“I've had a fascination with the Guadalcanal Campaign since I was in high school and I read "Guadalcanal Diary". This was increased when I discovered that my 1st cousin had been a pilot flying SBD's out of Guadalcanal. Thus when I saw that another book had been written about my favorite campaign I had to have it. "Morning of the Rising Sun: The Heroic Story of the Battles for Guadalcanal" by Kenneth I. Friedman didn't disappoint me. The book contains a lot of information on the battles and it lays it out in easy to understand fashion. Using charts and maps he brings what order there can be to the battles fought mostly in the dark in thick jungles or on the seas in a narrow passage between islands called "The Slot". Although the editing gave me a few troubles I found that his style of writing entertaining and fast to read.” --- Tom Carlson - Long Prairie, Minnesota
“I really enjoyed your book. For me it was very easy reading, it gave a good prospective of both sides: the victories, defeats and the hardships. The way you spaced the story out on each page made it enjoyable/easy to read. I also enjoyed the way you spoke about the leaders on both sides giving some of their background and their decision making. The book made my year in Viet Nam look like a cake walk. Good job . . . I'm looking forward to your next one.” --- Richard Davis - Riverside, California
“I enjoyed the book "Morning of Rising Sun: The Heroic Story of the Battles for Guadalcanal". The battles were the crucial turning point in Pacifc War and the end of the Japanese initiative. The author Kenneth Friedman has done a superb job of describing the naval battles that took place between the Americans and Japanese off the Guadalcanal. This book was well written with detailed information and nice maps and charts which help to understand the naval battles.” --- Casimiro Tadeo Ciupalski - Madrid, Spain
“This reader has had an interest in the campaign since reading Guadalcanal Diary as a lad and I have read any number of books since, but this is the first that ties everything together, dots the "i’s and crosses the "t’s. The naval action has always been something of a mystery to me, but Dr. Friedman had done a marvelous job by and large with charts depicting the various actions.
Additionally, both the Allied and Japanese perspectives are presented without the bias one often sees. Dr. Friedman does a remarkable job presenting the personalities of the Japanese commanders. The chronology is seamless and one switches from ground action to naval to air with little effort on the reader's part. He is also adept at going from high level Allied conferences to the cockpit of an aircraft to the bridge of a ship giving a great sense of what it must have been like to be there.
Having served in the Field Artillery in the Cold War Army, I found Friedman's account of its use, supply, and effects right on. I got the feeling of being right there watching.
I particularly liked the charts of the naval actions and their position alongside the text describing the action. Dr. Friedman manages to keep these complex operations in perspective in a manner that facilitates understanding.
The book is massive as other readers have pointed out, about seven-hundred pages. Once I picked it up, I had a hard time putting it down. A first printing, I picked out four or five typos, so the rate was less than one per hundred pages, excellent I would say.
This was a campaign that is often overlooked in favor of more glamorous actions. Friedman brings it to life and ties the various parts together particularly well.”--- Tom Hickox - Baton Rouge, Louisiana
“Ken, what a great book. You should feel a very large degree of satisfaction. Tough reading but I'm hanging onto every word. It is good writing when the reader is anxious to see what is on the next page when he already knows what the results are.” --- Dick Clark - Bella Vista, AR
