The Destroyermen Saga Will Continue!
Posted by Taylor on March 25th, 2009 | 42 comments
As I was pleased to announce on the front page of the website, there will be more adventures in the “Destroyermen” series beyond “Maelstrom,” the third book in the “trilogy.” This is entirely due to the warm and enthusiastic reception and support the series has recieved from readers and I am unable to express the depth of my gratitude. I always wanted to continue the adventures of Matt, Sandra, Silva, Keje, Chack, The Mice, etc, and now you have made that possible. All the friends of this strange new world the Destroyermen find themselves in have my most heart-felt appreciation!
Comments
Awesome! I’ll include this in my weekend news report. Any details yet on titles? How many books? What will happen to the crew now?
I’m glad you are pleased. As to your questions, it’s like you deliberately picked the three that I was least able to answer!!!
a, I’m still kicking titles around.
b, I don’t know.
c. I can’t tell you!
You did manage to distill it all down to what most people want to know!
Take care,
Taylor
sir
i have completed the trilogy that i aquired in hard cover after reading”into the storm”in paperback(yes i read it again too)as fast as you’re forthcoming books hit the stores i will buy and read them.ive told my friends as well as”circulating”that 1st paperback.thereby insureing adiction.
i love the sea,oldboats,and cannon as well as a riveting story.
you combine all this into a easily’man-portable”system.may it be a long run! ill do my part.
waiting for the next
eric
You do a great job bringing to life all of the aspects of life on a destroyer. My Dad served in the area, on a four stacker. Thanks for what you do.
Bob
Eric, Bob, thanks to you both. Your kind words are much appreciated. Thanks for “doing your part” Eric. I’ll keep doing mine! Bob, do you remember what ship your dad was on?
Taylor
sir
as i mentioined before i enjoy your work alot.since it seems i can actaly reach you,id like to pick a very minor nit.your reserch on guns and ships in destroyermen is without flaw but perhaps you were tired when reserching swords namely the naval cutlesses that were on board”walker”when she was commisioned.the type classification for these would’ve be model of 1917 naval cutless instead of m1918.these weapons replaced the model 1861 cutless in service since the civil war.if you wish to you can aquire a fairly accurate replica from cold steel knives.interestingly there were a few m1941 cutlasses made as well.if you’re interested i can send pictures of both.well i hope this info helps.
thanks for the excellent story
eric
Eric,
You are absolutely right. My specimen is MARKED 1918 and I inadvertently referred to the 1917 as a 1918 because of that, I suppose. I noticed I missed the correction after it was too late. As I often do, I had the specimen out, leaning against the wall when I wrote about it and I must have had “1918″ jumping around in my brain. Good catch. Unlike some folks, I will readily admit I’m certainly not perfect, particularly when it comes to edged weapons. I strive to get things as “right” as possible and it’s embarassing when I don’t–but not cripplingly so. I will happily acknowledge when someone else is right, and I love discussing the historical aspects of the tale–that’s largely what this blog is for. When I’m wrong, I want to know it so I can do better.
Taylor
ahh why wouldnt you have a original? lol.i keep one of the cold steel replicas under my bed as a alternate home defense weapon.
its amazing that our navy kept swords as frontline weapons in this century.
on another front your books have me hunting down info on 4piper flush deck destroyers and learning myself.i want to visit minnisota and see the 4″50cal that”ward”used to sink the japanese minisub outside pearl harbor.with that im going to leave you to the next project.
eric
Taylor,
I was going to post my email to you on here but then I realized if I did, I would be giving away to many of the details to people that have not read your trilogy yet. I did not want to ruin it for them!!!
So publically .. great series!!!!! Well worth the read. Great historic factural basis to many of your thoughts and directions in the books. Definitely military scifi/fantasy. Type of work you want to read into the wee hours of the morning.
I look forward to the next one .. and to answer some of those questions you can’t yet .. lets go for THREE MORE!!!! Lets bring in another LOST SHIP!!!! Lets introduce Jet Aircraft and air to ship missles .. lol. Not!
Great work Taylor .. let us know more about the next book as you are allowed to realease details.
Tim
Vancouver, WA
I’ve just finished the third book! I got the first one in hard cover, and then ordered the next two the next day from Amazon. Amazingly, they came in the next day! When I was done, it seemed that there is just so much possibility left. The war must go on, The Destroyermen must meet other people on the planet, a potential future expansion where a modern/post modern naval vessel gets transported in modern times. So much possibility!
Thank you for going on with the stories, because I was almost on the brink of fan fiction!
Mr. Anderson,
I can’t remember the last time I have been taken so quickly by a book or series! Keep up the great work! I have noticed, through your books, as well as through historical research, that the destroyermen of your books, as well as those in the early 20th century bear uncanny resemblance to the Minesweeper sailors prevalent in today’s Navy. Again, keep up the great work, and I cannot wait to read #4!
Respectfully,
MNCS(SW) Christopher Meer
Taylor,
Just finished reading the series. In fact, I was so anxious to read Maelstrom that I did it in essentially one sitting. I especially appreciated the detail in descriptions and the way that most action sequences were extended. I genuinely thought the books got better with each new story. Can’t wait for the movie.
