Blood In the Water (Destroyermen)

I was - as always - eager to resume the story and find out how the plot develops. There are few surprises in this "episode", and in many ways it is good that the author has decided to just pursue the storyline open in the previous books.
it is however quite annoying that almost half of the book should be a reminder of "who did what" and "where are we" from the previous books.
This is book 11, and I would make an easy bet that the readers buying the new book have read the ones before, so would suggest there is no need to dedicate so much print space to summarise a situation that his readers are aware of.

Only 20% into it, but so far very readable. However, I tend to wonder about some of these continuing series how how much time is spent at the beginning of each new entry bring people up to speed. Almost seems like cheating on creativity.

I've enjoyed all of Mr. Anderson's Destroyermen books. The premise is ridiculous to the average reader, but he makes it work. Its one of those that if you briefly explained it to a non-scifi fan, it would just sound silly. A WW 1 destroyer in WW 2, being chased by a huge Jap destroyer, easily its match, gets caught in a storm and unknowingly, until they stumble upon a huge ship piloted by intelligent, larger, Lemur. They then discover the peaceful Lemur are getting decimated and eaten by intelligent, vicious crocodiles, and go to war with the crocs on the side of the Lemurs. See what I mean, but it works, and becomes much more involved than I just said. The small group of destroyermen basically have to modernize a planet. They have been great reads, this is like #10 or 11, and you get to like and enjoy, sometimes hate, the complicated, evolving characters. I am always waiting for the next one, and buy them immediately. I read a lot, and these are some of my favorites of the last decade or so!

Another excellent book in the series Destroyermen by Taylor Anderson it is by far one of the most interesting series I have read and one that I not only anticipate the next book in the series but one I keep in my personal library to re-read along with David Weber and H Paul Honsinger each of these are great story tellers who have a way of drawing you in the lives of the characters involved in the story.For the people who follows this series their is no need to go over what happened in this latest installment for the ones that are looking for excellent series to read this is it find the first in the series called Into The Storm (won't lend you mine) and see if it doesn't catch your imagination

Mr Anderson's Destroyermen series has been a real interesting and enjoyable read all these years. But, there has been a growing problem in that I feel he has too many irons in the fire. He has too many wars in too many places and too many characters to comfortably keep track of. I found myself skipping chapters to follow a curtain character or story point and then going back to fill in the other parts of the story. He should finish the Dominion war and the India war and concentrate on the Grik war. He now has the League to contend with also. Just too many. I normally take about a month to read one of his books. This book took a year because I kept putting it aside to read something else. I have had to think twice about buying the next book. I probably will, but...

This is the 11th book in the Destroyermen series by Taylor Anderson. In this book mysteries are solved, but as with all the others more questions are asked than answered. The Destroyermen spread farther out over the world, including into the Caribbean. Captain Reddy actually plays a rather small part.
Dennis Silva and Lawrence are up to their usual tricks as they search for the ancestral Lemurians along with Courtney Bradford, Ensign Hardee, and others. They journey through the uncharted territories of Madagascar in order to find recruits in the fight against the Grick. Of course, the group runs up against some surprises.
Without giving too much away, it is safe to say that the events in Indiaa take a very interesting turn. General Halik finds himself questioning what it means to be a person, and whether the traditional way of life for the Grik is in fact all there is.
New Britain plays virtually no roll in the particular book. Many of my favorite characters, such as the "Mice" , Alan Letts, and the Navy nurses have very small parts.
As with all the Destroyermen books there is no end in sight. Events keep expanding and characters added, to the point that one wonders if there is in fact any way to wind this series up. That is not to say that I haven't enjoyed these books, and this one in particular, it is just, can't anything be resolved? This book is more enjoyable for me because less time is spent on in-depth descriptions of battles than the previous one. I find the discovery of new places and creatures to be one of my favorite parts in these books. Oh, and please, can't General Kurokawa just die. No one seems to escape death more.

Here we go again! I have read all the Destroyermen series in order. I envy anyone that has not read them as they have a hell of a treat in store and do not have to wait a year to read the next one. This is the best so far. (Full disclose warning: I said it about each of them). Mr Anderson is full of military insights. I just love strategy and tactics. This book also has an interesting insight into capitalism unleashed. The book constantly speaks to my libertarian leanings.

What a great find. I bless the day I picked up the first Destroyermen book.

Each book starts out as exposition for the series so far and then provides set-ups for the next book in the series -- very little is resolved. I think the author is trying to cover too much territory (literally) and it's starting to hurt the storytelling.

