Cruise of the Blackwind By William P. Haiber (345 pages) Reviewer:  Bernie Ditter Overall Rating: Four Stars: Highly recommended. An excellent book. I have reviewed a number of books for our association but I am not often called upon to review fiction; most likely, because there are more than enough actual experiences of our shipmates reduced to writing that compete for our attention. However, I am pleased to tell you about this exceptional book. If there were a five star category that would be my recommendation. The author weaves a story about the connection between a Japanese flyer who, during the attack on Pearl Harbor and while returning to his carrier, kills a young boy who is the son of a destroyer captain. Through 52 chapters their lives cross and re-cross and the reader learns of the personal demons affecting each. Interestingly each chapter is a stand alone mini story where we are introduced to a variety of characters each of who has a role in the story being told. The story humanizes war while putting a personal face on the enemy. In chapter 38 a torpedo man predicts "I'll bet that someone will invent a self loading gun, directed by radar, and fired by some seaman on the bridge." He did not know how prescient he was. The captain's remarks to the crew during the commissioning ceremony will bring a tear to the eye of the most hardened seadog and the conclusion to this sea story is as poignant as any that I have read. Hats off to William P. Haiber.