for using the film as a reference point, but I found myself using the film as my filter as I read. The actors in the film were my imagined characters as I read. It worked really well for me, it might not for you.
This is a WWII Navy story that begins on Dec. 6, 1941. One does NOT need to have seen the movie In Harm’s Way to enjoy this read. If one likes WWII history & historical fiction, you will enjoy this book.
October 10, 2021
The story follows a high ranking navy officer during ww2. I like that in delves into his family life (or lack thereof) which helps you understand his motivations and why he makes the moves he does. He was there during pearl harbor and seemed to make a mistake so figured his career was down the tubes. When the navy needed a man of action however they promoted him to admiral and let him loose. It was pretty interesting to see the logistics and tactics of ww2 era naval warfare although some of the terms and boat sizes were a little lost on me. The book follows other men under his command and his son as well and fleshes them out a bit. It meanders a bit and the writing isn't my favorite but the story is good. Eventually he gets into a big battle with long odds and they fare better than expected but he winds up without a leg and a smashed arm. The nurse he'd been courting is there to nurse him back to health and that's basically it. I might check out the movie but I can't really see John Wayne as Rock Torrey. I think Wayne probably would have been better as Paul Eddington who was a bit of a brash scumbag but helped Rock alot in making decisions. Overall so-so book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2020
Basis for the movie "In Harms Way" with John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal, et all...
Knowing that the book is usually better than the movie I was really looking forward to this read . Having finished the book I have to give the movie a slight edge. The story is basically the same in both and when the movie deviated from the book the change was generally positive. It was an easy, quick read and well worth the time. If you haven't seen the movie then the book is about the first year of the U.S. Navy's Pacific war campaign from Pearl Harbor, Midway, and the start of the Island battles following a career Navy captain and those around him. Interesting characters and a solid story pretty accurately describing Navy life at the start of WW2. The only negatives to this book is that the author used many acronyms and terms in the story that are suitable to the 40's that current readers might not know and a few maps of the areas described would have provided clarity to the military operations. They're were also quite a few typos, particularly after the midpoint in the book, that were a little annoying hence the loss of one star.
Knowing that the book is usually better than the movie I was really looking forward to this read . Having finished the book I have to give the movie a slight edge. The story is basically the same in both and when the movie deviated from the book the change was generally positive. It was an easy, quick read and well worth the time. If you haven't seen the movie then the book is about the first year of the U.S. Navy's Pacific war campaign from Pearl Harbor, Midway, and the start of the Island battles following a career Navy captain and those around him. Interesting characters and a solid story pretty accurately describing Navy life at the start of WW2. The only negatives to this book is that the author used many acronyms and terms in the story that are suitable to the 40's that current readers might not know and a few maps of the areas described would have provided clarity to the military operations. They're were also quite a few typos, particularly after the midpoint in the book, that were a little annoying hence the loss of one star.
June 28, 2025
As often happens, the movie brought me here, but the book is better. (The film is still good, definitely check that out too.)
Normally war books aren't something I'm interested in, however, James Bassett was a veteran of WWII and provides all the details that us civilian landlubbers would never guess at and the authority to tell a story in that setting. But, the characters are what truly shine here.
'Harm's Way' is about the difficulties of command, trying to give orders while still being a man, and also about the flaws of people that might be thought of as heroes were we to only regard their service record.
The action is gripping and grisly, the characters and plot patient and detailed, real and rich with theme told with a cocktail of prose mixing rough Navy jargon with an exceptional vocabulary.
And I would not call this a pro-war novel, as Bassett clarified at the start 'For there are no villains in war. Only war itself is the villain.'
Normally war books aren't something I'm interested in, however, James Bassett was a veteran of WWII and provides all the details that us civilian landlubbers would never guess at and the authority to tell a story in that setting. But, the characters are what truly shine here.
'Harm's Way' is about the difficulties of command, trying to give orders while still being a man, and also about the flaws of people that might be thought of as heroes were we to only regard their service record.
The action is gripping and grisly, the characters and plot patient and detailed, real and rich with theme told with a cocktail of prose mixing rough Navy jargon with an exceptional vocabulary.
And I would not call this a pro-war novel, as Bassett clarified at the start 'For there are no villains in war. Only war itself is the villain.'
September 11, 2020
A very interesting book. Unfortunately I saw the movie first (my experience is that reading the book first is best). I found there to be a little too much description of sex (fairly explicit), though that is probably as much a symptom of the time when it was written as anything.
The book itself is both too detailed and too general; I think a better mix could have been found. There are a lot of characters who come and go (as would be the case in real life), but even the ones who hang around don't get the development they deserve.
The ending leaves things hanging, though not completely. The author could have wrapped up a few loose ends without doing any damage to the rest of the book.
There are some annoying typos in the Kindle version (for example, Old Swayback is consistently written as Old Sway back), but I've read worse.
The book itself is both too detailed and too general; I think a better mix could have been found. There are a lot of characters who come and go (as would be the case in real life), but even the ones who hang around don't get the development they deserve.
The ending leaves things hanging, though not completely. The author could have wrapped up a few loose ends without doing any damage to the rest of the book.
There are some annoying typos in the Kindle version (for example, Old Swayback is consistently written as Old Sway back), but I've read worse.
August 3, 2022
There's a received piece of wisdom that the book is always better than the subsequent film adaptation. Yet, like all rules, there are exceptions to that. James Bassett's 1962 novel Harm's Way, adapted for the screen three years later as In Harm's Way, is a case in point. Not because it's a bad novel, by any means, as much of what made the film version stand up as well as it has is present here. On the other hand, from the shallow characterizations of much of the expansive cast to an overemphasis on their self-exploration, Bassett's ambitious narrative doesn't quite live up to the strengths of his plotting or the authenticity he brought from his wartime experience. It must also be said that many screenwriter Wendell Mayes's innovations for the film (such as that between Torrey and his son) offered far more dramatic potential than Bassett's novel explored. Indeed, Bassett's prose might be at its best when it's executing operations or at sea, making the novel worth a read despite its faults.
March 3, 2023
WWII Novel worth reading
The novel starts with the surprise attack of Pearl Harbor. The Navy reacts to Pearl Harbor with sailors who are brave or political or not real sailors, but all are fighting the war if not bravely then with courage to do their jobs.
This story describes how all kinds of people face the dangers of WWII and includes several battles that occur after Pearl Harbor. How do people act after so many US ships are destroyed in a surprise attack that even career Naval Officers must wonder how can we win.
The story is one sided in that it is mainly about how people in the US react to the war. An interesting story that I believe is worth reading. First published in 1962 the Novel is different then the John Wayne \ Kirk Douglas movie In Harms Way.
The novel starts with the surprise attack of Pearl Harbor. The Navy reacts to Pearl Harbor with sailors who are brave or political or not real sailors, but all are fighting the war if not bravely then with courage to do their jobs.
This story describes how all kinds of people face the dangers of WWII and includes several battles that occur after Pearl Harbor. How do people act after so many US ships are destroyed in a surprise attack that even career Naval Officers must wonder how can we win.
The story is one sided in that it is mainly about how people in the US react to the war. An interesting story that I believe is worth reading. First published in 1962 the Novel is different then the John Wayne \ Kirk Douglas movie In Harms Way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews