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Casca #14
The Phoenix
With Viet Cong Commander Ho van Tuyen using his invincible Ke sat Nhan assassins to terrorize the American troops, Casca--condemned to outlive the ages, wandering the globe as an eternal soldier--becomes a target. Reissue.
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
42 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Barry Sadler
108 books79 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
American author, musician and former green beret.
To the general public he is most known for the hit single "Ballad of the green berets"
After his musical career he decided to write a series of novels centered around the character "Casca Rufio Longinius" Who is cursed for piercing Jesus on the crucifix with a spear and is forced to forever remain a soldier until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
In the mid 1980s Sadler moved to Guatemala City where he was shot in the head one night in a taxi. He spent 7 months in a coma and died more than a year later.
American author, musician and former green beret.
To the general public he is most known for the hit single "Ballad of the green berets"
After his musical career he decided to write a series of novels centered around the character "Casca Rufio Longinius" Who is cursed for piercing Jesus on the crucifix with a spear and is forced to forever remain a soldier until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
In the mid 1980s Sadler moved to Guatemala City where he was shot in the head one night in a taxi. He spent 7 months in a coma and died more than a year later.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 17, 2023
The author succeeds in giving the reader a thrill ride as Casey Romaine aka Casca faces off with a sadistic Vietcong leader who uses a secret terror network. What Casca must do is take out the commander of this conspiracy to assassinate South Vietnam leaders and American commanders using trusted civilians to do them in. Even a trusted translator tries to kill a top American leader and in the process erodes trust in South Vietnam. Casca takes out this opponent in a satisifing conclusion of the novel. It could have used a less demonizing view of the Vietcong but you don't read Barry Sadler novels as historical texts.
January 30, 2019
I was going to go with two stars due to the commonality between this book and several others, I liked the ending, as gruesome as it was, so I bumped it back up to three stars.
I wish that after the success of the first book, the author had done more deliberate planning and mapping out future books and the timeline so that things didn't jump around so much. It would make the characters and plots easier to follow and help build the characters in a linear way. At times, you see authors do prequels and post-event books. But this series bounces around a lot, sometimes to its benefit, but lately to its detriment.
I do like how we learn more about Phang, Van and other characters. But I would have liked it before going into the previous books.
There seems to be a common plot lately - Casca causes someone grief and they want Casca dead as he seems to haunt them. He is killed a few times, but in the end, comes back to help plan or carry out the death of whomever was pursuing him long after you would think it realistic. But people are kind of crazy sometimes, so it does work, sort of, sometimes. Not every time.
This book's plot was quite repetitive of Casca: The Legionnaire and several others, so it can be a bit tiresome to read yet another nut pursuing Casca to kill the man who cannot be killed.
One thing I have to say is that I see how Sadler's writing evolved as he did seem to be quite a bit more expressive with his use of scenery. It was quite noticeable in early parts of the book.
Overall, I liked the ending as a great way to kill off a pursuing enemy and the plot does move along. Repetitiveness aside, the book was an okay read and worth the time spent reading as I continue to roll through the series.
I wish that after the success of the first book, the author had done more deliberate planning and mapping out future books and the timeline so that things didn't jump around so much. It would make the characters and plots easier to follow and help build the characters in a linear way. At times, you see authors do prequels and post-event books. But this series bounces around a lot, sometimes to its benefit, but lately to its detriment.
I do like how we learn more about Phang, Van and other characters. But I would have liked it before going into the previous books.
There seems to be a common plot lately - Casca causes someone grief and they want Casca dead as he seems to haunt them. He is killed a few times, but in the end, comes back to help plan or carry out the death of whomever was pursuing him long after you would think it realistic. But people are kind of crazy sometimes, so it does work, sort of, sometimes. Not every time.
This book's plot was quite repetitive of Casca: The Legionnaire and several others, so it can be a bit tiresome to read yet another nut pursuing Casca to kill the man who cannot be killed.
One thing I have to say is that I see how Sadler's writing evolved as he did seem to be quite a bit more expressive with his use of scenery. It was quite noticeable in early parts of the book.
Overall, I liked the ending as a great way to kill off a pursuing enemy and the plot does move along. Repetitiveness aside, the book was an okay read and worth the time spent reading as I continue to roll through the series.
April 29, 2023
"Casca 14: The Phoenix" by Barry Sadler is a gripping and action-packed novel that takes readers on a thrilling journey through the jungles of Vietnam during the height of the war. This book is part of the larger Casca series, which follows the adventures of an immortal soldier cursed to live forever, fighting in battles and wars throughout history.
In this installment, Casca finds himself on the hit list of Ho van Tuyen, a ruthless Viet Cong commander who is determined to take out any American he can. Ho has a team of highly skilled assassins at his disposal, known as Ke'sat nhan, and he uses them to spread death and terror among American ranks. But Casca, also known as Casey Romain, is not an easy target. He has powerful allies of his own, including a tribe of fierce Kamserai warriors and some unusual companions.
One of the strengths of this book is the way the author brings the setting to life. The Vietnam War was a complex and challenging conflict, and the author captures its mood and atmosphere perfectly. From the sweltering heat of the jungle to the chaos and confusion of battle, readers will feel like they are right there in the thick of things.
The character development in this book is also excellent. Casca is a complex and multifaceted character, and readers will find themselves rooting for him as he fights for his life against Ho's assassins. The supporting cast of characters is also well-developed, from the Kamserai warriors to the unusual allies that Casca gathers around him. Each character has their own motivations and desires, and their interactions with each other are often tense and fraught with danger.
The action scenes in this book are expertly crafted and will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The author has a talent for writing fast-paced, thrilling action that never feels gratuitous or over-the-top. Whether it's a firefight in the jungle or a daring escape from the enemy, the action is always grounded in the characters and their struggles.
One of the themes of this book is the idea that even in the midst of war, there are still moments of humanity and compassion. Despite the violence and destruction all around them, the characters find ways to connect with each other and to form bonds of friendship and loyalty. This adds an extra layer of depth and emotion to the story, and helps to make the characters feel more real and relatable.
Overall, "Casca 14: The Phoenix" is a thrilling and engaging novel that is sure to satisfy fans of military fiction. The characters are well-developed, the action is expertly crafted, and the themes are thought-provoking and meaningful. Whether you're a longtime fan of the Casca series or a newcomer to the world of immortal soldiers and ruthless enemies, this book is definitely worth checking out.
In this installment, Casca finds himself on the hit list of Ho van Tuyen, a ruthless Viet Cong commander who is determined to take out any American he can. Ho has a team of highly skilled assassins at his disposal, known as Ke'sat nhan, and he uses them to spread death and terror among American ranks. But Casca, also known as Casey Romain, is not an easy target. He has powerful allies of his own, including a tribe of fierce Kamserai warriors and some unusual companions.
One of the strengths of this book is the way the author brings the setting to life. The Vietnam War was a complex and challenging conflict, and the author captures its mood and atmosphere perfectly. From the sweltering heat of the jungle to the chaos and confusion of battle, readers will feel like they are right there in the thick of things.
The character development in this book is also excellent. Casca is a complex and multifaceted character, and readers will find themselves rooting for him as he fights for his life against Ho's assassins. The supporting cast of characters is also well-developed, from the Kamserai warriors to the unusual allies that Casca gathers around him. Each character has their own motivations and desires, and their interactions with each other are often tense and fraught with danger.
The action scenes in this book are expertly crafted and will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The author has a talent for writing fast-paced, thrilling action that never feels gratuitous or over-the-top. Whether it's a firefight in the jungle or a daring escape from the enemy, the action is always grounded in the characters and their struggles.
One of the themes of this book is the idea that even in the midst of war, there are still moments of humanity and compassion. Despite the violence and destruction all around them, the characters find ways to connect with each other and to form bonds of friendship and loyalty. This adds an extra layer of depth and emotion to the story, and helps to make the characters feel more real and relatable.
Overall, "Casca 14: The Phoenix" is a thrilling and engaging novel that is sure to satisfy fans of military fiction. The characters are well-developed, the action is expertly crafted, and the themes are thought-provoking and meaningful. Whether you're a longtime fan of the Casca series or a newcomer to the world of immortal soldiers and ruthless enemies, this book is definitely worth checking out.
August 31, 2023
One of the best Casca books I've read so far. I intend to read more. This one has Casca in Vietnam. He's hunting a Viet Cong captain who is running an assassins group killing important American and South Vietnamese military and political figures. The captain, named Ho, thinks he's killed Casca early in the book and gradually becomes more and more terrified as he realizes Casca seemingly can't be stopped. The ending, which takes places in a swamp, is very good.
Great atmospheric tale with a lot of authentic details. Barry Sadler fought in Vietnam and was wounded there. He was a green beret and wrote the fairly famous song, "The Ballad of the Green Berets," as well as the Casca books and some others. He died at age 49.
Great atmospheric tale with a lot of authentic details. Barry Sadler fought in Vietnam and was wounded there. He was a green beret and wrote the fairly famous song, "The Ballad of the Green Berets," as well as the Casca books and some others. He died at age 49.
July 4, 2018
A pretty good read but I dont really understand the whole reason Casca was so obsessed with his target as surely he should have become used to mans inhumanity to man by now?
April 29, 2015
So you just a soldier doing your job. You shove a spear tip into the side of this supposed messiah, except he is the real thing. He curses you to wander the earth till his return. Not bad right, immortality and all. Oh but he also curses you to be a soldier forever at war, never to know peace. This is the story of Casca the Roman legionnaire that stabbed Christ. Forever wandering the earth fighting one war after another. Great adventure series. Very recommended
February 6, 2017
Excellent book, especially in the telling of his Viet Nam adventures. It truly feels like you are there along side him, traversing the jungle, feeling the heat and bugs, watching for booby traps, all while trying to locate an enemy that is doing the exact same thing as you, but perhaps, only on the other side of the leaves from you!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews