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"I cannot recommend Taylor Anderson too highly." -David Weber, author of Out of the Dark
Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy and the crew of the USS Walker find themselves caught between the nation they swore to defend and the allies they promised to protect. For even as the Allies and the Empire of New Britain Isles stand united against the attacks of both the savage Grik and the tenacious Japanese, the "Holy Dominion"-a warped mixture of human cultures whose lust for power overshadows even the Grik-is threatening to destroy them both with a devastating weapon neither can withstand.
War is breaking out all over in this new episode of Firestorm. Lieutenant Matthew Reddy and the stalwart crew of the USS Walker have been tested enough fighting against Japanese warriors and the devious Grik; now the Holy Dominion, a warped hybrid of power-hungry humans is threatening to level the battlefield with a new ultimate battle. Action-packed alternative history with an imaginative flair.
In 1942, two creaking World War I–era U.S. destroyers in the Pacific fall through a temporal discontinuity into an alternate world—along with a Japanese battle cruiser—and find themselves fighting a very different World War II: This is the latest in the Destroyermen series (Rising Tides, 2011, etc.).
In this new world, the oceans swarm with gigantic, ferocious creatures. Warm-blooded dinosaurs evolved into the predatory "Grik," of whom only the leaders are truly intelligent—the rest follow programmed pack behavior. Fighting the Grik are intelligent cat-like "Lemurians," whom the Grik are attempting to exterminate. Further complicating the picture are two other human groups, the Empire of the New Britain Isles, descended from marooned British Royal Navy sailors from the 18th century, and the Holy Dominion, Spanish colonists who practice a bloodthirsty version of Catholicism involving human sacrifice, mostly of nubile young women. The Americans, led by Captain Matthew Reddy, ally themselves with the Lemurians and the Empire against the Grik and their Japanese collaborators, only to find themselves fighting the insensate Holy Dominion, too. The action, which rarely slackens, features splendid naval battles pitting destroyers against wooden-hulled fleets with cannons, land engagements where vastly outnumbered humans and Lemurians face hordes of vicious but none-too-bright dinosaurs, and inflexible Imperials terrorized by fanatically loyal Catholic armies. While some Japanese desert, unable to stomach the frightful Grik or the actions of their sadistic leaders, the Grik attempt to develop smarter, more flexible tactics and secret weapons. Intriguing what-ifs and convolutions by the boatload combine with churning, bloodthirsty warfare that grips despite the confusion of a largely indistinguishable cast of thousands struggling to the death in a historical melting pot amid re-named or unrecognizable landmarks.
Series fans will jump right in. Newcomers should begin at the beginning—and take notes.
Taylor Anderson has a master's degree in history and teaches that subject at Tarleton State University in Texas.
In 1942 three combat vessels fell from this world into another realm. The two American destroyers and their enemy Japanese battle cruiser found an odd world. The dinosaur-like Grik are ethnically cleaning the feline-like Lemurians. The Japanese join the Grik side while USS Walker Commander Matthew Reddy unites his crew, those of the American frigate the USS Donaghey, the Lemurians and the human Empire of the New Britain Isles.
However, another human empire, the Holy Dominion has a different plan to eradicate the two sentient non human species and the otherworldly humans while subjecting their rival Empire of the New Britain Isles. Matthew, leading the ally military forces against the Grik-Japanese alliance, worries that his side faces a two front war while more Japanese ships come through the Squall from earth with ruthlessness as the only rule of engagement because they believe in victory at all costs.
The Destroyermen series (see Distant Thunders and Rising Tides) always provides non-stop military action with the latest entry not only living up to its predecessors but complicating the playing field. The story line is fast-paced from the onset and never slows down as Matthew uses all types of battle tactics to compensate for the Japanese superior ships and amoral disdain for collateral damage. Part of his plan is to take the fight to the Spanish conquistador Old Dominion on land and at sea but must also deal with the Japanese and the diabolically clever Grik. Although only Matthew stands out in a cast that would make Cecil B DeMille proud, fans will enjoy World War II.
Harriet Klausner
7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 31, 2011
I was looking forward to this as I have read the previous five books in the series. I was not disappointed. As with most books, there were a few slow spots, but all in all a good read.
I am waiting for Number 7 to come out.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 5, 2012
Pads in and lays down
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 12, 2012
Mew
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 27, 2012
As always, this series delivers.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 14, 2012
I really love books like this series. Not sense ""the lost regiment" have i been hooked on a book series waiting impatiently for the next book in the series to be published. There are some inaccuracies about the ships, damage control etc but all in all i would tell anyone to get the previous 5 books as well as the 6"th one out now. I am chomping at the bit about when or if ? A 7th book is gonna be in the works and how soon will it be avail if so.
Get this whole series for a good read
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 1, 2011
FIRESTORM CONTINUES THE SAGA WHILE EXPANDING THE STORYLINE, I LOOK FOWARD TO MORE CHAPTERS
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 9, 2013
I've loved this series from the very beginning.
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Posted November 20, 2012
another great book by taylor anderson keep them coming
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Posted October 6, 2012
follows storyline well. lesves you wanting more. also read book #7 and can't wait for #8
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Posted September 15, 2012
Hey! Come to forth res Snowkit and i are playing moss ball!!!
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 12, 2012
Cool new apprentices
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 10, 2012
Swiftstream from skyclan. My clan is dead.
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 10, 2012
Orangebresult two
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 10, 2012
Burrowfoot a tom
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 9, 2012
Her jaw dropped. Im leaving this clan. She stalked out the camp
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 9, 2012
Is this fireclan? I would like to speak to the leader please. *she says looking around cautously*
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Posted September 14, 2012
Hi im sunglow remember me go to result three.
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Posted September 8, 2012
*turns back into the long fanged black cat nighthawk* there. *drops unconcious on the spot*
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 8, 2012
ThunderClan at Thundering cats first result are planning to attack you and steal kits! They say if you dont attack them first they will attack you tonight! Warning!
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Overview
"I cannot recommend Taylor Anderson too highly." -David Weber, author of Out of the Dark
Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy and the crew of the USS Walker find themselves caught between the nation they swore to defend and the allies they promised to protect. For even as the Allies and the Empire of New Britain Isles stand united against the attacks of both the savage Grik and the tenacious Japanese, the "Holy Dominion"-a warped mixture of human cultures whose lust for power ...