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Pearl Harbor #2
Days of Infamy
“Absolutely brilliant! Fast paced and filled with tension and suspense. Every page resonates with the momentous events and great personalities of World War II – and scenes so carefully crafted you feel like you’re there. This is a ‘must read’ for all who look at history and wonder: “What if…” -- Oliver North, Lt. Col., USMC (Ret.), host of War Stories on the Fox News Channel
In 2007, bestselling authors Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen launched a new epic adventure series about World War II in the Pacific, with their book Pearl Harbor: A Novel of December 8th, 1941, which instantly rocketed to the New York Times bestseller list.
Gingrich and Forstchen’s now critically acclaimed approach, which they term “active history,” examines how a change in but one decision might have profoundly altered American history. In Pearl Harbor they explored how history might have been changed if Admiral Yamamoto had directly led the attack on that fateful day, instead of remaining in Japan. Building on that promise, Days of Infamy starts minutes after the close of Pearl Harbor, as both sides react to the monumental events triggered by the presence of Admiral Yamamoto. In direct command of the six carriers of the attacking fleet, Yamamoto decides to launch a fateful “third-wave attack” on the island of Oahu, and then keeps his fleet in the area to hunt down the surviving American aircraft carriers, which by luck and fate were not anchored in the harbor on that day.
Historians have often speculated about what might have transpired from legendary “matchups” of great generals and admirals. In this story of the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, the notorious gambler Yamamoto is pitted against the equally legendary American admiral Bill Halsey in a battle of wits, nerve, and skill.
Days of Infamy recounts this alternative history from a multitude of viewpoints---from President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and the two great admirals, on down to American pilots flying antiquated aircraft, bravely facing the vastly superior Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft. Gingrich and Forstchen have written a sequel that’s as much a homage to the survivors of the real Pearl Harbor attack as it is an imaginative and thrilling take on America’s entry into World War II.
Praise for the first book in the Pacific War Series, Pearl Harbor:
"A thrilling tale of American's darkest day."
--W.E.B. Griffin
"Masterful storytelling that not only captures the heroic highs and hellish lows of that horrific day which lives on in infamy--it resonates with today's conflicts and challeneges."
--William E. Butterworth IV, New York Times bestselling author of The Saboteurs
"A politician and a novelist, each an accomplished historian in his own right, are emerging as master authors of alternative history. In this “what if” treatment of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen combine their talents to make the diplomacy as suspenseful as the combat, even for readers who know what happens next–or think they know."
--Dennis Showalter, former president of the Society of Military Historians
"This book is not only a great read, it is a fascinating historical story that applies today in Iraq as it did in the Western Pacific in the late 30s and 40s."
--Captain Alex Fraser, USN (Ret.)
In 2007, bestselling authors Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen launched a new epic adventure series about World War II in the Pacific, with their book Pearl Harbor: A Novel of December 8th, 1941, which instantly rocketed to the New York Times bestseller list.
Gingrich and Forstchen’s now critically acclaimed approach, which they term “active history,” examines how a change in but one decision might have profoundly altered American history. In Pearl Harbor they explored how history might have been changed if Admiral Yamamoto had directly led the attack on that fateful day, instead of remaining in Japan. Building on that promise, Days of Infamy starts minutes after the close of Pearl Harbor, as both sides react to the monumental events triggered by the presence of Admiral Yamamoto. In direct command of the six carriers of the attacking fleet, Yamamoto decides to launch a fateful “third-wave attack” on the island of Oahu, and then keeps his fleet in the area to hunt down the surviving American aircraft carriers, which by luck and fate were not anchored in the harbor on that day.
Historians have often speculated about what might have transpired from legendary “matchups” of great generals and admirals. In this story of the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, the notorious gambler Yamamoto is pitted against the equally legendary American admiral Bill Halsey in a battle of wits, nerve, and skill.
Days of Infamy recounts this alternative history from a multitude of viewpoints---from President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and the two great admirals, on down to American pilots flying antiquated aircraft, bravely facing the vastly superior Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft. Gingrich and Forstchen have written a sequel that’s as much a homage to the survivors of the real Pearl Harbor attack as it is an imaginative and thrilling take on America’s entry into World War II.
Praise for the first book in the Pacific War Series, Pearl Harbor:
"A thrilling tale of American's darkest day."
--W.E.B. Griffin
"Masterful storytelling that not only captures the heroic highs and hellish lows of that horrific day which lives on in infamy--it resonates with today's conflicts and challeneges."
--William E. Butterworth IV, New York Times bestselling author of The Saboteurs
"A politician and a novelist, each an accomplished historian in his own right, are emerging as master authors of alternative history. In this “what if” treatment of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen combine their talents to make the diplomacy as suspenseful as the combat, even for readers who know what happens next–or think they know."
--Dennis Showalter, former president of the Society of Military Historians
"This book is not only a great read, it is a fascinating historical story that applies today in Iraq as it did in the Western Pacific in the late 30s and 40s."
--Captain Alex Fraser, USN (Ret.)
