Crusade

I have only been buying books from Thrift for less than a year but I have already become accustomed to the amazing level of customer service and am extremely pleased with each shipment as my library grows

In this sequel to Into The Storm, we return to the parallel Earth, where the World War 2-era American destroyers Mahon and Walker were pulled. The captain of the USS Walker is trying to organize the Lemurians so that they can survive the coming onslaught of the ferocious Grik, and he has lots of ideas. What he doesn't have, unfortunately, is time. The Grik Grand Swarm is gathering, and the Lemurians will have to unify if they are to have a chance of survival. To make matters worse, it appears that one other ship was pulled through The Squall to this other Earth, the fearsome Japanese battle cruiser Amagi. The Destroyermen and Lemurians are going to need a lot of luck and courage if they are to survive the coming ordeal...a LOT of luck and courage! Overall, I must say that I really enjoyed this book. The author did a really good job of keeping the suspense and the tension ratcheted up, as the good guys go from triumph to tragedy and back again. I really enjoyed this alternate Earth that the author created, and I think that he did a great job of making it very different and yet totally believable. I enjoyed this book, and I really do think that you will too. So, if you read Into The Storm, hurry up and get Crusade. You won't be disappointed!

Not being particularly interested in the science fiction genre, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Mr. Anderson's first book in this series, Into the Storm. It was with anticipation, therefore, that I sought out this the second volume in the Destroyermen series. And I was not disappointed in any respect. It is a fast paced story, with an extraordinarily unique plot, and characters, good and bad (make that cold-bloodedly evil for most), that keep you both interested and thinking about aspects of their "history" or back-story that Anderson suggests or that logically might apply. Any book that fully entertains on its own, and yet which also has the reader expanding the "story" because one has become interested enough to puzzle out even more story lines, is a credit to the author. Anderson raises serious questions about honor, heroism, venal motivation, and raw terror, and uniquely, not only from the perspective of the humans alone, but also the "evolved" lemurs, and the cold-blooded Grik raptors --- a terrified Grik, in the hands of Anderson, is a sight to behold and relish. The combat, realistic in every respect, is riveting. And when the equipment (antiquated, in the main, World War I destroyers, and small arms) are not sufficient in quantity, the characters manufacture historically correct alternatives that are familiar to any amateur historian, and perfectly capable of being reproduced in the setting of this story. The alternative dimensional aspects of Anderson's tale, the characters in it and their reactions to the stresses they face, "play well" and make for a superior read. I want more, and to that end, have pre-ordered the third volume due out next February, Maelstrom. Perhaps Anderson will neatly wrap up this story, but I suspect that there is much more that can be written about these characters, and hope that he will continue or expand the "destroyermen" universe with more stories in the future.

This is the second book in what is scheduled as a trilogy. If you haven't yet read "Into the Storm: Destroyermen", pick that one up before reading "Crusade". The third book is due out in February 2009. The premise is that two decrepit WWII destroyers that are fleeing the Japanese find themselves transported to an alernate Earth where the geopraphy is largely the same, but the dinosaurs never went extinct. The destroyer crews soon find out that they've been transported from one war to another, as this world has a fight to the death between two intelligent species. In this book, they also discover that the Japanese ship they were fleeing from also ended up being transported into this new world. As in the first book, the action is engaging, the good guys hold your sympathy, and the bad guys are truly chilling. And, once again, the characters act in a manner consistent with individuals who have the knowledge and attitudes of people from 1942. If you enjoyed the first book in the series, you'll enjoy this one as well -- it's a strong, solid follow up.

This is another great book Taylor Anderson. You need to rear the first book in the series before this one or you will be lost. Well worth your money. Can't wait for the next one to come out.

Taylor Anderson has done it again. I received "Crusade" right before a major back surgery and it really made recovery a lot easier. I just could not put the book down, and was naturally left waiting for the next book in the series. Taylor's continued refinement of characters is almost beyond belief. The way he handles Matt Reedy's character and the responsibilities of command, makes it obvious that Taylor understands the military. His approach to finding the other destroyer, Mahan, along with the joy felt by the crew is phenomenal. As is the terror felt by all when it is found that thier enemy in the new world have the Japanese cruiser, Amagi, at their side. This book only makes one want February to get here so that the third book of the series, Maelstrom, will be released. I hope that this will not be the last of Taylor's literary contributions. It will be a pleasure to finally be able to catch up with Taylor so that I can get all three books autographed.