Who Is Taylor Anderson?
Taylor Anderson is the author of the Destroyermen Series of Novels. You can learn more about his work by visiting his author page.
Taylor Anderson is the author of the Destroyermen Series of Novels. You can learn more about his work by visiting his author page.
Comments
Perhaps a type of insect indiginous to an island that the Grik are unaware of (the insect, Not necassarily the island).
Could be “discovered” that are reptile parasites in some form,
That may be developed as a “weapon” later in the series.(Our intrepid Aussie would no doubt have a hand in this).
We have on “our earth” some amazingly bizarre, And seemingly cruel parasites, Surely the world of “Destoyermen” Would have
extremely disturbing relatives!
just a thought!
Your Devoted Fan, Ray Potter
Ray,
Actually, I like your scheme quite a lot. It makes sense to me, and will make even more sense to you after you read “Maelstrom.” Unfortunately, even though your idea is the first to appear this quarter, it needs to be “fleshed out” a little (read above) to be considered for this prestigious award. I wish some of the older examples had survived the horrifyingly technical plague that hit my blog and purged them. Some were quite good, and might have given you some structural ideas.
Also consider, as so few people ever have, how introducing some isolated pestilence beyond its native borders might effect far more than is intended! Kind of a cool scenario!
Taylor
I’m honored that you find my “natural enemy” interesting.
Good point about possible repercussions!
It brings to mind the cane toad problem in Australia, Or the fate of the Dodo after domestic swine were introduced into their habitat.
As far as the “coveted award” perhaps I shall “flesh it out a bit” and run it by you in the very near future.
After all, To be considered for such a prestigious award. I would need to give it more thought than was in my original post.
Thank You for your speedy reply!
Ray f. Potter
Ah,
Never forget Feral Hogs, the Evil Bunny, the Insidious Japanese Mosquito, the Africanized Bee, and of course, Tiki’s Kudzu!
These things continue to impact our very survival!
How about the borewasp (or repsquito). This charming little fellow lays thousands of eggs. In as short of time as a mosquito takes a sip !
Then the eggs hatch in the bloodtream and the larvae excrete
a toxin that putrfies the tissue of the host.
After spewing blood (and larvae) infested vomit and feces for a few days. The host dies leaving a gelatinous corpse that bursts open leaving thousands of new “bugs” to start again.
This creature would evolve to fill the “need” to control the population of apex predater reptiles, Or just because there are alot of them to “eat”.
Perhaps this critter could be discovered by Courtney Bradford while exploring an island in search of a important ore of some type.
I’m not going to participate in the competition really, but I think that, if you plan on continuing your excellent series beyond book #3, The Speculative Dinosaur Project would be a great source of inspiration.
http://www.unet.univie.ac.at/~a0000265/Spec/index.html
Ok there is an awsome kind of crab that is accually found in the pacific regions of the world and Americans in WWII were said to have sent messages home talking of the mamoths… they are the Giant Coconut Crab. They are as big as a full grown man’s torso and can crack a coconut effortlessly.
I was thinking that this would be an interesting thing for bradford to identify and name. I was thinking that maybe in this “world” they are even more giant then they really are here… to the point of several people being able to ride one.
Maybe these things could be used as a sort of tank. They have impressive shells and seem to be wearing armour already, but that could be tweeked a bit for the occasion. They may even be able to have guns mounted on them, and rode around. They are accually quite slow, but look very powerful.
I don’t know if I gave a good enough history on the crabs, but I could provide more. And i don’t exactly know if just posting this enters me, or if i have to check the box below, which i didn’t. I AM ENTERING!!! Just tell me if I must further “flesh” out the crabs a bit more.
As to the fleshing my ‘beastie’ out, I don’t know EXACTLY what this means so I will just be really specific and hope it is sufficiant.
My idea of “Crab Tanks” is based on the giant coconut crab that is found in the Indian Ocean and Phillipenes, the exact place where your books take place. That is an amazing coencodence, so I am glad that that worked out.
A situation in the discovery of said crab, is that when a group is sent to the island to retreive the sub, they see this enormous crab on it, near it, how ever you want it really. The giant coconut crab has nick names being the robber crab or palm theif because they tend to steal shiny things from people’s yards. The sub could be shiny, attracting it. The crab is unique as to the fact that it has a sence of smell. This could allow the easy capture of the crab if the destroyermen could find a way to make an anithstethia, like on king kong, only a little toned down. They could then use the crab as a tank because of its enormous size and strenth, and the fact that it has its own armour. (not that a little steal from the wrecked Amagi or Mahan would’nt help). They could also mount cannon on them, if they are big enough or a smaller mortar type thing if that sounds interesting.
The crab has its size because it likes to use the ‘hairs’ on coconuts as its nesting material. they are able to wrap up around a coconut and crush it almost effortlessly. A darwinist reason to the growth of the crab over the 65 million years could be that the trees that were larger were creating their seeds higher up and further up and larger, as to be the ‘fittest’. But the larger crabs could survive because they could still harvest these large coconuts. This could theoretically throw the two organisms into a spiraling conundrum, where the trees keep growing and the crabs keep growing to compensate.
The crabs wouldn’t be especially hard to feed either because they are omnivores. They eat coconuts, fruit, and dead animals. The dead animals wouldn’t be hard to supply, because of the abundance of dead grik at Baalkapan. They could also find fruit in the jungle ect.
(please excuse my spelling)
Having been a lifelong sufferer from pollen, I started thinking during an attack about a killer plant. A little something to suck in Bradford and perhaps nearly kill him?
Deathfog Creeper:
Ecology:
The Deathfog Creeper is a parasitic vine that inhabits dryer temperate forests of what would be China in our world. It can grow up to a foot a day under ideal conditions and live up to three years, or until the canopy that is hosting it dies.
Reproduction:
Twice a year the creeper blooms, but it can reproduce both sexually by fruit, as well as asexually with spoors.
The fruit is attractive to a number of animals and very nutritious. The seeds pass through the animal’s guts and are dropped some distance from the parent vine much as many of our modern plants.
The asexual reproduction however is the dangerous part of the plant. When the creeper is in flower it produces a cloud of spoors along with its pollen. Insects are immune to the effects of the spoors as they are too large to enter their spiracles. They pollinate the plant as they would any other, but animals with lungs that wander too close will inhale the spoors and they soon begin to grow in the lungs.
Within hours the spoors form colonies that start to pump toxins into the victim’s bloodstream that cause disorientation and the eyes to dilate. At first the effects are akin to alcohol consumption, but as the colonies grow the unfortunate victim receives larger and larger doses of toxins and the effects become more pronounced.
Disoriented and extremely sensitive to light, the victim will seek out a dark spot, likely at the base of a tree, and collapse. The time till the victim dies depends on the number of spoors inhaled, the size of the lungs, and the effectiveness of the victim’s liver and kidneys. After death the victim becomes a source of nutrients for the young creeper allowing it to race up the tree and get to the sunlight above.
Use:
The fruit of the creeper can be kept for only a few days after becoming ripe, but it can be canned for up to a year. It is high in sugars and vitamin C, but somewhat corrosive.
The spoors can be used as a weapon by collecting and drying them. They maintain their effectiveness for several years if kept dry.
Treatment:
Prompt treatment with vaporized polta salve for several hours will kill the colonies in the lungs, but if the colonies have become too large before treatment the lungs will be scarred so badly that the victim will likely die anyway.
Tyranoraptor. A cross between Tyranosaurus rex and Utahraptor.
It will be the size of a Utahraptor and have that switchblade
claw that can kill anything—-or anyone.
Tyranoraptor. A cross between Tyranosaurus rex and Utahraptor.
It will be the size of a Utahraptor and have that switchblade
claw that can kill anything—-or anyone. Tyranoraptor will live in the western half of what is now North America—-
especially the United States and Canada.
Why do i keep thing of the Vorpal Bunny Rabbit in Monty Python? Mosquitos have been around as long(longer?), than the dinosaurs. A form of disease carried by mosquitos…hmm.. any of the older guys malaria survivors? They still carry the virus in latent form, and the new earth would be a greenfield environment. Would the Grik be vulnerable? Or perhaps a form of bird flu or West Nile Virus. Think small, but nasty.
Oh my, marsupials were around back then, an intelligent Kangaroo in Australia? Nawwww…
Predator of flaher fish, The floating anenome, in larval stage, attaches to rocks (West Coast of North America), when adult, detaches and inverts, floating like a Man-O-War,yet capable of squidlike movement. It dangles tendrils with a “lure” at the end, stuns and consumes flashers. It’s flesh is poison to the flashers, so they don’t consume it.
It is NOT poisonous to mountain fish, which limits it’s range. Your choice of local name would be appropriate.
All cool ideas. Some are actually close to some I came up with myself that are already “In the can.” Regardless, if your idea is close, I’m going to “acknowledge” you simply because you are great fans, and we think along the same creepy lines! I do think you’ll be surprised by some of the new critters our heroes encounter as they expand!
Take care all!
Taylor
Hi Taylor,
I was thinking on the lack of cavalry for either side and though how about some domesticated animals from a wild tribe of Lemurians (The People). The Tribe could be located in southern Australia/Tasmania and could have as pets Tasmanian Devils (instead of the little furballs they are today they could be the size of mastiffs. They would make quite a tough predator in their own right. As cavalry Tasmanian Tigers, once again a different world a different path of development. Instead of the small dog size these ones could be the size of current tigers and could be ridden to battle.
Just some food for though. My wife did bring up another creature, giant scorpions, again they would have developed differently on this New Earth.
Just some extra ideas for you to use if you feel the need.
Cheers,
nelson
You’ve apparently noticed how unsuited for cavalry, or even “flying” artillery “brontosarries” are! Ha! Matt makes occasional observations to that effect here and there. Who knows what they’ll “run in to,” but like a lot of fans of the series, you do tend to think along similar lines as I do, it seems. Nothing much like your rather good suggestions yet–but perhaps similar “characteristics!” I dare not get any more specific than that.
Thanks Taylor for replying and taking the time to talk to us fans
Greatly appreciated. I simply cannot wait for your next addition to the destroyermen, it is going to be excellent
I have seen ostrich races as a young man, perhaps a fast reptilian version of a duckbill (with at least some Horse Sense), might serve as a cavalry type mount.
As a person trained for long range jungle recon, I have a certain “attachment” to mosquitos, leaches, ticks, chiggers, bugs of all kinds, wasps, BIG spiders who like to eat the bugs eating you. Then there are snakes, poison frogs, and other friends. Can’t wait to see what our poor boys encounter in unknown jungle service(nuisance, not fatal pests). Some, like the hunting spiders, can be your friends, and no matter where, ants take care of their own business.
I hate chiggers! You know, there really seems to be something to the “black boots attract them” theory. A long time ago, I was walking down a trail in brown knee-high boots. (I always preferred brown because they aren’t as hot as black.) Anyway, during the course of the day, I crossed a few streams, got the boots wet, and like an idiot, let them dry too close to the fire. The next day, I realized it was going to take a good oiling to return them to their duty.
I wore an identical pair of black boots down the exact same trail and got consumed by chiggers! Now, I’m no entemologist, or chiggerologist. Maybe they hatched overnight or I whacked a demonic weed that was crawling with them, but all known variables were the same except the boots. I got chigger bites on chigger bites. Thousands of ‘em. I may have a nightmarish, flicker flashback just remembering it!
