Dust jacket has a little tear but otherwise inside and outside of book are in excellent condition with little to no signs of wear. Whirlwind is a historical fiction novel by James Clavell, published in 1986 by William Morrow. It is a hardcover book club edition with 668 pages. The story is set in Iran during the 1979 revolution and follows the lives of several characters caught up in the turmoil. The book explores themes of war and military, as well as cultural and political differences.