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Destroyermen #7
Iron Gray Sea
In Taylor Anderson’s acclaimed Destroyermen series, a parallel universe adds an extraordinary layer to the drama of World War II.
Now, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy, the crew of USS Walker, and their allies battle an ever-growing host of enemies across the globe in a desperate battle for freedom …
War has engulfed the—other earth. With every hard-won victory and painful defeat, Matt Reddy and the Allies encounter more friends—and even more diabolical enemies. Even, at last, in the arms of the woman he loves, there is little peace for Reddy. The vast sea, and the scope of the conflict, have trapped him too far away to help on either front, but that doesn’t mean he and Walker can rest.
Cutting short his “honeymoon,” Reddy sails off in pursuit of Hidoiame , a rogue Japanese destroyer that is wreaking havoc in Allied seas. Now that Walker is armed with the latest “new” technology, he hopes his battle-tested four-stacker has an even chance in a straight-up fight against the bigger ship—and he means to take her on.
Elsewhere, the long-awaited invasion of Grik “Indiaa” has begun, and the Human-Lemurian Alliance is pushing back against the twisted might of the Dominion. The diplomatic waters seethe with treachery and a final, terrible plot explodes in the Empire of New Britain Isles. Worse, the savage Grik have also mastered “new” technologies and strategies. Their fleet of monstrous ironclads—and an army two years in the making—are finally massing to strike...
Now, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy, the crew of USS Walker, and their allies battle an ever-growing host of enemies across the globe in a desperate battle for freedom …
War has engulfed the—other earth. With every hard-won victory and painful defeat, Matt Reddy and the Allies encounter more friends—and even more diabolical enemies. Even, at last, in the arms of the woman he loves, there is little peace for Reddy. The vast sea, and the scope of the conflict, have trapped him too far away to help on either front, but that doesn’t mean he and Walker can rest.
Cutting short his “honeymoon,” Reddy sails off in pursuit of Hidoiame , a rogue Japanese destroyer that is wreaking havoc in Allied seas. Now that Walker is armed with the latest “new” technology, he hopes his battle-tested four-stacker has an even chance in a straight-up fight against the bigger ship—and he means to take her on.
Elsewhere, the long-awaited invasion of Grik “Indiaa” has begun, and the Human-Lemurian Alliance is pushing back against the twisted might of the Dominion. The diplomatic waters seethe with treachery and a final, terrible plot explodes in the Empire of New Britain Isles. Worse, the savage Grik have also mastered “new” technologies and strategies. Their fleet of monstrous ironclads—and an army two years in the making—are finally massing to strike...
448 pages, Hardcover
Published July 3, 2012
108 people are currently reading
872 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
March 17, 2020
The allied advance runs into problems
If you have been reading this series regularly and in order it may seem that after the first few volumes the allies were relentlessly and inexorably rolling forward over the Grik. This volume brings that to a screeching, but one presumes temporary, halt. The Grik have changed - new abilities, new weapons, new, unpleasant surprises for the allies. Add to that, a nasty surprise in the East and things are looking better for the bad guys. But there are also at least three new players who seem to be potentially on the side of the alliance.
If you have been reading this series regularly and in order it may seem that after the first few volumes the allies were relentlessly and inexorably rolling forward over the Grik. This volume brings that to a screeching, but one presumes temporary, halt. The Grik have changed - new abilities, new weapons, new, unpleasant surprises for the allies. Add to that, a nasty surprise in the East and things are looking better for the bad guys. But there are also at least three new players who seem to be potentially on the side of the alliance.
July 28, 2017
This is the 7th book in the Destroyermen series and this has been a fun series so far. I think I enjoy the characters the most. They are all so unique and I like that each of them have a bit of the spotlight. Even though they are always at war, they still evolve and grow while discovering new things about this new world that they are trying to navigate.
This book highlighted the moral dilemma of a people who would like to live in peace, but are unable to. They are forced to defend themselves and the peace loving creatures they have befriended. They have a tactical advantage so do they seek out the enemy or wait for the enemy to gain strength and come to them again. I like the way the author poses similar questions in his books.
This book highlighted the moral dilemma of a people who would like to live in peace, but are unable to. They are forced to defend themselves and the peace loving creatures they have befriended. They have a tactical advantage so do they seek out the enemy or wait for the enemy to gain strength and come to them again. I like the way the author poses similar questions in his books.
July 24, 2012
7 books in, and the series continues to grow deeper and more complex. I'm starting to think it will never end! (This is a good thing, of course, but it's a little hard on poor Walker. How much of a beating can one ship take?)
None of the sides are as simple and clear cut as they started out.
This book is a drawn a little thin from all the different locations and people it has to keep track of, but it still moves forward with plenty of hair-raising battles. The series is steaming ahead at full speed.
None of the sides are as simple and clear cut as they started out.
This book is a drawn a little thin from all the different locations and people it has to keep track of, but it still moves forward with plenty of hair-raising battles. The series is steaming ahead at full speed.
February 4, 2014
Done and this is as wonderful as the rest. I'll give it a 4.5 star because I still really like the end of the third book and the battle of Baalkpon and there is no way to single that one out. It's the same wining mix of characters, old villains, new villains, daring rescues, and a horrifying and wonderfully written last stand and fight to the death.
This book has a very steampunk feel to it now, but it is so smooth and well done, without the gritty feel that most steampunk books have I hadn't realized it. There are airships and ironclads, muskets cannons and rifles and guns (big big guns) airplanes and Zeppelins and even steam ships. A wonderful young princess, who is bright, strong and stands her ground well and a rag-wagon duel to the death between a rogue Japanese Destroyer and the old and battle weary USS Walker DD163.
I've read through 7 books and this series doesn't disappoint. It's a fantastic story. And, like Randolph Lalonde's Spinward Fringe (First book Origins (Broadcast 0) is free for kindle) which started okay and just kept getting better and better, this book started better than Lalonde's and has risen to be just as wonderful by book 7. One more then I have to wait for the next one.
I have to say that, as much as I liked the first book (and all since) that Taylor Anderson's writing and the editors editing have gotten better and better. The romance between star crossed lovers is great. Less Dennis Silva in this one, but he had a huge role in the last two, and a great battle. So far, this Taylor Anderson may be my favorite writer of battles. These are no exception.
It's just a fantastic story. A lot of violence, so maybe not too young, some foul language but even that is pretty tame, some love and romance but only reference to sex and not much of that (romance is tastefully done here and doesn't take a way or distract from the story).
Three thumbs up.... if I had three.
This book has a very steampunk feel to it now, but it is so smooth and well done, without the gritty feel that most steampunk books have I hadn't realized it. There are airships and ironclads, muskets cannons and rifles and guns (big big guns) airplanes and Zeppelins and even steam ships. A wonderful young princess, who is bright, strong and stands her ground well and a rag-wagon duel to the death between a rogue Japanese Destroyer and the old and battle weary USS Walker DD163.
