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Casca #9
The Sentinel [Abridged]
KMN
Audio Cassette
First published January 1, 1983
72 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Barry Sadler
108 books78 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 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 8, 2023
Casca can't die, wounds miraculously healed. AD485 the Brothehood re-enacting the crucifixion of Jesus, one of the followers nailed to a cross, blood flowing, trying to stay conscious, though excruciating, finally speared in the side. The Brotherhood searching for the Beast, Casca the damned, after piercing the messiah some 500 years ago, taking his blood to his lips, condemned to walk the earth until the second coming of Jesus, never aging, never sick, never killed he was now an eternal mercenary. Casca enters a small village being raped and pillaged, Casca will plunge a spear through flesh and twist a scabbard into an eye socket. He will retreat to a winter cave. After 100 years he will be come back from hibernation and save the small village again from raiders, kicking a guys balls in and cutting throats, getting the villagers to burn the raiders. Casca will be happy for 5 years with a wife and being a father to her child. To earn money he will be a mercenary and travel to North Africa. The slaves lived in the bottom of the ship, sleeping, eating, shitting, their arses torn apart oozing filth, blood gushing from the constant rowing. Gregory the elder of the Brothehood will kill Casca's adopted son and wife. Casca will skin a man alive, the skin dangling below the waist. Casca will chase Gregory across the world to seek revenge for the two he loved. He will re-enact the crucifixion agai causing nothing but pain.
March 30, 2025
That ending was a long time coming
December 20, 2018
This was a bit better and more interesting than some previous installments in the Casca series for several reasons.
First, while Casca can't father his own children, for the first time he plays a direct father role to a child born from the rape of a woman who worships him as the mountain sentinel that saved her village once a long time ago and more recently. Casca saves the downtrodden and persecuted. How often does that happen in this series? Quite frequently.
However, this first part of the book is really a misnomer. Really, this book covers Casca's joining a mercenary army supporting the famous general Belisarius, to fight for Constantinople (the Rome of the East) against the Vandals in Carthage.
Second, this book goes a bit further in Casca's ongoing battle with the Brotherhood of the Lamb. Casca goes toe-to-toe with the Brotherhood when they kidnap the child and his devoted woman while he is off campaigning against Carthage. Blood will be spilt when you screw with Casca's friends or women, and this book was no exception.
I have to say that, again, there are some typos in the text that should have been caught. As well, no one will ever accuse Barry Sadler of writing a literary epic, but it is entertaining in spots. I think that I related to Casca's characters because, like myself, he is quite literal. When he threatens to rip your arm off, he is quite capable and willing to do it to prove his point or backup his not-so-idle threats.
The series is following a more or less standard formula: Casca will have a love interest - either a beautiful woman or a virgin (or a beautiful virgin) who probably die by the end of the book. Casca will have a friend, maybe a bit smaller or physically less imposing than himself or a huge, or possibly a friendly mountain of a man, who will somehow save his life at least once, but also will likely die before the end of the book. The bad guys will die, usually quite painfully, based upon pain inflicted by Casca. It is not a matter of if, but how. Finally, Casca will continue to wander the Earth, tired but always moving.
Overall, the fun continues. From the publisher dates, these novels were put out quite closely together. So either there was a group of ghost writers helping crank out the series, or the author wrote and company published them as quickly as possible to meet the demand.
I'm sticking with my previous assessment, in that if you have time to waste, particularly during a daily commute, these books can be quite entertaining. But if you want to learn something or have depth to your reading, go elsewhere. Worth the time spent reading if you have nothing serious at hand.
First, while Casca can't father his own children, for the first time he plays a direct father role to a child born from the rape of a woman who worships him as the mountain sentinel that saved her village once a long time ago and more recently. Casca saves the downtrodden and persecuted. How often does that happen in this series? Quite frequently.
However, this first part of the book is really a misnomer. Really, this book covers Casca's joining a mercenary army supporting the famous general Belisarius, to fight for Constantinople (the Rome of the East) against the Vandals in Carthage.
Second, this book goes a bit further in Casca's ongoing battle with the Brotherhood of the Lamb. Casca goes toe-to-toe with the Brotherhood when they kidnap the child and his devoted woman while he is off campaigning against Carthage. Blood will be spilt when you screw with Casca's friends or women, and this book was no exception.
I have to say that, again, there are some typos in the text that should have been caught. As well, no one will ever accuse Barry Sadler of writing a literary epic, but it is entertaining in spots. I think that I related to Casca's characters because, like myself, he is quite literal. When he threatens to rip your arm off, he is quite capable and willing to do it to prove his point or backup his not-so-idle threats.
