In 1972 following the huge success of Run Silent, Run Deep, Edward L. Beach's second novel of submarine warfare was published to great acclaim. Like its predecessor, Dust on the Sea was lauded for its authentic portrayal of what it meant to be a submariner during the desperate years of World War II. Tense, dramatic, rich in technical and tactical detail, the book draws on Beach's years of experience as a submariner in the U.S. Navy. Describing the commander and crew of the fictitious USS Eel as they battle overwhelming odds to destroy Japanese ships and save American lives, Beach treats readers to a superb blend of action, adventure, and the personal agonies of men in wartime. With no margin for error the men withstand storms, depth charges, and even hand-to-hand combat to defend their boat and themselves. Mistakes, as the book's title reminds us, result in that streak of debris known as "dust on the sea, " which briefly serves as a grave marker for sunken ships.