I've read through 7 books and this series doesn't disappoint. It's a fantastic story. And, like Randolph Lalonde's Spinward Fringe (First book Origins (Broadcast 0) is free for kindle) which started okay and just kept getting better and better, this book started better than Lalonde's and has risen to be just as wonderful by book 7. One more then I have to wait for the next one.
I have to say that, as much as I liked the first book (and all since) that Taylor Anderson's writing and the editors editing have gotten better and better. The romance between star crossed lovers is great. Less Dennis Silva in this one, but he had a huge role in the last two, and a great battle. So far, this Taylor Anderson may be my favorite writer of battles. These are no exception.
It's just a fantastic story. A lot of violence, so maybe not too young, some foul language but even that is pretty tame, some love and romance but only reference to sex and not much of that (romance is tastefully done here and doesn't take a way or distract from the story).
Three thumbs up.... if I had three.
July 10, 2013
Iron Gray Sea, the seventh book in Taylor Anderson’s DESTROYERMEN series, begins with the sinking of a battleship and then a wedding. The remaining Destroyermen are all together to witness the marriage of Captain Matthew Reddy to Lt. Sandra Tucker, but soon they must disperse again because they and their allies are still fighting all over the world on several fronts, and they are spread thin.
Their own technology is advancing rapidly but, with the help of the Japanese, so is the Griks’. Not only are the bad guys making better weapons and using better military strategy than they did before, but they are also using genetic engineering to create better soldiers. The allies must stay ahead of the Grik and get control of the sea and the air and, maybe eventually, the land.
The political situation is changing, too, especially in the country where Princess Rebecca’s parents ... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Their own technology is advancing rapidly but, with the help of the Japanese, so is the Griks’. Not only are the bad guys making better weapons and using better military strategy than they did before, but they are also using genetic engineering to create better soldiers. The allies must stay ahead of the Grik and get control of the sea and the air and, maybe eventually, the land.
The political situation is changing, too, especially in the country where Princess Rebecca’s parents ... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
January 16, 2018
Man, what can I say that hasn't been said before?
This one has more boats. And a marriage. And possibly some other folks.
Has some interesting developments in how the Lemurians planet fits into the universe as a whole, but is sort of lost in the rest of the happenings.
This one has more boats. And a marriage. And possibly some other folks.
Has some interesting developments in how the Lemurians planet fits into the universe as a whole, but is sort of lost in the rest of the happenings.
August 16, 2012
Seventh in the Destroyermen military science-fiction series set in an alternate world.
My Take
Hah! You only thought it was busy before...! Anderson is absolutely brilliant!! The tension, the drama...I swear my heart stopped a few times! It's Robinson Crusoe meets World War II---a make-do attitude, consorting with the natives, and using the "high" tech of the ships, planes, and weaponry of earthside's World War II. Right along with the sailing ships already in existence in this alternate world.
The battles are heating up...everywhere. Off the Sea of Japan, with the Grik off the coast of India and the Doms in California, the New British Empire with the sabotage and bombings, and a new threat right at home in Baalkpan.
As usual, Matt puts duty and honor before all else as do most of the characters in this story. Although, Matt does succumb and we finally get our happy event!
Sandra Tucker is quite pleased that the navy is going to have to get used to women serving aboard---Lemurians and Imperial women if Matt wants a full crew.
There's quite a bit of shuffling of personnel in this, hence the labeling for groups of characters. Lord knows, there are enough characters to people a world.
The Story
It begins with the refurbished Mizuki Maru pursuing the murderous crew of the Hidoiame, a Japanese destroyer which slaughtered the people residing in Okada's shogunate. And there's a chance, a very small chance that Okada has survived.
Walker is desperately in need of a refit and a dry dock. A need that Matt ignores when he gets the news about Okada and other ships sent to investigate. The only positive before the Walker heads back into action is the wedding we've all been waiting for.
Flynn's Rangers and Queen Maraan's Second Corps are trapped in and around Rocky Gap. They are the first to experience the new Grik who doesn't turn prey. The naval battle between Ellis and Kurokawa is somewhat heart-in-mouth until Keje takes the plunge.
As part of his welcome home, Bernie and some of the others have contrived a replacement for Silva's "Doom Whomper".
With the Courts of Directors disbanded and the Proprietors dead, the disgraced Lord High Admiral James McClain is still in charge of the Navy because he wasn't dismissed from the service. Yet. He is, however, the man the government will turn to to assign the orphaned princess a guardian. Unless they can find the proof of his complicity.
There is weapons experimentation on both sides with surprises on both sides. The war against the Grik is not going well. And Captain Reddy's position as CINCAF is threatened by Herring's beginning power grab.
There is some hope. Lt. Miyata has delivered his message to the Africans and suggested they seek out allies amongst his own enemies and Emperor Nig-Taak orders the repair of the Amerika. Captain Saachic encountered strange humans who were observing the battle. Generals Alden and Maraan have entrenched around the big lake. Friends AND Fred are rescuing Kari from her cage in the Dominion. And Matt has an idea that may have as great an impact as Jimmy Doolittle's attack on Tokyo.
Adar is under threat as the supreme commander of the alliance.
Unfortunately, Kurokawa seems to be learning diplomacy even as he descends further into his madness...
The Characters
"Lord" Commander Sato Okada is "now Seii Taishogun of the newly established Shogunate of Yokohama, Jaapan" which is populated by humans and Lemurians.
The crew of the U.S.S. Walker
The U.S.S. Walker sailed through a storm, a portal on the seas, which found the crew of the four-stacker destroyer isolated in a world that evolved differently from their own earth.
Lieutenant Commander (Captain) Matthew Reddy was and still is the captain of the Walker. In addition, he has become High Chief of the Amer-i-caan clan as well as Commander-in-Chief of All Allied Forces (CINCAF) "of all the powers united beneath (or beside) the Banner of the Trees".
Nurse Lieutenant Sandra Tucker is also the Alliance's Minister of Medicine as well as Captain Reddy's fiancée. Diania serves as Sandra's steward and was her "first human female recruit into the American Navy". A carpentress on Respite, she's fascinated by Boats Gray. An interest he returns.
The one-legged Juan Marcos is Matt's personal steward. And makes terrible coffee. Taarba-Kar "Tabasco" handles the tea. Lieutenant Tab-At "Tabby" is the engineering officer on Walker. Earl Lanier is still the ship's cook. First Lieutenant Norman Kutas is the former chief quartermaster. Chief Bosun Fitzhugh "Boats" Gray is Super Bosun and Matt would like him to create a school for Naval NCOs. Carl Bashear is now Chief Bosun's Mate. Chief Gunner's Mate Paul Stites will take over the Captain's Guard. Brad "Spanky" McFarlane was Walker's engineering officer but was promoted to exec. He's also allergic to cat hair. Minnie is chief of engineering. Sonny Campeti is brilliant at manual gun control. Ed Palmer is the communications officer.
