Sista båt från Singapore

by Alistair MacLean

Paper Book, 1958

Status

Available

Call number

839.78

Genres

All Topics

Fiction

Publication

Stockholm : Forum, 1958

Description

The 50th anniversary edition of this classic World War 2 adventure set in south-east Asia. February, 1942: Singapore lies burning and shattered, defenseless before the conquering hordes of the Japanese Army, as the last boat slips out of the harbor into the South China Sea. On board are a desperate group of people, each with a secret to guard, each willing to kill to keep that secret safe. Who or what is the dissolute Englishman, Farnholme? The elegant Dutch planter, Van Effen? The strangely beautiful Eurasian girl, Gudrun? The slave trader, Siran? The smiling and silent Nicholson who is never without his gun? Only one thing is certain: the rotting tramp steamer is a floating death trap, carrying a cargo of human TNT. Dawn sees them far out to sea but with the first murderous dive bombers already aimed at their ship. Thus begins an ordeal few are to survive, a nightmare succession of disasters wrought by the hell-bent Japanese, the unrelenting tropical sun and by the survivors themselves, whose hatred and bitterness divides them one against the other. Written after the acclaimed and phenomenally successful HMS Ulysses and The Guns of Navarone, this was MacLean's third book, and it contains all the hallmarks of those other two classics. Rich with stunning visual imagery, muscular narrative power, brutality, courage and breathtaking excitement, the celebration of the 50th anniversary of South by Java Head offers readers a long-denied chance to enjoy one of the greatest war novels ever written. - Originally published in 1958 but long out of print, this classic tale of World War 2 adventure celebrates its 50th anniversary with a stunning new package. - Reissued as part of a major repackaging of the key MacLean backlist titles. - This volume is part of a new effort to re-establish Alistair Maclean as the UK's foremost writer of thrillers and wartime adventures. - Alistair MacLean's books have sold over 30 million copies worldwide - Many have been turned into award-winning blockbuster films, including The Guns of Navarone, Where Eages Dare, The Satan Bug and Ice Station Zebra.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member WhitmelB

South by Java Head, a review.

I was woolgathering in my library the other day and my glance fell on an old book, on the shelves for a long time it had been gathering dust and had about it a film of neglect. And such a shame for it to have been so neglected. Written by Alistair MacLean and published

in 1958, the story is set in February 1942, in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Singapore. As the British stronghold of Singapore falls to the invading Imperial Japanese Army, a mixed collection of soldiers, nurses, fleeing civilians, a small boy, and at least one spy attempt to escape the burning city aboard the Kerry Dancer, a battered freighter manned by a disreputable captain and crew. The Kerry Dancer is crippled by Japanese aircraft, and the refugees are rescued by the Viroma, a tanker also fleeing Singapore; however, the Viroma is also sunk by the Japanese, and the survivors take to open boats open sea. Led by stalwart First Officer Nicholson, they attempt to flee to safety across the South China Sea, facing death by thirst and exposure, typhoons, and pursuit by the relentless Japanese. As tension amount in the small boat, Nicholson realizes that they are equally at risk from traitors in their midst.

Having spent two years in Indonesia as the Air Attache and being fortunate enough to have been brought to fluency in Bahasa Indonesia courtesy of the US State Department, the novel awakens memories. Taking part in several memorials to Indonesian intellectuals murdered by the Japanese and hearing their stories, made the events in South by Java Head very poignant.

Of course one truism that can be said of Mr. MacLean’s heroes, they are typically a male character who is depicted as physically and morally indestructible. The kind of character all men aspire to. Unlike the “tainted hero” who skirts or outright flaunts a disregard for law and justice to obtain the correct outcome, MacLean’s protagonists adhere to the straight and narrow and overcome what appears to be insurmountable odds. With conversation frequently laced with a dry, sardonic, self-deprecating humour, the hero guides us on to a satisfying end.

