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Morning Star, Midnight Sun: The Early Guadalcanal-Solomons Campaign of World War II August–October 1942
Following on from his hugely successful book Rising Sun, Falling Skies, Jeffrey R. Cox tells the gripping story of the first Allied offensive of the Pacific War, as they sought to prevent Japan from cutting off Australia and regaining dominance in the Pacific.
Following the disastrous Java Sea campaign, the Allies went on the offensive in the Pacific in a desperate attempt to halt the Japanese forces that were rampaging across the region. With the conquest of Australia a very real possibility, the stakes were high. Their target: the Japanese-held Solomon Islands, in particular the southern island of Guadalcanal.
Hamstrung by arcane pre-war thinking and a bureaucratic mind-set, the US Navy had to adapt on the fly in order to compete with the mighty Imperial Japanese Navy, whose ingenuity and creativity thus far had fostered the creation of its Pacific empire. Starting with the amphibious assault on Savo Island, the campaign turned into an attritional struggle where the evenly matched foes sought to grind out a victory.
Following the disastrous Java Sea campaign, the Allies went on the offensive in the Pacific in a desperate attempt to halt the Japanese forces that were rampaging across the region. With the conquest of Australia a very real possibility, the stakes were high. Their target: the Japanese-held Solomon Islands, in particular the southern island of Guadalcanal.
Hamstrung by arcane pre-war thinking and a bureaucratic mind-set, the US Navy had to adapt on the fly in order to compete with the mighty Imperial Japanese Navy, whose ingenuity and creativity thus far had fostered the creation of its Pacific empire. Starting with the amphibious assault on Savo Island, the campaign turned into an attritional struggle where the evenly matched foes sought to grind out a victory.
448 pages, Paperback
First published February 20, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 1, 2023
This is a very good book about one of the pivotal campaigns in the Pacific Theater in WWII. It details the infighting between the Commanders on both sides of the conflict and the reasons for their successes and failures. The book is well researched as evidenced by the fact that servicemen shot down on both sides of the conflict are named in most of the aerial battles discussed. This is a book that I recommend for anyone interested in the Pacific Theater during WWII or the Guadalcanal Campaign.
May 31, 2020
This book is written in a strange manner that took some time to get used to and often made me laugh. It is however well researched, very detailed and enjoyable to read. There are a few minor internal inconsistencies and there could have been a better use of maps. Overall a different and useful take on the early Guadalcanal campaign.
April 13, 2018
Jeffrey Cox has written a gripping account of the first half of the Guadalcanal campaign intermixing action, events and details from both sides, Japanese and American. The book begins with the Japanese initiative that led to the construction of an airfield on Guadalcanal and its invasion by US forces in August 1942 and ends with the carrier melee since known as the Battle of Santa Cruz in October 1942 – and the events in between. His narrative is superbly fleshed out with clear overviews of the military situation, official communications, meetings, personalities, and all the human failings that war intensifies so inexorably. The petty spats, personality conflicts, egos, and miscommunications on both sides and the down-range effects they have on events are a constant thread – it makes for gripping reading and it is expansive. Cox looks searchingly and with perception and an eye for relevant minutia at people, meetings and events at all levels, from high command (US and Japanese), to on scene commanders, to individual unit commanders and the people they manage. He is objective and unsparing in his delineations of the failures and inadequacies of individuals in positions of command and influence on both sides. It is an amazing piece of work, and one that will give the reader both insight and appreciation for the nature of the events and the experiences of those engaged in them.
Unsurprisingly, the US Navy was not a well practiced, efficient and smoothly operating war machine. The Navy was still finding its way, finding its leaders, learning the weaknesses of its tactics, weaponry and practices at considerable cost. Surprisingly, so were the Japanese at this stage of the war, albeit for different reasons. Cox explains both sides with clarity and personalized details that are amazing. He also examines weapon technology and tactics, explaining strengths and weaknesses of torpedoes (US and Japanese), radar, radios and other equipment issues that also have unavoidable and significant effects on events.