First Fleet, Task Force Arraca
Commodore James Ellis is in command off the southeast coast of Grik India. Niaal-Ras-Kavaat is his exec. Captain Jis-Tikkar "Tikker" is Commander of Flight Operations (COFO) for the First Naval Air Wing. Lieutenant Commander Mark Leedom is the acting COFO for Army and Naval air out of Madras and takes refuge with Flynn's Rangers when he's shot down. General Pete Alden is in Madras and in charge of the ground troops. Colonel William Flynn and his Rangers. Captain Saachic is in charge of the meanie cavalry. Captain Bekiaa-Sab-At is Flynn's second. Commander-in-Chief-West (CINCWEST) Admiral Keje-Fris-Ar is in command of Salissa, a 'Cat home converted to an aircraft carrier.
Baalkpan
High Chief and Sky Priest of Baalkpan and Chairman of the Grand Alliance of all Allied Powers beneath (or beside) the Banner of the Trees Adar has faith. Commander Alan Letts serves as Chief of Staff to Adar and Reddy as well as Minister of Industry for the entire Alliance. After the Ceylon Campaign, Letts realizes his particular strength and he establishes a Division of Strategic Logistics. He has a daughter Allison Verdia with Karen, the surgeon commander. Commander Perry Brister is Minister of Defensive Works. Now-Colonel Benjamin Mallory rescued the P-40 "Warhawks" from the Santa Catalina. He's now in charge of the Army and Navy Air Corps for the Alliance.
Corps of Discovery
The Corps of Discovery is a new idea. An expedition assigned to contact other creatures who are like Lawrence and at risk from the Grik. The newly promoted Ensign Abel Cook will be in charge. Moe, a 'Cat hunter on Baalkpan and others will also take part. Chief Gunner's Mate Dennis Silva is a rogue assigned to Bernie Sandison in Ordnance along with Lawrence, for all that he resembles a Grik, who is loyal to the Alliance. Both Silva and Lawrence, a Tagranesi, are also secondarily assigned to the Corps of Discovery to ensure its safety. Nurse Lieutenant Pam Cross is assigned as their doctor. And she's not too happy with Silva.
Risa-Sab-At is one of Silva's girlfriends and further along with her Marines regiment than her brother Chack; Pam Cross is the other. Sister Audrey, Midshipman Stuart Brassey, and Ronson Rodriguez were some of the people with whom Silva was marooned. Isak Rueben is one of the original Mice and is moaning about having to abandon his fledging tobacco business to fly back to help with Walker's refit.
Lieutenant Irvin Laumer was a submariner when his boat was pulled through to this world and is assigned to figure out what can be done to rebuild the S-19.
The POWs who somehow survived the Hidoiame are leery of getting involved in another war and include Commander Simon Herring (who has delusions of grandeur) was with the Office of Naval Intelligence; Gunnery Sergeant Arnold Horn who joins the Corps of Discovery; Lance Corporal Ian Miles; Lieutenant Conrad Diebel who joins the air force; and, Leading Seaman Henry Stokes becomes Herring's aide. One of their biggest concerns is the 'Cats and their bigotry shows.
The Fil-pin Lands
High Chief Saan-Kakja of all the Fil-pin Lands rules what the Americans knew as the Philipines. She doesn't like the Empire and the ambassador has his work cut out for him. His Excellency Lord Bolton Forester is "the new ambassador from the Empire of the New British Isles" and a friend of the governor-emperor. He has been assigned to the Fil-pin Lands. Lieutenant Bachman is his aide.
Marine Major (Bosun's Mate at sea) Chack-Sab-At has been assigned to Manila to train old and new Marines into a British-style commando unit where he'll be closer to his "beloved Safir Maraan, General-Queen Protector of B'mbaado", a corps commander in the First Fleet Expeditionary Element. Major Jindal and his regiment of Imperial Marines from New Ireland will join him as will some of the POW survivors of Mizuki Maru.
The New Britain Imperials
Governor-Emperor Gerald McDonald rules the New British Isles and has allied with the Lemurians and Americans. Princess Rebecca Anne McDonald is almost 13 and heir to the Empire of the New British Isles. Her adventures have made her restless and it's this that saves her. Petey is her furry, flying, sentient pet. Sean "O'Casey" Bates is Governor-Emperor Gerald's Imperial Factor and Chief of Staff. Mrs. Carr is the housekeeper.
Courtney Bradford was an Australian petroleum engineer aboard Walker when she came through and he has a fascination for flora and fauna and has found this new world an exciting new place. He's currently on New Britain as ambassador for the Alliance. He'll stay on and help Princess Rebecca through the transition caused by the bombing. Sergeant Koratin had been a noble 'Cat on Jaava, but the war and his exposure to real corruption have changed him around. Lieutenant Ezekial Krish of the Imperial Navy serves as Bradford's liaison.
Inhabitants of the island of Respite
Governor Radcliff is thrilled with the overthrow of the Honorable New Britain Company; Emelia is his wife and has been his most influential advisor for years. At last, she is coming out into the open.
The Invasion of the Dominion - Task Force Maaka-Kakja
Imperial Commodore and newly appointed Commander-in-Chief-East (CINCEAST) of the Grand Alliance Harvey Jenks has replaced the idiot former Admiral McClain. Jenks is in command of the invasion of the Dominion and the relief of the Enchanted Isles. He is still in command of his ship, Achilles, but when battle commences, command will be handed off to Lieutenant Grimsley. Marine Captan Blas-Ma-Ar leads a mixed regiment of Lemurian and Imperial Marines. Stumpy has become Jenks' technical liaison and an unofficial bodyguard.
Admiral Lelaa-Tal-Cleraan is the commander of Maaka-Kakja and her task force. Chief Gilbert Yeager, one of the original fireroom Mice, is a terrible teacher and in charge of engineering with a mostly 'Cat engineering crew. Tex Sheider was S-19's radioman and how he's one of Lelaa's best friends and her exec. Brevet General Tamatsu Shinya is in command of the ground forces with Imperial Colonel Blair his second. Second Lieutenant Orrin Reddy is the Acting Lieutenant Commander and COFO for the 3rd Naval Air Wing; he's also Matt's favorite cousin. Orrin was one of the POWs who survived. Kuaar-Ran-Taak "Seepy" is his copilot/spotter/wireless-operator. Doc'Selass, Keje-Fris-Ar's daughter and personal physician to the Imperial family, flies in to take charge at the hospital.
Sir Humphries is governor for the Enchanted Isles and you'll get a laugh over his obsession with his tortoises.
The Republic of Real People
This country located on the cape of Africa consists of people who came through from their world in the change during the storms that rage on the cape. They were welcomed by the Lemurians who lived there although that is not to say that tensions do not exist.
Lieutenant Toryu Miyata is on a mission to contact humans living somewhere on the cape of Africa. Truly a diplomatic overture when the message from the Grik is "Join or die".
