Declan Finn Presents Literary Vampire Tale Unique Enough to Override My Lack of Interest...LOL

She studied him a moment, this time
trying to read his mind. She was
coming up blank. "Do you realize
that you seem, hmm, different?"
!!!

October 15th, Manhattan 
Amanda opened the door to her apartment, and Marco watched her walk inside. He didn’t immediately follow. She stopped a little past the threshold and looked back over her shoulder. “Not coming?” He frowned in thought, as though being invited into a woman’s apartment was the first warning sign of some sort of trap. “You may come in. Don’t worry, I don’t bite.” She flashed him a smile. “Much.” 
Marco stepped forward, more at ease now with the invitation. “Yes, but you don’t know if I do.”
“I doubt it,” she answered. “Besides, I think I can handle you if I need to.”
“Okay.”

The annoying thing was that she couldn't
tell what was off about him. He didn't
look unpleasant, smell strange, or make
any weird noises. In fact, Amanda noted
as she took the seat, he didn't do much
of anything...
~~~

He stepped further inside and took the room in with one glance. It was borderline spartan, with a couch and an armchair, the coffee table, a television and a computer. The whole living room was probably the length of a short yellow bus. “Nice place. Rather small for a family, isn’t it? ”
“There’s just me.” Her eyes flickered to the floor. “Only me. For a long time. I am a little older than I look.” 
“Ah, understood,” he said casually. “I’m guessing you don’t have many parties.” 
“Nor friends.” 
Marco blinked, then looked her over one more time before moving to examine a Van Gogh reproduction on the wall.  “Not bloody likely.”
“You’re sweet, but it’s true. Men are mostly interested in things other than friendship, and women are…”
 “Jealous?” he said, not looking away from the painting, still smiling. Ah, poor Vincent. If only someone had better stitches and found your ear in time, or had better psychoactive drugs… Amanda shrugged. “I suppose it is the easy answer, and the one best held onto.” 
Marco nodded, glancing around the place once more. “I find it interesting that you manage to hold onto a place on the Upper East Side while going to college, with no other means of support.” 

She gave a small, dismissive shrug. “As I said, I have money. I have a scholarship as well.”
“Ditto on the scholarship,” he said, moving away from Van Gogh’s Starry Night to a print of a Hubble telescope capture. “Though in my case, they weren’t certain which one to give me.”
“You are that smart?” she teased.
“I am multitalented. That’s an advantage of having useless trivia stuck up here.” He turned to face her, tapping his skull. “However, I’m not sure what I’m doing here. I came because I like you. Also, you’re one of the few people who will seem to tolerate my…”
“Intensity?”
“Bluntness.” 
She nodded, then nervously combed her fingers through her hair, trying to find anything to look at except Marco. “You are here for much the same reason. You are the first person I’ve brought home in a long time.” 
He gave a short, medieval little bow. “I’m honored. I assume that all this—bringing me here, taking me this much into your confidence, is because of my ‘let’s be friends’ lecture?”
“More or less.” 
“I must give that one more often. I’ve never had this reply before. Friends, then. Should be fun.”

~~~

Honor at Stake

By Declan Finn

I enjoyed Declan Finn's A Pius Man, A Pius Legacy, and A Pius Stand--the trilogy named to my 2013 Favorites--so much that I was willing to consider reading Finn again, even though I've lived through the vampire craze several times and am no longer really interested. But with a writer like Finn, I knew I could expect...more...and I got it!

Maybe he worries people
because he seems like
he's out of time and place,
she thought.
~~~

First we have romance and we watch two individuals who have been alone for quite some time, meet and become acquainted. As soon as I had learned more about Marco, I knew who I would have play him--since he is doing it already! If you are not already fans of Scorpion, well, I'm sorry for you. It is one of the best of the best in my opinion.

She slipped into the chair at her
computer, warmed it up, and typed
in a simple name. Marco
Catalano, Brooklyn... She found
nothing. It was like he didn't
exist. How is that possible? In an
age when even cats have Facebook
pages, how can Marco not have
even a single mention online?
Where is he from? The Dark
Ages?
~~~

So, of course, I picked his female lead as the main character, even if she is a vampire in Finn's story and is much older than Marco...LOL

Marco is a special brilliant man, but we don't really learn exactly what he's all about, except that he has a hard time with social interactions...Which was fine by me since I'm hoping there will be a sequel to the book. What we do know is that Marco cares about the people in his life and by caring, he's willing to risk much to help, or save them, when necessary...

And right now, there is a great need, since New York is being "infested" by vampires! And there is one main leader that is causing the problem!

But first, let me point out that Finn has included considerable historical information about vampire legends as well as, perhaps, his own newly developed "types" to fit his story. Interestingly, he also includes considerable information on the role of Physicians Assistants, by having Marco completing his formal training for the position. 

"So," she asked, "what is a Physician Assistant?"
The Marines of the medical profession," he replied. His smile was still frozen on eternal amusement, as though he believed her ignorance of his profession was more a joke than an offense. "We learn nearly everything that a doctor does in two years, rather than four of med school. We're writing prescriptions after we graduate with a master's degree, and, on average, making six figures within six years."

