Harry Turtledove, Days of Infamy

Harry Turtledove, Days of Infamy - My overall positive remarks assume that "Days of Infamy" will be followed up with sequel. If there is none, then my ratings are at least twice as generous as they should be.

Turtledove does an excellent job of not just writing an alternate history, but of adhering to the facts of the real history. There are many exammple of this. For instance, Admiral Nagumo was known to be a very cautious commander. Who knows what the alternative history would be if he only launched a third strike against Pearl Harbor even without an invasion? And so, even in the support of an invasion, we see his reluctance to commit to such a bold move.

Turtledove also shows an appreciation for some of the technical details of the invasion and following conflicts. Everybody knows that the Zero was a far superior dogfighter than the Wildcat. But in the hands of skilled pilots who appreciated the Wildcat's superior rugged construction, such tactics as the "Thatch Weave" made the Wildcat a dangerous opponent to the best-trained naval air power in the world at that time (the Japanese). And he even brings out the sad fact that not only was the Devastator a hopelessly outclassed torpedo bomber, but its crews often wasted their lives in delivering a torpedo that failed to work as often as not.

Less exciting but a mindful (and necessary) consideration nonetheless is the account of the Japanese occupation of the islands. The different responses by the whites, the native Japanese, the Japanese-Americans, and the Hawaiians are given careful attention through Turtledove's development of the dozen or so characters we got to know in the book.

As I said earlier, I look forward to the next in the series, and there better be one! I can find no information anywhere that one is planned, but a careful reading of the jacket cover, when compared with the content of the book seems to hint that one is in mind (sorry I can't say more than that!).

Richard Anderson

Days of Infamy

Harry Turtledove

NAL, Nov 2004, $24.95, 464

ISBN: 0451213076

The Japanese plan to bomb Pearl Harbor when Commander Genda persuades Admiral Yamamoto to also occupy Hawaii. That would enable the Japanese to extend their territorial base and make for ease to bomb the American far west and cut the enemy off from allies like Australia and New Zealand. His superiors approve the daring plan.

Whites control Hawaii with Japanese treated as third class citizens. When the attack occurs, the Americans are taken by surprise and react in a disorganized manor, even the soldiers.. Their weaponry is destroyed. The bombardment is followed up with precise military action and the Japanese Army force the Americans to surrender. POWs are treated with contempt and abuse while those Japanese who have lived in Hawaii for years collaborate with their conquering brethren. The local Americans on bended knees to the invaders look to the forty-eight states, hoping they will make a move to liberate them.

Harry Turtledove, the grandmaster of alternate history, has written an exciting military thriller that answers the what if question of what would happen if Japan invaded and occupied Hawaii not just bombing Pearl Harbor? Most readers will believe after an early bout of skepticism that the events in DAY OF INFAMY could have happened. Most interesting is the outlook of Japanese living in Hawaii as the parent generation believes they are Japanese while their children feel American. This is another triumph from Mr. Turtledove.

Harriet Klausner