Setting Of The Rising Sun In the previous novel, West Into The Rising Sun, Michael Flanagan survived the abyss of the Great Depression. His involvement with an agent of the Nationalist Chinese Government entangled Flanagan in her fight against Japanese aggression during the Sino-Japanese War of the 1930's. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, this fighter ace from World War I offered his services to his country in the war against Japan. Regardless of his experience, he was deemed too old to contribute to the war effort as a fighter pilot or in any other military capacity for that matter. This second novel in the trilogy begins at this critical point in Flanagan's life. Only late in the war is Flanagan approached by his government to conduct a military mission behind the Japanese lines in Burma. Flanagan was uniquely qualified for this mission. During the time he had worked with the Chinese, Flanagan had befriended the headman of a mountain tribe in Burma. The mission was a success, and Flanagan was ready to head home when he was recruited to perform one more mission deep behind the Japanese lines in French Indochina. The objective of this mission was to save the life of a gravely ill guerilla leader who had been effectively fighting the Japanese and Vichy French. The name of the leader was Ho Chi Min. Flanagan returned from this last mission after the war had ended. He routed his return home through Hong Kong to attempt to find his family. They had gone missing during the Japanese occupation. After finally returning home, Flanagan started a cargo airline that flew Pacific routes. This enterprise involved him in further adventures in Asia that finally lead to his involvement in the French Indochina War and other conflicts in Asia.