John, I have no recon training, but I’ve been in the woods all my life. Bugs don’t much bug me–except chiggers! I’m allergic to everything, but I can wallow in poison ivy. Docs always said I’d “grow out of” the allergies, but I’ve grown new ones! For example, after breathing walnut dust for the better part of fifty years, I’m suddenly deathy allergic not only to it, but walnuts themselves! needless to say, I much prefer working in maple now.
Sorry for the sidetrack. There are definitely “good” bugs and snakes, etc. I’m personally fond of having a great, bloated “door toad” living on the porch to eat the “bad” bugs that try to get in the house.
The only ants I really dislike are fire ants. I bet they’d march a hundred (scale) miles out of their way to sting you. The big red ants are starting to make a comeback and I’m glad. Maybe the horned toads will too, poor devils. They pretty much subsist on red ants.
Ahhh!!! I forgot chiggers! As a young man on a Missouri cattle farm, I was their favorite treat, especially around the belt and boot line. Like you, poison ivy doesn’t seem to be a problem, but I have grown new alleries as I have gotten older, oddly enough, Jalepeno peppers since 2007, and I used to love ‘em. I have fun with mosquitos now, they still bite me, but one of my medications is fatal to them. I suspect either my B.P. or heart medication.
Bravo!
Sorry you need to take medication, but I can imagine the joy you feel knowing that the rotten blood-suckers that bite you will die horribly! I’m experiencing vicarious joy right now–as I scratch a bunch of mosquito bites I got this last weekend all over my HANDS!
It is weird, the stuff that creeps up on you. I recently discovered that I am also deathly–and I mean deathly–allergic to Benadryll!!!! How weird is that? Other than that, I’ve held up to the effects of brutal aging fairly well. I’m kind of like my old ’69 Chevy truck–lots of miles–mostly offroad–a lot of dents, squeaks and rattles, but I’m still going strong. I don’t haul the loads I used to, and I’m not quite as fast, but I’m damn near indestructable!
Hey, imagine a chigger as big as a tick, that burrows up and does chigger things! Agh!
ugh chiggers. went to the beach once and came beck a differnt color from all the chigger bites.
Scratching mosquitobites right now, the mosquitos may have died, but they are still remembered. Things could be worse, a Dog-Tick the size of a dog? Or a mosquito the size of the old precambrian dragonfly? RUNNN!!!
Just finished Distant Thunder. My only compaint is that it wasn’t long enough (it was over too soon) When is the next one do. Can’t wait. Great book, great series. I hope you have about a dozen more in the series.
Why does Lawrence lay in the sun and pant instead of going into the shade? I didn’t get that.
Thanks Bill, glad you liked it!
Hello Paul–why do YOU think he does it? I bet there’s a reason, or I wouldn’t have mentioned it. Even Courtney is passing curious. I wonder if he’ll ever figure it out? My point is, now it’s in your head and you will wonder. If you read the previous 3 books, you might have noticed a few little passing superfluities weren’t “answered” for one or more books. Sorry, I get a kick out of doing that, and sometimes people write me that they didn’t pick them up until they read the book a second time. I wonder about little things all the time, then forget about it. Sometime later, I find the answer and I’ll suddenly remember wondering about it “way back when.” Little mental triumphs. I think doing that in my books adds a life-like continuity–and gives us things to talk about here. Besides, if I just came out and told you–you wouldn’t wonder anymore, and you’d know more than the characters do.
I’ve taken some heat for this approach–revealing the “other” world at roughly the same rate the destroyermen (it’s the destroyermen series and not the Grik series or the Lemurian series for a reason) discover it, but if readers knew everything about the world all at once, it wouldn’t be weird anymore, would it? As the scope of the tale expands beyond the Malay Barrier, there will be more and more passages from “alien” perspectives and you will get more insights about them from them.
Simply because…Be nice if there was a 12′ Striped Bass that fed on flashers like Largemouth Bass feed on Bluegill. Talk about a fish story! Wonder what the cephalapods evolved into here. Octopi are smart!
How would you like to HOOK a 12′ Striper?
Lots of stuff eat flashies. Sharks may even be the shallowest predators–but maybe stripers too! Remember, flashies are relatively shallow water guys–outside the Malay Barrier–who knows? I do bet the cephalapods kept their “armored swimming vehicles.”
Maybe flashies ARE stripers!
Good point about a 12′ striper, Dad and I had enough trouble landing a 9′ tiger shark. A 3 hour fight, not quite the same as a three hour tour. We took turns on the pole, that was adventure enough for a 15 year-old.(me). Catfish have been around a Looong time also, maybe the critter in the freighter is a humongus walking catfish(G).
I was just curious as to if the flashies were in any way related to the the cretaceous Xiphactinus and its relatives? both fish resemble tuna in body plan and have an extraordinary amount of razor sharp teeth in their maw. And I must agree with a former post, the Speculative Dinosaur Project would be a great source of inspiration.
Before the H.E.I.C., there was the Dutch East India Company. They hauled all kind of things as trade goods because of their various markets, including Japan, Hiroshima was their port of call. That’s where a D.E.I.C. ship would have went if lost. It might be of intrest to know they often employed Japanese Ronin as mecenaries, and low class Eta as laborers, deckhands, and maids. So a small survivor group from this would be possible in any area.
Just thinking, New Zealand had a weird ecology when the Maori ancestors arrived, influenced by it’s isolation. I wonder what YOUR New Zealand has kicking around.
