THE LAST MISSION: The Secret History of World War II's Final Battle

As dramatized by Smith, a WWII B-29 radio operator, and prolific military historian McConnell, Japan's surrender looks something like this: Emperor Hirohito, persuaded by the American atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and by the active imprecations of some of his cabinet ministers, decides to surrender and place his nation at the mercy of the Allies. A small cadre of junior officers simply cannot face the idea of surrender and begin a plot to undermine Hirohito's plan. Their goal: destroy the recordings of Hirohito's surrender set to be broadcast, isolate the emperor with local troops and proclaim that the civilians who counseled the emperor were traitors. They expect the armed forces to flock to their side and launch an all-out kamikaze attack on the approaching Americans. Yet the night of their plan, Smith's B-29 group flew past Tokyo, heading north to strike at one of Japan's remaining oil refineries. Fear of a third atomic bomb forced a citywide blackout that disrupted the conspiracy. Smith undertook years of research into Japanese and American strategizing and makes the book hard to put down for those interested in espionage and historical "what ifs." Maps and photos not seen by PW. (Aug.)