This makes the book a delight and a wonder to read. He includes information, details and insights that are simply astounding – and never before known, at least to me. Individuals and their individual actions and experiences are liberally scattered throughout the book, many of them will make the reader just think “wow!” Some are fun, some odd and unusual, many are sad and tragic – all give vibrancy and life to the narrative. [For example, when the Enterprise air search radar was knocked out of order during the Battle of Santa Cruz, the radar officer Lt. Brad Williams climbed up the radar mast with a tool kit, tied himself to the radar to free both hands, and fixed the drive motor… and then spun around with the radar for while when they understandably turned it on immediately.] The book focuses largely on the air and sea campaigns of the time frame, although the Marines defending Henderson Field on Guadalcanal are not overlooked. Cox includes the significant land actions on the island, to be sure, but the scope of the book is definitely air/sea. That said, his account of the “Night of the Battleships” when the Japanese bombarded Henderson with two battleships is hellish in its effect… it will put you there with the Marines enduring it. He employs that collection of personal experiences, individual details, and inside revelations collated with the wider scope of events and tactics and war strategies throughout his narrative of this relatively brief but critical time frame. It is a new, refreshing and effective tour de force that really must be read to be appreciated.
All that said, one might ask why I gave it four stars instead of the five that the content and form so richly deserve. The book suffers from two weaknesses. One is editing… the editing mistakes are inexplicable and grating. For example in one paragraph the commander of a Marine regiment is identified as Colonel, in the next referred to as Captain, then again as Lt Colonel. Dates are not often inconsistent – an event occurs in early September, then something happens in October that results in a reaction on September 19th. Unfortunately, such basic editing errors are not unusual and crop up too regularly to be ignored. Given that the book is so detail oriented and reliant upon specific details and minutia, it can create some uncertainty in the mind of the reader as to what really happened and when on the small, intense and personal scale of events that is endemic throughout the book.
Second, Cox utilizes an informal conversational style of prose that is good – it makes his detail oriented text reader friendly, engaging, easily understood and relevant. But he also has a penchant for the rhetorical aside, frequently sarcastic in tone, often in an interrogative form that is simply annoying. It might be appropriate for a childrens’ book but it is an unnecessary and irritating distraction here. Two examples (among many):
“There was an explosion. A big one. It came from the kitchen building at Lunga or, more accurately, what had been the kitchen building, which was now just a pile of rubble. What happened? Another bombing raid? There was no time to consider the question. In quick succession came more blasts. And aircraft making strafing runs on the Lunga base. The Americans were here. Well, he had been expecting visitors.”
“After all, Murata, the best torpedo attack pilot in the world, had never really needed fighter escorts before. What are the odds he would need them now?”
Bottom line – if you have any interest in the Pacific War, Guadalcanal, early Navy actions, carrier actions and naval air warfare read this book! It is rewarding, informative, enjoyable and engrossing. Despite my two peeves above, the book is a must read.
Unsurprisingly, the US Navy was not a well practiced, efficient and smoothly operating war machine. The Navy was still finding its way, finding its leaders, learning the weaknesses of its tactics, weaponry and practices at considerable cost. Surprisingly, so were the Japanese at this stage of the war, albeit for different reasons. Cox explains both sides with clarity and personalized details that are amazing. He also examines weapon technology and tactics, explaining strengths and weaknesses of torpedoes (US and Japanese), radar, radios and other equipment issues that also have unavoidable and significant effects on events.
