Rating: 
Summary: wonderful book/series
Review: Casca: The Eternal Mercenary is a series of twenty-two books written by Barry Sadler. This series is about a guy named Casca Rufio Longinus; he was cursed by Jesus Christ. The curse is "Soldier, you are content with what you are. Then that you shall remain until we meet again." The curse means that Casca will remain as a soldier until the second coming of Jesus Christ. This is a fantastic series so far. The first book in the series is extremely descriptive, interesting, and unpredictable.
Mr. Sadler, the author, describes everything in great detail; it is so descriptive that the reader will get hooked on the book until he/she is done with it, such as when Casca describes exactly what happened the day he killed Jesus Christ. Casca says that he and the other soldiers were betting on who would take the clothes of Jesus and the two thieves, who were killed the same day. He goes on to say how he speared Jesus in the rib cage to kill him quicker, and how when he did that some of Jesus' blood ran down the spear shaft got on his lips. That is when Jesus cursed him. Casca then goes on to describe what happened after he was cursed. He describes what illnesses, injuries, and punishments he has received or avoided as he goes through his life. He also recollects what women he has married and fallen in love with, and the women that his enemies raped and killed. Casca recalls his slavery and what life was like in slavery.
This book in the series is interesting because Casca, the main character, is a depicted soldier who fought in the Vietnam War in 1970. He was injured by a piece of shrapnel which exposed an area of his brain approximately four inches long and three inches wide. Casca's body was taking steps to protect itself from infections by rapidly healing the abscess in his skull. This amazed the army surgeons, a colonel, and a major. Major Goldman, one of the surgeons, discovered that Casca's blood was deadly poison. He also discovered that Casca could speak the Latin of the Caesars. These facts are intriguing because no person who has a wound as such could heal by itself and few people at that time could speak such a tongue. Casca explained to Major Goldman about how he was cursed. While in the hospital, Casca told Goldman that he had been alive before the birth of Jesus and that he was the one ordered to kill Jesus. These are just a few of the multiple points of interest in the first book. These interesting facts came out of the first chapter.
The reader can never predict what turn of events lie in store for the soldier who lives infinitely. Every new place he goes, he receives a new name. No one knows that he is the same legendary figure because few people know that he can not die. As one progresses through Casca's life, one starts to believe that he will be dead due to a stab wound, some type of poison or sickness he incurs, but he still lives on because of the curse. "Soldier, you are content with what you are. Then that you shall remain until we meet again."
This series, especially the first book arouses interest as it is interesting, descriptive, and unpredictable. I have had a wonderful experience in reading the series. I own all twenty-two books and have read the first seven so far. I recommend this series to anyone who is, has been or wants to be a soldier, or anyone who is interested in action/adventure books.
Rating: 
Summary: CASCA: The Eternal Mercenary
Review: Barry Sadler's 'Casca' series of books, 22 in all, were written between 1979 and 1989. The series follows the life of one Casca Rufio Longinus, a Roman soldier doomed to live until the Second Coming of Christ, always as a common soldier, and the experiences he has through the centuries. The story that Sadler based his books upon has been around for close to 2000 years, though the actual point of origin is somewhat of a mystery. The soldier who pierced the side of Jesus was named Longinus (or Cartaphiles, depending on which history you choose to believe). The soldier was apparently cured of several ailments when he came into contact with the blood of Jesus, and was so moved by the experience that he devoted the rest of his life to Christianity. This, being an unpopular notion with the Romans of that era, led to his eventual execution. His apparent ability to survive the wounds that the Romans inflicted upon him during his execution may have led to the legend being formed, but this is mostly conjecture. As for the Spear, it is believed to still survive today. It is a recurring factor in the book series, following Casca through the ages in the hands of a secretive brotherhood devoted to tormenting Casca. The Spear, now just a few scraps of wood and a battered head, either rests at the Basilica of St. Peter's in Rome, or at the Hoffburg Museum in Vienna. In either case the Spear is not available for viewing by the general public. Speculation that the Spear rests in Vienna is the most likely option. During World War 2 Adolph Hitler became the most modern of a long line of rulers to seize control of the Spear of Longinus. Charlemagne, Theodosius, Theodoric, Justinian, and more than a dozen other emperors have coveted control of this Icon, believing that it brings good luck in battle. The Casca series is a greatly entertaining look into the violent past. Casca at times serves as a representative of the common soldier, the grunt, and the things that these men have and will always endure. To fill the requests for these out of print books, Eastaboga Books, an affiliate of Eastaboga Entertainment Corporation, is offering the first of these books on-line These additional Novels will be available on-line soon; Morituri, The Moi, Cry Havoc, Phu Nham, The Shooter, Run For The Sun, Seppuku, Razor, Rescure, and Nashville With A Bullet. To sample his writing, select the "FREE MANUSCRIPT" for the first two chapters of this book. New Casca books A new author was recently chosen to continue the series. The new Authors name is Paul Dengelegi, and he was chosen because his writing style and research methods are similar to Sadlers. Look for it to become available some time in early 99.
