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The Last CaveBear:
Trapped, Second Edition by Shannon VanSlyke DEWI Inc
book review by Mihir Shah
"Like those who hated their jobs, his circumstance was his cage, and under unhappy conditions, it could in the long run destroy his spirit, if not his life. 'Trapped' was the right word."
When Wainwright, the main character, joins a group of patent attorneys at Dynasty Tires, he does not realize what he is getting himself into. Though he works hard and feels a sense of duty to perform well for the company, he finds himself to be the anomaly. Wainwright is surrounded by the likes of James Egan and Richard Monarch, power-hungry individuals whose egos far exceed the merit of their accomplishments.
The Last CaveBear: Trapped unfolds largely within the confines of Dynasty Tires. Nevertheless, VanSlyke does an exceptional job of instilling thematic elements that plague todays government and corporate world: inflated egos, two-faced individuals, racial profiling, the inability to assimilate, and corporate greed.
Interestingly, VanSlyke weaves in elements of philosophy, psychology, and an insightful rendition of patent law that the audience will appreciate. For example, Wainwright and his colleagues at Dynasty Tires delve into subtopics such as patent validity, breach of ethics, and double patenting. More importantly, the narrative depicts the politics of Richard Monarch, a new attorney who challenges Wainwright and his twenty-five years of experience by stating the importance of seeking out the right people. Essentially, Richard Monarchs character is the epitome of politics, favoritism, and insincerity in the corporate world. Wainwright states, they had a habit of saying one thing to a persons face, and expressing a different opinion to others.
Ultimately, Wainwright is the CaveBear depicted in the title, trapped among post-modern corporate colleagues who feel no sense of duty and are attached to their own personal interests. Using Wainwrights experiences at Dynasty Tires, VanSlyke conveys the need for accountability, ego-management, and an even wealth distribution. When five percent of the population controls ninety percent of the nations wealth, there is a serious problem.