I've read all of the novels in this series, but I quit on this one about one-third of the way in. This series is never going to end. The author advances the story a few weeks or months at a time in each novel. I've finally had it.

I believe this is the 11th in this series and there seems to be no end point in sight. New bad guys on the left ,old regenerated bad guys on the right, old bad guys on the left. old regenerated bad guys that may be turning into simi-good guys. There is so much going on that I have to draw a parallel to the "Dragon" series from several years back, where the author just did not know how to end the series. (FYI he died and his wife had to bring in a ghost to finish the series.) Hopde this one concludes before that happens.

Blood in the Water is great book in the series! Easily my favorite scores series. Bought it and read it in one day. My only criticism is we have to wait a year between books. Plus I would like to see the destroyers win a war. Looks like a third adversary is coming now. But the characters are really well developed. Seeing the changes in the grim general is really interesting.... get busy Taylor and get another book out soon .

After scattering the ever expanding cast throughout the world this book has set all the chest pieces in motion for a great follow book. Not that this was lacking for action or world,building. A great read and a very strong addition to this highly enjoyable series

The book is in a series and has a good story line, even if it has bin dragged on for to long. I would like to have read the ending a couple of books ago. I guess it's a good money maker for the author. I don't know how long he can keep bringing out mystery ships but he will be up to present time ships if he keeps going. I still like the story.

This book has a good combination of action and character development. And while its not all good news in terms of plot it just sets up the next book(s) for some real revenge and ass kicking. Looking forward to the next book.

“Blood in the Water,” is the latest volume in Taylor Anderson’s staggering work of alternative history, “The Destroyermen.” It continues to build, climax upon climax, toward some unknown and unimaginable ultimate climax, which, hopefully, will be a long way down the road.

The premise of Anderson’s alternate time line is that none of the extinction events that altered the variety of life on our own line ever happened, and Homo Sapiens is NOT the apex predator! Anderson has created a vast menagerie of creatures, ranging from the very dangerous to the absurd, but all of them fit, like the pieces of a puzzle. They aren’t two dimensional things, like in the classic, old school comics of yore. Their development is interrelated with the environment and other species in a way that makes them so much more real – and realistic, if such fantastic creatures can truly be “realistic.”

The sentient characters are created and developed in both linear and non-linear aspects, just like real people – though few of them are “people” people. (some of them are a good deal more “sentient” thaN we at first believe. ) They have character, personality, emotions, ancestors, customs, prejudices, and religions. As they whirl through a sea-and landscape of global proportions, they interact PRECISELY as they should. So consistent and true are Anderson’s characters that not once, in the 11 volumes, have I ever thought, “Oh, baloney! He wouldn’t have done that!” Even when the characters surprise us, we can see the source of those surprises in the texture of their personalities.

In fact, if I were to assign one, overweening attribute to “The Destroyermen,” it would be the TEXTURE of life, love, war, and death in this insane, hysterically unlikely world. The texture - or textures - play subtly with each other like the various instruments in a Beethoven symphony. The texture is what brings Anderson’s world and creations to life, and makes us love and honor them, or not. (In about the last third of “Blood in the Water,” I scared hell out of my dogs several times, shouting at the book. It’s been a very long time since I did that!) “Texture” is found in the manual of arms for muzzle loading rifles – gun drill for muzzle loading guns on wooden ships – daily routine on a warship patrolling hostile seas – deadening boredom that erupts into shattering violence in a heartbeat – shattering violence that leads to empty bunks – bunks we never thought would be empty – the smells of powder smoke and battle – military courtesy, especially the peculiarities of Naval custom – the list is endless.

“Blood in the Water” is no more “fluff” than any of the other volumes. It is powerful and emotional. Anderson poses very important problems and questions about the origins and evolutions of cultures how they affect each other. His grasp and portrayal of military life and ethos is as square and solid as the locking lugs on an ’03 Springfield. The warrior ethos of the US Marines is drawn in the same frame as that of the US Navy, within which, the unique ethos of the Tin Can Sailor flies like a second flag on the same halyard. This series, but “Blood in the Water,” especially, is a war story, told as war stories ought to be told – no fluff, no bull - just normal mortals in the most monstrous of endeavors.

Yeah, it’s that good.

The book is in a series and has a good story line, even if it has bin dragged on for to long. I would like to have read the ending a couple of books ago. I guess it's a good money maker for the author. I don't know how long he can keep bringing out mystery ships but he will be up to present time ships if he keeps going. I still like the story.

