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

Bloomsbury presents Blazing Star, Setting Sun by Jeffrey Cox, read by Lance C Fuller.  

From popular Pacific Theatre expert Jeffrey 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 work apart is how he combines this microscopic attention to detail, often unearthing new facts along the way, with an engaging style that transports the listener 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

Narrator Ruined the Book

The book is well written, informative, and quite detailed, but the narration is atrocious. He reads in a flat, nasally voice and constantly mispronounces words. I'm not quite sure how he was able to find employment as a narrator. Buy the print version of this book instead

Truly Ourstanding Narative of SW Pacific

Very detailed narrative of the lower Soloman campaign with emphasis on Naval and Air and role of logistics on operations and HQ politicking on strategy. Land, air and sea ops covered separately, so one getsa feel for the relentless attrition warfare of daily air raids and nightly naval bombardments and/or surface engagements, against the backdrop of continuous land fighting. All three environments being fought over independently but each dependent on the success of the other two. Narrator was excellent.

Gripping Narrative

One wonders how the U.S. Navy prevailed in the Guadalcanal Campaign when you take into account the total failure of U.S. torpedo technology against the truly fearsome Japanese long lance torpedo and highly effective night fighting capabilities of the Japanese Navy. Couple this with poor leadership/command decisions along with poor communications and continual technology failures lead to an abysmal record of U.S. warship sinking in these multiple battles and far too many casualties among a lot of brave men. This book spares no punches in examination of shortcomings. But these were not one-sided. The Japanese also suffered from often puzzling command decisions and leadership failures. This was a very close run campaign and I had a hard time shutting down my Audible app when listing to this book. Narration was great.

My assessment of the Pacific Struggle

A great deal of information given on the Japanese and American forces opposing one another. Lots of details were provided to a point that it became information overload making it hard to keep up with the narrator.

Excellent Review of the Early Pacific War

Both the book and the audiobook are excellent. I have only listened to the audiobook, so I am assuming that the book text is identical.

I had to address the comment from one reviewer that the narration ruined the book for him. In fact, I avoided this book for some time, fearing that I would also feel the same. However, I listened to the sample recording and could find nothing objectionable in the narration. In fact, I find this narrator to be amongst the best i have listened to in over 100 audiobooks. His narration is expressive and appropriate to the action taking place. He also has done his homework as I found few mispronunciations of names and WW2-specific terminology. His pronunciation of Helena is my only real complaint. Indeed, he is one of few narrators I have heard who correctly pronounces proper Japanese names.

However, I do understand personal preference in narration. But if you enjoy listening to books, and are interested in WW2, I would definitely not avoid this one.

outstanding book

great in depth book on the 2nd half of the battle for Guadalcanal and the naval/air battles over Japanese efforts to provide troops for the battle over New Guinea

Great listen, lot I didn't know. HOWEVER. . . .

The narration is spot on, and I thought I knew everything about Guadalcanal, but this book. goes way beond, Very interesting read.
However there is a major flaw imho.

It a fleet of Jap destroyers. come to a battle, he will name every ship and the captain. Same for fights planes.
It just loses the continuity of the story by naming every Jap shop, pilots etc. Just made listing for me, difficult..

Just can’t get past the horrid narrator

This might or might not be a good book. It’s impossible to tell, due to the utterly dismal narration. Buy it and read it instead.

fabulous story

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

Overwright

I But this book after reading this author's work covering the previous period. Unfortunately the 1st 5 chapters of this book were over the previous period, and only after that covered the period in the title.

Brilliant account of Guadalcanal Battle land & sea

What is going on with this book? The first four chapters are a repeat of what is in Morning Star Midnight Sun. Then when I got to what should have been Chapter 5 the narrator states “Chapter 1” and the story then repeats the first book and Chapters 1 to 4 of this book all over again. The problem sorts itself out by Chapter 7 but frustrating all the same.
Footnote: Having now finished the book I have changed it to 5 Stars. It a brilliant account of Guadalcanal and the sea areas around it. Culminating in when aircraft of the U.S. Fifth Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) attacked a Japanese convoy carrying troops to Lae, New Guinea. Most of the Japanese task force was destroyed, and Japanese troop losses were heavy.