Oh my gosh! Did Mahan or Walker have rats on board, and if so, did a breeding pair sneak ashore? If the lizard ecology consists of egg layers, this could be bad news for some species in a few years (aka Mauritania and New Zealand)
If flashies are Stripers, can you imagine what the perch and anchovies must be like?
One thing ive bee wondering about is sharks. I cant remember them in the stories and from what i know they are the best survivors we have along with the crocs and turtles and cephalapods.
So are there sharks in the destroyermen universe?
Also remember hearing about a form of prehstoric whale that hunted megaladon. Its sonar was so powerful it would stun the large animals and kill the smaller ones.
Ha, John! You’ve just reminded me of “Bob” the Mutant Sewer Perch!
Yes, there are sharks, and they’ve been mentioned a few times–but wait till they go beyond the Malay Barrier!
Quote heard from a mutant anchovy “I’ll have extra people on my landfood pizza”. I wonder if a form of California Sea otter was forced to move to land and developed greater intelligenceas a survival trait (already fairly smart)?
You know, that’s pretty good. Otters of all sorts are pretty sharp. Tool users too, at a stage of development that would surprise anthropologists–such as those who said the Flores “Hobbit” wasn’t smart enough to use the tools its remains were found with.
Brain size as it relates to intelligence is weird.
And if you want a smart animal that can survive look no further than a bear.
Smart buggers.
Nothing should be that big and that smart.
Actually, I think the wolverine can be classified as smart, vicious, vindictive, tenatious, and able to make a brown bear back down. They weigh under 100 pounds, so maybe the bear is being smart.
I could almost see a grik map listing a Wolverine infested area as “Hunters who do NOT play well with others”
It appears the Lemurians & Americans could really use strong light-weight material like aluminum or fiberglass. But, without fiberglass technology or the longer term process of mining and milling aluminum what to do, what to do?
They use resources available via your Darwinian Delight challenge! Ta Da Da!
Introducing the Lac Beagle Beetle (a strong & durable shellac producing beetle the size of a beagle) and the Mega Moth (a moth with a 2.5’ wing span which metamorphosis’s from a 6” silk worm larva whose cocoon is spun from fiber 5-6 times thicker than our dimension’s moths). From these two bugs comes: protein fiber (the strongest kind of fiber) and an easily produced resin. When the two are combined a strong, light-weight, water-proof material similar to fiberglass is formed.
The only difference between the silkworm and Lac beetle in our dimension and the dimension which the Walker found itself in is: the size of the bugs and ….. the non-water soluble resin from the Lac Beagle Beetle (our dimension’s shellac is somewhat water-soluble).
Colleen- that should win “Techno-Darwinian” Post Of The Month!!!
Ha! Wow! I love it. Shellac is weird stuff and I use it a lot. Brittle though . . . Hmm. Shoot, it doesn’t HAVE to be! I’m thinking–as you said–OUR dimension shellac, and 19th century shellacs at that! I’m a big fan of resins–which they do use, and they have bamboo–but I really like this concept, particularly when added to your “fibrous material.” It’s been a while since we had an “official” entrant into the prestigious “Order of Darwinian Delight” contest–I still need to find ad re-post the genesis of this, as well as some of the early entrants and winners!–but consider yourself “nominated.”
Instead of a Lac Beetle, you could have a sea crustation version of “chiten of the Sea”, Chiten is light, flexible, and some kinds are melted by acetone, allowing it to be formed like a lacquer or plastic.
You got me, John. I’ve never even heard of doing that–inless forming “Mother of Pearl” counts
Insects are the chitin users, it’s an ant’s exoskeleton, for example, also sea scorpions and other bugs. Chiten is light, flexible, and if you have a form that you could dissolve(hint, you’re the author), you’d have a useful material. It is water-resistant, and would intermix and maybe bond with fibers like spidersilk or asbestos(only one kind out of seven is dangerous).
Each culture has it’s own unique skill, the oriental japanese were great in lacquer(even armour). The cats are wood structure experts(also pumps). Perhaps Lawernces culture has strengths that would add to the alliance, specific skills or technologies. I like the silkworm moth idea, catapla worms in Missouri make a form of silk too, so finding one in your new world might be easy, perhaps the one Japanese gentleman with time and honor on his hands might make this discovery, and perhaps other ones.
Why does Lawrence pant while in the sun….
My simplistic theory……
Lawrence is more evolved than the “bad” Grik but the species in general is in flux. You would think they would be cold blooded but there is no mention of that in the books. So you have a reptilian race that is intelligent and in this alternate word prolific. I think they are kind of caught between their eventual complete evolution and their beginnings. This would also explain why some are “self aware” and some are not very advanced. The Grik unwittingly have maintained this status quo by destroying the weak and maintaing what they see as the strong. This is now changing and that change was brought on by that twisted Japanese commander. Reason and peace will eventually come to the Grik like it has to their cousins. If the world survives each other.
So, I think Lawrence “pants” in the sun because his biology and that of his race is in transition. Not quite cold blooded but not fully warm blooded yet. Kinda like when you get the flu and find yourself sweating under ten blankets and have the chills at the same time.
Only Taylor knows………:)
Horseshoes and hand-grenades, Tim!!! I will neither confirm nor deny any portion of your theory, but I must ask–why MORE evolved? I’ve been a “Hot Blooded Dinosaur” guy since the 70′s. Your theory makes good sociological sense, but the physiolgical seems possibly reversed???
Taylor
From what i understand it is pretty well accepted that dinosaurs werent cold blooded lizards which is what i assume the evolved from.
Also the words “more evolved” are a land mine.
For instance they found recently that the decades old wisdom that humans and chimps are only 1% different in our DNA is accually wrong……..kind of.
In women it is (dont kill me!!! its science!!!). In men is drasticaly different like alot i cant remember how much but alot.
