The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

The second adventure of Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy and the good crew of Asiatic Fleet destroyer Walker—swept from World War II into an alternate world as violent as the one they left—is even better than the excellent Into the Storm (2008). They and their catlike Lemurian allies sail to rescue a nearby kingdom threatened by the lizardlike Grik. The people there are in the middle of a succession crisis, which keeps them from doing much to help themselves. The only good news comes from finding the other U.S. destroyer that crossed over, the Mahan, and the support of a Lemurian warrior queen, who, with her magnificent coat of black fur, is a notable addition to sf’s gallery of her profession. Not so good is the Grik’s ace in the hole: the Japanese battle cruiser Amagi, which also crossed over, and whose captain is bent on vengeance. Damaged though she is, the Amagi is the most powerful weapon now in this strange alternate world, so when the Grik move, the action becomes bloodier and more intense. What will happen in the forthcoming Maelstrom is anybody’s guess, though there will surely be more of the best felinoids since Andre Norton at her best, more intelligent action, more skillful handling of a very large cast, and an obstinately maintained refusal to slow the pace. --Roland Green