Taylor Anderson

Reviews of Book 3: Maelstrom

"With its blending of historical fact, thrilling battle scenes, and science fiction, Maelstrom is a novel that anyone who loves reading both military and alternative history SF books will want to add to their libraries. The characters are complex, three-dimensional, and show growth over the course of the series, and Anderson, who is a gunmaker and forensic ballistic archaeologist and a member of the National Historical Honor Society and the United States Field Artillery Association, has done his research, and it shows."
—Professor Crazy of BookSpotCentral.com

"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 of Genre Go Round Reviews

"Taylor Anderson understands the use of less sophisticated weaponry. He is an Historian, gun collector, field artillery specialist, and sailor. In the Destroyermen series he calls upon all of this knowledge to weave a solid story that brings to life the passion and horror of war. The tactics are sound and the reader isn't left waiting for the deus ex machine to come in and save the day. Victory is achieved through skill and planning. A little luck helps, but isn't always the key.

"This is the third and concluding book of the Detroyermen trilogy. Readers should start with the first two volumes before reading this one. This series is similar to Time Spike by Eric Flint and Marilyn Kosmatka. The similarity lies only in the inclusion of dinosaurs and a travel to a world rather than a time where they exist.

"I enjoyed this book. The pace was fast and kept me wanting to read just a couple more pages. Don't expect any major surprises. The author foreshadows the coming "twists" pretty clearly. I know that some readers have complained that Taylor's works are too transparent; I don't feel the overwhelming need to be tricked and misled through a book to appreciate how it turns out. The ensemble cast has a little something for everyone. From a heroic leader and a tortured enemy to power crazed enemies and wisecracking crew. If you like a fun tale set in a well developed world, pick up the Destroyermen series and kick back and enjoy."

—Bill Lawhorn of SFRevu

"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 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 installments."

—M. Bogren on Amazon.com

Extras

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Imaginative flair, coupled with historical and technical accuracy, drives Taylor Anderson’s Destroyermen series. A tale of unparalleled action, alternate worlds, and frightening possibility.

Destroyermen: Into the Storm
(Book 1)

Pressed into service when World War II breaks out in the Pacific, the USS Walker—a Great-War vintage “four-stacker” destroyer—finds itself in full retreat from pursuit by Japanese battleships. Its captain, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Patrick Reddy, knows that he and his crew are in dire straits. In desperation, he heads Walker into a squall, hoping it will give them cover—and emerges somewhere else…

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Destroyermen: Crusade
(Book 2)

Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy, along with the men and women of Walker, have chosen sides in a war not of their making. They have allied with the Lemurians—a mammalian race whose peaceful existence is under attack from the warlike, reptilian Grik. The Lemurians are vastly outnumbered and ignorant of warfare, and even the guns and technology of Walker cannot turn the tide of battle...

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Destroyermen: Maelstrom
(Book 3)

Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy, along with the men and women of 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...

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Reviews of Book 2: Crusade

"This is a terrific graphic sequel to INTO THE STORM as readers will believe they are part of Reddy’s crew with fully described sea, air and land battles and a typhoon to add to the overall chaos. The story line is filled with action, but the bottom line is Taylor Anderson’s deep look at the deterioration of unit and individual values in combat. Does for instance the seven modern day Army Values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage truly hold up when the enemy has overwhelming fire power that leaves your comrades dead, dying or severely injured?"
   —Harriet Klausner at Genre Go Round Reviews

"This combination of military sci-fi and alternate-world thriller, Destroyermen, book two, picks up where book one ends, but newcomers will have no trouble grasping the plot. Descriptions and action-packed battle scenes add depth to a fast-paced plot. The two non-human races are well thought out, and there's enough twists to keep the pages turning."
   —Gail Pruszkowski at Romantic Times Book Reviews