Blue Devil Island (Five Star Science Fiction and Fantasy Series) [Hardcover]

Stephen Mark Rainey (Author)

Book Description

Series: Five Star Science Fiction and Fantasy Series | Publication Date: January 17, 2007

Autumn 1943, the beginning of the American offensive against the Japanese in the South Pacific. Just west of the Solomon Islands lies a remote desert island called Conquest, where the U.S. Navy stations a new fighting squadron, led by Lieutenant Commander Drew McLachlan, an ace pilot and veteran of the Battle of the Coral Sea. The Blue Devils soar into combat--against known and unknown enemies. The squadron's island home may not be secure--in nearby volcanic caves, McLachlan finds evidence of habitation by unknown natives--natives that resemble no living race, that may yet exist in the mysterious subterranean catacombs. As the Solomon campaign enters into its final skirmishes, the Japanese at last turn their attention to Conquest Island. Now the Blue Devils find themselves the target of an overwhelming assault by the desperate Imperial Japanese forces--and an unknown predatory force that leaves mutilated victims as the only evidence of its presence.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Rainey's enjoyable WWII adventure with a superfluous SF plot twist, courageous American flyers with the navy Blue Devil unit shoot down Japs above the Solomon Islands. The U.S. airmen, led by Lt. Cmdr. Drew McLachlan and based on remote Conquest Island, see fast and fierce action, occasionally suffering a tragic loss. Then, in the cinematic tradition of the period, the story veers into horror flick territory with SF undertones when the airmen discover peculiar savages in the caves of Conquest's mountainous landscape. For good measure, Rainey (The Lebo Coven) also throws in a gigantic, monstrous extraterrestrial with galaxy-ruling ambitions. The novel benefits from the author's obvious interest in WWII aircraft, and readers nostalgic for the era's war movies and pulp fiction will enjoy the ride. (Jan.)
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About the Author

Stephen Mark Rainey is author of the novels BALAK, THE LEBO COVEN, DARK SHADOWS: DREAMS OF THE DARK (with Elizabeth Massie), BLUE DEVIL ISLAND, and THE NIGHTMARE FRONTIER; the short story collections FUGUE DEVIL & OTHER WEIRD HORRORS, THE LAST TRUMPET, LEGENDS OF THE NIGHT, OTHER GODS, and THE GAKI & OTHER HUNGRY SPIRITS; the scripts for three DARK SHADOWS audio dramas (THE PATH OF FATE, CURSE OF THE PHARAOH, and BLOOD DANCE); and over 90 published works of short fiction. For ten years, he edited the award-winning DEATHREALM magazine, and has edited three anthologies (SONG OF CTHULHU, DEATHREALMS, and EVERMORE). Mark lives in Greensboro, NC.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 302 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (ME); First Edition; First Printing edition (January 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594144427
• ISBN-13: 978-1594144424
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,676,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Sci-Fi books I've read in a while..., February 14, 2007

By 

Matthew G. Melton (Thomasville, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blue Devil Island (Five Star Science Fiction and Fantasy Series) (Hardcover)

I love reading about the WWII era and fighter planes, I also love Sci-Fi, and this book delivers both in healthy doses.

Mr. Rainey conveys his deep passion for fighter combat in a way that draws you into the lives of the pilots and makes you feel as if you are there with them on the island, and on patrol with them in the air.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that likes Sci-Fi and/or the WWII era, it is absolutely engrossing and enjoyable. A fantastic read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars reminiscent of the black and white terror novels of the 1950's, February 3, 2007

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blue Devil Island (Five Star Science Fiction and Fantasy Series) (Hardcover)

The year is 1943 and Lieutenant commander Drew McLachlan along with his pilots who are flying in their new F6F-3 Hellcat land on their new base of operations on Conquest Island in the Solomon Island chain in the South Pacific. Their mission is the push the Japanese off Bougainville and the patriotic Navy pilots run many necessary and down many enemy aircraft.

They should feel joyous because they are not losing too many men or planes but conditions on Conquest are slowly deteriorating. The men hear noises in the jungle yet flyover shows no tribe has ever lived there. In the cave where the aviation fuel is stored, a rumbling is heard. Beast men attack the marines and pilots and a monster is seen on top of the mountain. It is getting into the military men's thoughts and Drew believes it is intelligent and evil just like the beast men with their clawed hands, unusual jaw formation and other abnormities but are intelligent and in league with the monster. Between the Japanese attacking the island and the native monsters on it, Drew wonders if any of the men will make it out alive.

This is a horror novel reminiscent of the black and white terror novels of the 1950's. Stephen Mark Raines pays homage to Lovecraft in BLUE DEVIL ISLAND, an action packed thriller that slowly reveals the truth about the beast-men and the monster. The patriotism and courage of the military stationed on the island enables readers to understand why the Greatest Generation enlisted and were willing to die for the ideals their country stands for; the audience hopes they can defeat the enemy from within and without.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, October 14, 2007

By 

Virginia Reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blue Devil Island (Five Star Science Fiction and Fantasy Series) (Hardcover)

I'm not an expert on the Pacific aspect of WWII by any means, but this novel was so well written and so engaging, I was drawn right in and never felt "left behind." The characters were sympathetic and gritty, fighting the enemy they knew and could see and then facing a horrific, supernatural enemy they could only imagine. A great read for readers into WWII military tales as well as those looking for a very creepy horror novel.