Firestorm: Destroyermen [Hardcover]

I've been following this series since it was out, and I have to say, it's been interesting watching this author's writing mature over the passage of the series. If you are buying this book im going to assume that you probably have read the 1st few books already soooo....
The positives:

-Lots of action and battling (realistic as well...no inconsistencies that I can come up with)
-No plot holes or inconsistencies that I know of...(things like stormtrooper accuracy or dues ex machinas)
-interesting plot twists and elements keeps the story engaging
-not a dictionary. Some authors (ahem david weber) can get books to some 800 pages. This one is a good length I think.
-the world is rich with potential storylines and possible plots, much like Eric Flint's 1632 series i would think.
-no super long political meetings (thankfully)
-makes for an enjoyable read overall
-Dennis. Freaking. Silva. that is all.
-if you liked the previous ones, you will definitely like this one.

negatives:
-The character development is kinda shallow compared to other series i think. I can pretty much label a character and that character will stay true to that label...well forever. So predictable in some ways which detracts from the book a bit.
-The enemies are just that, the bad guys. They have no redeeming qualities, just like the heroes have no real negative qualities (with one exception). Basically, it makes them somewhat boring as a species. (however, this author seems to be working on this)
-there are some points where i felt the author cut off way prematurely, where the situation could have been more explored in depth or actually depicted.
-As the story grows larger, the characters that hooked me are getting less and less screen time. I hope that Mr. Anderson doesn't fall into what I call the Weber Trap, that is, where the world/universe/story grows so large that we lose focus on the characters/type of story that we got hooked on in the 1st place.

I like this book, however, it isn't perfect (mostly due to character development i think) and it simply doesn't have those meaningful moments that gives me reason to reread it. Nothing really touched me on an emotional level. However, I still have high hopes for this author!

I first noticed the original three books in Taylor Anderson's "Destroyermen" series at the local bookstore, and was greatly intrigued by the cover art. I liked the basic premise: in 1942, an aging WWI-era naval destroyer named the USS Walker gets pulled into an alternate universe by a freakish electrical storm somewhere near modern-day Indonesia. Suddenly, a ship-full of memorable characters, totally bewildered, encounter somewhat familiar seas and islands populated by bizarre, often malevolent, sometimes very intelligent creatures.

To survive, the protagonists have to become very resourceful -- quickly -- and make friends with the native Lemurians (nicknamed the 'Cats), who are mammalian but definitely not human. The major threat to their collective existence consists of Japanese also caught in the storm, who have allied themselves with insane velociraptor-type creatures called the Grik.

OK, I was hooked. Fast forward to Book Six of the series, "Firestorm", and I'm still hooked. It's becoming an expensive habit, buying these things straightaway in hardcover because I can't bear the thought of waiting another year for the paperback edition.

By now, the world of the Destroyermen has become very complex indeed. "Firestorm" came out much sooner than I'd expected, or I would have re-read the previous five volumes to prepare myself. The cast of characters has become so large, I'm having trouble keeping track of them all. Still, I plunged into the story with gusto. By the time I got halfway through the book, it was all coming back to me.

You definitely will want to read those earlier volumes before you start in on this one.

There are several different interwoven storylines picking up from Book Five, "Rising Tides". One arc, on the western front, follows the on-going war with the Grik and their remaining Japanese allies -- those who haven't been eaten yet. This is centered on the island of Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka in our universe). The Grik are starting to show disturbing signs of learning how to think for themselves; rather than just try to overwhelm their "prey" in their ravening thousands, they're beginning to actually employ strategy, even deviousness. They've got a few nasty tricks waiting in reserve. Will our friends get caught in a trap? Or will they catch wise to the situation?

On the eastern front is the developing conflict between the Empire of New Britain and the Holy Dominion, a tyranny dominated by some twisted amalgam of Roman Catholicism and the old Aztec religion, complete with human sacrifice and Blood Priests. A number of Americans and Lemurians, allied with Governor-Emperor Gerald McDonald, are trying to free the island of New Ireland from the clutches of the Dominion. The USS Walker, meanwhile, is heading toward North America to head off a likely invasion of some New British colonies. The Doms, as the enemy is known, also have some nasty surprises waiting.

A third story arc involves the appearance of yet more Japanese ships through the rift between universes. It is now late 1943, and the Pacific War is not going so well for Japan. They have some American prisoners who manage to escape, including a cousin of Lieutenant Commander Matt Ready. It is urgent that the allies find this new bunch of Japanese before they can complicate matters even further.

And there are a couple of minor story arcs, which are interesting and will presumably take on greater importance in later installments of the series.

All of our favorite characters are back, including Dennis Silva, Matt Ready, Sandra Tucker, Princess Rebecca McDonald, "Larry the Lizard" and any number of different Lemurians. Unfortunately, as another reviewer also notes, we don't get to spend a lot of time with these people, as different chapters focus on different plotlines and jump back and forth.

In fact, the book could benefit from a "dramatis personae" listing the principal lands, races and characters. Kind of like the "Dragondex" in Anne McCaffrey's early Pern novels. Call it the "Destroyerdex".

Without giving away too much of the plot, I can say that the book ends on a satisfying note for some of our old friends, while others are left in a very sticky predicament. Hopefully, Book Seven isn't too far away. This series has come a long way from that original trilogy, and there's no end in sight.

Increasingly, we're seeing a parallel WWII unfolding in this alternate universe. I can't help but wonder what else might cross over from our world as 1945 comes around.

'Firestorm' is Book six in The Destroyermen series

In previous books of this series,
This is the ongoing exciting story of WWII American, Captain Reddy and the crew of the warship USS Walker as they go into battle to defend and uphold their right to survive after being whisked away from a coral seas, sea battle with a much larger, and more powerful Japanese War Cruiser called 'Armargy' and, after going through a strange green portal in a squall into a new, strange world. Into the Storm: Destroyermen, Book I

In this strange world that is strikingly familiar geographically to their own world of old earth. They meet and make friends with talking sea faring lemurian 'Cat Monkeys' that ride the oceans in giant 'Homes' that are giant wooden ships that compare in size to aircraft carriers and, new 'British' allies of 'The empire of New Britain Isles' who are descendants of members of a group of 'British East Indian company' sailing ships that had also been brought through a strange green portal in a squall to this strange world in a previous centaury.

Against these gallant and courageous warriors are the fearsome two legged carnivores called the 'Grik'. The Grik, who will not only eat their own young but will just as happily eat their own (or anyone else's) fallen or injured warriors and consider any other creature as 'Prey' or 'Worthy Prey'. The overall leader of the many Grik is a huge giant evil 'Mother Grik' who is described as a giant slovenly grossly overweight crocodile looking creature.

The war effort by the Grik against the allies in this exciting and glorious episode is led by a fanatical WWII Japanese admiral, who, was also brought to this world, his ship was a Japanese War Cruiser called 'Armargy' in a series of exciting battles with the allies in book four Distant Thunders: Destroyermenand book five Rising Tides: Destroyermen this Admiral lost his ship.
This Admiral 'Hates' Americans and American allies and still worships his Japanese Emperor, this Admiral has joined the Grik mainly to attack the Allies, but, is also assisting them to destroy their ancient Prey the lemurian 'Cat Monkeys 'by providing ideas and technology from his WWII earth. what technology??? this you will see when you buy the book/audio cd from Amazon.

In 'Firestorm' Captain Reddy and the crew of the warship USS Walker also have to battle the religious blood eating human fanatics called 'The Holy Dominion' The Holy Dominion that has part dark ages, inquisition type Catholic beliefs and part ancient Aztec beliefs (heart cutting out, in sacrifice, type beliefs) and who are led by a group of Blood Cardinals, these cardinals follow a man who styles himself as a "God on earth" and, who takes pleasure in death, purification by pain, torture and bloodletting.

With all of the above happening, Captain Reddy and his intrepid warriors also have, Mountain fish, fish big enough to bite a galleon (a large three-masted sailing ship) in half, carnivorous tuna sized fish, dinosaurs of multiple types and sizes and, flying dragons that attack his ship (in formation no less)to handle.

With love regularly occurring on his ship and on land, an Australian naturist (that has 'amazing' adventures) as an advisor, and, a big, muscular, loveable, 'Gunners Mate' named 'Silver' that always seems to be getting himself in trouble and who also has 'amazing' adventures, 'Firestorm' is an entertaining read.

Firestorm is Book six in The Destroyermen series.Firestorm: Destroyermen

I would highly recommend that you buy 'Firestorm' and I would highly recommend that you purchase the full up to date series. (with more to come)

This is an exciting series written by an excellent author "Taylor Anderson"

I purchase all of my audio and hard cover books from Amazon.com.

Amazon.com are my preferred book and audio merchants.

Thank you

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