It has to do with the X and Y chromazones. Womens X chromazones are kept stable because they have matches meanwhile mens Y ones dont which means those dirty little bastards change all the time and dont get checked like X’s do.
Weird eh?
Why “MORE” evolved you ask? Interesting twist….I thought about that for a day now and I just have to say…..I don’t have a good answer. The closest I can get is I just don’t know of anything that de-evolves. Is that even a word….. and I’m smart enough to know I’m limited by my knowledge as I only know what I know.
……. I just realized the answer to that is in my thoughts above. How does something not evolve. Why with a helping had. It goes back to the selection of the younglings. The few “self aware” are in essence reversing progress and moving their race backward toward a more primitive state. The Japanese Commander then could in fact be the catalyst to the redemption of the Grik. Once a person or being can reason….well the sky is the limit. One thing is certain, no more mindless charges or jumping into water that will bring certain death. In any event, Interesting point Taylor!
I looked up the warm blooded vs. cold blooded dinosaur discussions and have decided that no one really knows so my theory may in fact be reversed.
Good point again!
I look forward to the future books to see how this develops.
P.S. I think a mixed race would be cool. Maybe a race made up of early humans that somehow were forced to breed with Lawrence’s people for some perverse reason. Gladiators for the Dominion used for sport and enslaved….freed by the Americans and eager to show their gratitude. Gentle by nature but utterly devastating on the battlefield. Kinda like a Navy Seal Team at Matt’s disposal.
Tim
Also could it be lawrence has a more evolved or larger brain one of the uses of yawning or breathing threw our mouth is to cool our brain.
Oh James! Now you have begun the age-old argument regarding why Dogs pant–and Cats (the toe-grabbing, carpet yakking kind) don’t!!!!! Ha!
Hey its not as bad as the OTHER endless arguement.
Which ship would have won in a fight the Yamato or the Iowa…….
Litteraly the never ending argument.
Actually, it’s worse, as the Yamato-Iowa argument only works on a clear day. Night and fog change the parameters completly in Iowa’s favor. With Lawence, it’s probably a holdover from earlier days, body needs vitamin D or sunlight for some vital reason. Without sweat glands, you have to pant. Humans are more lucky than you know.
I don’t know . . . Folks are usually willing to be rational and objective about the BB’s. Both had relative strengths and weaknesses, and those were eliminated/compounded/ etc. depending on what point of the war the matchup might have taken place. Tactical philosophy and usage makes a difference too. If Yamato had come through the Surigao Strait –by herself–instead of being chased off by Taffy 3, I think Texas could have taken her, let alone an Iowa. What about Constitution Vs Leopard? The matchups are endless and fascinating. But rationality rarely manifests itself in the mortal argument regarding Dogs vs Cats!
I was interested to seen that as the Walker sailed nearer to Hawaii that mammals seemed to be becoming somewhat more predominate. I remember reading something about the birds being real birds and less reptilians in the mix that they saw flying around near one of the islands they were passing.It makes me wonder if as they continue to sail in that direction if the mix of animals will continue to change. What will Hawaii be like or the Americas? Maybe the continental U S will be much more appealing for eventual colonization by the humans. Maybe there will be some humans from this new world found who evolved there as well.
One thing I like about this speculation is that you never know who or what you will encounter next in an alternate world. I just saw the old 1950′s movie THEM at a neighbors house, still good for a chill. Giant Ants…formic acid? anyone? Taylor, don’t you dare, ants and I do not get along.. and I’ve never even been bit by a fire ant yet, just red, black, brown, grease, and a few unknown woodsy types.
Taylor,
Yea i always figured the Iowa’s would win. Better speed. Better manuverability etc not to mention far better fire control.
The Yamato apparently had poorly trained crews and didnt have the computive assistance that the iowas did.
Hmm wonder who would have won the Alabama or the Yamato? Lets not even include the Montana..thats just redundant it was apparently the supership of the period just never got built.
John,
Ants? Really? I hate spiders…….they suck. But i have been bitten by a fire ant it sucks more. Thats why me and a trusty can of diesel await every find of a next of the buggers.
Dern, John. You’re gonna HATE the next one! Six foot FLYING FIRE ANTS!!!! That SPIT acid! Whee!
Just kidding . . . although now I think about it . . .
I hate ‘em too. My reactions to their infestations are somewhat “Silva-esque” in the sense that some might consider them disproportionate. I really hate scorpions as well–we’ve had so much rain, I don’t know how many I’ve killed in the house this year. I’ve been known to shoot them. I don’t like “bad” spiders either. Hmm. I’m not a “bugophobe,” honest. I’m not scared of them, I just don’t like them.
The San Juaquin Valley had scorpions too, had to shake out our shoes in a.m. Could be worse, once upon a Permian time there were giant Sea Scorpions, hopefully no land-crab version exists of this critter.
I wonder, did Java get any of our tough little critters as an invasive species from the wreck of the Santa Catalina? Rats, roaches, flys, tree snakes, that may make an appearence later as a look at that! How’d they get here?
Hahahahaha I burst out laughing at the “six foot flying fire ants” comment, wow, that was unexpectedly funny!
That’s me, Dimitri: Unexpectedly funny–often at particularly embarassing (and unexpected) moments. It’s usually those around me who suffer most . . .
6 foot flying fire ants! Talk about an air raid… RAID!,, Now just where is that DDT sprayer, Oh No! We used it when we tested the Jenny!
Mr. Taylor Anderson:
As a polite reminder, simplicity lends to reality in spinning a good story.
I’d like to suggest the use of technology that existed long before the Walker and Mahan left our world. I’ll also offer that our Navy folk are smart enough to have learned from the faulty logic of keeping ships moored so close together. Moored like ships at Battleship Row in Pearl Harbor. Grik are not so intelligent and the lesson could be brought to them with realism.