Kapitan Leutenant Becher Lange and Leftenant Doocy Meek are some of the men who rescued Toryu. General Marcus Kim represents the military high command of the Republic of Real People, Inquisitor Kon-Choon, a Lemurian, is a high-level intelligence officer. The SMS Amerika is the German WWI ship that Becher arrived on and is currently used as the War Palace for His Most Excellent Highness, the Emperor Nig-Taak. Kapitan Adlar Von Melhausen was the commander of the Amerika and is now the keeper of the War Palace.
The Enemy
The Japanese
General of the Sea Hisashi Kurokawa was the captain of the Amagi Maru chasing the Walker back in the old world. He and his crew allied themselves with the Grik. He's fashioned a new position for himself at the expense of his crew. Although, he has received the island of Zanzibar from the Celestial Mother, the ruler of all the Grik, as a reward where most of his men reside or visit. And where he is working on new weapons and ships that will only benefit his Japanese. His ultimate goal is to rule the entire Grik empire.
General of the Sky Hideki Muriname is rebuilding an air fleet from their one remaining Type 95 floatplane. Its structure and instruments are the models for the Grik dirigibles. Commander Riku is the head of Ordnance for the Grik and the Japanese. Signal Lieutenant Fukui is in charge of the Japanese radio and his department has picked up a weak transmission from an unknown source.
Captain Kurita commands the Hidoiame. The man who murdered his POWs and the villagers in Okada's lands.
The Grik
N'galsh is the Vice Regent of India and Ceylon and not long for this world. A weak, fearful, officious Grik. Regent Tsalka lost Ceylon and Kurokawa insisted he pay the price.
Lord General Halik had been raised from the rank of Uul to Hij after surviving for so long in the fights. He thinks outside the box and his superiors want this ability. General Orochi Niwa of the Jaaph Hunters is Halik's co-commander. First General Esshk is the Grik in charge.
The Dominion
Signals Ensign Kari-Faask is held prisoner in a cage on the plaza where human sacrifices are made in the name of the Dominion. She's held out for a long time, but is now at the end of her endurance. The citizens of the Dominion think she's an animal. Lieutenant (jg) Fred Reynolds was the pilot of their airship and Kari's best friend. He's succumbed to their brainwashing.
Blood Cardinal Don Hernan was the guilty party on New Scotland and escaped back to California.
The Cover
The cover is a deep blue rippling water surface with four gray aircraft attacking the main Jap-Grik ship, ArataAmgi, as a second destroyer stands off.
Truly, the ocean is becoming an Iron Gray Sea as the seas of this alternate world are becoming crowded with the new steel ships being produced by the Japanese allies of the Grik as well as the allies of the Americans and the Imperials.
My Take
Hah! You only thought it was busy before...! Anderson is absolutely brilliant!! The tension, the drama...I swear my heart stopped a few times! It's Robinson Crusoe meets World War II---a make-do attitude, consorting with the natives, and using the "high" tech of the ships, planes, and weaponry of earthside's World War II. Right along with the sailing ships already in existence in this alternate world.
The battles are heating up...everywhere. Off the Sea of Japan, with the Grik off the coast of India and the Doms in California, the New British Empire with the sabotage and bombings, and a new threat right at home in Baalkpan.
As usual, Matt puts duty and honor before all else as do most of the characters in this story. Although, Matt does succumb and we finally get our happy event!
Sandra Tucker is quite pleased that the navy is going to have to get used to women serving aboard---Lemurians and Imperial women if Matt wants a full crew.
There's quite a bit of shuffling of personnel in this, hence the labeling for groups of characters. Lord knows, there are enough characters to people a world.
The Story
It begins with the refurbished Mizuki Maru pursuing the murderous crew of the Hidoiame, a Japanese destroyer which slaughtered the people residing in Okada's shogunate. And there's a chance, a very small chance that Okada has survived.
Walker is desperately in need of a refit and a dry dock. A need that Matt ignores when he gets the news about Okada and other ships sent to investigate. The only positive before the Walker heads back into action is the wedding we've all been waiting for.
Flynn's Rangers and Queen Maraan's Second Corps are trapped in and around Rocky Gap. They are the first to experience the new Grik who doesn't turn prey. The naval battle between Ellis and Kurokawa is somewhat heart-in-mouth until Keje takes the plunge.
As part of his welcome home, Bernie and some of the others have contrived a replacement for Silva's "Doom Whomper".
With the Courts of Directors disbanded and the Proprietors dead, the disgraced Lord High Admiral James McClain is still in charge of the Navy because he wasn't dismissed from the service. Yet. He is, however, the man the government will turn to to assign the orphaned princess a guardian. Unless they can find the proof of his complicity.
There is weapons experimentation on both sides with surprises on both sides. The war against the Grik is not going well. And Captain Reddy's position as CINCAF is threatened by Herring's beginning power grab.
There is some hope. Lt. Miyata has delivered his message to the Africans and suggested they seek out allies amongst his own enemies and Emperor Nig-Taak orders the repair of the Amerika. Captain Saachic encountered strange humans who were observing the battle. Generals Alden and Maraan have entrenched around the big lake. Friends AND Fred are rescuing Kari from her cage in the Dominion. And Matt has an idea that may have as great an impact as Jimmy Doolittle's attack on Tokyo.
Adar is under threat as the supreme commander of the alliance.
Unfortunately, Kurokawa seems to be learning diplomacy even as he descends further into his madness...
The Characters
"Lord" Commander Sato Okada is "now Seii Taishogun of the newly established Shogunate of Yokohama, Jaapan" which is populated by humans and Lemurians.
The crew of the U.S.S. Walker
The U.S.S. Walker sailed through a storm, a portal on the seas, which found the crew of the four-stacker destroyer isolated in a world that evolved differently from their own earth.
Lieutenant Commander (Captain) Matthew Reddy was and still is the captain of the Walker. In addition, he has become High Chief of the Amer-i-caan clan as well as Commander-in-Chief of All Allied Forces (CINCAF) "of all the powers united beneath (or beside) the Banner of the Trees".
Nurse Lieutenant Sandra Tucker is also the Alliance's Minister of Medicine as well as Captain Reddy's fiancée. Diania serves as Sandra's steward and was her "first human female recruit into the American Navy". A carpentress on Respite, she's fascinated by Boats Gray. An interest he returns.
The one-legged Juan Marcos is Matt's personal steward. And makes terrible coffee. Taarba-Kar "Tabasco" handles the tea. Lieutenant Tab-At "Tabby" is the engineering officer on Walker. Earl Lanier is still the ship's cook. First Lieutenant Norman Kutas is the former chief quartermaster. Chief Bosun Fitzhugh "Boats" Gray is Super Bosun and Matt would like him to create a school for Naval NCOs. Carl Bashear is now Chief Bosun's Mate. Chief Gunner's Mate Paul Stites will take over the Captain's Guard. Brad "Spanky" McFarlane was Walker's engineering officer but was promoted to exec. He's also allergic to cat hair. Minnie is chief of engineering. Sonny Campeti is brilliant at manual gun control. Ed Palmer is the communications officer.
