Blazing Star, Setting Sun

The Guadalcanal-Solomons Campaign November 1942-March 1943

By: Jeffrey Cox

Narrated by: Lance C Fuller

Length: 24 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

From popular Pacific Theatre expert Jeffrey R. Cox comes this insightful new history of the critical Guadalcanal and Solomons campaign at the height of World War II. His previous book, Morning Star, Rising Sun, had found the US Navy at its absolute nadir and the fate of the Enterprise, the last operational US aircraft carrier at this point in the war, unknown. This new volume completes the history of this crucial campaign, combining detailed research with a novelist’s flair for the dramatic to reveal exactly how, despite missteps and misfortunes, the tide of war finally turned. By the end of February 1944, thanks to hard-fought and costly American victories in the first and second naval battles of Guadalcanal, the battle of Empress Augusta Bay, and the battle of Cape St George, the Japanese would no longer hold the materiel or skilled manpower advantage. From this point on, although the war was still a long way from being won, the American star was unquestionably on the ascendant, slowly, but surely, edging Japanese imperialism towards its sunset.
Jeffrey Cox’s analysis and attention to detail of even the smallest events are second to none. But what truly sets this book apart is how he combines this microscopic attention to detail, often unearthing new facts along the way, with an engaging style that transports the reader to the heart of the story, bringing the events on the deep blue of the Pacific vividly to life.

©2020 Jeffrey Cox (P)2020 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Great Narrator, but book gets lost in details.

The narration is spot on, and I thought I knew everything about Guadalcanal, but this book. goes way beyond, Very interesting read.
However, the author gets bogged down in too many details..

Cox seems to feel the need to name every destroyer, ( several times ) every squadron, every pilot ( both sides ), every torpedo
For me, the book looses it continuity, the book does not flow. To be constantly interrupted by every minutiae
of the battle was extremely frustrating...

Great book

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves history. Pleasant in tone and informative.

Great Story Narration So So

This is a great story but the narrator mispronunciation of words is bothersome. This narrator is better than the first volume’s narrator though.

I enjoyed it and would listen to it again.

it was easy to listen to and enjoy. A lot of good history.
thank you

HBO needs to do a multi year series on Guadalcanal

This is the 20 th book I’ve listened to on WW2. I am totally intrigued by the story Guadalcanal. Some books I have listened to are more ground based or ship based. This one is more oriented to the air war. However it is very balanced with details of land sea and air details. It also gives insight into the Japanese view. I heard story lines that were not in other books. The battle of the Bismarck Sea is one example . What this book really made clear to me was the desperate nearly existential battle that Guadalcanal was. We know who won but this book really brings home the doubt many people must of had about its outcome. This campaign was not a forgone conclusion: so many times the IJN and IJA stuck it to the US.
The Americans Brits and Aussies who fought were all heroes. I fear we would not have the grit and tenacity that these brave souls had.

This book could be used for a HBO series with a cast of thousands. How about it Steven and Tom. “The Pacific”was great but we need more!!!!

Fine addition to my library

Not much else to say other than it is a fine book by Mr. Cox

fabulous story

well read extremely well written and restarted. Highly recommend. Well worth reading.
* * * * *.

Great Listen

Much better all around than the first books. Narrator did an excellent job. Why they used three different narrators on other books a mystery!

Definitely worth a listen

The narrator wasn't as good as the previous book's narrator, but if you speed up the playback, it's definitely doable.

As with the first book, this account is incredibly detailed and the dry wit coupled with the appreciation of talent and the commiseration over the lack thereof are deeply appropriate.

I can't help but wonder how many Americans died as a result of the arrogance and stupidity evident in the design and implementation of the mk14 and mk15 torpedoes.

The tactics and unimaginative rigidity of a fascist regime make me grateful for democracy, free speech, and checks and balances.

What a great book!

Best book on the Naval Battle for Guadalcanal

Cox has a masterpiece with his second in the series here on our country's Navy during an unwatchable struggle for control of the Solomons. Cox demonstrates with facts each naval battle for Guadalcanal with such precision of 1st person accounts that you literally sweat reading this book. I cant wait to read his next one in the series here! audible versions are fantastics as well!! His books on the Navy at Guadalcanal are top shelf material!!!