The Far Reaches

The Far Reaches is a 2007 novel by American author Homer Hickam and the third novel in the Josh Thurlow series.[1] The book was published on June 12, 2007 through Thomas Dunne Books and takes place during World War II, following the adventures of Coast Guard captain Josh Thurlow.[2] Of the book, Hickam stated that he drew from his experiences in Vietnam while writing the book's South Pacific combat scenes.[3]

The Far Reaches
AuthorHomer Hickam
LanguageEnglish
SeriesJosh Thurlow
PublisherThomas Dunne Books
Publication date
June 12, 2007
Media typePrint (hardcover, paperback), e-book
Pages320 pages
ISBN0312334753
Preceded byThe Ambassador's Son 

Plot

The book takes place in 1943 in the Pacific Ocean. Josh Thurlow is on hand at the Battle of Tarawa as the Navy deploys Marines at island after island, but nothing ends up going as planned.

Main characters
  • Josh Thurlow, a Captain in the United States Coast Guard
  • Mary Kathleen, a young Irish nun who escapes a Japanese prisoner of war camp

Critical reaction

Critical reception for The Far Reaches was mixed.[4][5] The L.A. Times felt that Hickam was critical of modern America and Japan for their increasingly anti-war attitudes, and suggested the book was out of date in an era of more complex conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.[6] In contrast, Publishers Weekly praised it as a piece of genre fiction and said that Hickam "keeps the stakes high and the tension taut".[7]

References
  1. "Review: THE FAR REACHES". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  2. "Review: THE FAR REACHES". BookReporter. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  3. "Book Talk: Author Hickam publishes new war novel". Reuters India. 31 July 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  4. Miller, Tom. "Book Review: The Far Reaches". Military.com. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  5. Riddle, Mary Ellen (July 18, 2008). "Fast-paced Hickam novel mixes war and sex". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  6. Day, Anthony (August 1, 2007). "War adventure -- a casualty of timing?". LA Times. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  7. "The Far Reaches (review)". Publishers Weekly. 2007-03-19. Retrieved 4 April 2013.


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