This makes the book a delight and a wonder to read. He includes information, details and insights that are simply astounding – and never before known, at least to me. Individuals and their individual actions and experiences are liberally scattered throughout the book, many of them will make the reader just think “wow!” Some are fun, some odd and unusual, many are sad and tragic – all give vibrancy and life to the narrative. [For example, when the Enterprise air search radar was knocked out of order during the Battle of Santa Cruz, the radar officer Lt. Brad Williams climbed up the radar mast with a tool kit, tied himself to the radar to free both hands, and fixed the drive motor… and then spun around with the radar for while when they understandably turned it on immediately.] The book focuses largely on the air and sea campaigns of the time frame, although the Marines defending Henderson Field on Guadalcanal are not overlooked. Cox includes the significant land actions on the island, to be sure, but the scope of the book is definitely air/sea. That said, his account of the “Night of the Battleships” when the Japanese bombarded Henderson with two battleships is hellish in its effect… it will put you there with the Marines enduring it. He employs that collection of personal experiences, individual details, and inside revelations collated with the wider scope of events and tactics and war strategies throughout his narrative of this relatively brief but critical time frame. It is a new, refreshing and effective tour de force that really must be read to be appreciated.
All that said, one might ask why I gave it four stars instead of the five that the content and form so richly deserve. The book suffers from two weaknesses. One is editing… the editing mistakes are inexplicable and grating. For example in one paragraph the commander of a Marine regiment is identified as Colonel, in the next referred to as Captain, then again as Lt Colonel. Dates are not often inconsistent – an event occurs in early September, then something happens in October that results in a reaction on September 19th. Unfortunately, such basic editing errors are not unusual and crop up too regularly to be ignored. Given that the book is so detail oriented and reliant upon specific details and minutia, it can create some uncertainty in the mind of the reader as to what really happened and when on the small, intense and personal scale of events that is endemic throughout the book.
Second, Cox utilizes an informal conversational style of prose that is good – it makes his detail oriented text reader friendly, engaging, easily understood and relevant. But he also has a penchant for the rhetorical aside, frequently sarcastic in tone, often in an interrogative form that is simply annoying. It might be appropriate for a childrens’ book but it is an unnecessary and irritating distraction here. Two examples (among many):
“There was an explosion. A big one. It came from the kitchen building at Lunga or, more accurately, what had been the kitchen building, which was now just a pile of rubble. What happened? Another bombing raid? There was no time to consider the question. In quick succession came more blasts. And aircraft making strafing runs on the Lunga base. The Americans were here. Well, he had been expecting visitors.”
“After all, Murata, the best torpedo attack pilot in the world, had never really needed fighter escorts before. What are the odds he would need them now?”
Bottom line – if you have any interest in the Pacific War, Guadalcanal, early Navy actions, carrier actions and naval air warfare read this book! It is rewarding, informative, enjoyable and engrossing. Despite my two peeves above, the book is a must read.
April 24, 2018
A well-written narrative of the early campaign (August-October, 1942) in and around Guadalcanal on land, sea and in the air. The struggle for the beachead on that island is an interesting phase in the Second World War in the Pacific because it was the period before the Americans had built a huge military machine, based on their overwhelming industrial advantage, and they had to slug it out with the up-til-then seemingly invincible Japanese at even odds. Mr. Cox describes the battles and the strategic decisions by both sides with verve and wit (occasionally a little too much wit) and the book is an excellent introduction to the campaign.
December 27, 2018
Fighting in the Solomons was not pleasant for anyone. Crocodiles, lizards, spiders and scorpions infested the islands over which Americans and Japanese contended. Though fairly evenly matched, momentum seemed to be on the side of the advancing Japanese though that momentum imbued them with “Victory Disease” that would contribute to their downfall. While Americans had not yet replaced their combat losses the Japanese lacked the capacity to replace theirs.
The setting in in the Solomon Islands of the South Pacific, significant to major powers only because they sat astride the lines of communication between the USA and Australia. On these islands and their surrounding waters, the Japanese sought the “Decisive Battle” that would propel them to victory while the Americans took the first step to role back the tide of the Rising Sun.
The segment of the war reported in this book is the early phases of the Solomon campaign extending from August to October 1942 with the focus largely on the naval battles. It was a time of transition. The Americans landed on Guadalcanal and could not be dislodged. The Battle of Savo Island was the greatest defeat in American naval history and would litter the ocean floor in what is still called Iron Bottom Sound.
