📖 Overview
Taylor Anderson is an American author best known for creating the Destroyermen series, a military science fiction saga spanning 15 novels. His expertise as a historical artillery and firearms consultant has informed both his writing career and his work as a technical advisor for film productions, including the 2004 movie "The Alamo."
Anderson's academic background includes degrees in history from Tarleton State University, where he briefly served as a professor of American history. His practical experience includes extensive involvement in historical reenactments and the restoration of period weapons, including ownership of multiple historical cannons.
The Destroyermen series, published between 2008 and 2020, follows the crew of World War II destroyers transported to an alternate Earth where evolution took a different path. Following the completion of this series, Anderson launched the Artillerymen series in 2021, which serves as a prequel to his earlier work.
His expertise in historical weaponry and military history has established him as a respected consultant in the field. Anderson continues to write and contribute his technical knowledge to various media projects.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Anderson's detailed research into naval warfare, engineering, and alternative history throughout the Destroyermen series. Many note his ability to develop large casts of characters while maintaining distinct personalities and plot threads.
Fans highlight the accurate technical descriptions of ships, weapons, and battles. Several military veterans commend the realistic portrayal of service members and chain of command dynamics.
Common criticisms include slow pacing in the middle books, repetitive scene-setting between volumes, and challenges tracking the expanding character roster. Some readers note his tendency to over-explain technical details.
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: 4.1/5 average across series
Amazon: 4.4/5 average across series
"The naval and military details are spot-on" - Amazon reviewer
"Character bloat becomes an issue by book 6" - Goodreads reviewer
"Too much recap of previous books" - Goodreads reviewer
"His grasp of engineering principles and problem-solving feels authentic" - Amazon reviewer
📚 Books by Taylor Anderson
Into the Storm (2008)
USS Walker and her crew are transported to an alternate Earth during WWII, where they encounter evolved lemur-like creatures called Lemurians and their enemies, the reptilian Grik.
Crusade (2008) The crew of USS Walker forms alliances with the Lemurians while battling the expanding Grik empire and searching for other displaced human vessels.
Maelstrom (2009) USS Walker and her allies face increasing challenges as they discover new threats and potential allies in their alternate world.
Distant Thunders (2010) The war against the Grik intensifies as Captain Reddy and his crew work to modernize Lemurian technology and defend against new enemies.
Rising Tides (2011) Captain Reddy and his allies face evolving political dynamics and military challenges while defending their territory against multiple threats.
Crusade (2008) The crew of USS Walker forms alliances with the Lemurians while battling the expanding Grik empire and searching for other displaced human vessels.
Maelstrom (2009) USS Walker and her allies face increasing challenges as they discover new threats and potential allies in their alternate world.
Distant Thunders (2010) The war against the Grik intensifies as Captain Reddy and his crew work to modernize Lemurian technology and defend against new enemies.
Rising Tides (2011) Captain Reddy and his allies face evolving political dynamics and military challenges while defending their territory against multiple threats.
👥 Similar authors
David Weber
His Honor Harrington series combines detailed naval combat with alternate history elements similar to Anderson's work. Weber demonstrates comparable attention to military technical details and command structures while building complex political scenarios.
S.M. Stirling The Nantucket series features historical naval warfare and alternate world scenarios that parallel Anderson's themes. His works contain similar detailed research into period weapons and military operations.
Eric Flint The 1632 series deals with military units displaced to alternate timelines, focusing on technical and tactical adaptations. Flint emphasizes the mechanical and organizational challenges of forces operating in unfamiliar contexts.
Harry Turtledove His alternate history works like Worldwar series feature detailed military operations and technology adaptations across different periods. Turtledove's background as a historian shapes his approach to military logistics and combat scenarios.
John Birmingham The Axis of Time trilogy follows modern naval forces transported to World War II, exploring similar themes to Anderson's work. Birmingham focuses on the technical and tactical implications of forces displaced in time.
S.M. Stirling The Nantucket series features historical naval warfare and alternate world scenarios that parallel Anderson's themes. His works contain similar detailed research into period weapons and military operations.
Eric Flint The 1632 series deals with military units displaced to alternate timelines, focusing on technical and tactical adaptations. Flint emphasizes the mechanical and organizational challenges of forces operating in unfamiliar contexts.
Harry Turtledove His alternate history works like Worldwar series feature detailed military operations and technology adaptations across different periods. Turtledove's background as a historian shapes his approach to military logistics and combat scenarios.
John Birmingham The Axis of Time trilogy follows modern naval forces transported to World War II, exploring similar themes to Anderson's work. Birmingham focuses on the technical and tactical implications of forces displaced in time.