Morning Star, Midnight Sun

The Early Guadalcanal-Solomons Campaign of World War II August–October 1942

By: Jeffrey R. Cox

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

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 Soloman 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 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.

©2018 Jeffrey R. Cox (P)2018 Tantor

Very Detailed

At times it got confusing trying to keep timelines and facts straight....it was hard to put down once the story developed though

More Historical Detail

I enjoyed this historical perspective including the good and the bad regarding the Army and Navy leadership on both sides.

Battle for Guadalcanal

Loved the book. Especially struck by some darkly humorous moments. One of the decisive battles in the Pacific. A very even-handed treatment.

Great comprehensive history of the key three months

Well written and well read. The author covers the action on both sides and covers multiple services (marines, marine aviators and navy) with clear details down to individuals’ names and roles on both sides. The book covers the most critical first half of the Guadalcanal epic, the eventual outcome of which is uncertain at the end of the book. It is a hefty book as it is and thus I believe this was a good place to end. Morning Star, Midnight Sun is well written, even entertaining book, that give a detailed overview of what many believe was the turning point of the pacific war.

Wow

One of best histories I’ve “read”/“listened” to ever. The author while clearly pro allies is very empathetic to the Japanese. I never would of thought that a nearly day by day account could be so exciting and suspenseful even when you know how it ends!

Great book

Unbelievable depth. Fantastic narration. Details down to individual pilots, both Americans and Japanese. I truly enjoyed this book.

Too much to absorb with only one listen.

I can't think of anything more I need to know about the Solomon's campaign. This gave as complete a picture from the Japanese and Americans view point, that an American historian could have given. One example, many Japanese pilots were named even if they only flew one mission.

It is hard for me quantify the IJN officer corps. They were more than competent, but they did not change their tactics to deal with the Americans. Strategies that worked well against China and smaller Asian countries were totally unsuited to fight the Americans. The IJN frequently sub divided their units. They covered a large area, but were not effective against larger US and Allied forces.

The American senior leaders were veterans of The Great War and Banana wars. As they came into the war, they were strong, single minded and unrelenting. Anyone that questioned the need for absolute victory, and few did, failed understand what was at stake. This creed was personified by Admiral William Halsey, Commander of the South Pacific Force, "Kill Japs, kill Japs, kill more Japs." The US and it's allies understood, there was no Second Place.

There are more than few excellent works on the Pacific Theater, may I suggest, "Enterprise: America’s Fightingest Ship and the Men Who Helped Win World War II By: Barrett Tillman". Also, "Clear the Bridge!: The War Patrols of the U.S.S. Tang
By: RAdm. Richard H. O'Kane USN Narrated by: Sean Runnette"

Gripping and detailed

Cox offers a very detailed chronicle of US Navy and Army efforts to take, hold and improve Guadalcanal. His level of detail is amazing, although the action tends to run together. Still, an amazing historical account from both American and Japanese points of view of a pivotal battle in the early days of WWII.

Excellent audiobook

This was an excellent audiobook to listen to about the early fighting for Guadalcanal - Solomons Campaign from August - October 1942. It contains personal experiences from the American and Japanese sides. The mistakes made by both sides are detailed. The air battles are very detailed with losses of pilots and victories obtained. The sea war is also very detailed. The fighting on the ground on Guadalcanal is overwhelming in the description of death and hardships faced by both sides. It is over 20 hours in its length and I had to on occasion to go back and replay it to refresh where I was in the battle.

this guy knows his stuff

great read. great detail for an interesting subject if you are into historical non fiction.