Distant Thunders (Destroyermen)

The book was in good shape and was shipped/received in expected time frame.You have to suppend reality to read these type of stories.This is the fourth book in this story and there is a little too much coverage of their industry but I have already ordered book number five.

In the past few years, it has become increasingly difficult to find a standalone sci-fi novel, with the publishing industry favoring multi-book contracts. As the selections of single-book stories have thinned, I have been forced to sample more of these printed mini-series. Distant Thunders was my look at the Destroyermen family. It will be my last look.

As is often the case with these type of dragged-out plot lines, the writing is clogged with detail overkill. It took forever to slog through rambling discourses on technologies - real and imagined - that at best were only marginally important to the story. This particular author also populates this series with a huge list of characters, with whom he seems to think we are on a first-name basis, and for whom he seldom provides background as he reintroduces them in some passage. The casual reader is not welcome here in the land of fanboys.

Finally - and again not unexpectedly - the reader best not hope for resolution in the final pages. Perhaps one or two of the several threads unravelled are brought to any kind of conclusion. It is just assumed that the sheep will return in a few months or a few years to be dragged again through whatever latest chapter-called-a-book the publisher dangles in front of them.

Perhaps this works for the generations raised in front of televisions. It does not work for me. I found this book tedious and unfulfilling.

I got about 20% into this book before I gave up. I had virtually no idea of what was going on, who (or what) were the main characters or why I should care. Sort of like a Star Wars movie if you take out all of the humans.

Taylor Anderson continues to deliver in the Destroymen series.The concept of the obsolete Pacific fleet destroyer that were basically target practice in WWII being such a huge force for good in this parallel world that it gets sucked into is quite interesting. With the world there much more hostile than the world we are from, with the Grik on one side, a world that seems intent on eating you (the pirannah-like fish and the larger mountain fish) and only one real ally, the Lemurians you would think that the prospects for the Americans to be pretty grim.

But Captain Reddy and his crew continue to persevere. Even in the face of interaction with the New Britain Imperial Navy and the increasing threat of the Grik don't seem to keep them down. The action is pretty non-stop, with a lot of story lines going on at the same time. The main focus is on the developing relationship and exploration of the New Britain (and the associated "Company" (Far East India Trading Company basically) which is the power that is manipulating the throne) given that they have the Princess Rebecca in their protection. While CPT Reddy is away an agent of the Company kidnaps Rebecca, her protector Dennis Silva as well as Reddy's fiance are kidnapped.

A lot of this book was build-up. Exploring the development of additional technologies and critical repairs that hopefully will pay off in the future novels. In addition to the Grik menace, the less than friendly Imperials there is also hints of another set of humans located in the America's that may present another threat in the future. Lots of space for these threads to continue to develop. I already picked up the next book in the series because I am excited to see how it develops.

I'm going to try to take a different approach with this review. As someone who greatly enjoyed the first 3 books of the series, I was very excited when I learned there would be more. I am not going to summarize this book, as other reviewers have already done this and have probably done a better job at it than I would. My main points are if you have not read the first 3 books, do so. It is not necessary to enjoy this book to do so, but if you don't you will be missing out on some very enjoyable reading. For me it was a joy to read about the further adventures and trials of characters I had learned about in the first 3 books, and I greatly enjoyed enjoyed the experience. The flashbacks and the fact that the series is stretching out has been pointed out by others. I can understand the flashbacks for the benefit of new readers, and the fact that the series is stretching out couldn't make me happier. I have a connection with the characters now, and getting to read more about them is like reuniting with old friends. My only complaint is having to wait for the next installment. Read it - you should enjoy it as well and the other books in the series.

Distant Thunders is the 4th book in the Destroyerman series. Taylor Anderson has another great book. If you love David Weber books you will love Taylor Anderson. The book does have enough flashback info to enjoy on its own but it is much better to read the previous 3 books. The victories the alliance of the Americans and the Lemurians over the Grik and Japanese are just the beginning of the future battles to come of who will survive. The New British island nation people whom little was mentioned in book 3 is now explored a bit more. Some spoilers: There is a big power grab by the Company over the Emperor-Governor of New Britain. We see hints of other nations and races that will be introduced in the next books. Capt Reddy has to win over Com Jenks and get Princess Rebecca home safe and sound. He has to get his crippled ship repaired before the Grik attack eventually or the treacherous Company tries something sneaky. He has to get some new airplanes built, pilots trained and flying. Capt Reddy has to scout out what the Grik are planning. He has a full plate. The Grik are learning to think and are also planning tech upgrades such as better ships and airplanes.

For me, this was an eagerly awaited continuation of the original Destroyermen series!

