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Six Million Dollar Man #5
High Crystal
BIONICS MAN HUNTS THE SECRETS OF THE GODS!
Hidden deep in the mountainous interior of Peru lie the unexplored remains of an ancient civilization. A civilization capable of erecting a vast, stone highway, smooth as marble, more than two miles above sea level. How could prehistoric peoples achieve this impossible feat? What extrahuman power lies behind it? Could this power be used again today?
It is Cyborg Steve Austin's assignment to answer these questions. But his expedition is not alone in pursuing the mysteries of the ancients. Austin's rivals are vicious in their methods - and evil in their intentions. And all the superhuman abilities of the man-machine may not be enough to preserve the power of the High Crystal!
Hidden deep in the mountainous interior of Peru lie the unexplored remains of an ancient civilization. A civilization capable of erecting a vast, stone highway, smooth as marble, more than two miles above sea level. How could prehistoric peoples achieve this impossible feat? What extrahuman power lies behind it? Could this power be used again today?
It is Cyborg Steve Austin's assignment to answer these questions. But his expedition is not alone in pursuing the mysteries of the ancients. Austin's rivals are vicious in their methods - and evil in their intentions. And all the superhuman abilities of the man-machine may not be enough to preserve the power of the High Crystal!
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
90 people want to read
About the author
Martin Caidin
192 books81 followersMartin 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 29, 2017
Martin Caidin likes airplanes. A lot. And Caidin's liking of airplanes bogs down High Crystal the same way certain adventure writers bog down their action with Asperger's Syndrome-like details on guns. A decent read but it could have been better.
March 14, 2021
When the survivor of a crash of an American military cargo plane reports seeing a miles long strange road in the Peruvian Andes, Col. Steve Austin is assigned to lead an expedition of scientists into the area. Put back together with bionic limbs after a crash, Austin's talents will be sorely tested when sabotage and close calls with death as he searches for an ancient power source that may have handed down to the ancients by aliens.
This book was written before the premiere of the tv series The Six Million Dollar Man and incorporates the original ideas from the Cyborg novel by the same author, Martin Caidin. Austin works for the OSO, not the OSI, Oscar Goldman is second in command of the organization to Jackson McKay, and Austin's bionic arm is his left instead of his right. Austin also has no qualms about killing his enemies, a tactic toned down for the television audience.
The plot also has Austin's flying skills highlighted, a device that will appeal to anyone who had taken to the air. It's a good, fast paced story that I enjoyed reading again from its original release in the Seventies.
This book was written before the premiere of the tv series The Six Million Dollar Man and incorporates the original ideas from the Cyborg novel by the same author, Martin Caidin. Austin works for the OSO, not the OSI, Oscar Goldman is second in command of the organization to Jackson McKay, and Austin's bionic arm is his left instead of his right. Austin also has no qualms about killing his enemies, a tactic toned down for the television audience.
The plot also has Austin's flying skills highlighted, a device that will appeal to anyone who had taken to the air. It's a good, fast paced story that I enjoyed reading again from its original release in the Seventies.
February 15, 2020
As part of the 10th anniversary of the creation of Zombie-Cyborg Day, I read this book, about probably the 2nd most famous Cyborg.
This time around, Steve Austin takes a voyage to South America, to one of the ancient ruins of a (made up) abandon race of settlers. Accompanying him on the team is Rudy Wells and others (whom I refer to as Red Shirt One, Professor Red Shirt, Red Shirt solder, and She Who Falls For Steve Austin).
What the team discovers is a structure that is anything beyond the capabilities of the ancient people- and yes, if you are thinking "Chariots of the Gods", dont worry, you arent alone. Even the team talks about it.
To be honest, of the 3 Cyborg books I have read so far, this is my least favorite. But for the time, it was probably timely and exciting.
(And on a person note, this is the 3rd book I read since the start of the year where a team of experts travel to Central/ South America, to explore ancient ruins. I am sensing a pattern in my reading so far. But Mayan I am reaching in my connections. )
This time around, Steve Austin takes a voyage to South America, to one of the ancient ruins of a (made up) abandon race of settlers. Accompanying him on the team is Rudy Wells and others (whom I refer to as Red Shirt One, Professor Red Shirt, Red Shirt solder, and She Who Falls For Steve Austin).
What the team discovers is a structure that is anything beyond the capabilities of the ancient people- and yes, if you are thinking "Chariots of the Gods", dont worry, you arent alone. Even the team talks about it.
To be honest, of the 3 Cyborg books I have read so far, this is my least favorite. But for the time, it was probably timely and exciting.
(And on a person note, this is the 3rd book I read since the start of the year where a team of experts travel to Central/ South America, to explore ancient ruins. I am sensing a pattern in my reading so far. But Mayan I am reaching in my connections. )
April 24, 2022
Some Chariot of the Gods stuff where ancient aliens or whatever have left behind a crystal which can give forth huge amounts of energy which could help civilization's power needs or create a death ray. Steve, Rudy and others seek it followed by a group of bad guys. It is a book about Cyborg Steve Austin but pretty much any tough guy could have done what he did. I expected bionic action like in the two previous books but almost none.
January 29, 2019
Wow, that took forever to read this sub-200 page book.
That being said, it's actually pretty good. Much better than Cyborg #2. Takes it's cue from Chariots of the Gods and similar to adventure stories like Raiders of the Lost Ark. Some good bionic action scenes.
That being said, it's actually pretty good. Much better than Cyborg #2. Takes it's cue from Chariots of the Gods and similar to adventure stories like Raiders of the Lost Ark. Some good bionic action scenes.
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June 1, 2016read some time in 1986
April 5, 2017
Not your usual TV spinoff novel, but an exciting story in it's own right
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews