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Death is Lighter than a Feather
On November 1, 1945, the United States marshaled its forces for the greatest undertaking of the entire Pacific War--the invasion and subjugation of the home islands of Japan.
Six hundred and fifty thousand U.S. troops prepared to assault the airfields and harbors of Kyushu, the southernmost island. Over a million Japanese dug into the beaches, furiously building underground fortifications, gun emplacements, and suicide craft, prepared to die to the last man if need be.
THE NAME OF THE PLAN -- DOWNFALL.
Lighter than a Feather is the dramatic story of the epic battle for Kyushu, based on the assumption that the atomic bomb was not dropped, and that Downfall actually did place. Written by the author of Von Ryan's Express, it is the most ambitious, brilliant, and generally exciting novel ever to come out of the Pacific war, a monumental feat of unrelenting action and superb characterization.
Lighter than a Feather is narrated by the participants of both sides. These are some of the people who make up the cast: Cadet Hiroshi Arai, a seventeen-year-old kamikaze pilot torn between fear of certain death and a warrior's code of honor; war-happy Lester Waddell, expert marksman, who suddenly realizes that for weeks he's been killing the same Japanese over and over again; Miho Naito, a pretty young girl who has the misfortune to surrender to Staff Sergeant "Stud" Simmons; Maurie Stokes, chaplain's assistant, who with patient tolerance discharges what seems to be his primary assignment--looking (vainly) for Japanese Christians; and Jiro Matsuyama, sixty-one, a little deaf and blind in on eye, sitting n the ashes of his home, watching the battle.
These are the figures Westheimer understands so well and whom he portrays with such consummate skill. Combining the depth and authenticity of a true historical narrative with the magnificent satisfaction of a first-rate work of fiction, his novel projects with unfaltering ability both the essence of the Japanese and American people at war and the breathtaking excitement of one of the most daring military operations in the history of the Pacific.
Six hundred and fifty thousand U.S. troops prepared to assault the airfields and harbors of Kyushu, the southernmost island. Over a million Japanese dug into the beaches, furiously building underground fortifications, gun emplacements, and suicide craft, prepared to die to the last man if need be.
THE NAME OF THE PLAN -- DOWNFALL.
Lighter than a Feather is the dramatic story of the epic battle for Kyushu, based on the assumption that the atomic bomb was not dropped, and that Downfall actually did place. Written by the author of Von Ryan's Express, it is the most ambitious, brilliant, and generally exciting novel ever to come out of the Pacific war, a monumental feat of unrelenting action and superb characterization.
Lighter than a Feather is narrated by the participants of both sides. These are some of the people who make up the cast: Cadet Hiroshi Arai, a seventeen-year-old kamikaze pilot torn between fear of certain death and a warrior's code of honor; war-happy Lester Waddell, expert marksman, who suddenly realizes that for weeks he's been killing the same Japanese over and over again; Miho Naito, a pretty young girl who has the misfortune to surrender to Staff Sergeant "Stud" Simmons; Maurie Stokes, chaplain's assistant, who with patient tolerance discharges what seems to be his primary assignment--looking (vainly) for Japanese Christians; and Jiro Matsuyama, sixty-one, a little deaf and blind in on eye, sitting n the ashes of his home, watching the battle.
These are the figures Westheimer understands so well and whom he portrays with such consummate skill. Combining the depth and authenticity of a true historical narrative with the magnificent satisfaction of a first-rate work of fiction, his novel projects with unfaltering ability both the essence of the Japanese and American people at war and the breathtaking excitement of one of the most daring military operations in the history of the Pacific.
388 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1971
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158 people want to read
About the author
David Westheimer
58 books7 followersDavid Westheimer was a novelist best-known for his for his 1964 novel Von Ryan's Express, which was based in part upon his experiences as a prisoner of war in Italy and Germany during World War II.