At the end of "Maelstrom" the U.S.S. Walker sank in the harbor of Ballkpan after sinking the japanese battlecruiser Amagi, and a massive land battle in which the Allies defeated a Grik invasion in an overwhelming manner. Rescue of Japanese Captain Kurokawa from the wreckage of the Amagi set the tone for the future of the conflict between the warring parties. Shortly after the opening of "Distant Thunders" a flotilla of ships from the New Britain Navy appear and are searching for Princess Rebecca, daughter of the Governer of New Britain. This flotilla is led by Commodore Harvey Jenks, who appeared briefly in "Maelstrom."

A great deal of suspicion towards the Allies is demonstrated by Jenks, reinforced by his company "political officer" Billingsly. After some discussions, Jenks reluctantly agrees to accompany Captain Matthew Reddy on an exploratory voyage to Arryal to determine the movements and strategy of the Grik; Billingsly meantime is hatching a plot to abduct the Princess.

Meanwhile, we are treated to development of aircraft, steam engines, salvage of the wrecked Amagi, and repairs to the Walker as the expedition prepares to sally forth. Another smaller expedition is formed to attemt salvage of the S-19 in the Fill-Pin lands. Slowly Jenks becomes an ally instead of a skeptical enemy, as he observes the actions of the Lemurian Allies in combat, and observing the manner in which the Grik have treated their enemies.

Billingsly succeeds in snatching Princess Rebecca and Lieutenant Tucker, but has Chief Dennis Silva to deal with. As we have learned in the 3 previous novels: Billingsly is in TROUBLE! Unlike the previous novels the conclusion is a "cliff-hanger."

Well crafted and interesting. A great read--5 stars, without question.

The reptilian Grik continue their assault using any sort of mass weapons of destruction against the Lemurians whose strongest supporter are the dimensionally displaced U.S. Navy Captain Matt Reddy and the crew of the USS Walker. The American navy desperately is trying to move forward the Bronze Age Lemurians into at least an Industrial Age and preferably past that too especially with their ship badly devastated in the last encounter (see Maelstrom). That is the only hope for the allies against the overwhelming superiority of the invading Grik.

Reddy and his unit make some progress using paddle-wheel steam frigates developed in New Britain as the Americans free cities in the west from the previously invincible conquerors and give new hope to their allies. However when word reaches Reddy that the enemy has captured New British Princess Rebecca Anne McDonald, he rushes back east on the renovated USS Walker to mount a rescue of a key symbol.

The latest Destroyermen science fiction thriller, Distant Thunders, is an action-packed entry with strong relevant moral questions about the rules of combat engagement running throughout the adrenalin pumping story line. Reddy ponders whether negotiations with a species apparently seeking genocide are feasible as the enemy seems resistant to a peaceful solution although the displaced hero recognizes some of the beliefs on both sides may be bogeyman propaganda. He also wonders whether are any weapons of mass destruction include biological, chemical or nuclear in their arsenal that will be used especially on the brink of perhaps extinction acceptable? Taylor Anderson is one of the best at military science fiction as his plots combine cerebral thought provoking issues within a great adventure tale; the alternate realm of the Destroyermen saga is worth the journey.

Harriet Klausner

A good tale well told - as was the first two in the series!

Good characters, interesting setting, intriguing plot, well handled story telling.

Not great, but quite good. Good enough to be very readable and definitely good enough to make it worth picking up the next in the series.

I was fascinated to see how much of a shambles the intrepid Walker could be made into yet still, somehow, be made to keep going. Anderson knows his ships and he knows the sort of men it takes to run them. By concentrating on that he wrings a compelling tale from the human scale drama.

This is a tale of voracious and implacable enemies, spirited humans being human, and plucky allies all coming together in the most exciting manner possible.

Well worth the read.

Once again Taylor Anderson delivers a rollicking adventure in the alternate reality he has created. I was concerned that the story might fall flat at the end of the initial trilogy, but it was not to be. This installment is the best of the series. Not only does this novel follow logically with the last novel (within the confines of the Lemurian reality), it expands the universe and the possibilities of further plot twists. I desperately needed some escapist fiction that could draw me in, and Mr Anderson delivered!! Looking forward to the next installment.

As a disclaimer, I read this on my iPhone in e-book format because the Kindle version was not available when I wanted to order the book.

I haven't any idea how long this series was initially intended on going on, but I thought it was a trilogy based on the tone and pace of volume one. Now we're on to volume four with as much in front of us as behind.

In addition, the author is caught in a trap that befalls any multi-book series. He can either assume the reader in the later books has read the previous books and is up to date on them or he needs to constantly insert flashbacks. Here Anderson uses flashbacks and uses them quite a bit so if someone were to have read volume one months or years ago they'd be refreshed as to the tensions and relationships. The downside is if one were to find this series and consume them in rather rapid order, the flashbacks become irritating and slow the narrative down. This book is replete with sentences like, "X looked with annoyance at Y remembering that in the battle of Z, Y failed to perform some task or another." That's fine unless you just read about the battle of Z a few days ago as I had. It seemed to this reviewer that we couldn't get a page or two without yet another flashback.

