MacArthur's War: A Novel of the Invasion of Japan

by Douglas Niles and Michael Dobson

Book Overview

Just as "Fox on the Rhine "and "Fox at the Front" showed readers an alternate Europe in which Hitler had been killed, thereby radically changing the course of World War II, Douglas Niles and Michael Dobson bring us the Battle of Midway with a very different outcome. The Allies are wildly out maneuvered and sent home in disgrace. Back in the States things are looking rather grim as the ultra-secret Manhattan Project runs into snafus that greatly delay...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765312875
• ISBN13: 9780765312877
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Forge
• Length: 492 Pages
• Weight: 1.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

An Exciting Alternative History Novel

Douglas Niles and Michael Dobson have written an exciting and thought-provoking book about how World War II in the Pacific might have turned out if a few things went differently than they did originally. As the book begins, the United states Navy is reeling from its defeat at the battle of Midway. Two American carriers were sunk and the third was damaged, while the Japanese only lost one carrier. However, the Japanese fleet is turned back due to the highly effective skip-bombing of the Japanese transports, led by Ellis Halverson. Ellis' older brother Johnny was captured in the Philippines and is now a POW. Staying true to actual history, the book then proceeds to the invasion of Guadalcanal. However, a major sea battle called the battle of the Solomon Sea takes place, and it is here where the Japanese carrier force is virtually destroyed. But, the great American Admiral Bill Halsey is killed in the battle. The Americans manage to win at Guadalcanal and soon are on the offensive. On the Japanese side, Admiral Yamamoto doesn't get shot down and killed. Instead, he returns to Japan to become the Emperor's Minister of War; a position he would hold until the end of the war. The kamikaze attacks against the American fleet are just as savage as they were in real life. Plus, the treatment of American POWs is just as savage and brutal. As the Americans move inexorably toward Japan, Macarthur and his planners prepare for the invasion itself. The Manhattan Project turned out to be a massive failure, so there will be no atomic bombs. Instead, the only way to defeat the Japanese is to invade the islands themselves. Operation Olympic, the invasion of Kyushu, is first, followed by Operation Coronet, the invasion of Honshu. To MacArthur's chagrin, General George Patton is sent from Europe to join in the invasion. Also inhibiting the invasion is the presence of a massive typhoon, which has virtually halted troop and ship movement. All except for Patton's armored divisions, who are threatening to reach Tokyo before MacArthur can even get ashore. The Japanese decide to surrender, but Hirohito is accidentally killed by radicals who wish to continue the war. Ultimately it is Yamamoto, who presents his sword to Patton as a symbol of Japan's surrender. MacArthur could only watch as Patton received all the glory of a conquering hero. However, Patton meets his own tragic demise as the book ends. As a last footnote, Truman defeated MacArthur in the Presidential election of 1948. This is a fantastic story. I am greatly impressed with the story the authors have told. The development of the many characters, both American and Japanese, is outstanding. The true historical facts are neatly interwoven into the fictional narrative to give the book a very believable story. Plus, MacArthur's character is developed perfectly to fit the way he actually was. The authors did a great deal of actual research of the actual events in the Pacific war, and the

Yesterday and Today

When I was a teenager, I was fascinated by the early 20th century, particularly the period just before WWI and continuing through WWII. Although I read other history and fantasy/sci fi, the sheer magnitude and the compelling nature of the stories during that period kept me coming back. Completely identifying with the Allies and the Americans, both wars involved extreme hardship, were filled with larger-than-life characters, had masterful and (in the case of WWII) truly villainous enemies, and ended in victory (the good guys won). While WWI was not as satisfying to me at the time as WWII, it was the perfect set up to explain the events that lead to WWII, and the first war set up the victory in WWII as so much sweeter. So I read biographies, histories, technical discussions -- indeed, it got so bad that my grandmother, who lived through and lost much in the war, berated me for reading so much about Hitler. Later, as I came to study history and dig a bit deeper, I started learning about, and exploring the darker side of American involvement in the wars. I began to understand the true horror of global war. While the stories remained compelling in the sense of how humans respond to far more trying times, my boyhood enthusiasm was significantly tempered. A deeper understanding made me question things a bit more. In time, I discovered alternative history and became fascinated by historical twists and their repercussions. With this background, I thoroughly enjoyed Michael's and Doug's (the books are truly co-creations of both men) Fox on the Rhine and Fox at the Front duology. That appreciation continued unabated in their latest, MacArthur's War. I could revisit my youthful enjoyment of an epic and compelling story of good vs. evil. I was also given some insight into the humanity of the enemy, the horror of the Japanese treatment of prisoners (while also getting a window into why they acted as they did), the sheer panic and mind-boggling bravery/stubbornness of soldiers, and the darkness inherent in all of us, even the "good guys." Finally, I could explore an interesting series of events, alternative to what actually happened. Kudos to both authors for the nostalgia they awoke. The compelling story lines, both political- and combat-oriented, were highly entertaining. While not as action-packed as the combat, I found the beginning political maneuverings to be more interesting. I've read many, many fight/combat scenes. As I get older, they hold less attraction. The interplay of personalities, motivations, societal forces, and luck that occurs in the political arena, both in the halls of power of the Americans and the Japanese, presented me with something novel and unique. I enjoyed the portrayal of the various personalities of the major historical figures, and seeing their impact on the nameless, faceless support personnel (who were given both names and faces in this book). No portrayal of a historical figure is going to be 100% accurate, or without s

