Long Walk to the Sun

Jock Miles WW2 Adventure Series Book 1

By: William Peter Grasso

Narrated by: Andrew Tell

Length: 14 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

In this alternate history adventure set in WW2's early days, a crippled US military struggles to defend vulnerable Australia against the unstoppable Japanese forces. When a Japanese regiment lands on Australia's desolate and undefended Cape York Peninsula, Jock Miles, a US Army captain disgraced despite heroic actions at Pearl Harbor, is ordered to locate the enemy's elusive command post.

Conceived in politics rather than sound tactics, the futile mission is a "show of faith" by the American war leaders meant to do little more than bolster their flagging Australian ally. For Jock Miles and the men of his patrol, it's a death sentence: their enemy is superior in men, material, firepower, and combat experience. Even if the Japanese don't kill them, the vast distances they must cover on foot in the treacherous natural realm of Cape York just might. When Jock joins forces with Jillian Forbes, an indomitable woman with her own checkered past who refused to evacuate in the face of the Japanese threat, the dim prospects of the Allied war effort begin to brighten in surprising ways.

©2012 William Peter Grasso (P)2015 William Peter Grasso

Close to Home

It was great to listen to this novel. I was born in and lived most of my life some of the Australian places in this novel, and got to say I found it all pretty plausible and the pronunciations quite good (in particularly Brisbane, which every other non-Aussie I've heard pronounce it gets it very wrong). The only one I wasn't sure on was Weipa - but to tell you the truth I've not been there or spoken with a resident of it, so it very is possible my pronunciation (which just comes from my interpretation of the word) may be wrong. Very possibly I'm wrong, especially as the author actually made a point of describing the alternate pronunciations in the story itself. The portrayal of the areas in the book were all to my experience as well as second hand knowledge very accurate. Also I found the dialog both appropriate and enjoyable to listen to. One of the critical reviews on Amazon had some odd complaints on the language used in the book, and I felt them a bit unfounded.
I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Blast.
The book is an alternate history WW2 novel, but not in style of the more traditional WW2 alternate history novel like 1948, The Man in the High Castle, where humanity is in some depressing future due to the allies having lost the war. In this one we are looking more at a micro level of "smaller" plausible actions that didn't happen, during the war itself. I was so caught by the story I felt the need to check out the synopses of other books the author has written, and am really interested in listening to others when they are released, both the other Jock Miles ones and some of the standalone ones, in particular East Wind Returns.

The story itself was an engaging listen, the plot a very smart and well executed story, and the characters well developed and likeable where appropriate, and unlikable where not, including the horrible rear echelon military people Jock and his group were continually done wrong by. I do hope that in reality MacArthur wasn't quite like this.

The narration - well Andrew Tell did a fantastic job. I was worried I'd be hearing Brisbane mispronounced for the entire novel, and that did not happen, so an instant + for me. I've actually several books narrated by him in my library, but this is the first with Aussie characters, and fortunately it wasn't tried to be done as the common caricature of Aussie accents that you often see in movies (think of Robert Downey Jr in Natural Born Killers - ugh!!!), but more realistic.

A great read, and I'm looking forward to more audio releases by the author, Jock Miles or otherwise!

Who wrote this stuff anyway?

I like a good story, preferably an historical novel...with good dialog. That isn't this book. The narrative is fine. However the dialog isn't. In fact it stinks. It is amateurish, dull, and is nothing like what men say to and about other men. I keep asking myself if it wasn't written by a girl.

Want an example? Career military men (and women) do not refer to the things that go BANG as bullets. They are called ammunition, or rounds if speaking about singles. And career Army officers do not swear like a bunch of drunks when engaging in their official duties, especially in the presence of enlisted personel.

How about another? Ballsy females can be entertaining unless the story turns into a drama queen fest. Aussie women can be just like the author says. But the dialog between a cranky old cop and a ballsy female business owner should be a it more circumspect and a lot less of a power trip in which the cranky male cop sulks off. That's especially true when the story line says he is seriously concerned about the woman's welfare.

Things work when the older authority figure is respectful if not fatherly. The powerful woman can even be dismissive if she thinks she is built proof. But even arrogant women don't dismiss the man AND his concern. Dismiss one or the other but not both. Doing so makes the lead female character look unnecessarily stupid. It makes her look small. People want to like the characters. There is no reason to diminish a good guy when it isn't required to make the story work.

Things may better. I hope so. But if chapter four isn't any better than chapters one through three, I may turn this turkey in for a refund.

Great story!

If you could sum up Long Walk to the Sun in three words, what would they be?

Great war fiction

What was one of the most memorable moments of Long Walk to the Sun?

When a soldier was bitten by a snake and another soldier had to kill him to stop his screaming so they wouldn't be discovered by a Japanese patrol.

What does Andrew Tell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

You cant experience the different tones of emotion

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, most definitely

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast.

Excellent audio book

Love this book. Author dealt with the SNAFUs at the beginning of WWII very well. Punish the innocent, praise the bad leaders and pin metals on the un involved.. Also liked the handling of the huge ego and touched on MacArthur brilliance. Need the rest of this Grasso series to come out in Audible!

extremely good story!

this is by far one of the best driver ever heard. it will keep you hooked to the story the entire time.

Weak

Characters not likable. I was cheering for the Japanese. Cheered against the Sissies and Americans.

A Modest Alternate History

Grasso's story is a personal story, which makes for good alternate history. There may be a bit much of the vagueries of war going on, but not implausibly. The reader was pretty bad, though, making everyone sounds cartoonish. And he didn't figure out how to pronounce many Australian words-- kind of key for a book set in Australia. Even Brisbane he got wrong until about halfway through.

Ok hate to use that word but that is all it was

Book was tolerable but that was about it. There were some funny parts and some interesting information on the lAusaie natives but the book lacked the combat scenes and historical backing that I love in WWII fiction. It is worth a listen if you can't find any other WWII fiction to listen to like I couldn't when I found it!

Great War Fiction

Would you consider the audio edition of Long Walk to the Sun to be better than the print version?

The audio edition was great, Did not read the book

Which scene was your favorite?

The whole book was a great listen

If you could take any character from Long Walk to the Sun out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Captain Jock Miles, To meet him face to face

Any additional comments?

I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom

Captivating

Where does Long Walk to the Sun rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very god book had a hard time putting it down cant wait until I get the next book in the series. Good action, good dialog

What was one of the most memorable moments of Long Walk to the Sun?

when it said this is audible

World war II Australia

I've always enjoyed a what if book especially ones that look out what could have happened if one little thing had been different.
This story takes a look at a fictional invasion of remote part of Australia and the US Australian response to it.