Some of the individuals mentioned are famous, such as Admirals Yamamoto, Ghormley, Nimitz, McCain and Halsey. Most are ordinary servicemen doing their duty, such as the pilots of the Cactus Air Force, a makeshift unit that flew from newly built Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, the sailors who scanned the radar, fired the guns and fought the fires and the Marines and soldiers ashore.
In this phase of the war errors were frequent and tragic. The failure of destroyers “Blue” and “Talbot” to observed the advancing Japanese fleet and the unreliability of American torpedoes cost much in blood and material. It was also a time of improvement as American brass recognized that while the aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy maintained standards, the quality of its aviators was deteriorating, enabling Americans to be bolder and more aggressive. Recognition of the failings of Adm. Ghormley and his replacement by Adm. Hulsey put in place the leadership team that would sweep across the Pacific.
Author Jeffrey R. Cox has crafted an extensively researched tome. He weaves the big history of admirals and engagements into the small history of the men who fought them. This is a valuable resource for the serious student of World War II in the South Pacific but perhaps too detailed for the general reader. I like a book that helps me understand the roles individuals and actions played in the overall war. I am less interested in reading that “another bomb, this from the Type 99 of Petty Officer 1st Class Koitabashi Hiroshi, flown by Petty Officer 1srt Class Akimoto Tamoutsu..detonated in the Number 3 5-inch gun gallery.” I recommend Morning Star, Midnight Sun for advanced students of the naval war in the pacific but suggest others for initial reads.
I did receive a free copy of the book through the Amazon Vine program.
The setting in in the Solomon Islands of the South Pacific, significant to major powers only because they sat astride the lines of communication between the USA and Australia. On these islands and their surrounding waters, the Japanese sought the “Decisive Battle” that would propel them to victory while the Americans took the first step to role back the tide of the Rising Sun.
The segment of the war reported in this book is the early phases of the Solomon campaign extending from August to October 1942 with the focus largely on the naval battles. It was a time of transition. The Americans landed on Guadalcanal and could not be dislodged. The Battle of Savo Island was the greatest defeat in American naval history and would litter the ocean floor in what is still called Iron Bottom Sound.
Some of the individuals mentioned are famous, such as Admirals Yamamoto, Ghormley, Nimitz, McCain and Halsey. Most are ordinary servicemen doing their duty, such as the pilots of the Cactus Air Force, a makeshift unit that flew from newly built Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, the sailors who scanned the radar, fired the guns and fought the fires and the Marines and soldiers ashore.
In this phase of the war errors were frequent and tragic. The failure of destroyers “Blue” and “Talbot” to observed the advancing Japanese fleet and the unreliability of American torpedoes cost much in blood and material. It was also a time of improvement as American brass recognized that while the aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy maintained standards, the quality of its aviators was deteriorating, enabling Americans to be bolder and more aggressive. Recognition of the failings of Adm. Ghormley and his replacement by Adm. Hulsey put in place the leadership team that would sweep across the Pacific.
Author Jeffrey R. Cox has crafted an extensively researched tome. He weaves the big history of admirals and engagements into the small history of the men who fought them. This is a valuable resource for the serious student of World War II in the South Pacific but perhaps too detailed for the general reader. I like a book that helps me understand the roles individuals and actions played in the overall war. I am less interested in reading that “another bomb, this from the Type 99 of Petty Officer 1st Class Koitabashi Hiroshi, flown by Petty Officer 1srt Class Akimoto Tamoutsu..detonated in the Number 3 5-inch gun gallery.” I recommend Morning Star, Midnight Sun for advanced students of the naval war in the pacific but suggest others for initial reads.
I did receive a free copy of the book through the Amazon Vine program.
October 14, 2020
This books covers from the planning for the Guadalcanal landing to the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, mainly air and sea, but some detail on the ground fighting.
