Into the Storm cover art

Into the Storm

Destroyermen, Book 1

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Into the Storm

By: Taylor Anderson
Narrated by: William Dufris
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About this listen

 Pressed into service when World War II breaks out in the Pacific, the USS Walker---a Great-War vintage "four-stacker" destroyer---finds itself in full retreat from pursuit by Japanese battleships. Its captain, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Patrick Reddy, knows that he and his crew are in dire straits. In desperation, he heads Walker into a squall, hoping it will give them cover---and emerges somewhere else.

Familiar landmarks appear, but the water teems with monstrous, vicious fish. And there appear to be dinosaurs grazing on the plains of Bali. Gradually Matt and his crew must accept the fact that they are in an alternate world---and they are not alone. Humans have not evolved, but two other species have. And they are at war.

With its steam power and weaponry, the Walker's very existence could alter the balance of power. And for Matt and his crew, who have the means to turn a primitive war into a genocidal Armageddon, one thing becomes clear: They must decide whose side they're on. Because whoever they choose to side with is the winner.

Battle stations! Listen to more in the Destroyermen series.©2008 Taylor Anderson (P)2008 Tantor Fiction Genre Fiction Science Fiction War & Military War Military

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All stars
Most relevant  
I like fantasy and science fiction, but I only came across Taylor Anderson by accident. And I am so pleased that I did. The style of the writing is like a cross between Anne McCaffrey's accomplished world building and a Douglas Reaman classic



The WW11 era naval operational practices aboard the ageing 4 stack Destroyer and the attitudes of the men that crew her are played dead straight...(i.e. very Douglas Reaman like) This is after all a ship and a crew at war. Mr Anderson clearly has spent a lot of his time around Navy types. Very convincing.



The new races and cultures the "Walker" encounters, are built quite convincingly in a in a strange but weirdly familiar setting... with plenty of well paced and exciting action too.



I like the way the author has chosen a ship that is passed it's best...it is ageing and has been shot up in previous encounters with the Japs, and so does not have the overwhelming technical superiority that a modern or better armed ship would have.



This means the crew have to work hard and think about how they are going to survive more than just a few days or weeks until stuff all runs out. These themes are well handled in the context of a ship that has just been dumped into the middle of someone (something) else's war. and has to make the right decisions on whether to join in or not. And if so...on what side.



The narrator does a great job too, bring some disparate and alien characters to life. I would be happy to hear more from him.



Although clearly the first book in a sequence, the story ended roundly and properly, whilst neatly setting up the next salivating episode....



And now, I've got a whole series to get obsessed with.... Brilliant.

Gripping. Exciting. Credible.....A real find!

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ww1 destroyer USS Walker under Matthew Reddy
flee the might of the Japanese fleet in 1942
a strange storm saves them but they are not on their own world anymore.

into another world and into another war

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A different type of listen for me. long story short I've purchased book 2. enough said.

excellent

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This is an interesting SCI FI idea. I have seen other similar stories before, but still a good idea. However, I just couldn't connect to the characters. A bit formulaic, and I just wasn't involved with the plight of the main people.
I was looking for a long series to really get into. This isn't it for me.

Good idea, but not very good story

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Would you listen to Into the Storm again? Why?

Yes great story

What did you like best about this story?

Good blend of a war and sci fi book

What does William Dufris bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Charectors are easy to identify and also believable

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes great story line

Any additional comments?

I rarely buy series but will make the exception in this case

Five, five, five

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Well, I'll put my hand up to being stupid. I saw the title, read the first paragraph of the blurb and thought "Great, some bog standard second world war fiction" and just spent a credit. Haven't read many simple war books recently and just fancied it.

Obviously anyone who does their research better than I did on this occasion will know before pressing play that I was in for a shock. Not at first, the opening of the book as an excellent description of a rearguard action that makes no attempt to glorify the US navy as it's aging fleet is whipped into ignomious retreat. I was very happy, a clearly knowledgeable author, good writing and Dufris is a very accomplished narrator.

But then of course things began to change, I'm sure my face was a picture as I realised my mistake . . . should I return the damn thing to Audible or should I plough on?

Well, I rarely give up on a book easily and in this case I'm very glad I didn't. Anderson outlines a richly detailed alternative Earth complete with new races of various types. There is perhaps a hint of a cliche or two in the characterisation of the races but don't be put off as the author piles much thought into how the races are motivated by their societies.

If you're open to this kind of fantasy setting and enjoy an author who will spend time on both the action and detailing the background this could well be for you. For me, it was both a genuine surprise and a pleasure. The only real reason for not giving this five stars was that I did want the action to move a little faster but that is purely personal taste.

So, maybe a little piece of patience is required but it's well worth the investment. On that subject though as this is the first in a series check out the reviews of the subsequent books which also cover the length of the narrative / pace of the action as many have opinions that might be useful.

Journey into the Unknown

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Into the Storm provides an excellent start to the Destroyermen Series very quickly Taylor Anderson draws you into the lives of the crew of the USS Walker, characters made manifest, people you grow to love and care for. Setting up a long form series can be a daunting task but very quickly we follow this crew into a World Spanning and Fantastical Adventure, if you have never read Taylor Anderson give this a go I promise you won't be dissapointed

Excellent Start to an Outstanding Saga

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In "Icerigger", by Alan Dean Foster, a band of plucky humans are stranded on a bronze age ice-world peopled by a catlike warrior race, facing annihilation from marauding barbarians. Using the technical savvy of a schoolmasterly member of the band, they quickly enhance the defensive capabilities of their hosts, sampling exotic local ale, exotic local sex and meeting exotic local monsters. in The course of the novel, the leader of the band discovers his inner hero and gets the girl.
In Destroyermen, a crew of plucky WW2 American sailors are stranded with their 1919 destroyer on an alternate Earth where dinosaurs did not go extinct, and a race of catlike warriors face annihilation from marauding (lizard) barbarians. using the technical savvy of a schoolmasterly civilian on their ship (and the technical skills of the ship's engineers) they quickly enhance the defensive capabilities of their hosts, sampling exotic local ale, exotic local sex and meeting exotic local monsters. in the course of the novel, the captain of the ship discovers his inner hero and gets the girl.

Along the way, we meet ship-rigged two-deckers, fore-and-aft feluccas and captains barges, all crewed by murderous lizard imperialists, with action scenes right out of "Master and Commander". There's even an enormously capable human boson's mate to make everything alright in the end.

This all means that Destroyermen ought to be written off as derivative nonsense, but in fact it is superbly entertaining. I found it to be a compulsive listen, full of fun, excitement, some neatly placed jokes and likeable, if somewhat flat characters.

Patrick O'Brian meets the Lost World/Cruel Sea

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long but very well written story. I had to listen twice before I really grasped it.

Exceptional

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Don't expect to get much done if you buy this book or the audio version, it is almost impossible to put down. I am just glad this is part f a series and the first book defiantly sets a cracking passe.

One of the best books I have had in a while

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