369 pages, Hardcover
First published April 29, 2008
153 people are currently reading
539 people want to read
About the author
Newt Gingrich
114 books545 followersNewt Gingrich is well-known as the architect of the “Contract with America” that led the Republican Party to victory in 1994 by capturing the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in forty years. After he was elected Speaker, he disrupted the status quo by moving power out of Washington and back to the American people. Under his leadership, Congress passed welfare reform, the first balanced budget in a generation, and the first tax cut in sixteen years. In addition, the Congress restored funding to strengthen defense and intelligence capabilities, an action later lauded by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission.
Today Newt Gingrich is a Fox News contributor. He is a Senior Advisor at Dentons, the world’s largest law firm with more than 6,500 lawyers in 50 countries and offices in more than 125 cities. He advises the firm’s world-class Public Policy and Regulation practice. He is also a Senior Scientist at Gallup.
From May 2011 to May 2012, Newt Gingrich was a candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States, winning the South Carolina and the Georgia primaries. The campaign was especially notable for its innovative policy agenda, its effort to bring new coalitions into the Republican fold, and for Newt’s debate performances. His $2.50 a gallon energy plan set off a nationwide discussion about the use of America’s energy resources.
But there is a lot more to Newt Gingrich than these remarkable achievements. As an author, Newt has published twenty-nine books including 14 fiction and nonfiction New York Times best-sellers.
Non-fiction books include his latest, Breakout, in addition to A Nation Like No Other, Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny, To Save America, Rediscovering God in America, 5 Principles for a Successful Life, Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less, Real Change, A Contract with the Earth, Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America, To Renew America, Lessons Learned the Hard Way, Saving Lives & Saving Money, Window of Opportunity, and The Art of Transformation. He is also the author of a series of historical fiction books including, Gettysburg, Grant Comes East, Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant the Final Victory, 1945, Pearl Harbor, Days of Infamy, To Make Men Free, To Try Men’s Souls, Valley Forge, and Victory at Yorktown. These novels are active history studies in the lessons of warfare based on fictional accounts of historical wartime battles and their aftermaths. His latest novel, Treason, is the sequel to Duplicity and is a thriller of Washington intrigue and international terrorism.
Newt and his wife, Callista, host and produce historical and public policy documentaries. Recent films include The First American, Divine Mercy: The Canonization of John Paul II, A City Upon A Hill, America at Risk, Nine Days That Changed The World, Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny, Rediscovering God in America, Rediscovering God in America II: Our Heritage, and We Have the Power.
In his post-Speaker role, Newt has become one of the most highly sought-after public speakers, accepting invitations to speak before prestigious organizations throughout the world. Because of his own unquenchable thirst for knowledge, Newt is able to share unique and unparalleled insights on a wide range of topics. His audiences find him to be not only educational but also inspirational. For more information about Newt’s speaking engagements, please visit the Worldwide Speakers Group.
Widely recognized for his commitment to a better system of health for all Americans, his leadership in the U.S. Congress helped save Medicare from bankruptcy, prompted FDA reform to help the seriously ill and initiated a new focus on research, prevention, and wellness. His contributions have been so great that the American Diabetes Association awarded him their highest non-medical award and the March of Dimes named him their 1995 Citizen of the Year.
To foster a modern health system that provide
Today Newt Gingrich is a Fox News contributor. He is a Senior Advisor at Dentons, the world’s largest law firm with more than 6,500 lawyers in 50 countries and offices in more than 125 cities. He advises the firm’s world-class Public Policy and Regulation practice. He is also a Senior Scientist at Gallup.
From May 2011 to May 2012, Newt Gingrich was a candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States, winning the South Carolina and the Georgia primaries. The campaign was especially notable for its innovative policy agenda, its effort to bring new coalitions into the Republican fold, and for Newt’s debate performances. His $2.50 a gallon energy plan set off a nationwide discussion about the use of America’s energy resources.
But there is a lot more to Newt Gingrich than these remarkable achievements. As an author, Newt has published twenty-nine books including 14 fiction and nonfiction New York Times best-sellers.
Non-fiction books include his latest, Breakout, in addition to A Nation Like No Other, Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny, To Save America, Rediscovering God in America, 5 Principles for a Successful Life, Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less, Real Change, A Contract with the Earth, Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America, To Renew America, Lessons Learned the Hard Way, Saving Lives & Saving Money, Window of Opportunity, and The Art of Transformation. He is also the author of a series of historical fiction books including, Gettysburg, Grant Comes East, Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant the Final Victory, 1945, Pearl Harbor, Days of Infamy, To Make Men Free, To Try Men’s Souls, Valley Forge, and Victory at Yorktown. These novels are active history studies in the lessons of warfare based on fictional accounts of historical wartime battles and their aftermaths. His latest novel, Treason, is the sequel to Duplicity and is a thriller of Washington intrigue and international terrorism.
Newt and his wife, Callista, host and produce historical and public policy documentaries. Recent films include The First American, Divine Mercy: The Canonization of John Paul II, A City Upon A Hill, America at Risk, Nine Days That Changed The World, Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny, Rediscovering God in America, Rediscovering God in America II: Our Heritage, and We Have the Power.
In his post-Speaker role, Newt has become one of the most highly sought-after public speakers, accepting invitations to speak before prestigious organizations throughout the world. Because of his own unquenchable thirst for knowledge, Newt is able to share unique and unparalleled insights on a wide range of topics. His audiences find him to be not only educational but also inspirational. For more information about Newt’s speaking engagements, please visit the Worldwide Speakers Group.
