Windtalkers

by Max Allan Collins

During the invasion of Sai-pan near the end of World War II, Marine Joe Enders is given the task of protecting Navajo radioman Ben Yahzee, called a codetalker, or killing him if he falls into enemy Japanese hands.

Genres: Historical Fiction, War, Military History, Fiction, Action, Media Tie In, Military Fiction

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 2006.

He has also published under the name Patrick Culhane. He and his wife, Barbara Collins, have written several books together. Some of them are published under the name Barbara Allan.

Book Awards
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1984) : True Detective
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : Stolen Away
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : Carnal Hours
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) : Damned in Paradise
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1999) : Flying Blind: A Novel about Amelia Earhart
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Angel in Black

Japanese: マックス・アラン・コリンズ
or マックス・アラン コリンズ

Reviews

[Kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I'd probably give it a 2.5 star rating; mostly because of the language. The characterizations were well done, as was the story line. It was somewhat predictable, because it is a war story, you know some of the major characters are going to die. The war scenes and feelings of those who survive fierce battles were probably pretty realistic, but since I've never been in war, I can't say it with any authority.
In the future, if I want to learn more about the Navaho (Dineeh) Code Talkers of WWII, I'll look for a book that is more historical and factual, so I don't have to deal with the very foul language. I'd have been better off not reading this one, and having to work on ignoring and skipping over the cussing.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another World War II book. However, the reader will find this story to be very informative without the usual story of destruction. The Navajo language was used to send messages that the Germans could not decipher. The story involves a man that his buddies did not accept, but he ends up changing their outlook when he is able to get messages through. This is an engaging book.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though this is fiction as most events of the "code talkers" were not available to the public until 1970 or later, this is very much the way it happened in WWII. There are events of this time that are documented and now available to the public. Do read the history of these amazing people that gave their lives to help the USA during the WWII and Korea and Vietnam. This is how our country is made.

[Andrew Lauver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost identical to the movie, down to the dialogue, which is fine. I was hoping for a bit more background delving into Navajo customs/traditions/beliefs etc. Overall it is a solid read. A little repetitive with “obliterating Japs with his Tommy gun” kind of speak. I think the author nailed the “shell shock” PTSD that Enders undoubtedly had.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of war, but it is so much more. It is the story of standing up for yourself inspite of others pushing you down. A story of learning empathy by living with and standing side by side those different than you. If you pick up one war story to read, this is the one!

[Ranette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A interesting book about how the Navajo used their language to defeat WW11 agressors. Many men worked on this project and returned home to find peace.

[Rich Jonny's Son · Rating 5 out of 5]

Windtalkers (Mass Market Paperback)by Max Allan Collins is a movie based on the world war 2 Navajo marines. This is the screen play for the movie Windtalkers. i think the main characters main internal conflict is that they arnt white. i think there main external conflict is its ww2.

while reading this book i made a text-to-self connection. based on how my grandpa was in ww2. Also how my great granpa got silver star for bravery.

i would give this book 5 out of 5 stars. mainly cause of all the war stuff. i would recomend this to any one who like ww2 books.

[Maxwell]

I am reading Wind Talkers by: Max Collins. I am at the part when Joe has to protect a code talker but he does not want to. He thinks it would slow him down because he already has to lead a squad of troops and it would be somthing else to worry about. But the major does not agree With Joe. The major says if the codetalker dies the code dies with him. The best part of this book was when Joe was giving Rita grief about going back to fight. I love this book because it tells what roll the codetalkers played in american History.

[Jack Lambrech · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the brutal fires of war, two men come together from different worlds. Joe Enders is a haunted warrior plagued by guilt, the only man to survive a terrifying bloodbath on the Tarawa Atoll. Ben Yahzee is a "codetalker", a gentle, proud Navajo who transmits secret military code created from his Native American tongue---a language the Japanese enemy cannot decipher. Based on one of the most remarkable secret operations of WWII: The Navajo Indian Codetalkers.

[lori · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book read like a tired, over-the-top explosive action movie. The violence was glorified and the characters were predictable and cliched, I do not feel it did justice the historical importance of the code-talkers, their experiences prior to, during, and post their service as well as the cultural differences they may have felt, nor do I feel it appreciated the racial and class nuances and discrimination experienced by the code-talkers.

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot, the whole story interested me with the Navajo marines speaking in their language so that the Japanese soldiers weren't able to translate and understand it during WWII and how important they were during the war. Overall it was a great book and I would recommend it to anyone interested in true stories or anything military related because it's all during the war.

[Beauregard Shagnasty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max Allan Collins also gets a lot of work writing novelizations. After reading Windtalkers I can understand why. He does a good job here. A solid craftsman, just doing his thing.

[Maxwell Muehlegger]

this is a good book they make some sad chocies like killing one of the najva

[Maxwell Muehlegger]

um well it had some inoprotite parts

[Sak Sriwong · Rating 5 out of 5]

The is great, there are some emotional parts and action. It gives some info about the war(real one), like why they were using the code for. I guess anyone can read if they want to.

[Dakota · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent book. You might find it in the bathroom magazine rack.

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked it up thinking it would give a lot of historical background to the story of the codetalkers. Guess what? Its not there.

[Brayden Marquez]

I can't wait to read this book.

[Giorgio · Rating 2 out of 5]

**1/2

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love the story of these fine men, and appreciate their contribution to the effort. I have read other books about them that I thought were better.

[Peter Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it interesting - part this very old code that was used.

[Colin Zygmuntowski]

It was very good and sad