Maelstrom: Destroyermen, Book III [Hardcover]

Taylor Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Series: DESTROYERMEN | Publication Date: February 3, 2009

The final thrilling chapter in the “gripping and riveting”(S.M. Stirling, bestselling author of The Scourge of God) Destroyermen Trilogy.

Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy, along with the men and women of the U.S.S. Walker, are once again at war. Having sided with the peaceful Lemurians against the savage, reptilian Grik, they now find themselves scrambling to prepare for the attack that is sure to come, searching for resources to support their forces—even as they look for allies to join their struggle.

Meanwhile, the Japanese juggernaut Amagi, also trapped in this strange world, is under Grik control—with her fanatical commander approaching madness. And soon they will have amassed a force that no amount of firepower and technology will be able to stop.

As the raging conflict approaches, Reddy, his crew, his allies, and his loved ones face annihilation. But if there is one thing they have learned about their new world, it is that hope—and help—may be just over the horizon.

“Anderson has brought a fresh new perspective to the tale of crosstime shipwreck.”
—–S.M. Stirling

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bringing all guns to bear, Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Reddy (now Supreme Commander by acclamation after the events of 2008's Crusade), trapped in an alternate dimension with the crew of the WWII destroyer USS Walker, must unite and lead a coalition of displaced American sailors and native, pacifist Lemurians against the raptorlike Grik and their Japanese allies, who possess a more modern battle cruiser. To defeat the Invincible Swarm, the Walker braves the perils of the deep seas, where mountain fish threaten to swallow the ship whole. Anderson adds friendly Grik and the descendants of previously displaced humans to the mix of tense battles against impossible odds and close observations of how warriors and weapons perform under stress. Experienced military SF readers will enjoy the attention to technical and historical detail while likely forgiving the occasional bout of melodrama. (Feb.)
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About the Author

Taylor Anderson has a master’s degree in history and teaches that subject at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Roc Hardcover (February 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 045146253X
• ISBN-13: 978-0451462534
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,095 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Taylor Anderson is a gun-maker and forensic ballistic archeologist who has been a technical and dialogue consultant for movies and documentaries. He has a Master's Degree in History and teaches at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Great Entertainment, February 9, 2009

By 

M. Bogren (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Maelstrom: Destroyermen, Book III (Hardcover)

Taylor Anderson's third book in this series continues to impress and entertain. This is not great literature (although Anderson is a first rate writer and storyteller), but it is great entertainment. Anderson continues to throw in enough twists and turns to keep things interesting and fresh.

This series centers on a weird storm that sends two obsolete American destroyers in the early days of WWII to an alternate universe. This universe, although similar to our earth, has subtle geographic differences. There are not so subtle differences in the inhabitants of this world. There are two sentient races, the Grik who seem to be eveloved velociraptors, and Lemurians, who are evolved giant Lemurs. The Grik are the epitome of evil -- they want only to wipe the Lemurians, their historical "prey," from the face of the earth by killing and eating them. The Lemurians are peaceful by nature, but formidable warriors when pressed. The Americans are thrust into this world just as the Grik have rediscovered the Lemurians in the equivalent of Indonesia centuries after the Lemurians fled from their original home (Madagascar). The Lemurians and Grik are fighting with wooden ships and pre-gunpowder weapons. The Americans come to the aid of the Lemurians with their awesome "modern" ships.

The third entry in the series builds up to the seminal battle, when the Grik attack the primary Lemurian land settlement. (Most of the Lemurians are sea-going, living on gigantic wooden sailing ships known as Homes). The Grik are aided by a Japanese battle cruiser that was sent to the alternate universe in the same event that transported the Americans. Anderson writes great dialogue, his plot moves quickly, his battle scenes are gripping and the result is always in doubt. No one -- or thing -- is safe in these cataclysmic battles. This book is well paced and the final battle is monumental.

There is a new twist added in this book. The Americans and Lemurians are introduced to the descendants of East India Company Englishmen who suffered the same fate a hundred or so years before. Their descendants have establsihed an apparently thriving colony somewhere to the east. They will presumably figure prominently in future installments.

This book -- and the entire series -- is highly recommended. It is well written, well paced and offers believable, well-developed characters. I hope that Anderson continues the story with future installements.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars give me more, April 21, 2009

By 

julyaugustus "retired PD" (Westchester, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Maelstrom: Destroyermen, Book III (Hardcover)

I travel quite a bit and love to settle in with a good novel on the plane or at the hotel. The problem is I could not put the book down until my eyes burned from fatique. It's one of those books that makes you not want to turn on the TV. It's that "i can't wait to settle in and read the next chapter. I really can't wait until the next one. More I need more..hurry..

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great military science fiction thriller, February 3, 2009

By 

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

This review is from: Maelstrom: Destroyermen, Book III (Hardcover)

Formerly Lieutenant Commander of the WWII battle destroyer USS Walker in this other earth he and his crew landed in; Matthew Reddy was promoted to Supreme Commander after the recent events against the more modern Japanese battle cruiser and the Grand Swarm of the reptilian Grik (see CRUSADE and INTO THE STORM). Still he knows the recent victories will not prevent the Grik abetted by the Japanese from swarming all over his crew and their allies the pacifist Lemurians.

To win the war and not just delay the inevitable, Reddy leads his sailors into the deadly deep seas; home to "mountain fish" who can eat the Walker in one bite. However, he also has found unlikely allies in Grik who oppose the war and other displaced humans who like the Walker sailors entered this other earth at some time or their offspring. Still he knows in the end he must lead his puny forces in battle against an invincible armada.

Once gain it is the incredible naval battle scenes that makes for a great military science fiction thriller (and saga). The story line is action-packed from the onset, but it is the war at sea especially that is fun to follow. Taylor Anderson uniquely combines the big picture battles with in depth look at how the crew and others psychologically cope with maiming and death of friends and bunkmates knowing they can be next. Especially interesting is Reddy who knows he is sending people to their death and realizes this will haunt him and his future decisions forever; this is mindful of Eisenhower with his D-Day decisions impacting his later presidency especially his belief to avoid land wars in Asia. MAELSTROM is an excellent military sci fi.

Harriet Klausner