This book has a good combination of action and character development. And while its not all good news in terms of plot it just sets up the next book(s) for some real revenge and ass kicking. Looking forward to the next book.

“Blood in the Water,” is the latest volume in Taylor Anderson’s staggering work of alternative history, “The Destroyermen.” It continues to build, climax upon climax, toward some unknown and unimaginable ultimate climax, which, hopefully, will be a long way down the road.

The premise of Anderson’s alternate time line is that none of the extinction events that altered the variety of life on our own line ever happened, and Homo Sapiens is NOT the apex predator! Anderson has created a vast menagerie of creatures, ranging from the very dangerous to the absurd, but all of them fit, like the pieces of a puzzle. They aren’t two dimensional things, like in the classic, old school comics of yore. Their development is interrelated with the environment and other species in a way that makes them so much more real – and realistic, if such fantastic creatures can truly be “realistic.”

The sentient characters are created and developed in both linear and non-linear aspects, just like real people – though few of them are “people” people. (some of them are a good deal more “sentient” thaN we at first believe. ) They have character, personality, emotions, ancestors, customs, prejudices, and religions. As they whirl through a sea-and landscape of global proportions, they interact PRECISELY as they should. So consistent and true are Anderson’s characters that not once, in the 11 volumes, have I ever thought, “Oh, baloney! He wouldn’t have done that!” Even when the characters surprise us, we can see the source of those surprises in the texture of their personalities.

In fact, if I were to assign one, overweening attribute to “The Destroyermen,” it would be the TEXTURE of life, love, war, and death in this insane, hysterically unlikely world. The texture - or textures - play subtly with each other like the various instruments in a Beethoven symphony. The texture is what brings Anderson’s world and creations to life, and makes us love and honor them, or not. (In about the last third of “Blood in the Water,” I scared hell out of my dogs several times, shouting at the book. It’s been a very long time since I did that!) “Texture” is found in the manual of arms for muzzle loading rifles – gun drill for muzzle loading guns on wooden ships – daily routine on a warship patrolling hostile seas – deadening boredom that erupts into shattering violence in a heartbeat – shattering violence that leads to empty bunks – bunks we never thought would be empty – the smells of powder smoke and battle – military courtesy, especially the peculiarities of Naval custom – the list is endless.

“Blood in the Water” is no more “fluff” than any of the other volumes. It is powerful and emotional. Anderson poses very important problems and questions about the origins and evolutions of cultures how they affect each other. His grasp and portrayal of military life and ethos is as square and solid as the locking lugs on an ’03 Springfield. The warrior ethos of the US Marines is drawn in the same frame as that of the US Navy, within which, the unique ethos of the Tin Can Sailor flies like a second flag on the same halyard. This series, but “Blood in the Water,” especially, is a war story, told as war stories ought to be told – no fluff, no bull - just normal mortals in the most monstrous of endeavors.

Yeah, it’s that good.

The books in this series continuine to be unique but are becoming less and less enjoyable. There are so many factions at this stage, it becomes hard to care about the characters. And, some plot mechanisms are now being repeated (e.g, kidnapping of a major character). Please Mr. Anderson, wrap up this series soon for the benefit of your readers.

HAVE FOLLOWED SERIES FROM THE BEGINNING AND ENJOYED IT AS A GOOD TALE. OVER TIME, A RATHER LARGE GROUP OF MAJOR AND SECONDARY CHARACTERS HAS DEVELOPED PROVIDING SUBPLOTS TO FLESH OUT THE BONES OF THE STORY .LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT BOOK.

Another great book in the series. Well developed characters with innovative twists and turns. My only critique is that this book and the previous depend on the Grik adversaries developing technology that seems to be well outside their ability to do so. Going from a society that exists in hovels without sanitation to being able to make combat aircraft, aviation fuel, machine guns and ammunition in two years - without the use of fingers - seems like a stretch.

Anyone else remember summer reruns? That's what we have here, a rerun.

Mr. Anderson has taken a pretty original idea which captured my interest and let it become a very predictable exercise. It isn't bad but if you read the earlier volumes you have basically read this one. I will certainly request a sample of the next one before spending my money again and I'd advise others to do the same or wait until the price drops substantially.

I have purchase all books from the start of this series and have never been disappointed . Taylor is one of my favorite authors of this decade as he has created a scary but exciting world with quite a few twist and turns to keep it entertaining. I have written this author with my compliments and he is very nice to reply which is a plus in my book because he does enjoy feedback and is loyal to his fans and dedicated to these characters. I can't wait for the next installment , but I wouldn't mine if he takes his time and continues to write a good storyline than go for a quick buck and punch out garbage .

