Petition to Eliminate Martin Caiden Indy Books!

Johan

Active member
Ok first of all...they need to eliminate the Caiden books from the series...its a flight manual! Seriously! These books are so badly written, bad story line and he is Obsessed with Flight Manuals. These books Are NOT worthy to have the name of INDY on them.
Of course I have to keep them to have my complete sereis, but I've read the dozen Indy novels and the 2 by Caiden Must Go! So I am writting a Non-Official Petition Just to say you agree.

-IndyJohan
 

Ayrun

Moderator Emeritus
Don't get me wrong.. I hated the books as well, and I agree with you on that.. Well.. up to the part where you said the guy couldn't write..
I believe he can.. but Indy books ain't his thing, in my opinion.
But I wouldn't go that far to eliminate them, though..
I mean.. these books are unfortunately part of the Indy books, but hey? nothing you can do about it. The damage has already been done. ;)
 

Indyologist

Well-known member
I wouldn't want to have them removed, but I do admit that IMHO they are BLOODY AWFUL! I only read them because they include Indy's character, but that's about as far as they go on quality.

They do indeed seem to me to be more of a manual for flight enthusiasts and, as such, made for extremely boring reading for myself. They would be good for someone who's obsessed with aircraft, however. But myself? No thanks.
 

Johan

Active member
Comon guy's, its like he wrote a book and edited Indy's name into it. Heck I looked up the background on this guy and guess what??? He really does write flight manuals!
 
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Indy_Jones88

Guest
Renderking Fisk said:
VOGEL:
What is in this book? That miserable little Diary of yours! Here's the map. The book is useless, and yet you come all the way back to Berlin to get it. Why? What are you hiding? What does the Diary tell you that it doesn't tell us?!

HENRY:
It tells me that goose-stepping morons like yourself should try reading books instead of burning them.

Just because you don't like a book, doesn't mean they should be erased.

Exactly. I for one, really like planes (Especially from WWII). For someone who likes planes and know what they are talking about when it comes to planes, these two books are a blast to read. I for one enjoyed them.
 

Webley

New member
Sky Pirates was a kickin book yo it read like a Doc. Savage book it had that hole A- team thing going on.
 

Johan

Active member
well maybe he should have made an A-Team book. But I'm glad I got out of this post that I wanted to....other peoples feedback!
Anyway, Caiden (may he rest in peace) will obviously not be writing any more, but I continue to skip over those 2 novels when I go through the series.
 

chipuk

New member
I have read Caiden's books, cant say I like them in particular
not bad not good. But as Ren said you dont have to read them.
The only point is you have to read them so you can find out for yourself if they are bad or good
 

Indyologist

Well-known member
Webley said:
Sky Pirates was a kickin book yo it read like a Doc. Savage book it had that hole A- team thing going on.

I pitty da foo' who compares Mista Jones to Mista T! Mista Jones is Mista Jones an' Mista T is Mista T, you foo'!! ;)
 
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Indy_Jones88

Guest
Indyologist said:
I pitty da foo' who compares Mista Jones to Mista T! Mista Jones is Mista Jones an' Mista T is Mista T, you foo'!! ;)

LOL! Sounds just like Mista T.
 

Indyologist

Well-known member
IndyJohan said:
Anyway, Caiden (may he rest in peace)

I had no idea he died! Even though I didn't like his Indy novels, I will say that I respect him greatly as a fellow writer for getting published. That, in itself, is a harrowing adventure!
 

Shipwreck

Moderator Emeritus
In Regards to the Caidin Novels

A prolific writer of over 150 scientific and fictional books, Martin Caidin was known as the "Hemingway of the Air," with a passion for living life to the fullest. As an orphan, he dreamed of escaping his life of abuse and drudgery by flying one of those beautiful birds in the sky. When he was 16, he stole an airplane for his first flight and was able to take off and land without putting a scratch on it. The relieved owner was so impressed that he offered to give Caidin flying lessons.

In 1955, Caidin worked secretly with Dr. Wernher von Braun and a small research group at Cape Canaveral to build the nation's first top secret moon rocket. While researching the Soviet space program and the life of Cosmonaut Gherman Stepanovich Titov, Caidin co-authored with Titov the book I Am Eagle. From this association came Caidin's best seller Marooned which was about American astronauts stranded in space and rescued by Soviet cosmonauts. Made into a blockbuster movie and filmed at Cape Canaveral with Caidin directing construction of the space capsule, every detail was so scientifically accurate (a trademark of all of Caidin's works) that it was officially sanctioned by NASA.

At the time the movie was filmed, Russia was totally against any joint manned space missions with the United States. However, when the movie was shown to the Soviet Academy of Science and the cosmonauts, they reversed their decision. According to both Phillip Handler, former president of the American Academy of Science, and official NASA reports, Caidin's movie Marooned was the major factor in the collaborative space effort leading to the Apollo-Soyuz joint U.S./Soviet space mission. To this day all Russian and American spacecraft have "common docking mechanisms" to allow for the possibility of future rescues.

