[Phalanx]

Wow...this thread was posted waaaay back...
So, just thought I'd share.
I'd given up ever finding this book I described above in my former identity.
Couldn't find anything about it, couldn't find it at the library, searches couldn't bring it up.
Today while looking to buy some old books/tapes at this, er, dunno what you'd call it...charitable organisation-run shop of er...stuff?
The deal is, books, and old "gems" here and there at next to nothing cost across vast piles of clutter.
Seriously, it's a charity I don't mind supporting 'cos at least you get stuff back, ha, yeah.
I was done, the gf was looking at some books to pick up for her mother, and needs 2 more to make 10 (it was 10 books/novels for $3, that's AUD people, cheap as all fuck.) books, so I start looking.
Glanced over a cover that I thought looked kinda familiar, looked back, and sure enough, I'd found the book.
(Also, on a side note there was a whole huuuuge bunch of MAD magazines, from the 70's upwards, at an insanely low price. Might have to go back for some of those.)

Now, I'm not sure if my tastes have changed or what, but I remember I really liked this book.
Had the name wrong, seems it was "dave", but there's no mistaking, this is the book...
So, anyways, the title, as I found was:
"Vertical Run".