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Days Of Infamy by Harry Turtledove
01/09/2004 . Source: Paul Hanley 
pub: New American Library. 440 page hardback. Price: $24.95 (US), $36.00 (CAN). ISBN: 0-451-21307-6. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out website: www.penguin.com
released: 02 November 2004
New American Library
This is an alternative history from Harry Turtledove and those who have read his books before will find this follows his pattern of having numerous and varied characters whose individual experiences overlap to give his readers a feel for the period in which his story is set. These are usually set amidst monumental events such as the American Civil War. In this case, it is the surprise Japanese attack on the US Pacific naval base at Pearl Harbor in 1941. This was the event which brought the United States into World War II. It was President Roosevelt who coined the phrase used in the title 'Day Of Infamy'. The Japanese had attempted, as they had done at the start of the Russo-Japanese war in 1905, with a destroyer mounted torpedo attack on the Russian Pacific Fleet at Port Arthur, to attack the American Fleet literally minutes after a formal declaration of war. Slow decoding by the Japanese Embassy in Washington meant the declaration of war was made after the attack hence the charge of infamy.
In reality, a Japanese carrier task force reached the islands undetected and launched two devastating air raids which destroyed or crippled most of the US battleships that until then had been the epitome of naval power. Although the senior Japanese air officers pleaded with the Japanese task force commander, Admiral Nagumo, to send in a third strike he refused. In retrospect, a third strike might not only have completed the destruction of the oiling and repair facilities at Pearl Harbor but might well have caught the US aircraft carriers which had been absent but were returning to harbour.
'Day Of Infamy' alters history to suppose that the Japanese not only launched their third airstrike but followed it up with a landing of troops. This book is the story of what might have happened if they had.
Harry Turtledove always peoples his books with numerous characters and this book is no exception. They are American and Japanese, military and civilian, male and female and from all arms and ranks of service. He clearly has a detailed grasp of history, weaponry, tactics and the period in general and brings his story to life through the thoughts, actions and experiences of these characters.
Many of his books seem to be in sets of three and this one ends with the situation very dire for the Americans and, clearly, at least another book will be required to bring the war to a conclusion.
I enjoyed the book. If you like alternative history and particularly Harry Turtledove's style you will enjoy this book. Thoroughly recommended. I am looking forward to the sequel.
Paul Hanley 
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