Widely recognized for his commitment to a better system of health for all Americans, his leadership in the U.S. Congress helped save Medicare from bankruptcy, prompted FDA reform to help the seriously ill and initiated a new focus on research, prevention, and wellness. His contributions have been so great that the American Diabetes Association awarded him their highest non-medical award and the March of Dimes named him their 1995 Citizen of the Year.
To foster a modern health system that provide
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
June 30, 2019
Plenty of naval action and some explosive battle scenes, but very few memorable characters and little sense of time and place. Herman Wouk did this sort of thing a lot better!
March 10, 2011
Newt Gingrich (born 1943) is an American politician, former speaker of the US House of Representatives and 1995 TIME Magazine Person of the Year. According to Wiki, he is also planning to run under the Republican wing in the 2012 US Presidential elections. How is that for an author of a fictional war book, huh? It is understandable if the book is an inspiring autobiography like The Audacity of Hope by the then Democrat Presidential Candidate Obama but… a historical fiction?
Those who are familiar with Gingrich, this should not come as a surprise. He has a B.A., an M.A., and a Ph. D. in history and taught history in Georgia while attempting to enter politics in 1974 and 1976 (when he lost his first two attempts to win Georgia’s sixth congressional district). He has written 28 books, mostly non-fictions and this book Days of Infamy (2008) is only the second in his Pacific War Series categorized under Alternative History or what he and his co-author call as “active history.”
Alternative or active. It seems to me that these books all answer the question “what if?” For example, Days of Infamy answers the questions, “What if Admiral Yamamoto had directly led the attack on Pearl Harbor instead of remaining in Japan?” Meaning, what if he was in the Japanese vessel and pursued the attack in the remaining parts of Oahu and even the nearby islands? With the possibility of latter attacking the West Coast?
This active fiction history book opens few hours right after the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. The story’s description of the aftermath and the devastating effects on the lives of the Americans is comparable to John Hersey’s Hiroshima (1946). If you’ve seen movies made based on the story, reading this book gives you a different feeling because of the detailed historical facts captured by a historian like Gingrich who knows what he is talking about.
My only comment is that Gingrich, probably because he is a politician, seems to lean towards making his countrymen the heroes through and through. Compared, for example, with Denis Johnson in the Vietnam war National Book awardee, Tree of Smoke where Johnson chose to tell his story without making a stand on who were the heroes: Americans, Vietnamese, Russians, etc. Here in Days of Infamy , Gingrich made good valiant images also for the Japanese characters (like in the end when the Japanese vessel sank and Admiral Yamamoto cried and surrendered his flag) but one will just have a feeling that Gingrich uses his “alternative history” to earn points to win American votes. Just my feeling though and of course, there is nothing wrong with that.
Those who are familiar with Gingrich, this should not come as a surprise. He has a B.A., an M.A., and a Ph. D. in history and taught history in Georgia while attempting to enter politics in 1974 and 1976 (when he lost his first two attempts to win Georgia’s sixth congressional district). He has written 28 books, mostly non-fictions and this book Days of Infamy (2008) is only the second in his Pacific War Series categorized under Alternative History or what he and his co-author call as “active history.”
Alternative or active. It seems to me that these books all answer the question “what if?” For example, Days of Infamy answers the questions, “What if Admiral Yamamoto had directly led the attack on Pearl Harbor instead of remaining in Japan?” Meaning, what if he was in the Japanese vessel and pursued the attack in the remaining parts of Oahu and even the nearby islands? With the possibility of latter attacking the West Coast?
This active fiction history book opens few hours right after the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. The story’s description of the aftermath and the devastating effects on the lives of the Americans is comparable to John Hersey’s Hiroshima (1946). If you’ve seen movies made based on the story, reading this book gives you a different feeling because of the detailed historical facts captured by a historian like Gingrich who knows what he is talking about.
My only comment is that Gingrich, probably because he is a politician, seems to lean towards making his countrymen the heroes through and through. Compared, for example, with Denis Johnson in the Vietnam war National Book awardee, Tree of Smoke where Johnson chose to tell his story without making a stand on who were the heroes: Americans, Vietnamese, Russians, etc. Here in Days of Infamy , Gingrich made good valiant images also for the Japanese characters (like in the end when the Japanese vessel sank and Admiral Yamamoto cried and surrendered his flag) but one will just have a feeling that Gingrich uses his “alternative history” to earn points to win American votes. Just my feeling though and of course, there is nothing wrong with that.
May 27, 2019
Oh Cecil Stanford, where are thou?
A highly enjoyable sequel to “Pearl Harbor,” with nary a dull moment or uninteresting character, but with one glaring omission: whatever the hell happened to Royal Navy Captain Cecil Stanford, who had been a co-protagonist along with USN Commander James Watson in Book I, but we learn nothing of Cecil’s fate in this one!
That aside, still a worthwhile read, another first-rate effort by Messrs. Forstchen and Gingrich.
RANDOM STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS:
—p. 5: Carl Vinson!
—p. 7: Admiral Yamamoto with an American Zippo lighter; just one of the many things he admired about the Americans, apparently.
