Overview
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
Editorials
Amarillo Globe-News
Results never looked better than in Jake Page's polished prose about the meeting of threats from the Ice Age with the atomic genie that lurks under the sands of the New Mexico desert.Book Talk
Page's book will be most appreciated by those readers who enjoy spine-tingling suspense . . . as usual, readers can count on Jake Page to deliver an intriguing and highly-readable tale.El Paso Times
This is a fast and entertaining read. The story line moves right along, and the subplots are well thought out and plausible.Weekly Alibi
[Cavern] is merely fun. As fun, that is, as greed, terror and death can be.VOYA
This thriller set in the Carlsbad Caverns of New Mexico attempts to draw the reader into the mysterious and fascinating world of caving. Jack Whittaker, an expert caver, discovers the footprint of an ancient species of bear. Whittaker then shares the monumental discovery with his ex-wife, Cassandra Roberts, who conveniently is a paleontologist. Elsewhere in town, a series of somewhat forgettable characters strive to solve the mystery of several murders that have taken place in the supposedly secure, man-made caverns of a waste isolation plant. An animal, perhaps the extinct species of bear, has obviously committed the murders. Getting past the unattractive cover art and confusing first chapters is difficult. If readers manage this task, they will find many intricate and seemingly accurate facts and details about caving, or spelunking. What the reader will not find is a riveting or page-turning mystery. The caving details become overwhelming and overshadow the not-fully-developed characters and basic plot. The book also contains its share of prerequisite sex and profanity. Although Cavern does not hold broad young adult appeal, it might be a suitable read for those mature YAs with an interest in anthropology, archeology, or spelunking. VOYA CODES: 2Q 2P S A/YA (Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 2000, University of New Mexico Press, 304p, $24.95. Ages 16 to Adult. Reviewer: Nicole CookeSOURCE: VOYA, December 2000 (Vol. 23, No. 5)