The war behind the war

The battlescenes are riveting, the grand sweep of this alternative history is compelling. I am most impressed by the authors' sense of realism and drama they bring to one of the little appreciated aspects of war in a democracy--the internecine, bureaucratic struggle between American generals, admirals and the services. Maybe its because my career has been in government and public policy, but I found the descriptions of this PR war to be amusing and disturbing in equal parts, a kind of circus funhouse mirror of our own times. This book reminds us that for all our current divisions, the American style of war has never been as smooth or as unified as we remember. To some degree, we've always been at war with ourselves--even when we have been fighting for our survival.

Deus Ex Natura?

Anyone looking for a Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandos or Sgt. Rock and Our Army at War view of the hypothetical invasion of Japan is likely to be disappointed in this book. If you're a Don Pendleton aficionado and expect a Stony Man version of WWII, you're not going to get it in MacArthur's War: A Novel of the Invasion of Japan. This novel is more about the war within the war, the political whirlwind of the politics behind the way that war was waged, and the ripples sent from that inner war to what we think of as the real war than it is about combat scenes per se. But it does have combat scenes--scenes that make sense and ring true on the basis of what I know of human nature and have read from survivor's accounts. Not being a combat veteran, I can't certify the accuracy. It just reads right to me. Although the initial pacing for the first 100 pages or so may seem like anything but the aforementioned whirlwind, the carefully planted minefield of events is extremely significant for what happens from roughly 1/3 of the way into the book up to the end. The explosive scenes are definitely worth the build-up. And considering both the twofold pun of the Kami Kaze (Divine Wind) as both a natural force and a military "weapon," political whirlwind seems apt, as well. I loved the delicate touches of the time--references to Astounding Science Fiction and Amazing (Stories) magazines (as well as E.E. "Doc" Smith's seminal trilogy), the cheesecake art style of Earl S. Begley emulated in the nose art of combat planes, the horrific condition of the White House during the FDR and Truman years, the derogatory songs directed at MacArthur, the Japanese deathships, the early war torpedo problem, the emperor's love of haiku, the geisha nicknames for Yamamoto and Anami, and more. Though another reviewer may have spoiled the climax in a previous review, let me just state that I didn't anticipate the ending until very late in the book. Even then, I only hoped that the book would wrap up with some of the tidy knots that it did. I loved both the poetic justice of some aspects and the "adjustments" with regard to the occupation as opposed to the historical account. Certainly, anyone who enjoyed James Webb's The Emperor's General will find the MacArthur of this book to be similar. For me, it was refreshing to read a book on MacArthur that was focused on WWII rather than the occupation or the Korean War (called MacArthur's War in the old SSG computer game on the Korean Conflict). It was also a little eerie to see military masterminds acting like the pointy-haired bosses in Dilbert. Frankly, it was sad, but very credible. Finally, I offer my apology to the authors. There was a point in the book where a typhoon is vividly described as a Kami Kaze (Divine Wind). At that point, I thought they were creating a "god out of nature" to solve a plotting issue. I wrote "Deus ex Natura" across the start of that chapter. When I read the historical notes and realized that there ha

well done!

The authors once again have written a realistic and engrossing alternate history - this time, of the Pacific arena. From MacArthur's slimy attempt to worm his way into complete command to the tragic depiction of the Japanese prisoner of war camps to the exciting battle details, it was hard to put this book down. It helps satisfy those of us who have always wondered, "What would've happened if we had never dropped the bomb?" An outstanding piece of work. Highly recommended for a summer read!