—p. 12: “‘We hit them turning their planes around on deck and below in their hangar, planes that are being loaded with gas and bombs; if but one of our bombs strikes them at that moment,’ he paused for effect, ‘that carrier is destroyed’.” A thinly veiled allusion on the authors’ part to the real-life events of the Battle of Midway?
—p. 13: “So many in the navy were still emotionally linked to battleships. The ships were so big, so expensive and precious, that though admirals of all fleets talked about the moment of encounter, all actually shied from it, frightened of the risk even to one ship. The British and Germans had demonstrated that clearly at Jutland, when both at different stages of that battle back in 1916 threw away a chance for a stunning victory, out of a fear of potential loss.” Hence the comparative lack of accolades for Admiral Jellicoe?
—p. 18: “I’d kill him if given the chance, and yet I still do think of him as a friend. It made him think of the poem by Thomas Hardy, about killing an enemy soldier but if you met him in a pub you’d buy him a drink or ‘help [him] to half a crown.’” One of the profound truths and sad ironies of war.
—p. 24: He’s a Navy officer, yet he has an S&W .38 revolver instead of a Colt (or Remington-Rand) M1911A1 .45 auto? Okay, chamber-empty carry is just stupid and an overreaction to an old wives’ tale!
—pp. 31-33: “‘I wish to hell you had let me train you with this,’ he said. She held the gun nervously and Janice came over, took the pistol, gripping it properly. ‘I’ll give her a quick run-through,’ Janice said. ‘I used to go shooting with Tom all the time. This is a double action, isn’t it?’” “She stepped back from the car window, casually flipping the gun open and taking an extra shell out of the box. She slipped it into the cylinder, snapping it shut and testing the feel of the gun. Her husband, career army, had obviously taught her well.” WAY TO GO, JANICE!!
—p. 68: Lieutenant Commander Wade McCloskey!
—p. 98: Ahem, the Grumman F4F Wildcat carried .50 caliber machine guns, not mere .30 cal!
—p. 110: Ahem (Part Deux), the Dauntless also used forward-firing .50 cals, not .30s (though the rear gunner certainly used the latter)!
—p. 141: “‘Scratch one flattop!’” Aahh, gotta love the real-life historical allusion with that utterance!
—pp. 179-180: “The fact that MacArthur’s air force was all but wiped out already, caught on the ground by a Japanese air strike long hours after Pearl Harbor was hit, was inexcusable....He stood unique, a man who could display incredible genius, but also moments that were incredible lapses of judgment, such as his brutal handling of the ‘Bonus Squatters,’ so many of the men in that improvised encampment comrades from the last war, and now this.” Ooh, ouch! But a lot of truth to it, especially the bit about the Bonus Army.
—p. 227: So much for mandatory crew rests, eh!
—p. 247: “....the staff officers fruitlessly arguing behind them....” Aahh, one of the timeless realities of the military, heh heh.
—p. 260: Damned magnetic exploder torpedoes!
—p. 298: Um, any updates on Cecil Stanford yet?!?!
—p. 305: Typo? Did the authors mean “Tojo” as opposed to “Tojo?”
—p. 326: General Scales? An allusion or homage to One Second After?
A highly enjoyable sequel to “Pearl Harbor,” with nary a dull moment or uninteresting character, but with one glaring omission: whatever the hell happened to Royal Navy Captain Cecil Stanford, who had been a co-protagonist along with USN Commander James Watson in Book I, but we learn nothing of Cecil’s fate in this one!
That aside, still a worthwhile read, another first-rate effort by Messrs. Forstchen and Gingrich.
RANDOM STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS:
—p. 5: Carl Vinson!
—p. 7: Admiral Yamamoto with an American Zippo lighter; just one of the many things he admired about the Americans, apparently.
—p. 12: “‘We hit them turning their planes around on deck and below in their hangar, planes that are being loaded with gas and bombs; if but one of our bombs strikes them at that moment,’ he paused for effect, ‘that carrier is destroyed’.” A thinly veiled allusion on the authors’ part to the real-life events of the Battle of Midway?
—p. 13: “So many in the navy were still emotionally linked to battleships. The ships were so big, so expensive and precious, that though admirals of all fleets talked about the moment of encounter, all actually shied from it, frightened of the risk even to one ship. The British and Germans had demonstrated that clearly at Jutland, when both at different stages of that battle back in 1916 threw away a chance for a stunning victory, out of a fear of potential loss.” Hence the comparative lack of accolades for Admiral Jellicoe?
—p. 18: “I’d kill him if given the chance, and yet I still do think of him as a friend. It made him think of the poem by Thomas Hardy, about killing an enemy soldier but if you met him in a pub you’d buy him a drink or ‘help [him] to half a crown.’” One of the profound truths and sad ironies of war.
—p. 24: He’s a Navy officer, yet he has an S&W .38 revolver instead of a Colt (or Remington-Rand) M1911A1 .45 auto? Okay, chamber-empty carry is just stupid and an overreaction to an old wives’ tale!
—pp. 31-33: “‘I wish to hell you had let me train you with this,’ he said. She held the gun nervously and Janice came over, took the pistol, gripping it properly. ‘I’ll give her a quick run-through,’ Janice said. ‘I used to go shooting with Tom all the time. This is a double action, isn’t it?’” “She stepped back from the car window, casually flipping the gun open and taking an extra shell out of the box. She slipped it into the cylinder, snapping it shut and testing the feel of the gun. Her husband, career army, had obviously taught her well.” WAY TO GO, JANICE!!