Ironically, one of his most popular novels, and perhaps his most enduring, was not credited to him for much of its shelf life: In its original printing, he was by-lined as the author of the novelization of Days of Wine and Roses based on the screenplay by his friend J.P. Miller. However the book proved hugely popular and the story had become so iconic that its publisher Bantam Books (and one supposes the authors, by mutual arrangement) took Westheimer's name off the book to move it into the "literature" category and keep it in print (which they did, for decades). Subsequent printings were branded only J.P. Miller's Days of Wine and Roses without an explicit by-line for the novel.
Westheimer, a Rice University graduate, worked as an assistant editor for the Houston Post from 1939 to 1946 except for those years spent with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. As a navigator in a B-24 he was shot down over Italy on December 11, 1942 and spent time as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III.
Ironically, one of his most popular novels, and perhaps his most enduring, was not credited to him for much of its shelf life: In its original printing, he was by-lined as the author of the novelization of Days of Wine and Roses based on the screenplay by his friend J.P. Miller. However the book proved hugely popular and the story had become so iconic that its publisher Bantam Books (and one supposes the authors, by mutual arrangement) took Westheimer's name off the book to move it into the "literature" category and keep it in print (which they did, for decades). Subsequent printings were branded only J.P. Miller's Days of Wine and Roses without an explicit by-line for the novel.
Westheimer, a Rice University graduate, worked as an assistant editor for the Houston Post from 1939 to 1946 except for those years spent with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. As a navigator in a B-24 he was shot down over Italy on December 11, 1942 and spent time as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 19, 2019
A truly fascinating novel that looks at one of the biggest what if's in military history - the invasion of the main Japanese home islands. Mr. Westheimer did his research with this one, but instead of a alternative military history novel such as Harry Turtledove would write (high level strategy and a bit of sci-fi) Mr. Westheimer's novel looks at the Human aspect of the scenario. His novel consists of a dozen characters (at least) on both sides. Some are military and some are civilians.
Each character receives a dozen pages ,or more, and many of them meet a bad ending - though not all. Each character's story is basically a novella and they are all engrossing reads. Periodically Mr. Westheimer interrupts the vignettes to provide an overview of the campaign as it is progressing (which is appreciated), but we are never presented the viewpoints of high ranking commanders on either side. The highest we ever get is a Japanese major in command of one of the battalions tasked with stopping the Americans at the beach. There is no favoritism on the part of the writer. There are good, bad, foolish, evil, brave, intelligent and cowardly characters on both sides.
This is an excellent novel. Mr. Westheimer served in the Army during world War II and had a familiarity with the nihilism/bleakness that accompanies war. This is not a gung-ho flag waving military fantasy. It is a realistic and grim look at war in general and what it might have been like if the Japanese had refused to surrender and we (the allies) went through with the invasion. It's not a happy read, but it is an excellent one.
Each character receives a dozen pages ,or more, and many of them meet a bad ending - though not all. Each character's story is basically a novella and they are all engrossing reads. Periodically Mr. Westheimer interrupts the vignettes to provide an overview of the campaign as it is progressing (which is appreciated), but we are never presented the viewpoints of high ranking commanders on either side. The highest we ever get is a Japanese major in command of one of the battalions tasked with stopping the Americans at the beach. There is no favoritism on the part of the writer. There are good, bad, foolish, evil, brave, intelligent and cowardly characters on both sides.
This is an excellent novel. Mr. Westheimer served in the Army during world War II and had a familiarity with the nihilism/bleakness that accompanies war. This is not a gung-ho flag waving military fantasy. It is a realistic and grim look at war in general and what it might have been like if the Japanese had refused to surrender and we (the allies) went through with the invasion. It's not a happy read, but it is an excellent one.
December 27, 2013
Excellent book, well anchored in the facts, well written and an interesting approach. The subject is the planed American invasion of Japan. This is fiction instead of history due to the atomic bomb and the Japanese surrender.
