Crusade

Crusade continues the military alternate history series "Destroyermen," following USS Walker and her crew after their displacement into a parallel Earth. Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy must unite with fellow destroyer USS Mahan to face the growing threat of the reptilian Grik forces. The narrative centers on the preparation for war as Reddy and his crew train their new allies, the lemur-like Lemurians, in modern combat techniques. The stakes escalate when the Grik acquire the Japanese battlecruiser Amagi, adding significant naval power to their already formidable forces. The book blends naval warfare, military strategy, and first-contact scenarios against the backdrop of an altered Pacific theater. Multiple combat sequences occur both at sea and on land as the characters race to defend their positions and evacuate vulnerable populations. This entry in the series explores themes of adaptation, leadership under pressure, and the responsibilities that come with introducing advanced military technology to a developing civilization. The story examines how warfare changes societies and the moral implications of bringing modern combat to a parallel world.

Readers found this third book in the Destroyermen series maintains the momentum and expands the world-building. Many note it avoids "middle book syndrome" by advancing multiple plotlines. Readers appreciated: - More detailed battle sequences - Development of secondary characters - Exploration of cultural differences between humans and Lemurians - Technical accuracy regarding naval operations Common criticisms: - Too many perspective shifts between storylines - Some repetitive descriptions of weapons/equipment - Slower pacing in middle sections - New characters introduced without enough background Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (5,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (380+ reviews) Reader quote: "The naval battles are meticulously researched and the attention to engineering details makes the technical achievements feel earned rather than convenient plot devices." - Goodreads reviewer Several readers noted this book requires reading the previous entries first, as it builds directly on established plots.

Into the Storm by Taylor Anderson First book of the Destroyermen series provides similar alternate history naval combat with American forces transported to another world.

Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis A human exploration of an alien world featuring first contact and cultural exchange between species in a military-political context.

The Lost Fleet: Dauntless by Jack Campbell Military science fiction focusing on naval tactics and fleet command with detailed battle sequences.

Island in the Sea of Time by S. M. Stirling A modern military vessel and crew face the challenges of warfare and survival after being transported to the ancient past.

1632 by Eric Flint A small American town transported to 17th-century Europe must adapt modern military technology and tactics to survive in a hostile environment.

🌊 The USS Walker and USS Mahan featured in the book were real Wickes-class destroyers built during World War I, with the Walker serving until 1942 when it was sunk by Japanese aircraft. 🎖️ Author Taylor Anderson is a gun maker and forensic ballistic archaeologist who brings extensive military hardware knowledge to his writing, particularly regarding naval warfare and weaponry. 🦎 The Grik antagonists are inspired by Dromaeosaurids - the family of dinosaurs that includes Velociraptors - imagining how they might have evolved into an intelligent species. 🏛️ Lemuria, which gives the monkey-cat allies their name, was a hypothetical lost continent proposed in the 1860s to explain the distribution of lemurs between Madagascar and India. ⚔️ The naval combat descriptions draw heavily from actual Pacific Theater battles of WWII, particularly the early war period when Allied forces were often outgunned by superior Japanese vessels.