South by Java Head

By: Alistair MacLean

Narrated by: Jonathan Oliver

The 50th anniversary edition of this classic World War 2 adventure set in south-east Asia.

February, 1942: Singapore lies burning and shattered, defenceless before the conquering hordes of the Japanese Army.

The last boat escapes out of the harbour into the South China Sea, and on board are a desperate group of strangers, each with a secret to guard, each willing to kill to keep that secret safe.

Dawn sees them far out to sea but with the first murderous dive bombers already aimed at their ship. Thus begins a nightmare succession of disasters wrought by the hell-bent Japanese, the unrelenting tropical sun and, ultimately, by the survivors themselves, as they head south by Java Head.

©1958 Alistair MacLean (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Great material power can be overcome by human character.

Overall the story was vintage McLean. The heroes are a bit too heroic, but that's what makes the story fun to consider. My biggest issue was that it seemed unrealistic that a tanker full of precious fuel would end up in Singapore just as it fell. Any competent command would have diverted it long before it arrived. But like faster-than-light travel in a science fiction story, it's just a premise without proof. Accept it and enjoy the story for what it is.