—p. 68: Lieutenant Commander Wade McCloskey!
—p. 98: Ahem, the Grumman F4F Wildcat carried .50 caliber machine guns, not mere .30 cal!
—p. 110: Ahem (Part Deux), the Dauntless also used forward-firing .50 cals, not .30s (though the rear gunner certainly used the latter)!
—p. 141: “‘Scratch one flattop!’” Aahh, gotta love the real-life historical allusion with that utterance!
—pp. 179-180: “The fact that MacArthur’s air force was all but wiped out already, caught on the ground by a Japanese air strike long hours after Pearl Harbor was hit, was inexcusable....He stood unique, a man who could display incredible genius, but also moments that were incredible lapses of judgment, such as his brutal handling of the ‘Bonus Squatters,’ so many of the men in that improvised encampment comrades from the last war, and now this.” Ooh, ouch! But a lot of truth to it, especially the bit about the Bonus Army.
—p. 227: So much for mandatory crew rests, eh!
—p. 247: “....the staff officers fruitlessly arguing behind them....” Aahh, one of the timeless realities of the military, heh heh.
—p. 260: Damned magnetic exploder torpedoes!
—p. 298: Um, any updates on Cecil Stanford yet?!?!
—p. 305: Typo? Did the authors mean “Tojo” as opposed to “Tojo?”
—p. 326: General Scales? An allusion or homage to One Second After?
May 7, 2013
Days of Infamy is the second book in the Pacific War series. It begins where Pearl Harbor, the first book, left off. The man in charge of the Japanese fleet who has just attacked Pearl Harbor is named Yamamoto. The Japanese failed to get their formal declaration of war to the U.S. before the attacks. Which allowed the U.S. to deem them as ‘sneak attacks’. Yamamoto decides to attack again with the hope of provoking a counter-attack by the U.S., because he knows they have three carriers in the Pacific. The book itself switches back and forth from the events of the war and telling the story of a soldier named James Watson who is in Hawaii at the time. His wife is from Japanese decent and he knows how the Americans feel of the Japanese at this time. So he has to make the hard decision of either leaving her and her mom at their house or take them to a friend’s house while risking them being seen. He gets them to her friend’s house and arrives at the base as the injured are being brought from the harbor. He knows he has to find some way to help while living with his own injury as well.
Anyone who likes history and war stories, because that is all this book is. Also anyone who likes historical fiction that is very close to the actual event is based off of. Since the characters and stories that they tell may not be real the situation and setting they’re in most likely was real. Anyone who enjoys ready things that tell the stories of two sides while switching off between each other would like this book, because it switches back and forth between the U.S. and the Japanese. Anyone who likes seeing pictures of the actual events in the book, because this book does show pictures of the real ships or events while telling about them in a fictional way.
I gave this book four stars because I do like the historical factor of it. However at some points it was hard to follow, because it switched between telling the story of the U.S. to the story of the Japanese to the story of James Watson. I did enjoy the war and battle scenes that are described in the book. The action is what you would expect to find in a war book. Some of the scenes do describe injuries more then I usually like, so if you don’t like Kevin Ware type stuff you probably shouldn’t read it. Other than that I thought the book was fast paced at a lot of points and it kept me reading so that’s why I gave it four stars.
Anyone who likes history and war stories, because that is all this book is. Also anyone who likes historical fiction that is very close to the actual event is based off of. Since the characters and stories that they tell may not be real the situation and setting they’re in most likely was real. Anyone who enjoys ready things that tell the stories of two sides while switching off between each other would like this book, because it switches back and forth between the U.S. and the Japanese. Anyone who likes seeing pictures of the actual events in the book, because this book does show pictures of the real ships or events while telling about them in a fictional way.
I gave this book four stars because I do like the historical factor of it. However at some points it was hard to follow, because it switched between telling the story of the U.S. to the story of the Japanese to the story of James Watson. I did enjoy the war and battle scenes that are described in the book. The action is what you would expect to find in a war book. Some of the scenes do describe injuries more then I usually like, so if you don’t like Kevin Ware type stuff you probably shouldn’t read it. Other than that I thought the book was fast paced at a lot of points and it kept me reading so that’s why I gave it four stars.
November 26, 2013
This is a series ... in a strange genre: what WOULD HAVE happened. Not history, though it's based in deep historical fact. The guy did his research and wrote his story based on who the people were and what was going on at the time. What WOULD have happened if the Japanese would have done the third wave of attack on Pearl Harbor??? Fun to think about... I enjoyed his writing style, too, and his characters stuck with you.
Excerpt:
"He felt as if there were two of him sitting there. There was him, the me of this moment, shivering, stinking of sweat, vomit, fear, and yes, feeling a strange, detached, primal joy. I am still alive, the rest are dead, but I am still here, still breathing. I am alive.
And there was the 'other.' Someone who was him, who just two days ago could laugh as he darted between sunlit clouds, and could look heavenward, high up, all so high up where the air was so thin and pure, knowing at that moment there was not another living soul who saw the world as he did. A boy who could laugh, smile, dream of his girl by his side..., memories of home, Midwestern pastures and distant horizons.
