Customer Reviews

Cyborg

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Cyborg by Martin Caidin I first read this book in the mid-seventies when I was a great fan of the Six Million Dollar Man TV series. It was probably the first adult (in the non-pornographic sense) book that I had read. It is an enjoyable and informative read (although the science will now be hopelessly outdated) but at the time what impressed me most were the differences from the TV show. Austin loses his left rather than his right arm; the bionic eye cannot see and is 'merely' a miniature camera; the governmental atmosphere is less cosy with Oscar Goldman a shadowy figure and Oliver Spencer (featured only in the pilot TV episode) the major protagonist. Interestingly the early episodes of the TV show did reflect some of Austin's resentment at being transferred into a government superspy. It's both a pity and somewhat surprising - in view of the TV show - that this title is no longer available. I would certainly like to read it again even though it had such an impact on me that I remember parts of it very well. Terence Teevan

Lieutenant - Colonel Steve Austin of the United States Air Force was a brilliant aviator and test pilot for NASA until the day he was savagely crippled during a test flight accident, in California. Barely alive, suffering from trauma, unable to use his legs, right arm, right eye and suffering from damaged organs and bones, Steve was ready to give up on life until he was proposed to undergo a top secret, government/military funded operation which would enable him to regain his lost capabilities. An operation which would make him better, stronger and faster than any man alive. He would be the 1st Bionic Man ever created, the perfect weapon for covert operations. I enjoyed reading this novel. I found it fast paced, exciting and interesting, especially on the scientific subjects such as Bionics and Cybernetics. It should provide for some good entertainment. This novel was the basis for the 70s tv series, " The Six Million Dollar Man ", which starred Lee Majors as Steve Austin.

Although it's been many years since I read this, I remember lending it to several of my friends in college, and they loved it so much that I eventually never got it back.

This book was, of course, the basis for the popular cheesy '70s show "The Six Million Dollar Man". But this book is anything but cheesy. Steve Austin is an astronaut/pilot involved in the very real, very dangerous and exciting NASA "lifting body" program of the late '60s and early '70s, a program devoted to finding an acceptable design for the Space Shuttle. Martin Caidin, the author of this book, was a doctor who actually participated in this program, and he was actually at Rogers Dry Lake bed when Bruce Peterson plowed his M2-F2 into the turf in a terrible accident--the very same wreck that we saw at the beginning of every "Six Million Dollar Man" episode.

Steve Austin, who similarly crashes and is seriously injured, gets "enhanced" artificial limbs and an eye (although the eye really only functions as a camera; when this book was written, an actual "seeing" eye was WAY too farfetched), and he is enlisted by the government to perform special missions, including stealing a Russian MIG from a base in the Middle East.

Austin's problems with his new "freakish" nature and with his being used as a pawn of the government are quite realistically portrayed. Caidin delves much farther into the psychology of a "bionic" (which is actually a misnomer) man than the TV series ever did.

A very fun, fascinating, exciting read, if you can find it. One of my favorite books of all time.

I didn't read it that long ago, actually, I somehow found it in a local library. I was very pleased of it's action, drama, and even suspense. I've read other books about "cyborgs" or whatever, and none of them even came close to the realism in this particular novel by Martin Caidin.

Caidins' Cyborg books was the most interesting I have ever read. Even if you didn't like the Six Million Dollar Man TV show that were based on the books and or consider yourself a true Sci Fi fan read at least the First book "Cyborg", you would very happy you did. The others are High Crystal, Orperation Nuke, and Cyborg 4. The only oter book I have read that I liked almost as much is Polhs' Manplus, another great read.

I remember reading this novel when I was 18 - it was my dad's!! I thought the novel was fast paced and fascinating back in 1984 and then a bit funny when the "Six Million Dollar Man" came out (I always thought the book was SO much better). I found a copy in the local library recently and reread - still pleasing and a great read.

After receiving a cochlear implant, my brother got me a book called Rebuilt-My Journey Back to the Hearing World by Michael Chorost. It described that with a cochlear implant we are now "cyborgs" with computers now controlling our hearing. Cyborg: A Novel was quoted and being a child during the Lee Majors TV series "The Six Million Dollar Man" I felt I should read the book it was based on. I found that unlike the TV show, Steve at times doubted his ability and had some trouble adapting to his life with the new bionic limbs.

I have enjoyed some of Martin Caidin's other novels, and it was time to read Cyborg. I found to my surprise, that this was the book that the television series, "Six Million Dollar Man" was based on. However, as with most book/movie relationships, this novel was so much better.
As in the television show, Lt. Colonel Steve Austin is test flying for NASA. His craft crashes, and he is kept unconscious until the government can figure out what to do with him. Along come the OSO (Office of Special Operations), to offer Steve's doctors and Air Force employers a chance to "rebuild" the man into the world's first Cyborg. Does Steve Austin accept his role as a "Superior Human" or does he reject his new bionics and live his life as an amputee?
Caidin does a great job building the story. From the preparation for the test, to the crash, the aftermath of the crash and the effects it has on all involved, to the 2 covert operations that Steve is asked to perform once he becomes the "Bionic Man". Caidin goes into great detail in his scenes, easily allowing you to visualize what is happening. I do believe, as was stated before, that he could have gone into a bit more characterization in this first book. Jean Masters, was a promising female character during Steve's rebuilding, but is forgotten as the book progresses.
Cyborg was a fast, smooth read, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

This book was the idea behind the TV series. Only the book was alot more serious then the TV series, which by the end of it's run turned very campy.
The book on the other hand plays Steve majors off as a James Bond type of spy with a few extra tricks. It was a good read. Also it was interesting to see what they thought we might be able to do with robotic body parts and how not so far we have come.
Kinda makes you wonder if James Cameron didn't get inspiredfrom this book or the TV series to write his Terminator movie.
This book is simaler to another book the Author wrote called Man-fac. Though in Man-fac, the person wears a robot suite that looks very much like a human.
Who knows maybe in a hundred years we'll be talking about this book and how he predicted a few things like Mary Shelly did in Frankenstein [transplants].

There is no question that Cyborg shadows the more famous Six Million Dollar Man series despite its vastly superior read. Cyborg follows Steve Austin and his reconstruction into a stronger, more dangerous invididual now part of OSO (Office Of Special Operations) engaging in deadly and hellacious assignments that only a man of his superior abilities could survive.

The book itself may surprise a lot of readers. There is a lot of hard science and extrapolation. Caidin goes through an exhaustive detail trying to explain the prostetics and of course the human body it will inhabit. There is also detail on the military, flying planes which gives the book a rich background. Frankly, after reading 128 pages I was pondering the wonder of my body -- how many simutaneous things can it do without thinking on my part -- move a hand, scan a landscape, listen, taste, etc. It made me really appreciate the human body.

The bionics slightly differ from the films. Steve's arm is less flexible and his legs can't go 70 mph. His eye is simply a high-tech glass covering with a camera built in, but all of this creates more drama to the reader since Steve has a lot more challenge to get through a situation.

Characterizations are minimal. Steve is a man's man. Strong, tenacious, brilliant, handsome, bold, etc, etc, etc while the female characters are relegated to simple doting sex objects. The doctors are caring and compassionate and the leaders -- Goldman and McKay are exposition machines but that's OK. Caidin is working on his strengths which is a rich history of military experience and technology -- write what you know!

I highly recommend the read. It's a quick read and every word counts. The highlight is Steve's struggle for survival in the hot arid desert. It's a page turner if I've ever read one. It's unfortunate it's out of print and you have to pay substantial sums to own it.