Robert Conroy 1945

1945

Robert Conroy

Ballantine, May 2007, $14.95

ISBN: 0345494792

Hoping to end the war with weapons of mass destruction, the United States drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, no surrender remains the motto of the military fanatics who strictly adhere to the code of Bushido. Knowing Emperor Hirohito is going to traitorously announce his country's surrender in a few hours, this extremist military cabal kidnaps him.

Instead samurai General Korechika Anami takes over as leader of the bombed out country. Tired of war but seeing no end in sight and realizing the number of dead could reach seven digits, a reluctant President Truman authorizes General Douglas MacArthur to invade Japan. However, instead of a quick end the war continues with kamikaze attacks on the occupying force and human shields to raise the cost of counter attacks. As the war drags on and a successful kamikaze raid causes symbolic euphoria in Japan and nightmarish doubts in America, the anticipated V-J day celebration appears increasingly more like a Japanese celebration.

The key to Robert Conroy's powerful latest alternate history (see 1901and 1862; neither read by this reviewer), is the varying points of view that bring vividly to life that war is hell. The concept of Japan continuing the war on its own soil holds up as the American public loses confidence with increasing reports of casualties. Fans fascinated by plausible well written alternate military history will enjoy 1945.

Harriet Klausner