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LibraryThing member jeffome

St. Bart's 2014 #9 - This nail-biting adventure from MacLean that is so chock-full of David vs. Goliath encounters between some horribly outgunned sailors and civilians at sea and the evil WWII Japanese fighting force, that it is almost exhausting to read. In fact, that is a possible reason 4 is as

high as I was willing or go...it borders on too much. And there is some inherent unbelievability throughout this that also keeps my rating down. But with that all said, I did enjoy the book quite bit.....you can't help but root for the 'Davids,' especially when they have no chance to survive, and then the odds get worse....and I kept asking myself, could I have thought of that??? Anyway, fun stuff and a great read for my final book of my 2014 island vacation.

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LibraryThing member antiquary

One of the last ships out of Singapore is carrying a man with critical intelligence on the Japanese --then the ship is hit. The radioman dies horribly while staying at his post. and I stopped reading, but I hope to finish it some day.

LibraryThing member John_T_Stewart

Alistair Maclean’s novel “South by Java Head”. This is a very action packed story about a group of people leaving Singapore in February 1942 as the Japanese military captured it. While it is an interesting adventure story the way how everyone’s lives are entwined is somewhat unbelievable.

As is the way that the enemy knows about them and interacts with them. It seems less believable that a small group could have been so targeted amongst all the thousands of people who were streaming away from Singapore at the time.

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LibraryThing member fuzzi

This engrossing tale takes place during WWII just after the fall of Singapore to the Japanese. A motley group of evacuees strive to not only evade the enemy but also survive the elements with a traitor on board. Very good almost to the ending, which unfortunately was a tad weak. Still, it's another

good story by MacLean.

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LibraryThing member Alhickey1

South by Java Head is the third novel written by Scottish author Alistair MacLean, and was first published in 1958. MacLean's personal experiences in the Royal Navy during World War II provided part of the basis for the story. The story is set in February 1942, in the immediate aftermath of the

Battle of Singapore. As the British stronghold of Singapore falls to the invading Imperial Japanese Army, a mixed collection of soldiers, nurses, fleeing civilians, a small boy, and at least one spy attempt to escape the burning city aboard the Kerry Dancer, a battered freighter manned by a disreputable captain and crew. The Kerry Dancer is crippled by Japanese aircraft, and the refugees are rescued by the Viroma, a tanker also fleeing Singapore; however, the Viroma is also sunk by the Japanese, and the survivors take to open boats on the open sea. Led by stalwart First Officer John Nicholson, they attempt to flee to safety across the South China Sea, facing death by thirst and exposure, typhoons, and pursuit by the relentless Japanese. As tensions mount in the small boat, Nicholson realizes that they are equally at risk from traitors in their midst.

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LibraryThing member Alhickey1

February, 1942: Singapore lies burning and shattered, defenceless before the conquering hordes of the Japanese Army, as the last boat slips out of the harbour into the South China Sea. On board are a desperate group of people, each with a secret to guard, each willing to kill to keep that secret

safe.

Who or what is the dissolute Englishman, Farnholme? The elegant Dutch planter, Van Effen? The strangely beautiful Eurasian girl, Gudrun? The slave trader, Siran? The smiling and silent Nicholson who is never without his gun? Only one thing is certain: the rotting tramp steamer is a floating death trap, carrying a cargo of human TNT.

Dawn sees them far out to sea but with the first murderous dive bombers already aimed at their ship. Thus begins an ordeal few are to survive, a nightmare succession of disasters wrought by the hell-bent Japanese, the unrelenting tropical sun and by the survivors themselves, whose hatred and bitterness divides them one against the other.

Written after the acclaimed and phenomenally successful HMS Ulysses and The Guns of Navarone, this was MacLean’s third book, and it contains all the hallmarks of those other two classics. Rich with stunning visual imagery, muscular narrative power, brutality, courage and breathtaking excitement, the celebration of the 50th anniversary of South by Java Head offers readers a long-denied chance to enjoy one of the greatest war novels ever written.

Show Less

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