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The object of this little book is to bring the reader nearer to the great masters in the realm of music, and make him or her acquainted with the man who worked, played, and suffered as do other men. Though confining themselves to a simple style, the authors have tried to enter into the life of each composer, and, wherever possible, by means of earnest study of letters and other data which have come down to us, to copy that composer's tricks of speech, manner of writing, and various idiosyncracies. - Summary by Preface

2Top of the Ladder: Marine Operations in the Northern Solomons

By John C. Chapin

The objectives assigned on Bougainville were to seize a substantial beachhead and build airstrips. Then American planes could assure final neutralization of the Japanese airfields at Kahili, Buka, and Bonis airfields at the north and south ends of Bougainville. Facing the invading Marines was a formidable enemy force dispersed on the island. At Buin, for instance, there were 21,800 Japanese. Responsible for the defense was an old adversary, Lieutenant General Haruyoshi Hyakutake, commander of the Seventeenth Army, and the man the Marines had defeated at Guadalcanal. His main force was the 6th Division. - Summary by John C. Chapin

3Breaking the Outer Ring: Marine Landings in the Marshall Islands

By John C. Chapin

By the beginning of 1944, United States Marine forces had already made a dramatic start on the conquest of areas overrun by the Japanese early in World War II. Successful American assaults in the Southwest Pacific, beginning with Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands in August 1942, and in the Central Pacific at Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands in November 1943, were crucial campaigns to mark the turn of the Japanese floodtide of conquest. The time had now come to take one more decisive step: assault of the islands held by Japan before 1941. These strategic islands, mandated to the Japanese by the League of Nations after World War I, were a source of mystery and speculation. Outsiders were barred; illegal fortifications were presumed; yet any Central Pacific drive towards Japan’s inner defense ring had to confront these unknowns. The obvious target to begin with was the Marshall Islands. As early as 1921 a Marine planning officer had pinpointed their geographic significance. - Summary by John C. Chapin

4Breaching the Marianas: The Battle for Saipan

By John C. Chapin

The [15 June 1944] campaign on Saipan…brought many American casualties, and it also heralded the kind of fighting which would be experienced in subsequent operations in the Central and Western Pacific in the days that lay ahead in the Pacific War. Holland Smith declared it “the decisive battle of the Pacific offensive” for it “opened the way to the home islands.” Japanese General Saito had written that “the fate of the Empire will be decided in this one action.” It had truly been a “strategic strike” for the United States. - Summary by John C. Chapin

Welcome to another edition of the exciting and influential pulp magazine The Thrill Book! In this issue, we bring you "The Unknown Revolution", a sensational novel of revolutionary action and intrigue in Mexico! We also conclude the dashing lost city adventure "The Lost Empire" and begin the strange and mysterious 2-parter "The Lost Days" as well as continuing the seafaring pirate tale "The Opium Ship"! For those who like their stories steeped in the macabre, we have returning author Greye La Spina with the spine-tingling "The Wax Doll", the psychical happenings of "The Crystal Ball", the bizarre invention of "When Dead Lips Speak" and the psychologically sinister "The Spider and the Fly". Plus another installment of the mind-bending world of The Double Man! All this and more await thrill-seekers and voracious readers alike! - Summary by Ben Tucker