Air recon is vitally important in this series and I believe too much emphasis is on powered flight. I’d recommend the rebuilt Walker use rope and tow aloft time tested gliders. Pontoons would be released after lift off or they’d be shaped like mini PBY’s but with long narrow wings. They’d fly by night navigating with the stars, like navy men and Lemurians are trained to do. Additionally, the quiet/stealthy gliders could be launched from Homes.
The very tall tripod “wing” supports on the Homes could use a drop weight catapult launch and sling gliders into the air. I’d add a small ramp like that used on British carriers to launch Harrier jets. The gliders would return to land fields or on Homes with catch nets on deck. The crystal radios, for recon, could easily be carried aloft in the front seat where the trainee would otherwise be seated.
The use of quiet and very long range gliders would allow fuel to be reserved for the new fleet of ships. Especially important since the fuel reserve just went up in smoke. A glider could carry aloft Grik fire devices (from captured vessels) and drop them on the Grik warriors. Since fire is the enemy of living creatures a Grik rout would subsequently occur. Poor man’s, or Lemurian’s, napalm as it were.
Not that the following tactic would be decisive but, it would buy much needed time. Please keep in mind that small gliders can lift a pilot(s) and several hundred pounds of water (ballast). Stuff in this case would be captured Grik fire devices, casks of diesel fuel, or perhaps the Walker’s used motor oil.
The Grik armada is mostly wooden and the ships in the harbor would be packed in close together. Kinda sounds like Battle Ship Row at Pearl Harbor. The gliders could drop 30 lbs casks (fire bombs) on the wooden Grik ships that are moored so close together. The already on board Grik fire bombs would then subsequently explode igniting other nearby Grik ships. Pen in a gentle but steady island breeze (crazy idea I know) and the result is a Grik navy conflagration. This could and perhaps would buy our race and new friends some more time.
The Grik and Japos may be expecting a noisy PBY but not quiet wooden gliders built by the Lemurian craftsmen. Dropping fire casks from an altitude of about 300 tails would keep the gliders out of range of the Grik spears and crossbows.
Thanks for your time and consideration. Most of all,thanks for the many hours of enjoyment your novels provide.
P.S.
When I lived in Arlington and/or Fort Worth, friends and I would drive to Lake Grandbury and go boating. One friend sill has property at the lake. Nice area to reside, you chose well.
Peace and blessings on you and yours.
While the German navy used a towed autogyro for reconnasance, and the British used small blimps, there is a problem with gliders, especially at night. Gliders depend on thermals to gain altitude, and you can’t reliably find them. Of a night, depending on water depths, (which vary), downdrafts often occur. This is NOT good news in an unpowered glider.
Back to critters. Given Australia and New Zealand’s isolation, (even more pronounced in Taylor’s world), and that the marsupials went Waaaay back. One has to wonder if an aboriginal, intelligent, Joey might be wandering the outback.
Although I feel a little awkward suggesting any kind of ideas for someone else’s books, I know that Mr. Anderson actually listens to his fans. Regardless, it still makes for fun things to talk about and keeps the imagination working.
There was a significant discussion among the allies about the use of chemical weapons. That gave me an idea…
“What if” there was a group of humans and cats in a new area of jungle, and they come across an area with an unusual plant with beautiful flowers but also some strange “puff ball” structures. They notice that the only other plants able to grow in this area are the waxy yellow leafed “tobacco” plants. Someone brushes one of the balls, and it pops and releases a cloud of fine powdery spores. Within a very short amount of time all the cats and some of the humans become violently ill and double over with stomach cramps, retching, and vomiting. The humans who were not affected help the others evacuate the area. All of the affected ones recover within a few hours, and after some rehydration they suffer no other ill effects. Bradford is fascinated and begins an investigation, with the help of one of the nurses. In the investigation they find that the Grik are affected in the same way. Eventually they discover that all of the humans who were not affected chewed “tobacco” on a regular basis. The ones who were affected did not chew. They deduce that there is something in the tobacco plants that protects against the ill effects of the spores.
Well, maybe they could use this to their advantage. Projectiles and bombs could be made to disperse the spores, incapacitating the enemy forces. The allied forces would all be immune. Of course you would have to persuade the cats to use tobacco. Maybe by that time the white mice will have developed smoking tobacco. Then again, having a plan that actually encourages smoking or chewing may not be the best idea in terms of their long-term health. Or maybe the protective element is in the waxy coating on the leaves.
So, you end up with the perfect “chem-bio” weapon: easy to use, only affects the enemy, short term but incapacitating results, and nonlethal in case noncombatants are exposed.
Oh what a cool, wicked scheme! I may have to see if I can work it in! You realize of course, that you would be contributing to the delinquent vices of an entire race–because everybody would have to learn to chew tobacco!
No no… I meant the waxy stuff… yeah… the waxy stuff… really…not the leaf…honestly…Oh my what have I done! Now the gold that was meant to buy freedom for Imperial slaves will have to go to the B’aalkpan Cancer Society
LOL
Ha! Don’t worry, I won’t tell a soul!
The Mice will likely continue their noble quest–but what if they are ultimately successful, and everybody (but the chewers) have already kicked the habit?
What happened in the America’s? If the Proto Spanish established there, and some British Bases are there, then it wouid seem that there is no grik population present. Did you use God’s snowball like what really happened?