Rating:
Summary: Original Idea, Great Writing, Entertaining Historical Series
Review: A while back a friend of mine mentioned something about a series of books following a man who is immortal, and this man was immortal because he was cursed to live forever by Christ as he was dying on the Cross. The man's name is Casca. Casca is a soldier of the Roman army around the time of Christ's death, sometime around 33 A.D. Casca is the soldier assigned to the mundane task of waiting for Jesus to die while he kept the small crowd around the Cross at bay. When told to finish the Jew off Casca stabs him in the side, just as the Bible tells it, but Jesus has a few words with Casca. The rest of Casca's life is then changed, and so the legend begins. Anyone interested in historical fiction and/or immortality should definitely read this book if not the entire series of 22 books spanning 2000 years. In the Eternal Mercenary Casca life goes from soldier, to slave, to extreme popularity very quickly, but I don't want to give too much away. Read this book, the first in a long series of great stories about the man made to live until the return of the Jew. Until we meet again.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best series I have ever read.
Review: An excellent rendering of historical fiction. Barry Sadler himself, a soldier shows us the pain, suffering, joys and friendships one man experiences. Eternal youth, a prize sought after by so many, exposes itself as a journey of lost loves, comrades and life as it is; hard work with happiness coming in small doses and satisfaction of a job well done but never finished.-W. A. Balding
Rating: 
Summary: Roman soldier forced to walk the earth until Christ returns.
Review: First in Sadler's series begins the tale of the soldier who
drove the spear into the side of Christ on the cross.
Christ decides that Casca likes his job so much he can
continue doing it until he returns. Forced to walk the
earth Casca learns the value of life and the woe of war.
Rating:
Summary: SURVIVAL!
Review: Generally I dislike the romanticzation of War, but this series is an exception. Combining history, philosophy, and conflict leadership, Sadler presents a conundrum to all interested in how we have survived this long. Clearly, there is an all encompassing message here. Perhaps even a clue. Ideas? e-mail @ ParisMC@webtv.net.
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Summary: This series is one of the best!!
Review: I bought my first 6 Casca books for about $2.00 at a library used book sale. I've been searching for the rest of the series ever since. These are probably some of the best books I've ever read and can't wait to have them all! Too bad we will never know how Casca finally ends-- nobody can finish this series but Barry Sadler, and he left before the end.
Rating:
Summary: Casca's origins
Review: I couldn't help but notice that Amazon didn't know the origins of this myth. The earliest reference that I have seen for this myth appears in the Faerie Queen, although I couldn't tell you exactly where in the story that this reference to Casca Longinus occured. A couple of these Casca stories sucked, but by and far I would reccommend the entire series to anyone that is interested in war and world history.
Rating:
Summary: Engrossing
Review: I first read this book in the early 1980s and have read it dozens of times over the years whenever I felt the blues.
It looks like a McBook - disposable junk- but it's not. Sadler has a direct writing style that draws you into the character. I always loved the concept of burnt-out immortals and this is the first book that I came across that has this theme.
This book started my lifelong interest in Ancient Rome and book # 4 (Casca: Panzer Soldier) started my lifelong interest in the Russian Front of WW2.
Some weaknesses: some of the wording in the book is slightly anachronistic and this book has the same plot elements as Barabbas, starring Anthony Quinn. Also, the series per se gets worse and worse. Therefore, only the first 4 or 5 books in the Casca series are good.
I've given this book to 5 of my friends, some of them literary snobs, and they all loved it.
Rating:
Summary: Hands down , One of the top 100 best Guy Books of all time!
Review: I found an old copy of Caca back in 1991 with the cover ripped off, while i was in the Navy serving out in the Gulf, read it cover to cover on one 6 hour watch while on board ship. I've been looking for Casca ever since, hands down a great and easy read.
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