Customer Reviews

The Cave

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Since I wrote it, one would expect I would give it 5 stars. But since I have a tendency to be impeccably honest, this is not the necessarily the case. Even though I had read the manuscript through at least a dozen times in editing, etc. as soon as I got my first copy I sat down to read it in book form. And, as a Vietnam veteran and avid reader, I must say I impressed myself! The Cave is, above everything else, a war novel set in the Vietnam War in the skies over Laos and North Vietnam and on the ground in a huge cave discovered by survivor Toby Carter after his C-130 flareship is shot down. Carter has a background in cave exploration and is a country boy from Tennessee and when he finds the cave, he almost feels like he's at home. He despairs of ever being rescued, but then he discovers the means of waging a personal war against the North Vietnamese. Toby Carter is no Sylvester Stallone - he is a down-to-earth country boy just like thousands of others like him who fought the war in Vietnam - but he does have wits and skills that serve him well. The book is an outdoor adventure set in the middle of a war and it even has some psycho-sex thrown in to keep things even more interesting (and, to those who were actually in Thailand, realistic!) This is a book about Southeast Asia written by a Vietnam veteran with other veterans in mind, as well as their families and friends.

Break right! Break right! No better way to start a noval about the C130A Missions up North and over Trail during the Vietnam War. The author brings back a lot of memories, mixing fact, the Blind Bat / Lamplighter mission and fiction, the exploits of his young hero, Toby Carter. An exciting noval, one you will not want to put down and leaves you waiting for the next episode.

A must read for anyone who served or has an interest in the secret air war over the Trail.

Great job Sam!

Great job, very realistic, an outstanding tribute to the Loadmasters who got very little recognition, who without them many a C-130 mission would have never got off the ground. Hang in there Sam, do another one, Loads Clear.

This book brought back a lot of memories of my days over the trail.Not only that but as a boy from West Va ,I found the cave portion realistic,for as a boy I too used a carbide lantern in some underground exploring.I loaned my copy to Son in Law,so he could get a feel for The "Trail" Ken C

Brought back lots of memories.A must read for those interested in the war over the trail.

If you have an interest in the Vietman war or in caving this is the book for you. The main character is a most likeable young man from Tennessee who's story is very different from what you would normally expect from a tale that takes place in Vietman during the war. I found this to be a fast paced book, a quick read, that is most entertaining.

If you have an interest in the Vietman war or in caving this is the book for you. The main character is a most likeable young man from Tennessee who's story is very different from what you would normally expect from a tale that takes place in Vietman during the war. I found this to be a fast paced book, a quick read, that is most entertaining.

Having flown similar type missions over the same territory, I find the author's grasp of the subject excellent. He tells a great story, too. His characters are believable and likeable.
For a first novel it is extraordinary.
Try it!

Being a former C-130 B/E Loadmaster,The Cave brought back many memories. I would highly recommend this book for former Loadmasters, Air Force and general military enthusiast. It was great reading. I had a trip to Minneaoplis and read the book during the trip. I did not want to put the book down, because I wanted to see what was in the next chapter. Sam, keep up the good work, you do have the gift.