I had a thought when I was reading Rising Tides, and the “Kudzu” plant on the small island where Silva and the others are surviving. I think it would be a great plant to “weaponize” for use against the Griks, without the dangers of it getting out of control. Or at least they could manage it through the use of fire. I know it would be deadly to attempt, but perhaps with some of the skin of several animals might be Kudzu proof? Rhino-pig perhaps? It seems that within 12 hours of exposure to the “thorn” the host is completely disabled, without any toxic fumes or other collateral damage to the surrounding areas. Almost like a alternate reality neutron bomb.
Great, David! As Trulove would say: “Oh, bravo!”
If the “contest” here hadn’t kind of frittered away, I’d say you’d be a contender. Give me a holler through “contact” if you like. Down this path may lie spoilers.
The idea of any kind of giant anthropods such as insects doesn’t make any sense. There was a time when there were giant insects on Earth that lived on land. The alternate Earth pretty much a carbon copy of our Earth but, the event that wiped out the dinosaurs is what diverged our Earth and the alternate Earth in Destroyermen. So the origins of both Earth would be the same. When the giant insects ruled there was more oxygen in the atmosphere because of all the abundant plants that lived during this era which is called the Carboniferous period. All the plants that lived during that time period is now the coal that we burn. There were dragonflies that were the size of eagles, spiders the size of human heads, scorpions about the size of small dogs, and a creature called the arthraplura that was about 10 ft. long. Alongside the giant arthropods were vicious amphibians which looked liked crocodiles of today, as well as the first true reptile that was the ancestor of the dinosaurs. The ancesterel repile of the dinosaurs was small by compared to anything else of the time.
I was thinking of an enormous sea creature. It should be a combination of a turtle, a snake, and a stingray. My general idea is that it would be a competitor to the mountain fish for prey, by armored and having a bunch of toxins. i don’t i’m just rambling a bit!
Oh and what about those sea monsters that are supposed to be bigger than Mountain fish? Didn’t Adar mention something about hose in the 4th book?
What could be bigger than a Mountain fish and nastier? I could imagine a Sea Lampre about 200 feet long and 4 feet in diameter as a predator to the Mountain Fish. It would, of course, have digestive enzymes to help it chew into the MF. Not overly complex but a very effective predator. The big threat would be to keep if from drilling through wooden hull ships.
I love your books. Can not wait for Firestorm and all its turns. You have hinted about other intelligent species. if they do show up what will they be. We seen(so to say) reptiles the Grik, Lemurians who (they are mammals right), and humans. So maybe insects or some flying or underwater creatures that are intelligent
Just a thought
At least one critter doesn’t like chewing tobacco, quoting Petey “kack, kack”. I wonder where that snake came from that they saw while reloating the freighter?? If the Americas don’t have grik or lizard-indians, what do they have? Hmmm…have to think about that.
Finally had time to re-read “Rising Tides” (it’s even better the 2nd time) and then decided to catch up on new discussion blogs.
I will admit David’s idea about the “Kudzu” plant-weapon, and Brian’s “puff-ball”/ “waxy tobacco” are good ideas, but, personally, I wouldn’t want the heroes lowering themselves to chemical weapons. However, since smoking (“inhaling”) the waxy-tobacco causes illness, wouldn’t it be easier to drop/launch burning waxy- tobacco bombs than to addict everyone to chew, or risk a three-finger epidemic?
Maybe I’m just not good at weaponry, so instead I have a possible solution to the battle communication problem.
1st. A few months ago National Geographic had an article on domesticating foxes. Granted, it took about seven generations… but if generational cycles were quick, the 7 generations might equal a couple years or less.
2nd. It appeared the “Toad-gaters” (TG) semi-communicated telepathically with both Laney & Bekiaa’s.
Therefore; if the TGs are telepathically, and if the TGs could be domesticated; they could instantly communicate a thought between themselves and to the Allies during battles.
Heck, maybe the wounded TG Russ saved was a female and she already imprinted domestic tendencies upon eggs, thereby bringing the TGs one step closer to domestication?
The Grik use (grik fire) bombs. Could it be possible that with the Japs. help the Grik could use this as some kind of flamethrower. A team of two or three. one to use the weapon, one for supply of the grik fire, and the other to work the weapons pump. Its bad about helping the grik but it would make for a good surprise.
I wonder what kind of bio-luminesent creatures are on the loose in this new world, and what kind of uses they might be put to. Maybe some kind of flying goat(G), or a lightning bug that shares properties with an electric eel. The light attracts night flyers, the shock stuns them, the critter then has dinner.
We are now being plauged with cicadas here in Missouri right now. They do not appear on the loose except every 5 or 7 years. Fun could be had with cicada like bugs who bite like mosquitos or horseflys. This could make some years definitely more stressful than others. Isn’t real life fun?
Hey, in case you missed it elsewhere on the site, here’s the schedule for my upcoming book tour! I hope to see any of you who might be in the neighborhood.
October 4th, Tuesday:
Powell’s Books in Portland , OR @ 7pm
October 5th, Wednesday
University Bookstore in Seattle , WA @7pm
October 6th, Thursday
Books Inc. in Mountain View , CA @7pm
October 7th, Friday
Barnes & Noble in Huntington Beach, CA @7pm
October 8th, Saturday
US Naval Base Exchange in San Diego , CA @12pm
October 9th, Sunday
Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego , CA @2pm
October 11th, Tuesday
Barnes and Noble in Fort Worth , TX @7pm
October 15th, Saturday
New York Comic Con, Javitz Center
It would be interesting to see what this California’s version of a Mohave roadrunner is. Especially if it’s 6 feet tall and still eats snakes.
As for those big flying lizards, ever watch a flock of blackbirds attack a hawk or owl. It would be interesting if one of the mainland British (Americans?) had a hobby of falconry using one of the flying lizard species, and trained them to attack the big guys.
