Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Santos dedicates much of the novel to building background for the historical plot, sharing the mechanics and inner workings of the U.S. Navy and Air Force against the backdrop of the Second World War. That buildup is both meticulous and intriguing for history buffs, though the action initially takes a backseat. Once it picks up, the fate of airmen Morris and Phegley becomes the center focus, though the crew of the USS Randolph is painted in vibrant tones as well.
Prose: Santos effectively builds a rich, authentic culture through his writing, drawing readers into the world of nations at war and the everyday nitty-gritty of the personnel fighting that war, from the lowest ranking military professional to top commanders.
Originality: Santos pays respect to the true story behind this illuminating historical novel, giving readers solid characters to root for, painstaking details, and an edgy tension.
Character/Execution: Characters abound in this sweeping story, but, despite their immense number, readers will feel connected to the book’s individuals. In many ways, the USS Randolph becomes a character in its own right, as it races an already worn-down crew to rescue fellow military men. Morris and Phegley stand out, of course, but so too does Admiral Mitscher, overburdened and weighed down by the war’s seemingly endless savagery.
Date Submitted: June 27, 2024
This riveting, evocative historical novel brings to life a harrowing yet ultimately rousing true story of honor, courage, and dedication from the closing days of World War II. On May 14, 1945, two American airmen, Ensign John Morris and his gunner Cletis Phegley, find themselves stranded on a raft amidst the islands of Japan, 200 miles from their fleet. What ensues is much hardship and fear—the pair imagine their eventual dinner, after they’re inevitably captured, will be “Probably a bowl of rice in between beatings.” But that fate may not be set in stone, as Santos follows a heroic rescue mission led by the USS Randolph and her crew, who must confront physical and psychological battles to save their comrades.Santos, with his extensive aviation background and a deep connection to the USS Randolph—his father’s wartime vessel—brings a unique authenticity to the narrative, which is attentive to technology, strategy, and the rigors of military life at sea. His meticulous research and passion for the subject matter are evident on every page, vividly portraying the era and the individuals who lived through these tumultuous times, with a winning emphasis on camaraderie and adaptability.
The novel’s strength lies in its ability to humanize the epic scale of war. Santos powerfully depicts the brotherhood among the Randolph crew, capturing their courage and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. The detailed characterizations of Morris and Phegley add a poignant layer to the story as readers become deeply invested in their survival and the broader implications of their rescue, while passages depicting the training and missions of Japanese pilots prove thoughtfully empathetic. A Grand Pause does not shy away from the brutal realities of war, delving into the psychological toll on soldiers, the ever-present threat of attacks, and the constant struggle to maintain hope and morale.
Takeaway: Inspiring story of perseverance and courage in the Pacific from the end of WWII.
Comparable Titles: James D. Hornfischer’s Ship of Ghosts, Tod Olson’s Lost in the Pacific.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
A historical novel about a rescue mission in the Pacific theater of World War II.
In his fiction debut, Santos centers history on the tail end of the U.S. Navy’s titanic war efforts in the Pacific, where the aircraft carrier USS Randolph and many other American ships act as “the battering ram of the Fifth Fleet” as “the war rolls on with the kinetic energy of a tidal wave”—even though Germany has already surrendered. The 5th Fleet is stationed off Okinawa, Japan, and Santos introduces his readers to a wide spectrum of men who keep it running, from plane engineers to officers to ship captains, all carrying the weight of hundreds of lives on their shoulders: “Every morning,” he writes, “Randolph warms up in her little corner of the ring, jabbing in place, sharpening the blood sport of war.” Ongoing combat, including relentless kamikaze attacks, has resulted in burials at sea every day, and every sailor is aware that their next mission could very well be their last. One such mission, on May 14, 1945, involves the Massachusetts-born pilot Ensign John Morris and Midwestern gunner Cletis Phegley, who find themselves marooned after being shot down in the Pacific, making them the object of desperate searches from both sides. Santos skillfully shifts his story from large-scale combat operations to focus on specific characters and details, and he wisely expands his cast far beyond Morris and Phegley, painting engaging portraits of personnel at every level of United States naval command. Also, he effectively extends his focus beyond combatants; one of the book’s most memorable characters, for instance, is a United Press International war correspondent named Denton who tells his captain honestly, “I’m trying to cover the war from the unique perspective of a civilian frightened out of his wits.” The book’s documentary elements often dominate the narrative, but even so, the reading experience is genuinely immersive throughout.