A 44 page prologue outlines both the US and Japanese plans for the invasion and defense. At the beginning of the prologue you are given the date that divides history from fiction. But the story is told seamlessly as if all history.
The novel itself takes an interesting approach. There is no main character each chapter is like a short story with one or two main characters. These main characters are both American and Japanese.
Westheimer wrote the book in 1971. I think he did a great job of capturing the Japanese point of view, not just the die hard militarist but the common farmer, business man, and parent.
Some of the folks we met are, A b-29 pilot, a Kamkazee pilot, a US Navy gunner on a transport ship, a US Frogman, A Japanses battalion commander, a Japanses POW, A farmer's family, a disgraced schoolteacher, A deported Japanese American, A tank commander, and the major of an isolated mountain village.
An epilogue by historian John Ray Skates rates the book high for accuracy and insight.
Warning: possible spoilers. The Japanese were determined and desperate in defense but Westhiemer sees the invasion taking the Kyushu area in three months. Having put all their effort into that defense the Japanese Government surrenders. Japan's determination could not make up for the lack of everything else, transportation, resources, trained troops, supplies and most of all food.
A 44 page prologue outlines both the US and Japanese plans for the invasion and defense. At the beginning of the prologue you are given the date that divides history from fiction. But the story is told seamlessly as if all history.
The novel itself takes an interesting approach. There is no main character each chapter is like a short story with one or two main characters. These main characters are both American and Japanese.
Westheimer wrote the book in 1971. I think he did a great job of capturing the Japanese point of view, not just the die hard militarist but the common farmer, business man, and parent.
Some of the folks we met are, A b-29 pilot, a Kamkazee pilot, a US Navy gunner on a transport ship, a US Frogman, A Japanses battalion commander, a Japanses POW, A farmer's family, a disgraced schoolteacher, A deported Japanese American, A tank commander, and the major of an isolated mountain village.
An epilogue by historian John Ray Skates rates the book high for accuracy and insight.
Warning: possible spoilers. The Japanese were determined and desperate in defense but Westhiemer sees the invasion taking the Kyushu area in three months. Having put all their effort into that defense the Japanese Government surrenders. Japan's determination could not make up for the lack of everything else, transportation, resources, trained troops, supplies and most of all food.
April 3, 2014
Incredible novel in the sense that there's no continuous narrative with a central set of characters. Each of the dozens of Americans and Japanese we meet are shown only once, yet it works. I've never read a novel like this. All novelists should have a copy. On top of it all, the characters and dialog are absolutely first rate. A tremendous accomplishment.
April 3, 2022
Gripping in storyline, yet ultimately chilling in its 'what if' implications, this novel was hard to put down. Westheimer unfolds a fictional invasion of Japan, but uses historical circumstances leading up to it as the basis for his projections---which adds enormous context to the actual actions/plans of both sides in the last months of WW2. Additionally, he fairly portays the humanity (in its good/evil extremes) in characters on both sides, in the style of Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers/Letters from Iwo Jima coupling. Again, an exciting but ultimately chilling read, it describes the sheer magnitude of life that could and would have been lost, had history unfolded differently.
March 7, 2018
One of the more popular “what ifs” of the Second World War is that of Operation Downfall, the projected invasion of Japan. Planned as a massive two-part operation, the surrender of Japan in September 1945 rendered it unnecessary. Yet such a scenario has intrigued a number of authors who have written fiction and non-fiction accounts hypothesizing on what might have occurred had such an invasion proven necessary.
David Westheimer’s novel offers one such exploration. It consists of a series of fictional vignettes depicting the experiences of the Americans and Japanese involved in an invasion of Kyushu. Though their stories he unfolds his novel gradually, describing the invasion through the soldiers (and in the case of the Japanese, the civilians) on both sides involved in it. Unlike the novels of such alternate history authors as Harry Turtledove the characters change from story to story; there is little continuity between the stories apart from the overall context, and the characters themselves suffer a fearful death rate. Yet Westheimer spends time fleshing them out while telling their tales, turning what could easily have been one-dimensional figures into distinctly-realized individuals.
