Dark Waters, Starry Skies

The Guadalcanal-Solomons Campaign, March–October 1943

By: Jeffrey Cox

Narrated by: John Chancer

Bloomsbury presents Dark Waters, Starry Skies by Jeffrey Cox, read by John Chancer.

Esteemed Pacific War historian Jeffrey Cox has produced a fast-paced and absorbing read of the crucial New Georgia phase of the Guadalcanal-Solomons Campaign during the Pacific War.

Thousands of miles from friendly ports, the US Navy had finally managed to complete the capture of Guadalcanal from the Japanese in early 1943. Now the Allies sought to keep the offensive momentum won at such a high cost. Determined not to repeat their mistakes at Guadalcanal, the Allies nonetheless faltered in their continuing efforts to roll back the Japanese land, air and naval forces.

Dark Waters, Starry Skies is an engrossing history which weaves together strategy and tactics with a blow-by-blow account of every battle at a vital point in the Pacific War that has not been analyzed in this level of detail before. Using first-hand accounts from both sides, this book vividly recreates all the terror and drama of the nighttime naval battles during this phase of the Solomons campaign and the ferocious firestorm many Marines faced as they disembarked from their landing craft. The reader is transported to the bridge to stand alongside Admiral Walden Ainsworth as he sails to stop another Japanese reinforcement convoy for New Georgia, and vividly feels the fear of an 18-year-old Marine as he fights for survival against a weakened but still determined enemy.

©2023 Jeffrey Cox (P)2023 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

great but way too much alliteration...

As detailed as his other two WW2 histories, but this edition has an annoyingly aggravating amount of alliteration, after which I need an avalanche of Advil.

well done as usual

he continues to meet the standard as a military history author. while also being entertaining to read (listen) the narrator no doubt helps.

One of the best narrative of Solomons campaign

One of the best narrative of Solomons campaign, great voice for listening. Had finished all Jeffrey Cox books again. Will do again on 6 months once the next book is scheduled to be released.

Very good story with a little sarcasm of the US and Japan🙂

The sarcasm of the warring parties in the Pacific theater! Very good story and narrator!

Wordy description of post-Guadalcanal campaigns

Narration is clear, varied, well done.

This is a thorough, meticulous description of land, air, and sea battles following the Guadalcanal campaign. As such it fills in important gaps in the telling of post Guadalcanal Solomon battles. Few books focus on this time period. There is much to learn from this important well explained, exciting contribution to understanding WW2 war in the south-western pacific.

However, it is also wordy and replete with cumbersome identifications of general officers and unit designations.

It is best to have a map in hand while listening. Otherwise, it is too difficult to follow battle locations and sequences.

Recommended for scholars and devoted WW2 enthusiasts.