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

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!

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.