I understand the need for this so I'm not knocking the book down but thought to mention it as a heads up for readers who may be more annoyed at this than I was.

What has me annoyed is that, like Robert Jordan, Taylor Anderson has found a world which immerses many readers. Rather than have a neat, tight trilogy or two book series, he or his publisher or someone has decided to streeeeeetch this thing out. To me, this would be stronger if the stretching included many more details of the alien societies which are still superficially treated now four books in. Instead, most of the action is among the few humans (two threads of humans, but all human) and the aliens do very little unless they are acting in concert with or in reaction to, humans.

I enjoyed this book as I enjoyed the series but I'm bothered by the prospect that it'll be years before the series finishes dealing with the issues facing it now. In addition, there is a whole new world to explore which could have been and may be in the offing.

I gave up on Jordan's Wheel of Time series when the mid volumes slowed down to glacially narrated office politics. I hope this doesn't occur with Anderson's series, but as of the slowdown in volume four, I'm seeing similar symptoms.

Wow! What can I say. This series has just grown better at each stage but THIS book! Thrilling, action-packed, edge-of-seat stuff! The cuddly meerkats are no longer "meerkats"... they're just characters in the story and only occasionally are you reminded that they have fur and tails! The nasty lizards, the Griks, are no longer simply mindless, carnivorous killers but have also taken on deeper characteristics. ...and now a further dimension has been added to the tale. I cannot recommend the Destroyermen series highly enough - entertainment is a given, thrilling is a byword.

Anderson can write good, suspenseful fiction, and I'm still a fan of this series, but I have to say that I wasn't sure I could get through this one. The 1st quarter of the book was mostly a whole lot of characters "thinking" - and I do mean a whole lot. (Way too many povs to keep track of.) The 2nd quarter of the book was filled with lots of skippable explanations of what kind of nuts and bolts every single machine required - and how each washer was manufactured. Even how the metals were obtained. Finally, at somewhere around the 50 percent mark, the plot kicked in and the story got started. To Anderson's credit, it was a fine story. Anderson has made these unlikely "people" feel like old friends. Just wish I didn't have to wade through so much tedium to get back into their absorbing situation.
Of course it ended with several cliff-hangers, but I actually like that.
I recommend the book, but there are some problems with how the growing backstory, cast of characters, and "filler" engineering material is presented. Still, a good story is a good story. I'll be buying the next installment.

4th in series. This book was a little different than the prior three, in that unlike the first three, Book 4 leaves a lot of plots unresolved. Fear not though as Book 5 will resolve those issues, in other words treat book 4 and book 5 as one volume. William Dufris' narration is perfect for these books (though as noted elsewhere William Dufris could read the phone book and make it sound like a classic).

Great book! I've read the entire series up to #8 so far, they are all really good. Series progresses well, doesn't slow down in the middle like some longer book series. some are 5 stars, some are 4.5 stars, but overall great book and great series.

The characters are really great and I enjoy the action. This entry didn't have quite as much action but was still a fun read. The Battle of Balkpaan was one of the best parts of a book ever to me. Can't wait to see how things unfold.

Being a naval action/history buff, I picked up a copy of 'Maelstrom' in a bookstore, happening to see the picture of the old 4-stacker USS Walker on the cover and thought, hmmm, what's this? I quickly realized there was a series going on here and was interested enough to search around and find the first book, ''Into the Storm'' to read first. It seemed to start off a bit slow and I nearly put it down but kept going, and WOW! I just finished off ''Maelstrom'', and have to say it really made for a page turner that kept me awake at night reading with many a moist eye and tight throat in between. Excellent reading, fascinating storyline, I'm hooked. Gotta go get ''Distant Thunder'' and find out what happens now with the very waterlogged USS Walker.

Taylor handed me the book after signing the other three a few weeks ago. I hammered it in a week, which for me is a true testament to it's story. I have always known Taylor to have a vivid imagination to say the least but, this has gone beyond my understanding of the man. The level of detail is INSANE! If you like technical specificity of weapons of multiple centuries I think you will be quite satisfied. My father-in-law is now reading it so the next book needs to be on its way.

Just finished "Distant Thunders" and I have to admit that I rationed the last half of the book so it would last longer than Monday night. Well done! It moved well, drew me in even deeper with well paced action. The ending drove me nuts though. Actually what's driving me nuts is knowing it will be months before the next one. The whole series is worth reading more than once.