Cavern [Hardcover]

Jake Page (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2000

Set in and around the town of Carlsbad, New Mexico--home to both the Department of Energy's Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP), the underground dumping area for irradiated materials, and the magnificent Carlsbad Caverns--Cavern is a truly terrifying thriller, laced with flawless science, caving research, and an excellent romance.

The salt tunnel excavations for the WIPP site, and the entombment of radioactive material might seem a dangerous enough risk for humanity; but when a newly revealed series of immense caverns leads to the discovery of a colony of colossal bears that have survived and adapted to their subterranean environment since the ice-age glaciers disappeared from what is now the desert southwest, not only is man at risk, but the whole Department of Energy's multi-billion dollar investment in WIPP.

"Cavern is one of the most gripping novels I have read in ages. It is a grand adventure story, a tale of intrigue, science, and terror set in a warren of caverns deep under the Southwestern desert. But it is more than just a heart-pounding thriller: it is a story populated with richly drawn characters, unforgettable descriptions of a magical underground world, exceptionally fine writing, and a creature guaranteed to arouse your most atavistic fears. Jake Page knows his science, and he has created a story that is all too believable. This is most definitely not a novel for anyone with a heart condition or claustrophobia. Read it with the lights on and the doors locked."--Douglas Preston, coauthor of Relic and Thunderhead

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Page has written mysteries (The Lethal Partner), books on mythology and history, and columns for such magazines as Science. With his latest novel, he proves very good at the growing genre of large hungry carnivores left over from times long past. Jack Whittaker is a spelunker, a caving guide, to whom authorities around Carlsbad, NM, turn for rescue operations. He has unearthed a vast and beautiful cave in which there is evidence of an undiscovered extinct species of bear that may be of interest to Cassie, his paleontologist ex-wife who left him because of his obsession with things underground. Unfortunately, the cave is on land belonging to a caustic rancher, and part of it may be a little too near a newly opened underground nuclear waste storage facility. Several workers at the facility have gone missing, and there may be something in the cave killing and eating local cattle. The book!s core message"that we endanger the environment because we don!t understand all its interconnecting elements"may be a bit simplistic, but the story is nicely executed and interesting and the characters well thought out and likable (even the bad guys aren!t so bad). Recommended for all public libraries."Patrick Wall, University City P.L., MO
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"This strange and terrifying story is great reading. Jake Page writes a very good yarn!" (Southwest Books of the Year )

"[Cavern] is merely fun. As fun, that is, as greed, terror and death can be." (Weekly Alibi )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 292 pages
• Publisher: University of New Mexico Press; 1st edition (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826322263
• ISBN-13: 978-0826322265
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,799,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ONE "BEAR" OF A NOVEL!, April 16, 2001

By 

Bruce Jones - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cavern (Hardcover)

In an undiscovered cavern in Carlsbad, New Mexico, a species of bear thought to be extinct has survived and adapted to the dark confines of its underground dwelling. Undetected for over ten-thousand years his world and our world are about to collide.

Now, I know you're thinking that a pre-historic bear doesn't sound very scary, but these guys are much bigger and more vicious than their modern day cousins!

Jake Page presents a well researched and well written story that comes across very believable. The darkness and tight confines of the caverns are enough to give anyone a severe case of claustrophobia and \ or the willies.

The only letdown was the ending. Too predictable. Just once I would like to see the main character go public with his discovery of a new species instead of keeping it secret from the rest of the world.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast action and a thrilling plot, May 17, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cavern (Paperback)

The setting is an unexplored cave near Carlsbad Caverns and the scientists who study it  and begin disappearing. Something is evidently down there, and amid issues of nuclear waste and research lies evidence of a new threat to mankind which must be stamped out. Cavern features fast action and a thrilling plot which will keep readers guessing to the end.

5.0 out of 5 stars suspenseful and well written, December 29, 2009

By 

Peter Modreski (Wheat Ridge, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cavern (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this book when I read it several years ago. I'll admit that the topic had special interest to me because I'm interested in all of caves, New Mexico, mining, geology, and prehistoric things; all of which are woven into the story line, and I think the author did a fine job of crafting this mystery novel in that setting. While I'm at it, I'll put in a plug for all of Jake Page's novels--he's one of my favorite authors, so try some of his other books too, you won't be disappointed (you'll enjoy getting to know the protagonist in most of his other novels, Mo Bowdre!).