In this way, Westheimer offers a gritty and bleak depiction of an invasion that never was, one that ranks among the better works of alternate history. Readers looking for the hypothetical strategic chess game will be disappointed here, as Westheimer never focuses on the high command or explains why the invasion becomes necessary in his imagined scenario. Instead, what readers get is a set of stories that show the terrible cost that might have been paid by everyone had such an invasion came to pass, and one that leaves readers grateful that it never did.
David Westheimer’s novel offers one such exploration. It consists of a series of fictional vignettes depicting the experiences of the Americans and Japanese involved in an invasion of Kyushu. Though their stories he unfolds his novel gradually, describing the invasion through the soldiers (and in the case of the Japanese, the civilians) on both sides involved in it. Unlike the novels of such alternate history authors as Harry Turtledove the characters change from story to story; there is little continuity between the stories apart from the overall context, and the characters themselves suffer a fearful death rate. Yet Westheimer spends time fleshing them out while telling their tales, turning what could easily have been one-dimensional figures into distinctly-realized individuals.
In this way, Westheimer offers a gritty and bleak depiction of an invasion that never was, one that ranks among the better works of alternate history. Readers looking for the hypothetical strategic chess game will be disappointed here, as Westheimer never focuses on the high command or explains why the invasion becomes necessary in his imagined scenario. Instead, what readers get is a set of stories that show the terrible cost that might have been paid by everyone had such an invasion came to pass, and one that leaves readers grateful that it never did.
April 10, 2020
What if.
August 12, 2010
A book that deserves to be remembered--- a fine what-if novel about the end of the Pacific War. Westheimer imagines that the atomic bombs weren't dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and that the plans for Operation Downfall--- the invasion of Japan ---were carried out. He moves from the beaches on Kyushu to a countryside emptied and wasted by war and starvation, and from the fighting at water's edge to the establishment of American occupation on Kyushu and the coming of a black market world. Good characters, good use of both US and Japanese plans.
August 8, 2020
Dostoevsky once said that a society can be measured by how they treat their prisoners (or some BS like that). Well, Fyodor. To you, I say this: an author can be measured by how much emotion they can impart to you in the least amount of pages.
I have an utter fascination with alternate history. What if Abraham Lincoln was never born? What if Barack Obama could've run for a third term? What if I never got stood up on that one date in high school? My love of alternate history is answered here in Death is Lighter than a Feather. Death is Lighter than a Feather, in short, is a masterpiece and has cemented itself as one of my favorite books of all time.
In short, the book serves as an amalgation of point-of-views of individuals partaking in Operation: Downfall, the invasion of mainland Japan. For reasons that are already forgotten to me (I read this book back in early 2020, so I forgot some of the details), the atomic bomb is not available to the United States. Thus, the war continues past 1945. The book has numerous characters partaking in the novel, from underwater demolition team divers, to kamikaze pilots, to (my favorite story) a young Japanese-American woman whose parents migrated to Japan after the Attack on Pearl Harbor.
The fact of the matter is, Westheimer creates a story for each of these characters, weaving in emotion that makes you feel as if you actually know them. The other fact of the matter is, in every invasion, not all of these characters survive. In fact, a majority of them do not live to see the end of the book and that's what makes this story so powerful. War is obdurate. It will take your life as emotionlessly as a fast gunshot to the head. Gone are the blazes of glory, where heroes stand at the top of their tanks in a glorious last land, mowing down the enemy by the dozen with a machine gun.
There is very little that I can say AGAINST this book. It is historically accurate (at least, as accurate as an alternate history novel can be), it's meaningful, it's impactful, and it's, above all, a good story.
Bravo, Mr. Westheimer. Grandissimo libro! This book will and forever will be cemented as a permanent resident of my personal library.