Many of Caidin's books made it to Hollywood, another big success being Final Countdown. His book Cyborg was made into The Six Million Dollar Man as well as The Bionic Woman. Ironically, Cyborg was originally titled Miracle People, a non-fiction work about altering human bodies to allow them to function in space, but publishers wouldn't buy it. Most of Caidin's novels are based on fact, but many are on such sensitive subjects that in order to get them approved by government intelligence he had to include some fiction. Although pressed, he refused to tell which parts were factual. Two such books are The Mendelov Conspiracy (about UFOs) and The Messiah Stone which he said is 90 percent factual.

Caidin was as well known for his technically oriented nonfiction books as he was the big blockbuster novels. Whichever form his books took, one quality stood out -- the Caidin mark of strict scientific accuracy. The National War College, The Air University of the U.S. Air Force, and many other educational, training and special institutions use Caidin books as doctrine and strategy guides, historical references, and textbooks. He served as a nuclear warfare specialist for several states and was active with the Air Commandos and Strike Command in research about paramilitary strike teams.

An author who "lived what he wrote," Caidin spent five weeks with the famous USAF Thunderbirds jet aerobatic team. His book Thunderbirds! has gone through 22 printings and is still acclaimed as a classic documentary on the Air Force's aerial demonstration unit. Awarded the title "Thunderbird 8" by the team, Caidin is the only civilian ever to have lived and fly with them. He also flew as a stunt pilot on such films as The War Lover, The Battle of Britain, & The Longest Day and is famous for his breathtaking performances at leading airshow events.

Other nonfictional works such as Zero! and Samurai! resulted from Caidin's work while assigned to Air Force intelligence in Japan. He worked directly with Jiro Horikoshi (designer of the Zero fighter plane) and Masatake Okumiya (Chief of Japanese Navy intelligence in World War II).

The awards and honors beside Caidin's name are far too numerous to mention. He was a charter member of the Aviation Hall of Fame, founder of the American Astronautical Society, a member of the Missile, Range and Space Pioneers, and a Command Pilot for the following organizations: Confederate Air Force, Valiant Air Command, Warbirds of America, Experimental Aircraft Association, and Canadian Warplane Heritage.

Martin Caidin took on the role of delivering two novels to Lucas about Indiana Jones. During the course, he fell terminally ill. Not being a man to go against his word, he finished what he started.

Martin Caidin died of thyroid cancer March 24th, 1997 after a bitter struggle. He was 69.

Please, think of this when referring to his Indiana Jones books. He worked until the end.
 
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Indy_Jones88

Guest
Re: In Regards to the Caidin Novels

Shipwreck said:

Please, think of this when referring to his Indiana Jones books. He worked until the end.

WOW, I agree completely. That was nicely put shipwreck.
 

Johan

Active member
Where did you cut and paste that??
Anyway, many people died thinking the books they were writing would get into the Bible...but they did not put it in out of pity for thier death. I respect Caiden as a writer but I just don't think his Indy books are worthy to be called indy books...he should of stuck to the books he usually writes. I don't think indy's charachter was potrayed very well. I was just fustrated reading them thinking....give up on the airplanes already! Any way...that's my 2 cents
 
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Indy_Jones88

Guest
"Show a little backbone" Rotla

Give Caiden a break. He died writing Indy books. i doubt you could do much better IndyJohan. Show a little respect for someone who really tried.

Also, not everyone hates his books, I personally liked them.
 

Pale Horse

Moderator
Staff member
IndyJohan said:
Where did you cut and paste that??
Anyway, many people died thinking the books they were writing would get into the Bible...but they did not put it in out of pity for thier death. I respect Caiden as a writer but I just don't think his Indy books are worthy to be called indy books...he should of stuck to the books he usually writes. I don't think indy's charachter was potrayed very well. I was just fustrated reading them thinking....give up on the airplanes already! Any way...that's my 2 cents

There are some members of this board who dedicate themselves to the pursuit of knowledge and the pursuit of their art and on the small occassion that they decide to pass that wisdom and knowledge on to the rest us we should be grateful. Shipwreck as you know him is not some "cut and paste" artist. He is an author himself, and is highly involved in the preservation and education process of film and film making. You would be wise to hear what he has to say.

Your $.02 has been noted. Now, put it somewhere where it will gain some interest, by investing it in the wisdom and council of people who may be more directly involved in the art, as opposed to those who just watch it pass by on a page.
 

Lord Excalibur

New member
I agree, I haven't read Caidin's books but I will give the White Witch a try (only because it's about Excalibur). C'mon these adventures are in the Indy universe too. He died when he wrote the goddamn Indy books so give the man a break will ya. If you don't like them why the hell read them!!!!! :(
 
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Indy_Jones88

Guest
Pale Horse said:
There are some members of this board who dedicate themselves to the pursuit of knowledge and the pursuit of their art and on the small occassion that they decide to pass that wisdom and knowledge on to the rest us we should be grateful. Shipwreck as you know him is not some "cut and paste" artist. He is an author himself, and is highly involved in the preservation and education process of film and film making. You would be wise to hear what he has to say.

Your $.02 has been noted. Now, put it somewhere where it will gain some interest, by investing it in the wisdom and council of people who may be more directly involved in the art, as opposed to those who just watch it pass by on a page.

Agreed Whole Heartedly
 
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