That boy was someone else, who at that moment arose out of him, and without looking back, walked away into the darkness. He would be lost out there forever, a fading memory, wandering alone - and he would never return.
Dave lowered his head and silently wept."
I don't like the "silently wept," but I thought it was so poignant about the innocent him walking away. It struck me that he cried, too.
Excerpt:
"He felt as if there were two of him sitting there. There was him, the me of this moment, shivering, stinking of sweat, vomit, fear, and yes, feeling a strange, detached, primal joy. I am still alive, the rest are dead, but I am still here, still breathing. I am alive.
And there was the 'other.' Someone who was him, who just two days ago could laugh as he darted between sunlit clouds, and could look heavenward, high up, all so high up where the air was so thin and pure, knowing at that moment there was not another living soul who saw the world as he did. A boy who could laugh, smile, dream of his girl by his side..., memories of home, Midwestern pastures and distant horizons.
That boy was someone else, who at that moment arose out of him, and without looking back, walked away into the darkness. He would be lost out there forever, a fading memory, wandering alone - and he would never return.
Dave lowered his head and silently wept."
I don't like the "silently wept," but I thought it was so poignant about the innocent him walking away. It struck me that he cried, too.
February 4, 2009
This is the sequel to "Pearl Harbor" by the same authors. Again, this is a "what if" novel, like their Gettysburg trilogy. Here, Admiral Yamamoto sails with the Japanese Fleet rather than staying behind. For the majority of the firt book, actual facts are kept intact. But, it changes to a true novel when Yamamoto orders the 3rd wave of aircraft to continue the attack on Pearl Harbor.
This book is entirely fiction. Here, Yamamoto goes after the American carriers that were not at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked. At the same time, Admiral Halsey, about the carrier Enterprise, decides to go after the Japanese carriers.
The action scenes here are fantastic...you can't put the book down. Where it slightly bogs down for me is when the book goes into the mind of Yamamoto, Halsey, and others. You read what they are thinking and that process goes on for some time. It is good, but I personally felt it went on too long, too often. Others will probably disagree with me...but I love the action. I want to know what is going to happen in the ensuing battles.
I believe the authors did their homework quite well on these two books and I did enjoy both of them very much. Highly recommended
This book is entirely fiction. Here, Yamamoto goes after the American carriers that were not at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked. At the same time, Admiral Halsey, about the carrier Enterprise, decides to go after the Japanese carriers.
The action scenes here are fantastic...you can't put the book down. Where it slightly bogs down for me is when the book goes into the mind of Yamamoto, Halsey, and others. You read what they are thinking and that process goes on for some time. It is good, but I personally felt it went on too long, too often. Others will probably disagree with me...but I love the action. I want to know what is going to happen in the ensuing battles.
I believe the authors did their homework quite well on these two books and I did enjoy both of them very much. Highly recommended
June 1, 2013
In "Days of Infamy", Newt Gingrich & William R. Fortschen tell of an alternate version of the events that unfolded at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. In this alternate history, the Japanese do in fact launch the 3rd wave against the island of Oahu with devastating losses for the Americans. The book itself is almost a play-by-play of events in Hawaii & Washington with people on board the fleet, on the ground & at the White House as things unfold & information slowly makes it's way east. Gingrich & Fortschein do an excellent job describing the scene in the heat of battle using real characters in world history with a believability level that is very well done. Overall a great find for anyone who enjoys the alternate history genre of books.
November 18, 2020
A nice blend of characters from both sides of the war. Interesting point of use the plot is not just from the view of the generals or the president. Interesting detail on some things of a battle that we don't think about, like the crew that's below deck raising airplanes to the top of the Carrier.
March 18, 2014
An excellent follow up to his first book on the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Well written and thorough thought of what if book... Sadly this history is fading from the American's attention span. I highly recommend all of Mr. Gingrich's writings.
December 20, 2024
I liked this being an historical fiction story about WWII and the story of the Phillipines Islands with Japan. I had my dad serve in the Army in this area and time period and I have a daughter-in-law who is from the Phillipines to make another connection with.
I wish that this author would have more books written in this genre, but the current ones are all very political, and I don't like that genre in fiction.
I wish that this author would have more books written in this genre, but the current ones are all very political, and I don't like that genre in fiction.
October 23, 2019
I don't generally read a lot of fiction, partly because, well, truth is often more interesting than fiction. I make exceptions occasionally for good science fiction including alternative history. Days of Infamy by Newt Gingrich is the continuation of the "what if" scenario started in Pearl Harbor by this same author. He attempts to show how one change can make a huge difference in an outcome. That change that he introduced in Pearl Harbor was that Japanese Admiral Yamamoto decided to personally lead the Japanese fleet in the attack on Pearl Harbor. He replaced Admiral Nagumo, who in reality launched two waves of attacks destroying or damaging many of America's Battleships, aircraft, other ships, and facilities before leaving for a return to Japan. There was a planned third wave that was to have followed up to target oil storage tanks and dry dock facilities that, if done, would have crippled the Americans' ability to repair and fuel the fleet locally. Nagumo decided that enough damage had been done with the first two attacks with minor losses on their part so he turned and headed back towards Japan. This allowed the US to recover months and maybe years sooner than would have been the case if the repair facilities and fuel supplies had been destroyed. In the alternative history, Yamamoto (who was much more of a risk taker) would likely have pressed on with the third wave of attacks and potentially have set back recovery by the US many additional months at a minimum. The alternative history runs from there with quite divergent results and a prolonged Pacific war. Days of Infamy continues where Pearl Harbor leaves off with the American fleet, aircraft, and facilities are smoking ruins. The author makes use of some fictional characters to interact with historical ones to produce dialog to explain the logic behind their assessments and decisions. If you've read much about the Pearl Harbor attack, you should find this quite engaging. I thought overall this second part also stayed close to historical facts except where it likely would have been impacted by the changes introduced.