Cox's style is to call out mistakes on both sides, in detail, often with sarcastic rejoinders. It is an effective style when describing the first Japanese counterattack on Guadalcanal, that of the Ichiki Detachment. The arrogance of Colonel Ichiki is matched only by his fate, when he led his troops into a banzai charge vs entrenched and prepared Marines thinking the Marines would be swept away by the elan of his Japanese soldiers.
If you only read one book on Guadalcanal, definitely make it Richard B. Frank's book. But this book is not a waste of time for students of the campaign.
I appreciated the naming of pilots on both sides. Whatever side or service a pilot flew for, the Solomons were dangerous.
Cox's narrative makes very clear the way radio and radar technology combined to make average contacts much more dangerous for Japanese pilots. Many was the time that US radar picked up Japanese reconnaissance planes, leading to Wildcats getting vectored over by radio to shoot down the snoopers. The big Japanese flying boats were sitting ducks to the massed 50 cal machine guns of the Wildcat fighters.
By contrast, when US PBY Catalinas or B-17s went looking for Japanese ships, usually there was no radar on Japanese ships. If lookouts spotted US planes, the ships communicated with defending Zeros by means of the main cannons on cruisers or battleships firing in the direction of the US planes. Radioless Zero pilots then were supposed to notice the big retort of the cannons, and fly in the direction the barrels were pointing.
And if the challenges of this work around for not having radar or radios were not enough, Zeros were, relative to Wildcats, lightly armed, and shooting down a big heavily armored US plane was not a sure thing. Many US planes escaped such situations.
Cox's style is to call out mistakes on both sides, in detail, often with sarcastic rejoinders. It is an effective style when describing the first Japanese counterattack on Guadalcanal, that of the Ichiki Detachment. The arrogance of Colonel Ichiki is matched only by his fate, when he led his troops into a banzai charge vs entrenched and prepared Marines thinking the Marines would be swept away by the elan of his Japanese soldiers.
If you only read one book on Guadalcanal, definitely make it Richard B. Frank's book. But this book is not a waste of time for students of the campaign.
I appreciated the naming of pilots on both sides. Whatever side or service a pilot flew for, the Solomons were dangerous.
Cox's narrative makes very clear the way radio and radar technology combined to make average contacts much more dangerous for Japanese pilots. Many was the time that US radar picked up Japanese reconnaissance planes, leading to Wildcats getting vectored over by radio to shoot down the snoopers. The big Japanese flying boats were sitting ducks to the massed 50 cal machine guns of the Wildcat fighters.
By contrast, when US PBY Catalinas or B-17s went looking for Japanese ships, usually there was no radar on Japanese ships. If lookouts spotted US planes, the ships communicated with defending Zeros by means of the main cannons on cruisers or battleships firing in the direction of the US planes. Radioless Zero pilots then were supposed to notice the big retort of the cannons, and fly in the direction the barrels were pointing.
And if the challenges of this work around for not having radar or radios were not enough, Zeros were, relative to Wildcats, lightly armed, and shooting down a big heavily armored US plane was not a sure thing. Many US planes escaped such situations.
August 22, 2020
Overall it is very detailed, though interestingly the narrative ends before the climatic Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Why the narrative ends there is unclear, unless it is for a sequel... which I will neither read nor listen to.
Partly this is because the author drops down to the micro-tactical continuously. While at times interesting, i admit to quickly losing interest in or caring which limit shot which pilot and then stubbed his tie after getting out of his aircraft... I said it was detailed, right?
The other issue is his constant snark. It was highly evident as I listened to this book. I read a previous book of his, Rising Sun Falling Skies, and do not remember that. The snark is incredibly distracting. After the first fifteen mentions of it, I understood that the mark 6 exploder was faulty and the Japanese suffered from hubris. Interestingly, the author does not develop any depth here. Since I try to study decision-making under uncertainty, this is less than useful, and soon his various whipping boys just became the price to pay for slogging through this book.