First Fleet, Task Force Arraca
Commodore James Ellis is in command off the southeast coast of Grik India. Niaal-Ras-Kavaat is his exec. Captain Jis-Tikkar "Tikker" is Commander of Flight Operations (COFO) for the First Naval Air Wing. Lieutenant Commander Mark Leedom is the acting COFO for Army and Naval air out of Madras and takes refuge with Flynn's Rangers when he's shot down. General Pete Alden is in Madras and in charge of the ground troops. Colonel William Flynn and his Rangers. Captain Saachic is in charge of the meanie cavalry. Captain Bekiaa-Sab-At is Flynn's second. Commander-in-Chief-West (CINCWEST) Admiral Keje-Fris-Ar is in command of Salissa, a 'Cat home converted to an aircraft carrier.
Baalkpan
High Chief and Sky Priest of Baalkpan and Chairman of the Grand Alliance of all Allied Powers beneath (or beside) the Banner of the Trees Adar has faith. Commander Alan Letts serves as Chief of Staff to Adar and Reddy as well as Minister of Industry for the entire Alliance. After the Ceylon Campaign, Letts realizes his particular strength and he establishes a Division of Strategic Logistics. He has a daughter Allison Verdia with Karen, the surgeon commander. Commander Perry Brister is Minister of Defensive Works. Now-Colonel Benjamin Mallory rescued the P-40 "Warhawks" from the Santa Catalina. He's now in charge of the Army and Navy Air Corps for the Alliance.
Corps of Discovery
The Corps of Discovery is a new idea. An expedition assigned to contact other creatures who are like Lawrence and at risk from the Grik. The newly promoted Ensign Abel Cook will be in charge. Moe, a 'Cat hunter on Baalkpan and others will also take part. Chief Gunner's Mate Dennis Silva is a rogue assigned to Bernie Sandison in Ordnance along with Lawrence, for all that he resembles a Grik, who is loyal to the Alliance. Both Silva and Lawrence, a Tagranesi, are also secondarily assigned to the Corps of Discovery to ensure its safety. Nurse Lieutenant Pam Cross is assigned as their doctor. And she's not too happy with Silva.
Risa-Sab-At is one of Silva's girlfriends and further along with her Marines regiment than her brother Chack; Pam Cross is the other. Sister Audrey, Midshipman Stuart Brassey, and Ronson Rodriguez were some of the people with whom Silva was marooned. Isak Rueben is one of the original Mice and is moaning about having to abandon his fledging tobacco business to fly back to help with Walker's refit.
Lieutenant Irvin Laumer was a submariner when his boat was pulled through to this world and is assigned to figure out what can be done to rebuild the S-19.
The POWs who somehow survived the Hidoiame are leery of getting involved in another war and include Commander Simon Herring (who has delusions of grandeur) was with the Office of Naval Intelligence; Gunnery Sergeant Arnold Horn who joins the Corps of Discovery; Lance Corporal Ian Miles; Lieutenant Conrad Diebel who joins the air force; and, Leading Seaman Henry Stokes becomes Herring's aide. One of their biggest concerns is the 'Cats and their bigotry shows.
The Fil-pin Lands
High Chief Saan-Kakja of all the Fil-pin Lands rules what the Americans knew as the Philipines. She doesn't like the Empire and the ambassador has his work cut out for him. His Excellency Lord Bolton Forester is "the new ambassador from the Empire of the New British Isles" and a friend of the governor-emperor. He has been assigned to the Fil-pin Lands. Lieutenant Bachman is his aide.
Marine Major (Bosun's Mate at sea) Chack-Sab-At has been assigned to Manila to train old and new Marines into a British-style commando unit where he'll be closer to his "beloved Safir Maraan, General-Queen Protector of B'mbaado", a corps commander in the First Fleet Expeditionary Element. Major Jindal and his regiment of Imperial Marines from New Ireland will join him as will some of the POW survivors of Mizuki Maru.
The New Britain Imperials
Governor-Emperor Gerald McDonald rules the New British Isles and has allied with the Lemurians and Americans. Princess Rebecca Anne McDonald is almost 13 and heir to the Empire of the New British Isles. Her adventures have made her restless and it's this that saves her. Petey is her furry, flying, sentient pet. Sean "O'Casey" Bates is Governor-Emperor Gerald's Imperial Factor and Chief of Staff. Mrs. Carr is the housekeeper.
Courtney Bradford was an Australian petroleum engineer aboard Walker when she came through and he has a fascination for flora and fauna and has found this new world an exciting new place. He's currently on New Britain as ambassador for the Alliance. He'll stay on and help Princess Rebecca through the transition caused by the bombing. Sergeant Koratin had been a noble 'Cat on Jaava, but the war and his exposure to real corruption have changed him around. Lieutenant Ezekial Krish of the Imperial Navy serves as Bradford's liaison.
Inhabitants of the island of Respite
Governor Radcliff is thrilled with the overthrow of the Honorable New Britain Company; Emelia is his wife and has been his most influential advisor for years. At last, she is coming out into the open.
The Invasion of the Dominion - Task Force Maaka-Kakja
Imperial Commodore and newly appointed Commander-in-Chief-East (CINCEAST) of the Grand Alliance Harvey Jenks has replaced the idiot former Admiral McClain. Jenks is in command of the invasion of the Dominion and the relief of the Enchanted Isles. He is still in command of his ship, Achilles, but when battle commences, command will be handed off to Lieutenant Grimsley. Marine Captan Blas-Ma-Ar leads a mixed regiment of Lemurian and Imperial Marines. Stumpy has become Jenks' technical liaison and an unofficial bodyguard.
Admiral Lelaa-Tal-Cleraan is the commander of Maaka-Kakja and her task force. Chief Gilbert Yeager, one of the original fireroom Mice, is a terrible teacher and in charge of engineering with a mostly 'Cat engineering crew. Tex Sheider was S-19's radioman and how he's one of Lelaa's best friends and her exec. Brevet General Tamatsu Shinya is in command of the ground forces with Imperial Colonel Blair his second. Second Lieutenant Orrin Reddy is the Acting Lieutenant Commander and COFO for the 3rd Naval Air Wing; he's also Matt's favorite cousin. Orrin was one of the POWs who survived. Kuaar-Ran-Taak "Seepy" is his copilot/spotter/wireless-operator. Doc'Selass, Keje-Fris-Ar's daughter and personal physician to the Imperial family, flies in to take charge at the hospital.
Sir Humphries is governor for the Enchanted Isles and you'll get a laugh over his obsession with his tortoises.
The Republic of Real People
This country located on the cape of Africa consists of people who came through from their world in the change during the storms that rage on the cape. They were welcomed by the Lemurians who lived there although that is not to say that tensions do not exist.
Lieutenant Toryu Miyata is on a mission to contact humans living somewhere on the cape of Africa. Truly a diplomatic overture when the message from the Grik is "Join or die".