July 30, 2011
A fun and exciting read. This is Newt and William's sequel to the also very enjoyable Pearl Harbor. That book was mostly setup,dealing with American,British,and especially Japanese culture,attitudes,stratigies,and aims in the run up to the Pearl Harbor attack of Dec 7 1941. This book is about the naval and air battles that took place after the attacks in this altered timeline. The action is intense and very believable,and since we are dealing with events that differ from what happened in our history you have no idea how things are going to turn out. Makes it a real page turner. I guess my only grip,and it is a minor,is that near the end the book falls into the trap of some very predictable sentimentality that I could have done without. Worth a read for all fans of World War II combat. I hope they continue the series and show how they think the rest of the war would have developed from the point at which they leave it here.
January 3, 2014
Good but I like Turtledove's and Conroy's of same title a little better.
December 12, 2019
This is a historical fiction book ... it is all researched and based on real life events, but it goes into fiction by altering a key event or condition. In this case, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is led by the daring leader Yamamoto and it lasts several more days and they much more destruction. With this twist, the writer, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, does a marvelous job of describing the hour-by-hour blow-by-blow thought process and realities of the Japanese leaders, the American leaders, and of several everyday people in dealing with this altered set of facts. They do a very colorful job of having the reader understand the difficulties that would have existed if much more devastating impacts had been made on Hawaii’s communications, losses and damage all around the coast and town (and not just in the Harbor), and the destruction of all Pearl Harbors oil supplies, airfields, and dry-docks and submarine docks, and military command functions. The picture he paints is how things change for the war immediately from the day after the initial attack on December 7, and then on from there.
I gave this only three stars, because the Gingrich books spends all its time going over the few days after Pearl Harbor, and in an incredible amount of detail (380 pages). I had thought, with this rich premise, that this book would play out over the first year or two after the attack, a much broader view.
This is my first historical fiction like this, and my first by Gingrich. I liked it, and I may try more.
I gave this only three stars, because the Gingrich books spends all its time going over the few days after Pearl Harbor, and in an incredible amount of detail (380 pages). I had thought, with this rich premise, that this book would play out over the first year or two after the attack, a much broader view.
This is my first historical fiction like this, and my first by Gingrich. I liked it, and I may try more.
July 8, 2023
Incredible! I cannot thank the writers enough for a great story. Continuing from when the last novel left off. Newt Gingrich takes his alternate history adventure to an incredible conclusion. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor becomes more than a raid lasting a few hours into a battle that lasts as the novel's title describes days.
Instead of his subordinate leading the battle, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, inspired by the great naval commanders before him takes the initiative in leading the attack on Pearl Harbor. His audacity makes the raid into an actual battle that makes it more damaging to America's fleet but takes more casualties. With an emboldened US response as the surviving remnants of its navy fight back with its carriers Lexington and Enterprise looking for revenge.
Pearl Harbor doesn't become an attack it becomes a battle as numerous ships in the air and seas fought back with some men dying and even some vessels being sunk sooner than they would have. If I could draw a picture, it's as if Pearl Harbor mutated into the Battle of Midway. Fire, death, drownings, bombs, bullets, sweat, tears, just about everything was thrown into this alternate-history battle.
Yet, still respectful to both sides, this was a well-told story by the Honorable Speaker Newt Gingrich. Well done, sir! A-
Instead of his subordinate leading the battle, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, inspired by the great naval commanders before him takes the initiative in leading the attack on Pearl Harbor. His audacity makes the raid into an actual battle that makes it more damaging to America's fleet but takes more casualties. With an emboldened US response as the surviving remnants of its navy fight back with its carriers Lexington and Enterprise looking for revenge.
Pearl Harbor doesn't become an attack it becomes a battle as numerous ships in the air and seas fought back with some men dying and even some vessels being sunk sooner than they would have. If I could draw a picture, it's as if Pearl Harbor mutated into the Battle of Midway. Fire, death, drownings, bombs, bullets, sweat, tears, just about everything was thrown into this alternate-history battle.
Yet, still respectful to both sides, this was a well-told story by the Honorable Speaker Newt Gingrich. Well done, sir! A-
January 16, 2022
I thought the first book in this series, Pearl Harbor, was ok. As I don't have the command of history that Messrs. Gingrich and Forstchen have, I would like to have seen an appendix, or even a couple paragraphs at the beginning that gave the overview of what was real and what was alternative history. Was it all real (artistic license notwithstanding) diverging from history at the 3rd wave attack? Was it all fabrication? I didn't know, and that bothered me while reading.