It gets three stars because of the level of detail... not very book offers that, though it was far more than was useful to me.
Partly this is because the author drops down to the micro-tactical continuously. While at times interesting, i admit to quickly losing interest in or caring which limit shot which pilot and then stubbed his tie after getting out of his aircraft... I said it was detailed, right?
The other issue is his constant snark. It was highly evident as I listened to this book. I read a previous book of his, Rising Sun Falling Skies, and do not remember that. The snark is incredibly distracting. After the first fifteen mentions of it, I understood that the mark 6 exploder was faulty and the Japanese suffered from hubris. Interestingly, the author does not develop any depth here. Since I try to study decision-making under uncertainty, this is less than useful, and soon his various whipping boys just became the price to pay for slogging through this book.
It gets three stars because of the level of detail... not very book offers that, though it was far more than was useful to me.
March 15, 2021
A good, detailed introduction to the first half of the Guadalcanal campaign. Jeffrey Cox, the author, writes engaging prose, and Joe Barrett does a great job with the audiobook.
December 6, 2025
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I also introduce him to my uncle who was suffering from Parkinson’s disease… My uncle is 55 and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s about 2 years ago. He deals with a lot of anxiety, so much so that he doesn’t want to go out, doesn’t want to be with people. he has depends only on the drug levodopa, his meds for the a-fib, and anti depression medicine. Last three months i introduce him to Dr. Ayo. My uncle only used the Dr. Ayo herbal remedy for 6 weeks without levodopa and all his symptoms was completely reversed. My Uncle is now happily living free from Parkinson’s diseases now …. I recommend this Parkinson’s herbal remedy for all Parkinson’s Patients.
So i guess its time i recommend Dr. Ayo to anyone going through
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HIV
Hepatitis B
Diabetes
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Leukemia
Autism
insomnia
to contact Dr. Ayo Email : ridvid8@gmail.com
contact Dr. Ayo Telegram : @wafri01
website :
ridvid8.wixsite.com/dr-ayo-herbs-home (less)
July 11, 2018
Mr. Cox, has once again given us a through look at the Navy operations in and around Guadalcanal. The author takes you back briefly to the disastrous day of Pearl Harbor, and how General Macarthur though lost all of the planes he was ordered to protect by spacing out disobey the order, but still some who manage to stay in charge in the Pacific. This even after losing the Philippines with men and women but saving himself and staff, and saying that the U.S. Navy was the fourth best in the World behind Italy. That was the part of the book that really got me. The author then takes you through the planning and landing of the Marines on Guadalcanal, there fighting which would be for months. The battles at sea between the two Navy’s and how when you get to the end you really see that the loss of so many experienced pilots were beginning to take their toll on the Japanese Navy. You also get a look at how the American industry was beginning to start to rear its head. When in the early stages of the battles the Enterprise has to leave because of damage, but when it returns it is a more lethal fighting weapon with 16 new installed 40mm bofors anti-aircraft guns in four quadruple mounts. These would be one of the most effective anti-aircraft guns during the war. The Enterprise would also be are only working carrier after this battle, and would take on the Japanese Navy. The author also gives you a look at the inside of the going on in the Japanese Navy, their loses and changes they would make during the battle. Overall a very good book. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
July 13, 2018
A love of mine is the early Naval battles of WWII. Have to say once again Mr. Cox banged it out of the park! I’d read Neptune’s Inferno and fully expected that to end things but when I was Mr. Cox was coming out with this and having read Rising Sun, Falling Sky I had to read this one.