There have been several references to Grik social order and learning. Lawrence has the experience of being sequestered until he goes through a adult challenge before re-joining society. On Ceylon we find Griklets running about, and racks of eggs.
Comes the question, is Grik Society Nature or Nurture? Can Grik eggs be raised in a domestic situation to counter their (violent) learned behavior? Could egg-bred Grik be trained to assist the Allies against their Uhl-bred counter-parts?
Is it worth the effort to try to reverse the Uhl mentality that comes from living wild for their formative years?
Is Ceylon large enough to support the numbers of Uhl-fighter, Gricklets and Girik-civilian population? What breeding stock is feeding this population? None are vegetarians…a lot more questions than answers I’m afraid.
The big Skikacks are migratory and perhaps for breeding. I wonder then are they like the wales of our day? traversing cold northern waters and warm southern waters? Knowing their return may be advantagous when the grik attack again.
WE’ve read many interesting creatures thus far. I propose a more realistic horror, one that frightens Mountain fish and Skikacks as well as man when his ships water intake pipe gets clogged. AS things get bigger they need more food/energy for mobility. Thus Mountain fish may be the Apex predator by size. SO let’s go really small and VERY nasty say each critter is about 3 feet around and found in swarms. I present to you the deadly Jellie-fish with long powerful arms and the worst neural toxins in the sea.
It may be dangerous allowing men to think about “after the war” but as long as you are heading towards California there is a river with clean flowing water. Gold in the American river (1849 Gold Rush) could buy more women their freedom and Gerald could use coin since the COmpany trade has ceased. Lastly, The Americans and ‘Cats have war respect now. However later after the war, there will need to be trade and I’d like for the C’ats and Americans to have a wealthy nation as well as the respect of others. Yep, kinda just like what we knew.
Very good questions Wayne, and the answers will come–but they constitute an interesting part of the storyline so I better no comment too much!
Having been stung by the nasty buggers, I love your idea for the really nasty jellyfish, Michael! The money situation will begin to be sorted out.
hmm there a way to make something like THC bombs?? get the grik stoned outter there minds and calm them down. and if they eat all the rations, they might turn on them selves. do our jobs for us.
just a wacky thought.
I wonder if any of the large mainland animals have been domesticated. A herd of large critters in a blind stampede can(has) ruined a soldiers whole day. Remember the movie Zulu?
I don’t know about THC, but being downwind of burning poison ivy is NOT an enjoyable experience. In fact. poison ivy smoke has been fatal.
not to mention the full body rash to. but adar has ordered chem weapons. chem weapons are a tricky road.. we must hope the japanese don’t know how to make them..
have they thought about propaganda warfare?? get rolaks pet greeky right a bunch of stuff. and mass copy it and drop hundreds of pamplits over grik city’s. saying stuff like.
korukowa is doing the queen mother and has made her his brood cow…. general esshk is a snivinly coward…. yo momma is so ugly she looks like a uul. your queen mother is so stupid she thought korukowa came with teryoky souse etc etc etc.
but get the local grik made and have the word spred and cause revolts or riots.
95%, or more, of the grik cannot read/write.
i was thinking about the hij not the uul. they should all have add to learn the scientific language aka english
i don’t think toyru who was sent to the southern prey who sounds very much like boers dutch colonist. maybe some german, along with english (brit). will side with the grik. toyru doesn’t sound like he will argue for them to side with them (grik).. and if they fight the grik the grik would be fighting a 2 front war. it’d even things up a bit.. again.
As big as some mountain fish are, I’m suprized that some life forms do not make a home on their backs, like a mobile ecology. Shades of a living island.
Had an old memory about how hard, and bad, the sand flies on California beaches used to bite. Real life sand crabs, gooseneck clams, really BIG oysters(last probably gone now). Abalone could actually be dangerous then, if they clamped down on your finger or toes with the tide coming in. Hopefully this is grist for a fertile imagination. Things live under California sands, some good, some not so good.
I’m a little bit behind the storyline so far, having only read the first four, but here’s something I think is interesting:
The prey that the Grik have discovered on the “other” side of the world. What is planned for them, especially with the zeppelins I saw on the cover of Firestorm? How technologically advanced are they, and are they preparing for the Grik? If so, how? They are undoubtedly referred to in communications from the “Celestial Mother”, and so it would probably be only a matter of time until the Alliance made contact.
Also, on a more species-wide concept, what about further evolution on the Lemurians’ part? So far, the Destroyermen have been ramming them through the bronze and every other age up to the 1940′s in our history. It will be necessary for the Grik to go the same way as the Dodo (so lovingly compared to the Lemurians and them by Courtney Bradford in comparison to the Grik, who are naturally born hunters), and so if the different clans are unified into one nation by the Destroyermen what will happen then?
The point that I am trying to make is that all of humanity’s technological achievements- automatic weapons, steam power, improved ship designs (one only has to look at the Dreadnought class propagated by the British to see the effect it had on ship design up until WW2)- were caused by competition between nations. Improved communications such as radios, wireless, and even the cell phones we use today were an offshoot of research during WW2. The competition between nations- and groups of people- was caused by a drive to get ahead and obtain the upper hand against them.
The sailors won’t live forever, and even if they could, I
don’t really see them coming up with something like nuclear
fission, orbital satellites, or guided missiles. Lasers at
that time were completely relegated to science fiction, and
it took the Vietnam War for the USA to develop the capability to use lasers to guide weapons.
My point is: unless the Lemurians achieve species dominance over the entire planet, and wipe out any other sentient species they come across, there is always the possibility of them being bombed back into the stone age. A way to prevent this is to develop a more streamlined form of government, and imitate the Aryallans and Surabayans: occasional periods of peace and war, much like human history which had brought us to our current level of technology: fber-optic cables and other things of our society.