The series is following a more or less standard formula: Casca will have a love interest - either a beautiful woman or a virgin (or a beautiful virgin) who probably die by the end of the book. Casca will have a friend, maybe a bit smaller or physically less imposing than himself or a huge, or possibly a friendly mountain of a man, who will somehow save his life at least once, but also will likely die before the end of the book. The bad guys will die, usually quite painfully, based upon pain inflicted by Casca. It is not a matter of if, but how. Finally, Casca will continue to wander the Earth, tired but always moving.
Overall, the fun continues. From the publisher dates, these novels were put out quite closely together. So either there was a group of ghost writers helping crank out the series, or the author wrote and company published them as quickly as possible to meet the demand.
I'm sticking with my previous assessment, in that if you have time to waste, particularly during a daily commute, these books can be quite entertaining. But if you want to learn something or have depth to your reading, go elsewhere. Worth the time spent reading if you have nothing serious at hand.
January 15, 2014
I would give this one more than 5 stars if possible. Of the 15 Casca books, this one is my favorite. He saves a village from bandits that took it over to hole up for the winter. Once everyone is safe, he goes to a cave overlooking the village, and he goes to sleep - for 200 years or so. There were legends of how he will come back when the village needs him. Anyway, it turns out good then bad for him like the other books. Though these stories are usually the same type but in a different time, Casca's toiling reflects what most people go through in the big picture of their lives. He cannot die or look forward to the end, so his big picture idea of existence is skewed. He no longer has that sense of urgency for success or long-term goals like most of us have. Also, his ideas of life and death were formed when living was a bit different experience. It amazes me that he does not become a predator of humans, and doesn't see himself as a non-human.
February 12, 2020
Trekking into the mountains Casca is life weary. He stops to rest above the snow line over looking a valley and lets the cold overtake him. Frozen this way, the locals regard him as a watchful guardian, or Sentinel. Believing he will come again in their time of need.
Another enjoyable installment in the series. All the elements I've enjoyed in previous books were present in this volume.
A few things I found unsettling though. First, the attempted rape scene. Awful. Yuck! Second, the cringing feeling I had the whole book about the ultimate fate of Casca's wife and son. This was made up for in the last few pages. What a bloody ending! Bittersweet.
Recommended!
Another enjoyable installment in the series. All the elements I've enjoyed in previous books were present in this volume.
A few things I found unsettling though. First, the attempted rape scene. Awful. Yuck! Second, the cringing feeling I had the whole book about the ultimate fate of Casca's wife and son. This was made up for in the last few pages. What a bloody ending! Bittersweet.
Recommended!
July 26, 2021
Casca protects a young woman and raises her child as his own in this sad story of the struggle that proves that his curse not only affects him but also has an impact on those he loves. I am surprised that Casca can still attempt to be a good person when all he experiences is treachery whenever he tries to do what he believes is right. In this story, the Brotherhood of the Lamb destroys Casca's ability to live a normal life for even a few years.
May 18, 2021
An interesting series
This series has an intriguing storyline with interesting characters. I read this series more years ago than I can remember and decided to read it again. It is still a nice read
This series has an intriguing storyline with interesting characters. I read this series more years ago than I can remember and decided to read it again. It is still a nice read
May 29, 2019
I have loved all these books and I'll certainly go on to the next ones. I guess demoting it by one star is only because it gets a bit graphicly bloody but the story is typically Casca.
October 22, 2020
Best one so far
Really enjoyed this book in the series. The descriptions of his battles seemed very vibrant in my mind as I read.
Really enjoyed this book in the series. The descriptions of his battles seemed very vibrant in my mind as I read.
March 19, 2023
"Casca: The Sentinel" by Barry Sadler is another exciting adventure novel that follows the legendary Roman soldier Casca Longinus as he is unfrozen from a long sleep, and gains a wife and son. Taking his new family with him, he is thrust into more battles. This is the first time I’ve seen him acting as a father figure, and he seemed so content. Unfortunately, he is found again by the Brotherhood, and their fanaticism leads him to unbearable pain and tragedy.
October 27, 2025
Great addition to the saga of Casca! This story showed a different side of him which I really enjoyed.
March 14, 2017
Certainly not the greatest Casca book, I didn't like the lack of historical detail and the story didn't make a lot of sense. I hope there are better ones to come
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 13, 2020
Number Nine in the Casca series. It covers a longer period than many of the novels. Casca saves a small mountain village from predators and then lives dormant in a mountain cave for four generations before he is called upon again.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews