First published 2018
On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis completes its top-secret mission delivering components of the atomic bomb, unaware of the nightmare ahead. Suddenly struck by Japanese torpedoes in the Philippine Sea, the ship sinks within minutes, leaving nearly 900 men adrift in open water. Battling savage conditions—brutal sun, circling sharks, devastating injuries, and mounting desperation—the survivors face an impossible fight for survival. With no rescue in sight and hope rapidly dissolving, the crew must confront the most brutal test of human endurance. Their fight becomes more than physical survival—it's a struggle against nature, enemy, and the potential erasure of their own story.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, action
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: against-all-odds, man-vs-nature
Setting: California, Hiroshima, Japan, Pacific Ocean, Western Europe
Period: 1945
578 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster
Content warnings: death, graphic-violence