I have an utter fascination with alternate history. What if Abraham Lincoln was never born? What if Barack Obama could've run for a third term? What if I never got stood up on that one date in high school? My love of alternate history is answered here in Death is Lighter than a Feather. Death is Lighter than a Feather, in short, is a masterpiece and has cemented itself as one of my favorite books of all time.
In short, the book serves as an amalgation of point-of-views of individuals partaking in Operation: Downfall, the invasion of mainland Japan. For reasons that are already forgotten to me (I read this book back in early 2020, so I forgot some of the details), the atomic bomb is not available to the United States. Thus, the war continues past 1945. The book has numerous characters partaking in the novel, from underwater demolition team divers, to kamikaze pilots, to (my favorite story) a young Japanese-American woman whose parents migrated to Japan after the Attack on Pearl Harbor.
The fact of the matter is, Westheimer creates a story for each of these characters, weaving in emotion that makes you feel as if you actually know them. The other fact of the matter is, in every invasion, not all of these characters survive. In fact, a majority of them do not live to see the end of the book and that's what makes this story so powerful. War is obdurate. It will take your life as emotionlessly as a fast gunshot to the head. Gone are the blazes of glory, where heroes stand at the top of their tanks in a glorious last land, mowing down the enemy by the dozen with a machine gun.
There is very little that I can say AGAINST this book. It is historically accurate (at least, as accurate as an alternate history novel can be), it's meaningful, it's impactful, and it's, above all, a good story.
Bravo, Mr. Westheimer. Grandissimo libro! This book will and forever will be cemented as a permanent resident of my personal library.
August 5, 2022
A novelization of the planned US invasion of Japan, this book was an attempt to show what would have been one of the most complex military operations ever planned. In the overall narrative, the author uses various characters; Japanese and American (and even some British naval personnel) to illustrate the impact of such a massive event on the participants lives.
Much of the historical information the book bases itself on is understandably dated. Scholars have spent decades unearthing both US DOD and Japanese Imperial records to highlight the severe underestimation of Japanese resources by the US. Also the cold fact the Japanese knew where the landings would come (deduction and military reality) and actually the period when the landing would come (historical weather patterns) stunned post War US analysts. The amount of available resources for the Japanese was far larger and the amount of fortification in the proposed landing areas was also more advanced than predicted.
Given all that, the book does a decent job of the efforts of all sides. Civilians get considerable mention as does the often privately doubtful defenders. Every aspect of the invading forces gets attention too including the oft forgotten logistic personnel. I think some of the vignettes are weak such as the "Studs" character but others-especially those of the civilians heartbreaking.
In conclusion, worth the time. I would recommend that anyone interested in the subject check out D.M. Giangreco's excellent Hell To Pay which is the single best historical work on the subject.
Much of the historical information the book bases itself on is understandably dated. Scholars have spent decades unearthing both US DOD and Japanese Imperial records to highlight the severe underestimation of Japanese resources by the US. Also the cold fact the Japanese knew where the landings would come (deduction and military reality) and actually the period when the landing would come (historical weather patterns) stunned post War US analysts. The amount of available resources for the Japanese was far larger and the amount of fortification in the proposed landing areas was also more advanced than predicted.
Given all that, the book does a decent job of the efforts of all sides. Civilians get considerable mention as does the often privately doubtful defenders. Every aspect of the invading forces gets attention too including the oft forgotten logistic personnel. I think some of the vignettes are weak such as the "Studs" character but others-especially those of the civilians heartbreaking.
In conclusion, worth the time. I would recommend that anyone interested in the subject check out D.M. Giangreco's excellent Hell To Pay which is the single best historical work on the subject.
