Barry Sadler's Casca: The Liberator

Not the type of book I would usually read, seemed more like a "guy" book, yet I had decided to give it a chance. I had never read any of the previous books which made some of it confusing and difficult to follow. Soon I came to realize the author was creating a whole world for me to enjoy, the world Casca found himself in and the tortured and anguished world of his mind. The detail some of the previous reviewers found too much, was the same detail that created the whole world around Casca. I could feel his thoughts, wants and desires while at the same time I emersed myself in the adventure he was living. It would have been dissapointing to follow the Eternal Mercenary on a road littered by corpses, something I feel some of the other reviewers found lacking. A terminator Casca is not. He is a complex character who found himself in a critical point in history. There is much more to this book than meets the eye. I look forward to reading it again. The author did great.

I was not expecting much from this new writer. I figured the publisher hired some hack to continue the series. This fellow actually improved the concept with a real understanding of the historical settings. It was very nice reading.

The Eternal Mercenary has returned. Casca doomed by Jesus to an endless life as Soldier travels through time and places which we mortals will never see nor experience. In this new episode Casca returns from the deep of the atlantic ocean and again is content to do what he knows best, fight against man's evil doing. Barry Sadler who created this book series died in 1989. His experience as a Vietnam Soldier (Special Forces, Green Beret) and his mercenary work in South America gave Barry Sadler the edge and knowledge. His masterful story telling woven of History, Adventure and Military Traditions makes this book series worth to collect. There are 22 novels by Barry Sadler. Now Casca has returned saving an african tribe of total extinction. Paul Dengelegi did good, he interlinks History with Adventure and Military Tradition with the Pain and Sorrow of War. If you have read the 22 novels you will enjoy this one. If not than it is time to get them and find out who CASCA is.

The original Casca was exciting, but a bit boiler-plate, a Conan without steroids. This new author has one-upped Sadler with two new facets -- a strong sexual undertone, and a keen attention to historical detail. Overall a very good read.

Sadler created a compelling mythic character in Casca, perhaps the best of the Sword and Sorcery genre. But Dengelegi has created a new more compelling Casca. The book is essentially violence and vengence and highly entertainingly so. Dengelegi has added a wry use of innuendo and metaphor that one didn't see in Sadler's original series. All in all the best new book in S & S.