Kapitan Leutenant Becher Lange and Leftenant Doocy Meek are some of the men who rescued Toryu. General Marcus Kim represents the military high command of the Republic of Real People, Inquisitor Kon-Choon, a Lemurian, is a high-level intelligence officer. The SMS Amerika is the German WWI ship that Becher arrived on and is currently used as the War Palace for His Most Excellent Highness, the Emperor Nig-Taak. Kapitan Adlar Von Melhausen was the commander of the Amerika and is now the keeper of the War Palace.
The Enemy
The Japanese
General of the Sea Hisashi Kurokawa was the captain of the Amagi Maru chasing the Walker back in the old world. He and his crew allied themselves with the Grik. He's fashioned a new position for himself at the expense of his crew. Although, he has received the island of Zanzibar from the Celestial Mother, the ruler of all the Grik, as a reward where most of his men reside or visit. And where he is working on new weapons and ships that will only benefit his Japanese. His ultimate goal is to rule the entire Grik empire.
General of the Sky Hideki Muriname is rebuilding an air fleet from their one remaining Type 95 floatplane. Its structure and instruments are the models for the Grik dirigibles. Commander Riku is the head of Ordnance for the Grik and the Japanese. Signal Lieutenant Fukui is in charge of the Japanese radio and his department has picked up a weak transmission from an unknown source.
Captain Kurita commands the Hidoiame. The man who murdered his POWs and the villagers in Okada's lands.
The Grik
N'galsh is the Vice Regent of India and Ceylon and not long for this world. A weak, fearful, officious Grik. Regent Tsalka lost Ceylon and Kurokawa insisted he pay the price.
Lord General Halik had been raised from the rank of Uul to Hij after surviving for so long in the fights. He thinks outside the box and his superiors want this ability. General Orochi Niwa of the Jaaph Hunters is Halik's co-commander. First General Esshk is the Grik in charge.
The Dominion
Signals Ensign Kari-Faask is held prisoner in a cage on the plaza where human sacrifices are made in the name of the Dominion. She's held out for a long time, but is now at the end of her endurance. The citizens of the Dominion think she's an animal. Lieutenant (jg) Fred Reynolds was the pilot of their airship and Kari's best friend. He's succumbed to their brainwashing.
Blood Cardinal Don Hernan was the guilty party on New Scotland and escaped back to California.
The Cover
The cover is a deep blue rippling water surface with four gray aircraft attacking the main Jap-Grik ship, ArataAmgi, as a second destroyer stands off.
Truly, the ocean is becoming an Iron Gray Sea as the seas of this alternate world are becoming crowded with the new steel ships being produced by the Japanese allies of the Grik as well as the allies of the Americans and the Imperials.
April 19, 2021
Read this review (and others) at: https://literatureislife.com/2021/04/...
Man, this series is really getting complex. In a good way, though, in a good way. The last book showed that while the core of Grik battle tactics is still quantity over quality, they’re starting to evolve beyond simple Zerg Rush strategies. The Allies’ technology is advancing, but so are the Grik’s weapons. And as real-world wars have taught us, with new weapons come new tactics. This isn’t a super-big surprise for our human characters, but the natives of this alternate Earth have had little to no technological development for centuries.
But before we get back to the war, it’s time for the Wedding Episode! While the love story here doesn’t quite approach space opera levels, it’s still a nice thing to have. I’m a sucker for anything even approaching star-crossed lovers territory and seeing Matt and Sandra finally (formally) together is wonderful. But more importantly, the romance feels real. It’s not the contrived “perfect romance” you see in a lot of movies. Matt and Sandra are adults who realize their situation does not make this easy. Being in a strange new world, the war and both of them being reasonable adults are all factors here. But at the same time, they’ve still had that awkwardness of two people who are in love and nervous. Great to finally see some real payoff after 6 books of that.
Iron Gray Sea also gives us a bit more worldbuilding. Not a ton, because the focus is mainly on the war now, but it’s there. Namely, more details (or at least hints) on people from Earth getting transported to this world. I wouldn’t say any of those lingering questions are fully answered here, but we’re getting there. It’s probably something that’ll never be explained in full since it’s really just a plot element. But at the same time, it’s cool to see that the characters are still speculating about it. I can’t stand one-and-done “adventure of the week” style stories where past events are just never mentioned.
Anyway, the rest of Iron Gray Sea is pretty standard fare for the Destroyermen series. We got some naval battles, the army doing stuff, Silva being Silva…you know, the works. As with all war series, the war is getting more complex as the series goes on. Things kind of have to slow down as the page count gets split between different fronts and different characters. But that’s just how war series are. The series is still a fun B movie-esque romp and I look forward to seeing what comes next.
Man, this series is really getting complex. In a good way, though, in a good way. The last book showed that while the core of Grik battle tactics is still quantity over quality, they’re starting to evolve beyond simple Zerg Rush strategies. The Allies’ technology is advancing, but so are the Grik’s weapons. And as real-world wars have taught us, with new weapons come new tactics. This isn’t a super-big surprise for our human characters, but the natives of this alternate Earth have had little to no technological development for centuries.
But before we get back to the war, it’s time for the Wedding Episode! While the love story here doesn’t quite approach space opera levels, it’s still a nice thing to have. I’m a sucker for anything even approaching star-crossed lovers territory and seeing Matt and Sandra finally (formally) together is wonderful. But more importantly, the romance feels real. It’s not the contrived “perfect romance” you see in a lot of movies. Matt and Sandra are adults who realize their situation does not make this easy. Being in a strange new world, the war and both of them being reasonable adults are all factors here. But at the same time, they’ve still had that awkwardness of two people who are in love and nervous. Great to finally see some real payoff after 6 books of that.
Iron Gray Sea also gives us a bit more worldbuilding. Not a ton, because the focus is mainly on the war now, but it’s there. Namely, more details (or at least hints) on people from Earth getting transported to this world. I wouldn’t say any of those lingering questions are fully answered here, but we’re getting there. It’s probably something that’ll never be explained in full since it’s really just a plot element. But at the same time, it’s cool to see that the characters are still speculating about it. I can’t stand one-and-done “adventure of the week” style stories where past events are just never mentioned.
Anyway, the rest of Iron Gray Sea is pretty standard fare for the Destroyermen series. We got some naval battles, the army doing stuff, Silva being Silva…you know, the works. As with all war series, the war is getting more complex as the series goes on. Things kind of have to slow down as the page count gets split between different fronts and different characters. But that’s just how war series are. The series is still a fun B movie-esque romp and I look forward to seeing what comes next.
November 20, 2018
Another fantastic entry in the series. The world keeps opening up more and more and with the new revelation of the nature of this world it opens up a multitude of possibilities. Very glad I rediscovered this series and so much of it is available from my library.
July 1, 2017
This has really been shaping up to be one of my favorite series, of any kind, I've ever read. If you've read any of my other reviews from the Destroyermen series you'll know how I feel about it. It's hard to say more than I already have, but it really does just keep getting better.