A fact-heavy but consistently compelling look at a day of real-life naval heroism.
A Grand Pause: A Novel on May 14, 1945, The USS Randolph, Kamikazes, and the Greatest Air-Sea Rescue by Gary Santos is an action-packed historical fiction book that takes place in the war-torn Pacific Ocean during World War II.
Gary Santos had me (the reader) inside and atop the ships and planes during the heart-stopping action of fighting the Japanese and the kamikazes. His knowledge of the ships and their inner workings was apparent through his portrayal of characters responsible for the myriad of jobs to keep the craft functioning.
Santos paints a graphic picture of Ensign John Morris and his gunner Cletis Phegley as they are shot down in the Seto Inland Sea in the heart of Japanese territory. Morris and Phegley are convinced they are doomed to be prisoners of war if they live, but the brass of the Navy mount an all-out effort to rescue them. The plan put together and executed by the bravest of the brave was insane but insanely successful.
If you like U.S. Naval history or World War II action, A Grand Pause is bound to have you on the edge of your seat.
Review by Nancy Panko (June 2024)
Immersing readers in the tension, terror, and unpredictability of war, A Grand Pause: A Novel on May 14, 1945, the USS Randolph, Kamikazes, and the Greatest Air-Sea Rescue by Gary Santos is a uniquely penned blend of historical fact and well-informed fiction.
In the final months of World War II, with unimaginable losses on both sides of every battlefield, the Allied fleet has closed in on Japan, slowly choking the Empire as it island-hops toward a full-scale ground invasion. On May 14, 1945, yet another day that lives in infamy, flight squadrons are finally tasked to attack mainland Japan and interrupt the relentless waves of kamikaze fighters, but this leaves the fleet with weakened defenses.
Mike is a dedicated and overworked plane captain, Wellington is a lieutenant with wealthy roots and deep faith, and Eugene is a fresh-faced Navy recruit who has already experienced his share of horror. Onboard the Randolph – a mystery ship with more firepower than any other warship in the fleet – these three men are anonymous cogs in a massive machine of war, but the actions of even a single man can save countless lives, or avert disaster.
With visceral action sequences and life-and-death decisions that capture the chaotic and cruel fog of war, this novel details the heroic rescue of Air Group members who didn’t make the journey back, and the real-world costs of never leaving a man behind. Writing about macrocosmic events through microcosmic figures and moments, readers can feel the epic balance of responsibility and risk in every barked order and obedient salute.
There are countless characters who step into the author’s spotlight for a scene or a chapter, providing a comprehensive glimpse into the disparate mindsets of sailors, pilots, soldiers, and leaders, as well as their nuanced duties and personalities both onboard and in the heat of battle. There are also colorful cameos from Midwestern journalists, flamboyant commanders, brainwashed enemies, and cold-hearted puppet masters, allowing for a rare insight into both sides of this bloody conflict.
While there are many narrative accounts of World War II that bring critical moments of courage or valor to modern light, few so artfully blend fact and fiction into a compelling whole like this one. Military histories are often shown through a lens of sacrifice and heroism, and may not reflect the internal struggles and trauma that continue to affect soldiers for years and decades to come. Santos expounds on the psychological impact of “pointing the gun,” even if you aren’t the man pulling the trigger, and gives ample time for philosophical and delicate examinations of war, death, and national loyalty. Honing in on the final stage of the war after Germany surrendered grants readers a deeper understanding of the tragic loss of life caused by this final extension of violence.
Some of the battle sequences are hard to follow, with the prose leaping forward in pace and urgency, so the reading experience becomes more about the sensation than the details, but as a whole Santos’ writing is lyrical and thoughtful, yet also stark and gritty, capturing the emotional and physical weariness of the soldiers and sailors off the coast of Okinawa and beyond. All told, this is a remarkably researched and engaging historical novel, where the line between history and imagination is brilliantly blurred.