I did have one question: if the inhabitants of the “new” world were essentially in the bronze age, how did they come to refer to the submarine as an “iron fish”? I may have missed the explanation.
Normally not my genre, but I will have to say that I enjoyed the story very much and look forward to more of your work…AWC
Allen,
Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you like the series. As to the “iron fish,” it was established early on that Lemurians know about iron and understand it to a degree–they do make some weapons from it, for example–but otherwise, they don’t use it much. A point was made in book #1 when they recognized Walker was made of iron by seeing and tasting the rust. Rust streaks on the “iron fish” is probably how observers deduced her composition. Good point though. I try to be subtle about things and avoid pounding points home, leaving much to the imagination of the reader. I think this helps the story flow quicker and easier. As much as I love minutiae, I hate it when somthing I’M reading gets too bogged down in technical discussions. Maybe I was a little too subtle in this instance?
Take care, and thanks for the note!
Taylor
I love the series. I bought it on Audible thinking it a historical book on destroyer men during the first or second war. Best mistake I have made in a while. I liked it so much I had to get the other two audio books. I am standing by for #4. I was expecting a fire defense as they had earth works and a ready supply of fuel oil/gasoline. Also with fulminate of mercury I would be making land mines. I know second guessing things. You did such a good job of creating a parallel earth I get too evolved. My favorite nautical saga since the Horatio Hornblower series, and much more creative. You have a fan for life.
Thanks for your very nice note! I like it when people get “too involved” and “second guess things.” Fulminate of mercury is mighty tricky stuff to fool around with–but relatively simple if you’re careful. They haven’t got a lot yet, but who knows? The biggest problem with a “fire moat” or something like that is that it works great in the movies, but not so well in real life. I’ve got some things kicking around!
I’m very glad you’re enjoying the series!
Taylor
Love the three books so far, and was so pleased to hear that you are going to take it further. It had been a few years since I have read any fiction, but I have to say that your books reeled me in hook, line, and sinker. And being a former Navy man myself, I greatly appreciated how you found those little details that made me remember the Navy. ( The rivalry between “Snipes” and “Apes” is still a very fun past time even in today’s modern Navy, even though we all know that on a ship at sea we all need each other when the chips are down! ) So thanks again for such a great read, and let me know when the new ones come out, I can’t wait to read them as well!
Thanks for your very nice note, and MANY thanks for your service to our country!
Taylor
i kno its not related to our appreciation of the awesome story that is destroyermen.
but a hearty”well done”to all hands involved in the rescue of the maersk alabamas capitan and the sending of a unmistakable message to the seagoing dirtbags who messed with our ship.
heres to the real distroyermen of the uss bainbridge as well as the frigate halyburton and the assaultship wasp off africa.when next im home ill hoist a rum toast to those stouthearted lads and the salts who guided them.
But you can’t deny that someone dropped the ball the moment the captain tried to swim to safety.
Someone should have been ready to blow that boat out of the water when the captain was clear.
Absolutely. Hoist a round to Bainbridge and her crew, as well as the SEALs and everyone else involved. Interesting that USS Bainbridge is named after William Bainbridge–who also fought pirates–and subsequently captured HMS Java while commanding USS Constitution. A proud name for a number of proud destroyers–from the first (DD-1) to the latest heroine of the seas! God Bless our great Navy and all our armed forces. God Bless the brave captain of Maersk Alabama and her stout-hearted crew!
Taylor
the capitan of alabama maersk was a 1 in 1000 man.
put youself in the place of the commander.would you predict such courage in the”hostage”and even half expect him to pull a stunt like that?knowing what you do about “mainstream”americans
you know the ones who are unarmed trained victims that one scumbag with a pistol can kill 30+ of.
they were ready the next time wernt they?
I like to think he was more like one in a hundred–but then again, you may be right. I tend to associate most often with people who have been tested in similar ways, if not situations. I happen to have the . . .”satisfaction” of knowing how I would respond. I don’t lose sleep, but I do occasionally have a passing, somber thought. My point is, most of the people I know can say the same, so it might not be representative. Then again, after Flight 93, who knows?
My other point is, we have NO IDEA what Bainbridge’s Skipper was dealing with. He might have had orders not to “hurt” any of the poor, misunderstood pirates. You also can’t blow ANYTHING “out of the water” when someone you don’t want floating belly up is in the water nearby. Frankly, at this point, we still don’t know diddly, and I think it is extremely premature to imply ANYONE acted in any other way than in the finest traditions of the service.
Taylor
Mr Anderson,
I am truly enthralled with your books. I was wondering if any of them might be made into movies? Your books have helped me through six weeks of sick leave from work. Please keep the books coming. Thank you. A Navy Veteran.
Mr. Anderson,
I enjoyed reading your series and I am eagerly awaiting the release of your next book. I was wondering if you could tell me the date of release for your next book, so I can stop constantly searching Amazon for you the next one…lol.
Also, I was hoping that more of the Japanese would have come over to the American/Lemurians side when the chance presented itself, especially after seeing the fate of some of there friends/crewmen at the hands of the Grik.
Thanks and look forward to your next book.
