Selected review comments on MAGIC: The Untold Story by David D. Lowman

“This work ... makes an important contribution to the history of the WWII imprisonment of Japanese-Americans.

[The intelligence material] reproduced here, describes systematic recruitment of Japanese residents, citizens and noncitizens into networks designed to provide information to Japan both before and after the outbreak of war. Without ascribing Executive Order 9066 for Japanese-American internment entirely to this information, Lowman makes a solid case that the intelligence community's faith in its credibility contributed significantly to the government's decision.

Anyone interested in primary sources related to Japanese-American internment will find them more easily here than under the Freedom of Information Act.”

“MAGIC is a unique and invaluable addition to the growing library of World War II materials for scholars and military buffs alike.”

“It makes for fascinating reading, and Lowman has organized and annotated it well: FBI reports, investigations of Japanese organizations by the Office of Naval Intelligence, and the Magic decrypts themselves. Through this extensive use of primary sources, Lowman makes a persuasive case that it was not mere hysteria for the U.S. government to fear that at least some Japanese Americans posed a security risk.”

“...the author and publisher of ‘MAGIC’ are intellectually honest enough to allow us to come to our own conclusions after reviewing the wholly fascinating collection of historical documents and photographs that are presented here.”