Comments on: Character Discussions

By: AJ

AJ — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:47:48 +0000

oops wrong discussion.

By: AJ

AJ — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:45:06 +0000

I guess i never really thought about the trek to europe only that once there they could attack the grik from the east, and that thats the only place where ME 262s would show up.

And in terms of the grik fighters the new more “intelligent, common sense” grik might be able to be taught how to fly slower simpler seaplanes like nancys.

By: Red

Red — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:30:50 +0000

@Robert Kammer

You make a very valid point about the golf…the big thing is once you buy a book, you can use it as much as you want…until it starts falling apart anyways. My Copy of Crusade is one of the paperback ones, and the binding is in terrible condition by me reading the book that much.

As far as continuing the series, I can see your perspective not only financially and space wise, but…the question is where do the writer put down the pen and let the reader pick up the telescope? The key thing for me at the moment is a conclusive and satisfying resolution to the Grik and Dominion, WITHOUT leaving a very annoying cliffhanger.

@ Orville V. Shelton

Dear me…my favorite character…very tough to really give a solid opinion on. The cast is pretty diverse and a lot of fantastic characters…I think the ones you listed are possibilities…as far as minor characters goes, Kari and Fred Reynolds could be in my top list…though that may simply be out of sympathy. I really like the Japanese characters because it is interesting looking into their psychosis and how the event has shaped their views. Okada in particular I always smile when I see appear.

I guess it really depends on my mood. Depending on what my thought processes were that day, that is the character I ultimately feels the greatest connection with and, in a sense, becomes my favorite for a temporary time period.

By: Robert Kammer

Robert Kammer — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:18:38 +0000

After reading a lot of the posts, it seems that if you gave a “military discount” on your books, the profit margin would go down. This speaks a great deal about the quality and detail of your writing. I’ve finished reading all your books in the last three weeks or so and am awaiting #7, Iron Seas. I have mixed feelings about you continuing the series much longer; my wife is getting after me for spending too much time reading science fiction/alt. reality. I tell her it’s cheaper than golf, or a number of other time consuming addictive activities. MSG, REMF, (Ret)

By: Orville J. Shelton

Orville J. Shelton — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:16:31 +0000

On July 31, 2010 Dimitri says:
Anyone here have a favourite character from the books (or several)? Personally, I like Silva, Tabby and Chack the best.

My favorite characters beside the ones you mentioned are Kari, Fred Reynolds, Adair, Spanky, Lawrence, Pete Alden, Had a Gunny who was like him when I was attached to the Marine Corps, Jamie Miller, the who came into his own after the Nurses came aboard Walker. Isak Rueben and Gilbert Yager, Rebecca, and Fitzhugh Gray.

By: Red

Red — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:01:35 +0000

Hmm…something else I wondered for a while is the Lemurian Names. Where exactly do they come from? I understand that there are certain links structurally speaking (like a lot of them uses aa rather than a like with Lelaa, or Graana) but where exactly are the names derived from exactly?

By: Red

Red — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:37:36 +0000

I do remember that but I never did look into it until reading your post. It is really interesting when you look at the history behind a lot of things, hence a large reason why I studied it. Some of the historical references I do catch as with some of the real life stories (I was already familiar with the story of USS Pope prior to reading the Destroyermen due to another book I read prior) and seeing how they tie together is interesting to say the least.

I do comment that some of the character’ inclusions felt a little cheap in a sense. What I mean there is that a character feels like it is only in the book simply to be killed off a while later. I understand that that isn’t necessarily the case (many of the lost during the first battle against Amagi more to highlight the sheer chaos, and the for instance and how you never know who is going to be gone next or if you’ll even get to know them…from my perspective anwyays) but sometimes it do feel that way regardless.

By: Taylor Anderson

Taylor Anderson — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 04:09:02 +0000

You betcha, and that wasn’t just a “throw-away” line, either. The Americans involved in the Murmansk/Archangel “intervention” were in a completely different situation than the guys at Vladivostok–and they REALLY appreciated those Canadian red-legs.
Many times, I throw out little tidbits like that with little explanation, but there is usually some context. If readers catch it, I’m pleased. If they don’t, maybe they’ll be interested enough to investigate why I tossed it in–and they’ll learn more about the subject than I could possibly devote space to in the narrative. My intention is not to impress folks with all the little BB’s of trivia ricocheting around in my head, but to add texture to a character’s PERIOD perceptions and experiences. And just occasionally, I’ll do it HOPING readers will investigate further. Remember in the prologue for “Distant Thunders,” when the Japanese flyer mentioned a troublesome American destroyer at Port Darwin? He couldn’t have known it so I didn’t name her at the time, but that was USS Peary. Read about HER amazing and tragic odyssey some time. I often imagine that if Peary and her heroic crew could manage what they did, then “my” Walker and her people could certainly have survived many of the situations I put them in, early on.

By: Red

Red — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:47:41 +0000

One other thing that caught my eye in Firestorm the first time I read it was a single line Flynn mentions about the Canuck artillerymen. I have to say, as brief as it was, it makes me proud to see the Canadian stormtroopers praised in this book =)

By: Red

Red — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 02:21:10 +0000

@ john It would take time though, especially as all the characters are young. I believe this point was brought up during one of the staff meetings in Distant Thunders, that the Alliance’s pretty well entire staff of command is relatively young, and this came with its advantages and disadvantages. Whether their youth will prove an asset or hindrance in washing away the taste of war is to be seen from the reader’s standpoint.

As Far as the Japanese ASW goes, it is worth noting that Walker was considered primitive and look how that turned out. Hmm…Kurokawa will be seriously annoyed when he sees Walker…well if he sees or hears of it. I think its fair to say that this world will have things our world never had.

About to sit down and reread Firestorm tonight…I admit, I find the blending of American and Lemurian Cultures interesting in a sense…baseball?! A mailman…err, mailcat?!