“Timeless and absorbing. . . . An astonishing and authentic portrayal of the military academy experience.” —Jerry Pournelle, New York Times–bestselling, Nebula and Hugo Award–winning author of Lucifer’s Hammer
A military epic that chronicles the birth of the United States Air Force. The arduous training of America’s future leaders as they prepare to serve from the jungles of Vietnam to the deserts of the Middle East. The first in the Wild Blue U historical saga, The Cadet is realistic fiction based on factual events. Populated with empathetic, larger-than-life characters, this novel will appeal to prospective candidates, military members, and the reading public alike.
“I loved it. It’s brilliant. Once started, I was never really able to put it down.” –Jack McDevitt, Nebula Award–winning author of the Alex Benedict and The Academy series
“Doug Beason has distilled the first years of the Air Force Academy into a compelling and fascinating novel. . . .The closest and most intimate account that exists in print, with all the turbulence and exuberance captured through the lens of fiction.” —Lt. Gen Brad Hosmer, USAF (ret), #1 Graduate of the USAFA Class of 1959, Rhoades Scholar and USAFA Superintendent
Dr. Doug Beason is the author of twelve novels as well as two non-fiction books. A Nebula Award finalist, Doug has published over 100 short stories and other work in publications as diverse as The Wall Street Journal, Analog, Amazing Stories, Physics of Fluids, and Physical Review Letters. A Fellow of the American Physical Society and Ph.D. physicist, Doug retired as the Associate Laboratory Director at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he was responsible for the people and programs that reduce the global threat of weapons of mass destruction. A retired USAF Colonel, Doug's last active duty assignment was the Commander of the Phillips Research Site and Deputy Director for Directed Energy at the Air Force Research Laboratory. He has worked on the White House staff for the President's Science Advisor, and was recently the Chief Scientist of Air Force Space Command. A 1977 graduate of the USAF Academy, he served on the USAFA faculty as an Associate Professor of Physics and Director of Faculty Research.