The stakes have risen once again as both sides of the war, at least the western front, improve their technologies and tactics. Anderson truly does craft a compelling and relatively realistic war, in this case having the Allies as a whole knocked on their heels for the first time since the Battle of Baalkpan. I can't say much more without it being a complete spoiler, but suffice to say, the drama is blood pumpingly intense throughout almost the entire book. Thankfully, there is a fair dose of humor in there to vent the pipes a little. Not to mention, Captain Reddy and Sandra's long awaited marriage, however expedited the ceremony may have needed to be. Lastly, I just throw in that, despite the easing of tensions in the east for a brief respite, a shockingly unexpected turn of events occurs to shake up the entire New British Empire.
The stakes have risen once again as both sides of the war, at least the western front, improve their technologies and tactics. Anderson truly does craft a compelling and relatively realistic war, in this case having the Allies as a whole knocked on their heels for the first time since the Battle of Baalkpan. I can't say much more without it being a complete spoiler, but suffice to say, the drama is blood pumpingly intense throughout almost the entire book. Thankfully, there is a fair dose of humor in there to vent the pipes a little. Not to mention, Captain Reddy and Sandra's long awaited marriage, however expedited the ceremony may have needed to be. Lastly, I just throw in that, despite the easing of tensions in the east for a brief respite, a shockingly unexpected turn of events occurs to shake up the entire New British Empire.
December 28, 2015
I've been reading each installment of the series from the beginning, and though I liked this one, it seemed more like a transition book. I enjoyed the new tech that the destroyermen have developed, as well as their adversaries. However, it seemed like the revelations of the new tech dominated most of the book (where in several of the other installments, the characters and the obstacles they had to overcome were front and center). Good battle scenes, as always, and a few hints of trouble on the horizon. Overall, I liked this one, but not as much as most of the other installments.
April 26, 2025
The tale of the Destroyermen, World War II sailors and marines pulled from our world to an alternate Earth populated by sapient lemur-people and dinosaur-people, has become a global war on this new world. With more factions being added in each volume, it's becoming as big as the real WWII, spanning from North America to Africa and Asia (I don't think we've reached alt-Europe yet). The heart of the series is still Captain Matthew Reddy and the USS Walker, but many chapters are told from other POVs in other parts of the world.
So to recap: we have the Grand Alliance, made up of Americans from Earth, mostly drawn from our World War II, the Lemurians, and the pseudo-British Empire made up of descendants of the East India Company. They have been joined by a handful of Japanese defectors and captured or rogue Grik.
Against them is the Grik empire, vast and stretching across most of India and Asia. They are being advanced both technologically and socially by Japanese soldiers also pulled from our Earth's World War II. When we first encountered the Grik, they were mindless monsters. Then we learned that Grik elites were intelligent. Now the Grik elite are learning to actually train their warrior hordes to function like a disciplined army. With ironclads, zeppelins, gunpowder, and vast numerical superiority, the war is now an existential one.
On the other side of the world is the Dominion, descended from a medieval Catholic Church fused with the Aztec religion. Long the enemies of the Empire and posing a lesser but still significant threat, the Dominion barely appears in this book except for a couple of short chapters featuring a Lemurian and an American destroyerman who were captured by them in the last book.
Iron Gray Sea features the Grand Alliance growing and learning the difficulties of managing a multiple theater war. Both Lemurians and humans make mistakes and find themselves for the first time experiencing conflicting goals, much as happened in our World Wars.
The book builds up to a couple of climactic battles. One is strategically insignificant but since it's Matthew Reddy and the USS Walker, it's obviously the most dramatic. Reddy has been hunting another rogue Japanese destroyer, the Hidoiame ("Terrible Rain") since the last book, so the cat and mouse game between them takes up many chapters in this one before the final battle.
The other battle is the big one between the human-Lemurian fleet and the new Japanese-Grik ironclads, led by the mad Japanese captain Kurakawa, who has become the scenery-chewing villain of the series, so evil and megalomaniacal even the Grik are starting to think there's something wrong with him.
There are also some side plots involving yet more "refugees" from different time periods of Earth, and even hints that maybe not everyone is coming from the same Earth.
This series is long, and each book makes only a little bit of progress in the timeline, but I've stopped complaining about the grind, because there's enough meat in each book to make it interesting, even the characters are often just archetypes whose major personality traits are repeated to us over and over.
So to recap: we have the Grand Alliance, made up of Americans from Earth, mostly drawn from our World War II, the Lemurians, and the pseudo-British Empire made up of descendants of the East India Company. They have been joined by a handful of Japanese defectors and captured or rogue Grik.
Against them is the Grik empire, vast and stretching across most of India and Asia. They are being advanced both technologically and socially by Japanese soldiers also pulled from our Earth's World War II. When we first encountered the Grik, they were mindless monsters. Then we learned that Grik elites were intelligent. Now the Grik elite are learning to actually train their warrior hordes to function like a disciplined army. With ironclads, zeppelins, gunpowder, and vast numerical superiority, the war is now an existential one.
On the other side of the world is the Dominion, descended from a medieval Catholic Church fused with the Aztec religion. Long the enemies of the Empire and posing a lesser but still significant threat, the Dominion barely appears in this book except for a couple of short chapters featuring a Lemurian and an American destroyerman who were captured by them in the last book.
Iron Gray Sea features the Grand Alliance growing and learning the difficulties of managing a multiple theater war. Both Lemurians and humans make mistakes and find themselves for the first time experiencing conflicting goals, much as happened in our World Wars.
The book builds up to a couple of climactic battles. One is strategically insignificant but since it's Matthew Reddy and the USS Walker, it's obviously the most dramatic. Reddy has been hunting another rogue Japanese destroyer, the Hidoiame ("Terrible Rain") since the last book, so the cat and mouse game between them takes up many chapters in this one before the final battle.
The other battle is the big one between the human-Lemurian fleet and the new Japanese-Grik ironclads, led by the mad Japanese captain Kurakawa, who has become the scenery-chewing villain of the series, so evil and megalomaniacal even the Grik are starting to think there's something wrong with him.
There are also some side plots involving yet more "refugees" from different time periods of Earth, and even hints that maybe not everyone is coming from the same Earth.
This series is long, and each book makes only a little bit of progress in the timeline, but I've stopped complaining about the grind, because there's enough meat in each book to make it interesting, even the characters are often just archetypes whose major personality traits are repeated to us over and over.
February 28, 2019
So many problems with this book but the ones that stand out to me, and had me screaming back at the book are:
- Zeppelins sneaking up on troops/boats that are looking for them. Anyone who has ever seen a blimp in person will, of course, know that you can see a blimp/Zeppelin from miles away. Plus, they move so slowly that once you see them you have at least an hour before they arrive. It takes a great deal of skill to overcome even the most modest winds with modern propellers/motors/operational controls. How could creatures with the aptitude of a five-year-old possibly get them in position to effectively bomb a moving target? It's just not believable.
- Planes being taken down by zeppelins is probably the most unbelievable part of the whole book. All a plane has to do is stay above a zeppelin and it can never be hit by the basket. Duh!