Mr. Cox tells a similar story as Mr. Hornfischer, however instead of telling the complete story Mr. Cox chose to break the campaign into two books with this first one focusing on the front half of the campaign. What I like about this is Mr. Cox gives us more about the campaign, especially little things that help describe the environment more. Something I do find interesting is the analysis of leadership Mr. Cox provides. While I don’t always agree with him 100%, I do feel he captures the different leaders capabilities pretty well (note: I think Mr. Hornfischer did a better job assessing Admiral Scott but that’s me). If there’s a weakness in his story it’s that he’s not telling the full impact the war in New Guinea had on Japanese air power nor the technological differences in the aircraft (please read Fire in the Sky if you want more on that or the series by Bruce Gamble on Rabaul).
Having said that this is the new gold standard; 5 stars all the way. If I had any wish it would be that Mr. Cox have the publisher put more maps in the book and maybe a summary of the weapons and their capability in the back, that would then make this a true 5 star book!
Mr. Cox tells a similar story as Mr. Hornfischer, however instead of telling the complete story Mr. Cox chose to break the campaign into two books with this first one focusing on the front half of the campaign. What I like about this is Mr. Cox gives us more about the campaign, especially little things that help describe the environment more. Something I do find interesting is the analysis of leadership Mr. Cox provides. While I don’t always agree with him 100%, I do feel he captures the different leaders capabilities pretty well (note: I think Mr. Hornfischer did a better job assessing Admiral Scott but that’s me). If there’s a weakness in his story it’s that he’s not telling the full impact the war in New Guinea had on Japanese air power nor the technological differences in the aircraft (please read Fire in the Sky if you want more on that or the series by Bruce Gamble on Rabaul).
Having said that this is the new gold standard; 5 stars all the way. If I had any wish it would be that Mr. Cox have the publisher put more maps in the book and maybe a summary of the weapons and their capability in the back, that would then make this a true 5 star book!
March 28, 2018
Morning Star, Midnight Sun by Jeffery Cox covers the pivotal moments in the pacific between August 1942 to October 1942 as the US Navy finds its footing following its victory at Midway and begins its push up the pacific. Written equally from the eyes of the United States and Japan this book follows in detail the movements of each Navy and Army in the case of the Guadalcanal battles as the fight to retake the island begins. It should be noted that this does not cover the full Guadalcanal-Solomons campaign but only the early months and outbreak as each side establishes their battle line and seeks to destroy the enemy fleet in the decisive battle that the Japanese seek. This is a book for military historians and covers the battles and the movements in detail with a strong eye towards naval history. It is not a book that seeks to place this campaign within the historiography of World War 2. If you are interested in military history of the pacific you will find this a great read but otherwise it is a pretty niche history book on a very specific topic covered in great and exacting detail.
May 2, 2018
"Morning Star, Midnight Sun" eBook was published in 2018 and was written by Jeffrey Cox. Mr. Cox has published two non-fiction books on World War II.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The book tells the story of the first campaign in the Pacific Theater by the Allies – the invasion of Guadalcanal. The story documents the many mistakes made by both sides during the conflict and emphasizes how important communications is.
I enjoyed the 16 hours I spent reading this 466 page World War II history. I found this book gave me a better understanding of what went on during this first campaign in the Pacific. Given the challenges that faced US forces, I am amazed that the invasion was successful. The book is a little dry and is filled with the numerous names of military personnel and ships on both sides of the conflict. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The book tells the story of the first campaign in the Pacific Theater by the Allies – the invasion of Guadalcanal. The story documents the many mistakes made by both sides during the conflict and emphasizes how important communications is.
I enjoyed the 16 hours I spent reading this 466 page World War II history. I found this book gave me a better understanding of what went on during this first campaign in the Pacific. Given the challenges that faced US forces, I am amazed that the invasion was successful. The book is a little dry and is filled with the numerous names of military personnel and ships on both sides of the conflict. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
July 17, 2019
Very insightful & was surprised to learn that the Japanese aviators had attacked the Philippines and many other places six months prior to the attack of Peal Harbor December 7th 1941.
This is the second or third book that I have read highlighting deficiencies and the senseless lost of life in Pearl harbor.
