Fire in the Sky: The Air War in the South Pacific

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating read, but a few grains of salt...
Review: While the lack of footnotes and source quotations certainly makes the book much more readable than other history volumes, I cannot shake the feeling that Bergerud's reporting is a bit imprecise. This is not to mean that I doubt his writing; not at all. Only the style of the book seems somewhat "non-historical" to me. Often, the chain of reasoning is meandering, and I sometimes have a hard time to find out what Bergerud is trying to say at all. Especially in arguments of the type "either-or", I find it difficult to understand which direction he is leaning to.

I was also put off in some places by his use of stereotypes - especially for non-U.S. subjects of his reporting - to explain certain decisions and events. This may simply be because he has greater knowledge about his own countrymen than about British, Japanese and Germans, but it still left a bad taste.

In any case, this is a very readable book, and my criticism is probably mostly unfounded (maybe it's just my command of English). I do not doubt the tremendous work Bergerud must have put into gathering the first-hand accounts and assembling them into the larger framework of his history.

A detailed map of the area and maybe a more concise history of the events portrayed in this volume make good companions, since the maps provided are a little bit on the simple side, and Bergerud's style of reporting, tackling one subject after the other, walks back and forth across time, which is confusing at times.

Rating:
Summary: The definitive history of the air war in the South Pacific
Review: With the Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, a series of stinging military disasters would punish American and Allied forces and push them back across the whole of the Pacific for the next six months. The strategic victory in the Battle of the Coral Sea, followed by the staggering beating suffered by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the waters northwest of Midway Island finally halted the relentless military juggernaut of Japan.

For the next two years one of the hardest fought battles raged in the South Pacific. Places like Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Bougainville and Rabaul would fill the headlines in American newspapers across the country. A great many books have been written about various aspects of this especially difficult theater of operations. However, few of these have addressed in depth the complex campaign waged by both sides for control the air. Erik Bergerud's newly released Fire in the Sky: The Air War in the South Pacific, does exactly that.

When I received a copy of Fire in the Sky from the publisher, I was instantly impressed with its sheer heft. This is no small work of history. There was no doubt in my mind that this was going to take a great deal of time to wade through. In all likelihood, it probably would take weeks to finish.

I finished the book within five days. Then, I read it again, cover to cover. I confess that this book caused me to fall behind on several projects and pushed me right up to a deadline or two. Rarely do I spend more than an hour reading for pleasure. My daily schedule simply doesn't allow for more. Nonetheless, I devoured Fire in the Sky in huge chunks, pouring over chapter after chapter for hours at a sitting.

So, you may wonder; what is the attraction of this book?

First and foremost, it is excellent history. Yet, there is no hint of the dry, colorless narration that hallmarks much of the work that attempts to encompass the breadth and scope that Mr. Bergerud has so ably captured in this remarkable volume. Nearly every page provides a revelation.

Fire in the Sky is possibly the very best analysis of a major air campaign ever placed in print. Bergerud's consummate writing style is very entertaining, his skillful use of personal anecdote combined with the detachment of a historian, blend into compelling reading and a truly enjoyable experience.

Warts? A few. I cannot imagine a 700 page monster such as this without any. Still, these are generally related to technical subject matter and in no way take away from the completeness of Bergerud's triumph, and a triumph it is. Having also read his wonderful Touched by Fire: The Land War in the South Pacific, I can say without hesitation that this new work not only complements Touched by Fire, it surpasses it.

Destined to be the definitive history of the air war in the South Pacific, no serious student of World War Two or aviation can afford not to have this book in their personal library.

Corey C. Jordan, Editor The Planes and Pilots of WWII Internet Magazine

Rating:
Summary: Eric Bergerud's Fire in the Sky is a triumph
Review: With the Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at PearlHarbor, a series of stinging military disasters would punish Americanand Allied forces, and push them back across the whole of the Pacific for the next six months. The strategic victory in the Battle of the Coral Sea, followed by the staggering beating suffered by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the waters northwest of Midway island finally halted the relentless military juggernaut of Japan.

For the next two years one of the hardest fought battles raged in the South Pacific. Places like Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Bougainville and Rabaul would fill the headlines in American newspapers across the country. A great many books have been written about various aspects of this especially difficult theater of operations. However, few of these have addressed in depth the complex campaign waged by both sides for control the air. Eric Bergerud's newly released Fire in the Sky: The Air War in the South Pacific, does exactly that.

This is no small work of history. There was no doubt in my mind that this was going to take a great deal of time to wade through. In all likelihood, it probably would take weeks to finish.

I finished the book within five days. Then, I read it again, cover to cover. I devoured Fire in the Sky in huge chunks, pouring over chapter after chapter for hours at a sitting.

So, you may wonder; what is the attraction of this book?

First and foremost, it is excellent history. Yet, there is no hint of the dry, colorless narration that hallmarks much of the work that attempts to encompass the breadth and scope that Mr. Bergerud has so ably captured in this remarkable volume. Nearly every page provides a revelation.

Fire in the Sky is possibly the very best analysis of a major air campaign ever placed in print. Bergerud's consummate writing style is very entertaining, his skillful use of personal anecdote combined with the detachment of a historian, blend into compelling reading and a truly enjoyable experience.

Warts? A few. I cannot imagine a 700 page monster such as this without any. Still, these are generally related to technical subject matter and in no way take away from the completeness of Bergerud's triumph, and a triumph it is. Having also read his wonderful Touched by Fire: The Land War in the South Pacific, I can say without hesitation that this new work not only complements Touched by Fire, it surpasses it.

Destined to be the definitive history of the air war in the South Pacific, no serious student of World War Two or aviation can afford not to have this book in their personal library.

Corey C. Jordan, Editor

The Planes and Pilots of WWII Internet Magazine