March 8, 2023
Death is Lighter than a Feather is a hauntingly beautiful book. Just as emotional if not even more than Alfred Coppel's The Burning Mountain. What made me like this book more than The Burning Mountain is how Westheimer wrote the book. It's so detailed that when I read each of the characters' perspective, the emotions were so much more powerful. Not only did Westheimer write each characters' perspective of the events, he also managed to introduce us to each of the characters' backstories. And it was painfully difficult for me to not show any emotions whenever I reach the end of their stories. The only issue I had with the book is the same issue I also had with The Burning Mountain; that the ending was underwhelming. I would have preferred the epilogue to be the perspective of a character in the aftermath of the war. But that's just a small issue of mine and doesn't take away from the amazing and emotional reading experience I had reading the book.
January 18, 2021
The goofy 1970s title hides a more thoughtful series of mostly unrelated short stories sketching the humanity of a wide cast of characters. It was originally published as "Lighter than a Feather."
I was enthralled when I read it as a teenager, and to my surprise I still love it upon rereading it. Westheimer renders characters less as cartoons and cuts more to the point than Mailer's The Naked and the Dead.
Fun fact: Westheimer Road in Houston is named for David Westheimer's great uncle, Mitchell Louis Westheimer.
I was enthralled when I read it as a teenager, and to my surprise I still love it upon rereading it. Westheimer renders characters less as cartoons and cuts more to the point than Mailer's The Naked and the Dead.
Fun fact: Westheimer Road in Houston is named for David Westheimer's great uncle, Mitchell Louis Westheimer.
February 18, 2020
A very detailed alternate history account of the possible invasion of Japan. Westheimer uses the actual plans both sides had in place for the eventual invasion and provides an amazing prologue setting out the steps already in place prior to the dropping of the atom bombs in our timeline.
July 22, 2023
What if America had carried out Operation Olympic, the invasion of the Japanese mainland? Looks at the lives of ordinary people in a horrific situation. A nightmare scenario, I'm glad it never happened.
April 5, 2024
Depressing read. What would happen if Japan defended Kyushu the way they defended Okinawa? This. We get all the gory details, written from first-person perspectives of American soldiers and Japanese soldiers and civilians.
It seems realistic as far as I can tell. I don't know the psychology of pre-war Japanese people well enough to comment. Their depictions make them seem very alien at times, but it's plausible.
I learned a lot about the various suicide planes, boats and submarines the Japanese developed. Most of them were about to enter mass-production when the war ended in the real world. It's crazy to think how close Japan came to experience this apocalypse.
It seems realistic as far as I can tell. I don't know the psychology of pre-war Japanese people well enough to comment. Their depictions make them seem very alien at times, but it's plausible.
I learned a lot about the various suicide planes, boats and submarines the Japanese developed. Most of them were about to enter mass-production when the war ended in the real world. It's crazy to think how close Japan came to experience this apocalypse.
March 10, 2016
I first read this back in the early Seventies when it was published in the UK under the title Lighter Than A Feather (the US title makes more sense) and it was one of those books that I never forgot, so when I discovered a used copy in my late fifties I read it again and it still stands up as a fine novel. Westheimer's imagining of an invasion of Japan is brutally real and totally convincing thanks to the unusual device of telling the story through numerous different characters on both sides of the conflict. So, not all the American troops are good and not all the Japanese characters are bad, which gives the story multiple layers and a real depth. From what I've read and seen on screen since, the many vignettes are accurate and based on reality. Despite its length it's an easy read and all the separate characters stories have something real to say. Definitely worth reading for anyone with an interest in that period. His clever use of dialogue is particularly good and I remain intrigued by the idea that the American troops would finish a conversation with the phrase "Take it easy" whilst the Japanese would exhort their companions to "Hard work".
August 21, 2019
Read physical book. interesting take on what would have happened in the event of a US invasion of Japan at the end of WWII. While not the purpose of the book (it's not even mentioned) it supports the dropping of the Atomic bombs as a way to save lives.
April 11, 2016
Awesome book with characters created from both sides of the situation a fictional account if the United States had invaded Japan rather than dropping the bomb.
May 6, 2016
Absorbing, complex and brilliant
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews