Manfac

by Martin Caidin

Book by Caidin, Martin

Genres: Science Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 1981

About the author

Martin Caidin was a prolific and controversial writer. Most of his work centered around the adventures of pilots and astronauts. A number of his books were notable for their reasonable, realistic predictions of then-futuristic technology.

Caidin's body of work was prolific and varied, ranging from additional speculative/SF novels such as Marooned, which was made into an acclaimed film and considered a harbinger of the Apollo 13 accident, to a novel based upon the character Indiana Jones. He also wrote many non-fiction books about science, aviation and warfare.

Caidin began writing fiction in 1957. In his career he authored more than 50 fiction and nonfiction books as well as more than 1,000 magazine articles. His best-known novel is Cyborg, which was the basis for "The Six Million Dollar Man" franchise. He also wrote numerous works of military history, especially concerning aviation.

In addition to his writing Caidin was a pilot and active in the restoration and flying of older planes.

Reviews

[Andrew Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously action packed adventure filled with twists, turns, and technology that jumps out at you. Written by the author of the 6 million dollar man this book takes technology fusion to the next level as a symbiotic relationship. Super fun and a very intriguing storyline.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book when it was published, in the 70's, and loved it.
I discovered it tucked behind other books on my bookcase last week, and figured I would re-read it.
This book is better than I remembered. I would go so far as to say it is one of the best science fiction books written. Caidin is in the same class as Arthur C. Clarke and Ray Bradbury. This is ironic, since his was also the.mind that created Steve Austin, the Six Million Dollar Man, in his Cyborg series.
In Manfac, the main character Lance Parker is a nuclear scientist, working in a top secret nuclear fission reactor inside a Colorado Mountain.
Mother Nature, constantly abhoring a vacuum, causes an earthquake, thereby jeopardizing the reactor, its personnel, and the unsuspecting residents outside the.mountain.
our hero is challenged to leave his place of safety, travel into the depths of the.mountain, and get the reactor shut down before it explodes.
The fact that he does so is obvious, since there are 300+ pages remaining at this point. The book really succeeds in its development of our main character as he struggles to survive his physical injuries, and determine who the new, "improved" (?) Lance Parker really is.
I loved this book, no matter how dated it is. It deserves to be rediscovered by anyone who enjoys science realistic-fiction.
And it has an awesome recipe in it!

[Bryan457 · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is about a man whose body is badly damaged in a nuclear accident. His girlfriend,an engineer, creates these Manfac biosuits that he can get inside of. Once inside he looks like a regular person. Now he can move faster,stronger than a normal human.
I would have given it more stars, but it was heavy on the science, and slow on the story.

[Kip · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my dear God... a few tiny redeeming bits, but if I was not trapped on a plane I would not have finished this book.

[Christopher J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strongly influenced by his novel Cyborg, an interesting read when you realize it was published in the mid to late 1970s.