Customer Reviews
Avoiding the easy cliches - By: Alan Lenton, 29 Dec 2008 
This account of the 1944-45 World War II battles against Japan is something of a tour de force by Max Hastings. Drawn from interviews & the papers of those who participated, it presents both sides of the story, but without fallingin to moral ambivalence. Even more importantly, it does not look at the decisions made at the time solely from hind sight - it looks at them within the contextin which they were made.
Many of the things that happened then become more explicable - not necessarily condonable, but certainly explicable, include Japanese actrocities against those they conquered, & the much debated decision to drop the atom bomb.
Two things which I hadn't previously understood became clear from a reading of this book. The first was that all of the people involved at a high level with the dropping of the bomb failed to understand the qualitative difference between conventional & nuclear explosive. They all thought it was just a biggesr & better version of what the B-29 bombers were already doing to Japanese cities. The second was the extent to which high ranking Japanese military & civilians privately knew the war was lost, but were, because of the warrior cult of bushido, were unable to express unable to express this publically.
Hasting's conclusion, is that,in spite of the fact that the bombing & the submarine blockade having already massively reduced the ability of the Japanese to produce war materiel, the Russian invasion of Japanese occupied China & Korea, & the dropping of the atom bomb were bnecessary to force the Japanese surrender. The atom bomb was necessary to convince the civiliansin government that they should surrender, the Russian invasion to force the army to face the fact that it had lost.
Not everyone will agree with this idea, but it is well argued, & cannot be ignored.
Recommended
A Contender for 'Book of the Year' - By: E. Sharman, 29 Dec 2008 A few years ago I read Armageddon & thought it was excellent. So a couple of months ago I bought Nemesis & set it side for my 'Christmas read'. I was looking forward to this (in my own sad way!) - but was at the same time wondering if my fond memories of Armageddon would raise my expectations too much & that I might be left disappointed.
The first two or three chapters did have me a bit concerned - so if you you do buy this book note that these chapters are 'big picture', setting-the-scene build ups. Politics & warmongering are considered on a vast scale & although this was no doubt necessary I couldn't get 'involved' & felt a bit cold towards it all. But then the author swoops down from painting this expansive panorama & focusesin on the action. And it is absorbing, exciting, real & enlightening -in turn & at the same time.
In fact I would say that perhaps the genius of this author is his ability to take the reader on a tour where you seem to zoomin on small (but relevant) detail one moment & then soar up through the levels & focus on the big players, personalities, decisions & scenarios. We are presented with 'fox hole' stories & with company, platoon, battalion, corps & army group manoeuvres & strategies. We see the view from all sides, including the much-suffering local, regional & national populations. We are presented with factions inside pretty much all of the involved governments & with the differing national psyches & how these affected behaviours & decision-making. We are treated to excellent descriptions of land, sea & air operations & battles, including valuable insights into kamikaze operations & motivations.
There is no poor chapter - everything is tightly & expertly written. I often found myself wondering at the sheer effort that must have gone into collating such an enormous body of evidence & transforming it into such a readable, well-knitted work.
The sense of physical, geographical achievement as the US forces moved to retake the Philippines & then grind their way towards the Japanese Homeland is highly tangible - at times almost breathtaking - & even if you know the story it still grips.
For those of you worried about prior knowledge, fear not. Mr Hastings assumes nothing & at the same time manages to present the storyin an intelligent & highly non-patronising manner.
I read a lot of books & often judge them (crudely) by the extent to which I start wondering how many pages are left compared to worrying how many pages have gone. This book fell well into the latter category. It ranks as one of the best books I have readin a while (and I get through a lot)and surely cements Max Hastings well into position as one of the leading historical authors of our time.
Could be better - By: Brian D, 26 Nov 2008 
I was a little disappointed with this book. I bought it thinking it would be as good a read as 'Armageddon' by the same author. But here I was wrong. It seems that the author has tried to fill up a long book rather quickly without paying too much attention to the overall readability. He does cover the Japanese point of view too, which is interesting but I think he has included too many personal interviews with survivors. It must be fascinating for someone who lived through it all, who can piece it all together today - but I was left a little confused & just about managed to finish reading the book. Not easy reading.
Essential history that all should know. - By: I. Barker, 26 Nov 2008 An extremely good read, the battle for Japan has not received the same level of historical coverage given to the European Western & Eastern fronts, but this book certainly rectifies that. A compelling, informative & justifiably horrific book, it pulls no punches & serves no political or historical masters. For truth & honesty about the events & the figures that drove them you'll have to go a long way to better this book. Cannot praise highly enough. You should bookend your WWII historical collection with this & it's older brother 'Armageddon-Max Hastings' about the battle for Europe.Armageddon: The Battle for Germany 1944-45
BRITISH PACIFIC FORCE? - By: Trevor Walhen, 14 Aug 2008 
At the Winchester Festival, reviewing his book, Hastings made a misguided & alarming remark, "that the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, other than Taranto Raid, played no significant partin WW2". It is therefore no wonder that he has omitted to includein his book the British Pacific Forces's successful attack on the Japanese oil refineries at Palembang (Samatra)in January 1945. Four British fleet carriers with 244 aircraft embarked disabled the refineries that were supplying Japan precious aviation fuel. He has also failed to document one of two VC's won my Fleet Air Arm pilots during WWII - Lt Gray with his plane on fire, pressed home his attack & sank a Japanese destoyer. Glancing through the book Hastings does not do justice to the Royal Navyin the Far East during 1944-45 period, until he educates himselve on the Fleet Air Arm's war effort, I will stay clear of his books. Question for you Max, which allied torpedo bomber aircraft sank more enemy shipping (by tonnage) then any other aircraft actingin the same role during WW2? Clue it is the same aircraft that disabled the Bismarck's steering, enabling the Royal Navy to sink it.