I didn't suffer this uncertainty in Days of Infamy as the entire story line comes from the imagination of the authors. The battle sequences were very good, the decisions taken by the leaders seemed realistic, they captured what I can only imagine (fortunately) to be the grit, terror, blood and guts of combat. As a reader I really empathized with the feelings - hatred, fear, apathy, uncertainty, confidence (and lack of), etc. - portrayed in the characterizations.
It will be interesting to see how the authors play WWII out. I plan to follow this series all the way through.
I didn't suffer this uncertainty in Days of Infamy as the entire story line comes from the imagination of the authors. The battle sequences were very good, the decisions taken by the leaders seemed realistic, they captured what I can only imagine (fortunately) to be the grit, terror, blood and guts of combat. As a reader I really empathized with the feelings - hatred, fear, apathy, uncertainty, confidence (and lack of), etc. - portrayed in the characterizations.
It will be interesting to see how the authors play WWII out. I plan to follow this series all the way through.
June 6, 2017
This was actually one of the better WWII/alt-history novels I've ever read. Gingrich's grasp of the leaders of the early Pacific battles, as well as the ships and crafts themselves was spot on. Add to that, the pace of action throughout the book rarely let up. Honestly, the story was so well crafted that I almost wish this was the way it had really happened, if it weren't for all the American deaths. It wasn't unrealistic, in that this very well could have been the true history of the opening days of the Pacific theater had certain decisions been made ever-so-slightly different.
I definitely recommend this book for any WWII enthusiasts, or even anyone who likes military fiction. If you already know about Pacific-WWII, I guarantee you'll like it.
I definitely recommend this book for any WWII enthusiasts, or even anyone who likes military fiction. If you already know about Pacific-WWII, I guarantee you'll like it.
February 6, 2022
Was looking forward to this sequel to the authors’ previous book on the bombing of Pearl Harbor, but this one didn’t quite measure up. The point, the authors said, was to present “active history,” in this case in which a change in a Japanese military assignment might have made a difference. But I found it more of an endurance, with one attack sounding like another and too many military terms I didn’t automatically know. It also ends just days after the initial attack, so one is left to wonder whether the change ultimately would have made a difference. Narrative includes an intriguing side story on a character and his administrative aide, and the Roosevelt and Roosevelt/Churchill segments add some life. Was left wanting a better audio book experience.
February 15, 2019
A solid alternative history, well-researched, only a few technical errors. Interesting characters, good battle scenes. A bit officer- and politician-heavy; the enlisted men are pretty much anonymous. Considering the depth of detail in the battle scenes, it would have been nice to have their perspectives. But a good read, not too schlocky. I was leery of how Gingrich would write, and maybe I should credit his coauthor, but as a whole, much better than I expected. I'm going to read some Bill Mauldin as an antidote, though.
December 21, 2022
This was an excellent docudrama, using a combination of historical facts and a combination of real and fictitious characters, and it was expertly done. The three days around Pearl Harbor are impactful to every part of American history and life, and the authors did a great job of depicting how
Americans, and non-Americans, would have felt and reacted to those stressful days. Once I got into it, I could not put this one down.
Americans, and non-Americans, would have felt and reacted to those stressful days. Once I got into it, I could not put this one down.
May 5, 2019
After reading Nimitz, I Was There, and Churchills Pearl Harbor account this alternate history was consistent with the many possibilities and command decisions to be made. Thoroughly researched and well written, the account was completely believable and compelling. The choices made by both sides led to an inevitability of total war on a global scale. Highly recommended.
February 23, 2023
This is a fictional take on what might have happened if the U.S. had had three aircraft carriers left after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The ensuing battles are fascinating and the characters are well drawn.
It seemed so real that I had to keep reminding myself it was fiction. That's probably the highest praise I can give it.
It seemed so real that I had to keep reminding myself it was fiction. That's probably the highest praise I can give it.
February 24, 2021
What would have happened if Yamamoto had led the raid on Pearl and the Japanese had launched the ever-debated third attack wave.
None of this happened so this book is entirely speculative. Interesting to think, but history isn’t speculative.
None of this happened so this book is entirely speculative. Interesting to think, but history isn’t speculative.
May 23, 2024
3.9
Not normally something I would pick up but it was a certainly interesting alternative version of history. Didn’t realize this was second in a series til I was finished so maybe I’ll give that one a look.
Not normally something I would pick up but it was a certainly interesting alternative version of history. Didn’t realize this was second in a series til I was finished so maybe I’ll give that one a look.
October 14, 2018
Great story and great writing.I highly recommend this book for readers who like war stories and a whole lot of action..
December 8, 2018
Great
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14yk ching k 41yo. Vo. you 4. o4y. 4yo o4y. o 4y. 4yi i1y. o4y. y41. o1 yi4. 14yj. 13ti. 13i. qi1r
August 5, 2019
Much better than the first.
November 28, 2019
Didn’t like as well as their previous books. Maybe because I lived through these times.
September 1, 2020
Great Alternative History read from both the US and Japanese point of view immediately after Pearl Harbor
June 26, 2021
The authors were building for a third book in this series, a book that was never published, book two was left hanging with a bandaid ending that left we asking why?
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