This is typical Hammel for he does a masterful job of blending the tactical operations, that some think is dry, with the human interest and creates an informative, interesting read.
Taking this book along with his two other naval books plus his photo book and you have the definitive series of the Gauadalcanal campaign.
Mr Hammel sees the campaign as a see saw battle where one side has the advantage then loses it to the other in a series of escalating events that eventually turns the advantage to the American side.
The campaign could have lasted much longer or ended in a victory for the Japanese if they acknowledged the seriousness of the American threat and didn't underestimate the marines by landing a decent size force in the early days of the campaign.
The format of the book is broken down in sections according to this up and down series of events. The sections will have anywhere from two to nine chapters. The sections are:

Prologue: Brief history of the area involving the Japanese before the war.
Before: Brief history of the Japanese taking over Tulagi and Guadalcanal before August 1942.
The Division: About the First Marine Division and background info on some of the men in the outfit
Invasion: Aug 7th and 8th and the invasion of Guadalcanal, Tulagi, Gavutu and Tanambogo
Reaction: The immediate reaction of the Japan. They weren't prepared for a amphibious landing but they did launch aerial and naval attacks.
Interlude: This is the time after Fletcher and Turner abandoned the marines prematurely, when they were trying to cope and build an adequate defensive perimeter. Lack of food and disease sent in quickly and added to the misery.
Baptism: This is the time when the Japanese started landing troops on the island and the new marines had to cope with increased resistance and ambushes.
Seesaw: This is the largest section in the book and covers the increasing hostilities as the engagements on the ground, air and sea increase.
Crisis: Adm Ghormley and others were pesimistic about the future of the campaign and really didn't support very well at a time when Japanese resistance was increasing. The enemy was trying to close down Henderson field by attacking it nightly in order to land reinforcements for the upcoming battle they were planning.
Resurgence: After defeating the 17th Army's assault, the marines and the Americal Div go on the offensive in a small way toward the west.
Decision: With Adm Halsey in charge, General Vandegrift received better support, more troops and supplies and the tide of war started to turn for the Americans.
Epilogue: Closing comments on the importance of winning the campaign and its future ramifications for both sides.

There are 14 black and white maps which are pretty good and a few photos to add to the narrative. The book closes with an Appendix, Bibliography and a Index.
The story is a very interesting, informative read and the first in the trilogy that gives you the complete picture of the Guadalcanal Campaign. I highly recommend it.

Very detailed and informative. I have purchased and read many of Hammel's books. Whether it be WWII, VietNam or the Beirut "police action" Hammel has a unique way of presenting factual history in a fresh, readable fashion. I found his history of the First Marine Division and General Vandegrift to be informative and enjoyable. Highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the Guadalcanal campaign.

Very detailed and informative. I have purchased and read many of Hammel's books. Whether it be WWII, VietNam or the Beirut "police action" Hammel has a unique way of presenting factual history in a fresh, readable fashion. I found his history of the First Marine Division and General Vandegrift to be informative and enjoyable. Highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the Guadalcanal campaign.

Eric Hammel is a splendid writer, and this book is a splendid account of the Guadalcanal campaign. Part of a trilogy which included volumes about the naval aspects of the Guadalcanal battle, "Starvation Island" focuses on the land and land-based air phases of this far-flung struggle. Well-written and entertaining, this is history at its best. Along with the other fine volumes about the Guadalcanal campaign, such as Richard B. Frank's excellent work ("Guadalcanal: The Definitive Account of the Landmark Battle") this book will be enjoyed by anyone interested in this crucial turning point in the war in the Pacific.

Guadalcanal is the most interesting battle of American history. It was the first American offensive of World War II and victory hung in a seesaw balance for three months as Americans slowly and painfully gained land, sea, and air superiority over their Japanese opponents. The costs were enormous. Japan and America lost 26 ships each. Most of them were sunk in "Iron Bottom Sound" in the "Slot." The 18 pilots of one fighter wing of the "Cactus" air force were reduced to four in less than three months -- but they shot down 83 Japanese planes. Hammel estimates that 35,000 Japanese died in the battle -- about one third of them of disease and starvation. U.S. losses of Army, Navy, and Marines totalled about 3,000 dead.

Eric Hammel has written a competent and readable book on the battle of Guadalcanal from August 7, 1942 when the first Marines stepped on shore until mid-November when the battle was won -- although three months of bloody mop-up operations remained. Hammel covers land, sea, and air operations, and his descriptions range from the strategy sessions of the Brass to the battle experiences of 18-year old Marine privates. My enthusiasm for this book is restrained however as there are many other accounts in books and on the web which are equally good.

Hammel's technical discussions of battles and strategies are very good; his description of the conditions the marines faced in Guadalcanal -- abandonment by the navy, malaria and dengue, shortages of everything, a shrieking, suicidal enemy who hardly seemed human, a dark, menacing jungle -- is less good. The marines called Guadalcanal "Operation Shoestring" and it deserves the name. For the Japanese it was even worse.

The best book I've read on Guadalcanal. Helps one understand the professionalism of the Marines. A dedicated group of men trying to survive a very tough situation. I was really impressed by their ability to keep their weapons operating in that jungle environment for months with almost no resupply help from the Navy. - Robert Merritt Edson