Yashimoto's Last Dive
Antony Trew. St. Martin's Press, $16.95 (287pp) ISBN 978-0-312-01116-1
Devotees of World War II naval adventure may enjoy this slow, drawn-out tale, but Trew won't win any new fans. The story revolves around the long-range duel between Togo Yashimoto, ruthless commander of submarine I-357, and John Barratt, stolid skipper of the British destroyer Restless. In the Mozambique Channel off East Africa in 1942, the Japanese sub sinks a U.S. Liberty ship but is severely damaged by a fluke shot from the freighter's gun. To maintain secrecy Yashimoto machine-guns the survivors and takes I-357 to a semi-deserted island for repairs. One American does survive, though, and is picked up by Restless. His account of the atrocity inflames Lt. Commander Barratt (whose wife died in a Japanese prison camp) and, disregarding wireless orders, Barratt tracks and finds the camouflaged sub. After long, detailed accounts of life aboard the two vessels, there is, finally, a showdown. Almost all the characters are flatly drawn, and the action finale comes too late to save the book. (January 4)
Details
Reviewed on: 01/01/1987
Analog Audio Cassette - 978-1-4079-1450-3
Compact Disc - 978-1-4079-1451-0
Hardcover - 240 pages - 978-0-7090-8624-6
MP3 CD - 978-1-4079-1452-7