Casca #01: Eternal Mercenary

Awsome, I have read all of Berry Sadlers Casca Books and found myself not being able to put them down. Just wish someone would make a move of the whole collection. William

Casca: The Eternal Mercenary is a series of twenty-two books written by Barry Sadler. This series is about a guy named Casca Rufio Longinus; he was cursed by Jesus Christ. The curse is "Soldier, you are content with what you are. Then that you shall remain until we meet again." The curse means that Casca will remain as a soldier until the second coming of Jesus Christ. This is a fantastic series so far. The first book in the series is extremely descriptive, interesting, and unpredictable. Mr. Sadler, the author, describes everything in great detail; it is so descriptive that the reader will get hooked on the book until he/she is done with it, such as when Casca describes exactly what happened the day he killed Jesus Christ. Casca says that he and the other soldiers were betting on who would take the clothes of Jesus and the two thieves, who were killed the same day. He goes on to say how he speared Jesus in the rib cage to kill him quicker, and how when he did that some of Jesus' blood ran down the spear shaft got on his lips. That is when Jesus cursed him. Casca then goes on to describe what happened after he was cursed. He describes what illnesses, injuries, and punishments he has received or avoided as he goes through his life. He also recollects what women he has married and fallen in love with, and the women that his enemies raped and killed. Casca recalls his slavery and what life was like in slavery. This book in the series is interesting because Casca, the main character, is a depicted soldier who fought in the Vietnam War in 1970. He was injured by a piece of shrapnel which exposed an area of his brain approximately four inches long and three inches wide. Casca's body was taking steps to protect itself from infections by rapidly healing the abscess in his skull. This amazed the army surgeons, a colonel, and a major. Major Goldman, one of the surgeons, discovered that Casca's blood was deadly poison. He also discovered that Casca could speak the Latin of the Caesars. These facts are intriguing because no person who has a wound as such could heal by itself and few people at that time could speak such a tongue. Casca explained to Major Goldman about how he was cursed. While in the hospital, Casca told Goldman that he had been alive before the birth of Jesus and that he was the one ordered to kill Jesus. These are just a few of the multiple points of interest in the first book. These interesting facts came out of the first chapter. The reader can never predict what turn of events lie in store for the soldier who lives infinitely. Every new place he goes, he receives a new name. No one knows that he is the same legendary figure because few people know that he can not die. As one progresses through Casca's life, one starts to believe that he will be dead due to a stab wound, some type of poison or sickness he incurs, but he still lives on because of the curse. "Soldier, you are content with what you are.

I picked up an old beat up copy of the first book from my father and read it while I was doing my 2 weeks training with the National Guard. The book got rotated around by everybody at night while pulling duty on radio watch. Needless to say, everyone finished it within a couple of nights and wanted more. I was disappointed to find out that the series was out of print and the author dead,but I looked around for used copies anyway. I was unable to find the series in any used book store, but finally managed to find them online in auctions. (This is what got me started in online autioning.) Anyways, I recommend to anyone looking, that you don't necessarily have to buy the whole set at once, becuase the bids usually got to high in those auctions. Instead, by sets with a number of volumes, and don't worry if you get the same one more than once, you can turn around and sell it on auctions and probably get what you paid. By the way, the newest book by the new author is now out. It is called Casca the Liberator.

In the late 80's, while overseas in the Marines, a friend told me about the series and it grabbed my interest. When we got back to the states I bought the first book from the PX. I read it in 1 day and was hooked. I went back to the PX and bought every other book in the series they had availible and it still took me another three years to complete the collection. I found the first book to be an enthralling read that I just couldn't put down. Casca is just a common soldier and anyone who has been in the military, especially the infantry, can really relate to Casca. When Casca takes Dr. Goldberg back to that day on Golgotha, it's like you go back with him. The book draws you in and holds on to you. You can't help but feel for Casca as he goes thru the ages and falls in love knowing that he will have to move on eventually. Forever fighting and never knowing peace. A page turner if there ever was one. I highly recomend this book and any others in the series.

You may have heard the story of the wandering Jew. Well this is that story brought to life, in a very real and gritty way. If you don't know what I am talking about, it is the story of the Roman who killed Christ on the cross and was cursed to wander the earth till the second coming. In Sadler's rendition, Casca is that Roman and Christ's curse goes on to include, "As you are, so shall you remain". What this means is that Casca, being a soldier, will therefore remain a soldier through his immortal search for the Christian god. This is a great plot device because we, the reader, get to vicariously participate in every major battle for the last two thousand years with a man who can not be killed. At least not permanently. It's true that I have a fascination with immortality. (Strangely, I don't look forward to my own death). But even so, I think most people, (well... guys), will enjoy these novels. There are 22 in total but don't expect the last one to round out the series. They just stop; apparently because Sadler was murdered while on a trip through Central America.