Of course, it was 79 years ago and the claims cannot be proven, yet, the passage of time may have provided the sense of security that allows the individual's to recant a course of events closer to the truth; I believe this is the case with many Natzi, Jewish books that I have read.
Please let us not repeat the past.
Wikipedia says that the Philippines was invaded by Japan on December 8th, one day after Pearl harbor was attacked.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phili...
This is the second or third book that I have read highlighting deficiencies and the senseless lost of life in Pearl harbor.
Of course, it was 79 years ago and the claims cannot be proven, yet, the passage of time may have provided the sense of security that allows the individual's to recant a course of events closer to the truth; I believe this is the case with many Natzi, Jewish books that I have read.
Please let us not repeat the past.
Wikipedia says that the Philippines was invaded by Japan on December 8th, one day after Pearl harbor was attacked.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phili...
May 16, 2018
A gripping read.
I have previously read this author's work "Rising Sun, Falling Skies" and thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't hesitate to buy this and I'm glad I did.
Just the right mix of grand strategy and small detail. A worthy companion piece to Hornfischer's "Neptunes Inferno".
I have previously read this author's work "Rising Sun, Falling Skies" and thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't hesitate to buy this and I'm glad I did.
Just the right mix of grand strategy and small detail. A worthy companion piece to Hornfischer's "Neptunes Inferno".
April 8, 2024
This an excellent study on the early battle for Guadalcanal, the author gets into the everyday events of the battle and this adds to the narrative in very personal terms. I’ve read many books on the battle for the Solomon Islands this particular read cleared up many questions I had about the lead up to main battle for Guadalcanal. I’m looking forward to the next book…
October 26, 2020
Detailed
The author has gone to great lengths to document the names and stories of individual participants. However the timeline can be a bit confusing as the author jumps between engagements and Japanese and American perspectives.
The author has gone to great lengths to document the names and stories of individual participants. However the timeline can be a bit confusing as the author jumps between engagements and Japanese and American perspectives.
January 21, 2021
I was captivated by this well written and brilliantly narrated book. This was not a dry account of a pivotal time in world history, but told in such a manner that the reader was almost there living the horror with these brave men.
October 28, 2022
A fine addition to the Guadalcanal fare. Cox documents the political wrangling before and after Pearl Harbor and is not afraid to document the trouble MacArthur created. Ian Toll is more readable but this is a worthy tome.
March 24, 2018
Excellent!
A well written account of the early Solomon islands campaign. I have read many of the other accounts of this campaign and this is clearly one of the best!
A well written account of the early Solomon islands campaign. I have read many of the other accounts of this campaign and this is clearly one of the best!
July 25, 2019
It's a well written book, no argument there.
But left me a bit unfulfilled.
But left me a bit unfulfilled.
August 22, 2020
Great detailed book about the Guadalcanal-Solomons Naval Campaign.
January 30, 2021
Good research and not a bad book if you can get used to the author's writing style.
March 8, 2021
Really enjoyed
Good read, thoroughly researched. Just when you thought you knew everything about Guadalcanal, the author comes up with more insights.
Good read, thoroughly researched. Just when you thought you knew everything about Guadalcanal, the author comes up with more insights.
October 4, 2021
Great view of history from both sides of the fight and how it all went down. With some good comic relief here and there.
January 31, 2022
A thoroughly entertaining read
July 5, 2023
Really great writing, descriptions and audible performance. So interesting with Michael arrival details on a topic I had previously read much about. Delightful.
October 13, 2023
Extremely detailed almost to the point of mind numbing. But it clearly showed how we were not really prepared for a naval war at this time in the conflict.
December 10, 2023
Truly detailed and fascinating coverage of this early part of WW 2 in the Pacific, all 4 books, amazing!
December 7, 2020
Excellent detailed account of the Guadalcanal campaign at it's beginning. I have read other accounts but this one puts you there. Not just the battles but the decision making on both sides. Looking forward to reading the second volume and now will also seek out Mr. Cox's Java Sea Campaign tome.
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