- Grik flying glider bombs into moving boats. It's not that easy to put a glider where you want it but somehow a creature with the mind of a 5-year-old is able to accomplish this feat over and over again.
- Zeppelins sneaking up on troops/boats that are looking for them. Anyone who has ever seen a blimp in person will, of course, know that you can see a blimp/Zeppelin from miles away. Plus, they move so slowly that once you see them you have at least an hour before they arrive. It takes a great deal of skill to overcome even the most modest winds with modern propellers/motors/operational controls. How could creatures with the aptitude of a five-year-old possibly get them in position to effectively bomb a moving target? It's just not believable.
- Planes being taken down by zeppelins is probably the most unbelievable part of the whole book. All a plane has to do is stay above a zeppelin and it can never be hit by the basket. Duh!
- Grik flying glider bombs into moving boats. It's not that easy to put a glider where you want it but somehow a creature with the mind of a 5-year-old is able to accomplish this feat over and over again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2016
A writer once wrote of Michigan's upper peninsula that there are two seasons - winter and getting ready for winter. Well, for the characters in this series (this is the seventh book), there is war and getting ready for war.
Our heroes from the crew of an already-outdated destroyer in WWII have been thrown into an alternate world where evolution took different turns. The two dominant species are one group descended from reptiles (the warlike Grik who are making things miserable for everyone else) and another descended from the lemurs of Madagascar, who become the humans' allies in this strange new world. The cast of characters has grown as they've found more allies who have come from other points in our world's history, but the battles have simply spread across a wider geographic range.
This is escapist alternate reality fiction at its best, and I'm enjoying every minute of it.
Our heroes from the crew of an already-outdated destroyer in WWII have been thrown into an alternate world where evolution took different turns. The two dominant species are one group descended from reptiles (the warlike Grik who are making things miserable for everyone else) and another descended from the lemurs of Madagascar, who become the humans' allies in this strange new world. The cast of characters has grown as they've found more allies who have come from other points in our world's history, but the battles have simply spread across a wider geographic range.
This is escapist alternate reality fiction at its best, and I'm enjoying every minute of it.
July 23, 2022
[2.9 stars, I liked it, not sure I'll read again]
The series has moved from good to less good in this installment. Technology advances, new cultures and castaways are introduced, and characters are interesting, but it feels like the card game war, where control see-saws back and forth in a scripted fashion. The minor characters blossom, but the main characters fall in to predictable path. The plot developments are less compelling; it's not as absorbing as Firestorm was, and in the end it is plot twists applied to excellent characters that provide the poignant moments in a story which make it worth re-reading. These are missing here.
Favorite character: Generals Niwa and Halik; Fred Reynolds, Tabby, and Petey (because his colorful comments unerringly slide into amusing spots without him understanding it). And Tikker, who combines humor, loyalty, thoughtfulness with friendship.
The series has moved from good to less good in this installment. Technology advances, new cultures and castaways are introduced, and characters are interesting, but it feels like the card game war, where control see-saws back and forth in a scripted fashion. The minor characters blossom, but the main characters fall in to predictable path. The plot developments are less compelling; it's not as absorbing as Firestorm was, and in the end it is plot twists applied to excellent characters that provide the poignant moments in a story which make it worth re-reading. These are missing here.
Favorite character: Generals Niwa and Halik; Fred Reynolds, Tabby, and Petey (because his colorful comments unerringly slide into amusing spots without him understanding it). And Tikker, who combines humor, loyalty, thoughtfulness with friendship.
February 27, 2021
This is an awesome alternate reality series. This one I started in early 2019 and would pick it up every once in a while and read for a bit until some new thing called to me. I finally got series about it a few days ago when I returned the last book from the library and could turn my attention to physical books in my house. Got after it and finished it in a fairly short time. World War II, battleships sail into a storm and out of the world into another earth where this has been going on since forever, I guess. They encounter strange animals, some familiar, some definitely "out" of this world. I have the next checked out of the library. Hopefully I'll get after it a little faster. Can't keep it for two years like I can my own personal books.
September 7, 2024
While still enjoying the series, I now have a complaint. The author has too many separate stories going at the same time and it is detracting from each story. The author has a war in east, war in west, POW in east, home front story, Corp of Discovery expedition, rogue Jap ship acting as a pirate, new nation in Africa, and the story from the enemy viewpoint. All of these are interesting stories but we don’t get much detail on each because of the number of stories. And because of all the stories at this point a person definitely needs to be reading the books in order to be able to keep up with different story lines. I did enjoy it and will read the next book to see what happens next.
November 26, 2019
Another okay book, with parts that are better, parts that drag. I only read this one because a friend said to keep going after the last one. And what I see is the same thing I did after the previous book in this series, it's one long story with no end in sight. I like books that feel like at least for this volume the salient details of the story/conflicts have been resolved. Not so here. I am moving on to other stuff.
October 14, 2018
Back to more action.. this time on multiple fronts. Griks have gotten smarter, and hurting Allied Forces more than expected, but despite setbacks, new plans are forming up, and there are new people on the horizon. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
November 18, 2018
I should not have taken this long to finish this book. It was pretty amazing and the story is taking a bit of a crazy turn. Life kept getting in the way of me finishing this book faster but still loved it!
December 25, 2018
Rousing good stuff
Action on land, sea, and air. The Grick are learning quickly, the Dom threat grows, and the fledgling alliance stretches thin. Looking forward to cracking open the next book.
Action on land, sea, and air. The Grick are learning quickly, the Dom threat grows, and the fledgling alliance stretches thin. Looking forward to cracking open the next book.
February 26, 2021
As the war expands, I almost lose track of which characters are where. This book does not have a much action, but it does develop infrastructure. Also adds new characters that will be interesting in the future books.
October 26, 2021
As the arms race continues, I find myself losing interest in this series. Not only is there an arms race, but the "war" is spreading across the globe and is involving many more nations. Time for me to call it quits.
March 14, 2023
Very soft 4, almost rounding down to a 3. It's not that it's bad, but the books are getting somewhat formulaic and predictable. I think the pace of the writing (a book each year) is hurting the story too.
Overall enjoyable, but my least favorite of the series so far. Might be time for a break.
Overall enjoyable, but my least favorite of the series so far. Might be time for a break.
February 20, 2024
A strong entry in this series. The technological advancement of the alliance is very interesting and enjoyable. The second half of the book covers some tense and exciting battles with some dramatic losses.
June 8, 2025
Decent continuation of the Destroyermen story line but really too much pathos and second guessing by the protagonists.
Seems to be leading in to a divergent storyline where people from multiple, earth dimensions are drawn to this world
Seems to be leading in to a divergent storyline where people from multiple, earth dimensions are drawn to this world
July 24, 2017
Wonderful series!
October 14, 2017
It is interesting can't wait to read more of the series.
July 10, 2018
Captain ready and the crew are in for more adventures! The series keeps getting better and better!
July 12, 2018
I smell a movie deal on the horizon....
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