Bryan
Thank you so much for the destroyermen, I just finished the 3rd book and I’m very happy there will be more. BTW, I read the 1st and 3rd on the Kindle but the 2nd was not available, I found that kind of strange and I hated to wait for the 2nd one!
Guess that will pale compared to my next wait
Thanks again
Thank God!!! I knew it was a trilogy, but there is still so much to explore. The characters are so rich. I have all three books in hard back. I will be waiting for the next one, two, three or however many you write!
Thanks! I love books like this!
Rob
Fabulous books, haven’t read much alternate history/other earth books over recent years, only the John Birmingham “Axis of Time” books. Yours are right up there with them. I am so glad there will be more, they cost a small fortune to buy in the UK but they are more than worth it.
You keep writing them and I’ll keep buying them, that’s a promise.
I am not sure who I am replying to,but Taylor, I have bought every book so far as soon as they were released. I normally wait and get alot of my favs thru my library. you keep writing this series, I will keep buying. Even if the next one is about them all finding a magic treehouse that travels thru time…lol. Please make thia at least a deology!!!!!!!!! E
Howdy! I love sci-fi, have read alot of turtledove, Eric Flint, David Drake, John Ringo and the rest and this series has been the most exciting I have read. I am extremely pleased at how you have protrayed all the characters. Absolutely fantastic! Keep up the amazing action sequences (though legionaires should have short gutting swords like traditional Romans lol). Have a great day!
I always like to think of the Lemurian legions fighting more like a Greek phalanx. I know it’s not completely accurate, but I can’t help but imagine the ‘cats with broad bronze shields and fluttering red capes
Hey Eben. Sorry I haven’t been here much–I’m writing my tail off and my blog was goofed up again.
The Greek Phalanx is an appropriate mental image, as are the bronze plated shields, but the style of the phalanx–and the sheilds–are really more Roman–at least as the “army” evolves. (Still Greek, in a sense, of course) At Aryaal, the B’mbaadans and Aryaalans carried round or oval shields. The Romanish overlapping rectangular shields Matt “introduces” provide better protection and a decent rest for the spears in the next rank. Not as efficient as a secondary weapon, but much better against archers.
Few flowing red capes either, although some houses of the Hij are kind of into that. (General Esshk, for examole)Lemurian “colors” are somewhat clannish–like tartans. Here’s a little hint: Look for these colors to become a little more regimented–and “regimentally representative,” if you know what I mean. Kind of like the “Marine” kilts that start to appear. No Zouaves though, I promise!
Taylor
I am blind and get your books through Audible. I lost my eyes in the first gulf war and I have recieved a lot of pleasure from your destroyermen books. I hope your new book will be out very soon. Thank you
Thank you for your service and your sacrifice Chris.I cannot wait for the next book either. This is one of the best alternate world/history series I have read. The whole concept of how we got to this version of our world has so many possibilities that I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see something like Eric Flint’s 1632 universe form around this. I even heard a rumor about magic time traveling tree houses…lol.
Just wanted to say I took a chance on your first book upon seeing it in the library. I have to say I am not much of a war/navy fan at all but I am a big SciFi fan, and the concept seemed worthy enough to bother with
I *loved* the first book (in fact all 3) – I found the characters to be engaging and entertaining, the ship is a character all of her own, and interesting as well, and the Lemurians are delightful. Their world was well drawn (liked the concept of the Homes – different)
And boy oh boy do you tell a *cracking good* story – couldnt put down the first book. Learnt my lesson and paced myself with the other two (just returned Maelstrom to the library today)
So thanks from a reader in NZ who is pleased she took a chance on your first book. Am recommending it all over the place
Mr. Anderson,
Just want to echo everyone’s thoughts. I have your books on my desk at work and let any Coastie walking by borrow them. They get hooked right away.
How about ading a World Warr II vintage 180′ buoy tender? Not enough there to change the world but could be fun……
Respectfully yours and anxiously awaiting your next novel(s),
LT Craig Petersen, USCG
I am so happy to hear that there will be more books! I just finished Maelstrom and loved it…couldn’t put it down. I was afraid that it was the last one, so I jumped on line to see what you were up to. So happy, happy and I can’t wait for the next ones to hit!
Thanks for writing these wonderful escapes from reality!
Dianne
Thanks Dianne. I’m so pleased you’re enjoying the series! I get a huge kick out of writing it!
Take care,
Taylor
I’m loving the series thus far! It kind of reminds me of the 1632 series by Eric Flint. He had an idea and just ran with it, and the Destroyermen series is the same way.
Greatly enjoyed Destroyermen: Into the Storm/Crusade. Looking forward to further adventures. Old sailor from Vietnam era(on an AE: Floating Bomb). Books were well written and all data was correct. Enjoyed authors ability to put reader into the action and make it real.
Greatly enjoyed Destroyermen: Into the Storm/ Crusade. Looking forward to further adventures. Old sailor from Vietnam Era (on an AE{Floating Bomb}]. Books were well written and all data was correct. Enjoyed author’s ability to put reader into the middle of the action and make it real
Thanks Larry and thanks for your service!
Taylor
Will book 6 come out on Audible?