Good installment in this excellent series. New allies and enemies found as this alternate world evolves. Some small triumphs and some major setbacks as the Axis League makes a serious blunder. The Japanese create more advanced weapons and better trained troops. In this world's reenactment of Coral Sea, the American carrier is sunk while the Japanese survive.as per the real battle. Hopefully, a "Midway" lies ahead for the Allied Forces. One good map is provided but the series needs a composite world map to minimize confusion over strategy and tactics among the revisioned World of the Destroyermen.

In this novel the author picks up the story where he left off in the previous novels. Captain Reddy, his destroyermen, and their allies are spread across the globe. In the East they are battling the minions of the Holy Dominion. In the West, they fight the lizard-like Grik and the insane Japanese leader Kurokawa.

In this episode of the series, we learn more about the other human factions that inhabit this version of Earth. Some are enemies of the Dominion. Some are enemies of the Grik. And some have nefarious objectives which make them the political enemies of all the sides of the war.

Anderson uses a large cast of characters to tell his story. Keeping track of so many characters must be a challenge for the author. To help the reader, Anderson has included a ten page longest of characters. When the author introduces a new character, or reintroduces a character from past novels, he does an adequate job of providing the exposition needed to identify the character. With so many characters, so much exposition could become tedious. But the author deals with the exposition quickly and gets us back to the action.

I have really enjoyed the Destroyermen series. The plot moves along briskly and there is lots of action.

I strongly advise readers to start at the beginning and read the novels in sequence. It looks like it's going to be a long ride.

There has never been a series that I anticipated and looked forward to the next installment than Anderson's "Destroyer men"!
The characters are diverse, and they have depth. The plots are not straightforward, and there are some surprises, but they are well crafted and well written.
Starting from the beginning is not required, but will increase your appreciation of the characters and understanding of the chronology. I have read them all and can hardly wait for the next installment.

This book suffers a bit being a set up for the next book. Still plenty of good action. Hope the author resists the temptation to add more cultures and or war fronts to this series as it seems to be getting a bit out of control

Having read ALL his other books, I kept waiting for something to happen. Nothing actually did. This seemed like a Part One to a two-part novel with an actual ending. Sad, that he expects his readers to pay for something that has no closure, with the irony that the next book will probably spend a 100 pages reviewing what happened in this one.

I was SO disappointed in waiting months for my local library to finally order this (7 months) and then to see how he seemingly played us to sell his next book. And I am so GLAD that I did not purchase this one, like I did for others. Sorry. This seems like him taking advantage of his readers for his own profits. It should NOT have been published without the Part Two ending. (Is there a Part Two planned? I have not bothered to look...)

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series by Taylor Anderson. The action is nonstop and constantly changing. The development of the characters and story line is constantly expanding providing exciting reading. Taylor adds a new twist to each book which keeps you guessing on the outcome. I am looking forward for the next book but only wish that it would come out earlier.

Formula writing with predictable script and storyline
Much too slow
I have read all eleven of the series and this is the most disappointing one
He is stretching out the series to make money
I understand that but other authors have covered the same complex storylines in a three book series that engages and moves through the whole book rather than the last fifth
I hope he can wrap up some stuff soon or I will abandon the series

first off ,13.00 dollars is to much,i always order a sample to get a feel of the book,the sample was taken up by stuff from all the other books ,I've never read a book where the new book recaps all the happenings from previous books to the point the book is half way over before you get into the new plot ,too many story lines!

Anderson makes a very odd scenario seem normal, as his story and plot development allows the reader to experience the emotional differences between both human and non-human characters, as they battle for their lives and cultures.

I have enjoyed the earlier books in this series, but Blood In The Water was a disappointment. It was essentially 400 pages of just bridging to the next book in the series, with not nearly enough advancement of the plot. It is starting to feel like Anderson is stretching out the story to milk it for as many books as he can. It may be time to end this series at an even dozen books.

Next installment in this series. Time period seems about 1943. More enemies, more allies. New perils for the destroyermen. Will the war last the same amount of time has WW2? Or will it drag on for a longer time? New battlefields, changed opportants, and treachery from all sides. What new weapons will be developed by the United Homes?

I have enjoyed the earlier books in this series, but Blood In The Water was a disappointment. It was essentially 400 pages of just bridging to the next book in the series, with not nearly enough advancement of the plot. It is starting to feel like Anderson is stretching out the story to milk it for as many books as he can. It may be time to end this series at an even dozen books.