This is the first book I've read on this important position, especially since my new "doctor" has that as his official title. Finn certainly provides his readers with enough information to provide needed, perhaps new, recognition of this expanding medical professional role. This additional content greatly enhances the book well beyond the normal blood-seeking horror that most of us think of when vampires are main characters.

Amanda had walked into a classroom one day and immediate knew "something was off" and noticed Marco, mostly his looks, but later that he was "utterly controlled." Actually they seemed to get along right from the first and since they were both here for a Fencing class, they had something in common. Both exceptional--So much so that they were soon either going to be top of the class and helping young students or they'd just have to find someplace else to practice...

And as they got more acquainted, quite easily, Marco started sharing all that he knew about vampires...

"I'm a freak who reads too many books. I don't sleep with everything that has a skirt, especially since I go to school near Greenwich Village. I live in Brooklyn and don't sound like Tony Danza. I can go on forever...
"Don's worry. Those things do not make you freakish."
Marco looked at her hand on the shoulder for a longt moment. For a long moment, Amanda wondered if she had done something culturally objectionable, and then he rolled his eyes. "And don't worry, I'll be happy to be your friend."
"What?"
"I find you attractive." He reached up and gave her hand a squeeze, gently lifting it from his shoulder. "I perceive signs of flirting, but I screw that up so often, it means you just want to be friends. That works for me."
Amanda said nothing for a moment. She realized she was staring at Marco again, more than she had at any other person before. He was also the first man in a very long time to get close to her and not try to get into her pants Most women in her position almost seemed inclined to take that lack of interest as a challenge. As though, if he didn't want her, she must make him want her.
In many ways, she was glad she wasn't most women. In the long run, his attitude was probably for the best anyway....

~~~

It was very interesting as Marco led philosophical and religious discussions about the history of vampires. I'll include just one:

"Crosses, for one thing. Do they work or not? If all vampires are evil, it makes sense if they do. If vampires aren't inherently evil, then there's something wrong with crosses as a blanket defense against them--surely God could recognize his own. Let's face it, if they were changed into a vampire unwillingly, is God honestly going to punish them for something they didn't choose? How badly, and how fast, does the sun destroy them, if it does...

~~~

Moving into the actual threat of vampires in the city was fairly standard. It is the discussion, the analysis and the investigation of how to deal with them that was so intriguing. That and the fact that Marco was an expert in Krav Maga and many other forms of self-defense. Then, when you add a small bite to the neck by Amanda and he gains the strength of her blood...and you've got an amazing fighting duo...

Oh yea, and since Marco considers himself the feudal lord of his area of Brooklyn and has enlisted two gangs to support him, later teaching them to fight the vampires...and on and on...you begin to see that Marco is the leader of "The Pack"  of quite a mixed group of vampire crime fighters!

Finn easily handles the fight scenes as required to handle vampires. In fact, he's handle this entire book in such an exciting, unusual fashion that I was totally fascinated. Except for the "vampire" villains, the book reads like a great thriller. All in all, I loved the book. Finn has jazzed up the story line sufficient to please readers of romance, thrillers and the horror fans who crave that blood-drinking stranger who attacks and destroys through one bite...LOL Actually, that doesn't happen according to this author's information...so plan on learning a lot if you're into the whole vampire lexicon.

Don't miss this one!

GABixlerReviews

Declan Finn lives in a part of New York City unreachable by bus or subway. Who's Who has no record of him, his family, or his education. He has been trained in hand to hand combat and weapons at the most elite schools in Long Island, and figured out nine ways to kill with a pen when he was only fifteen. He escaped a free man from a PhD program in history, and has been on the run ever since. There was a brief incident where he was branded a terrorist, but only a court order can unseal those records, and really, why would you want to know? He is currently hard at work on the sequel to his vampire novel "Honor At Stake." His ramblings can be found over at The Catholic Geeks, while his rantings on writing can be found at apiusman.blogspot.com. For him to really rant and rave, check out his interview show at The Catholic Geek, over at Blog Talk Radio.

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Adolph Caso Speaks Out on Behalf of Italian Americans in Mass Media Vs. Italian Americans...

I recently saw the publicity for the new show, Public Morals, coming this fall. I was reminded of previous shows that were actually on television during the 60s that were criticized by more than one book I've read and one, which was on my TBR stack, which I then pulled out...

I noticed one thing especially...The trailer for the upcoming show dwells on the police, including their Irish-American background... Whereas, one of the major shows, although not the only one by any means, The Sopranos, placed the criminals--the gangsters--the Mob/Mafia as the leading group... And, of course, all of the actors were Italian-American...

The Godfather alone has perhaps instilled more fear on the part of American citizens of non Italian background than any other book--fiction or non-fiction alike. With the cinematic renditions and sequels, Mario Puzo succeeded in convincing American and perhaps the world that every Italian American has connections with either the mob, or with organized crime...
The best part of the "Godfather" situation was the recurrent editorial statement on the television screen made by the editors of the national network showing the film, saying that the names and situations did not reflect or depict any ethnic group. What this means is that the Americans were told not to believe that Corleone was an Italian name, etc.
Someone suggested, however, that the television screen should have shown this more accurate statement:
The movie you are seeing represents and denigrates only the Mafia and the Italian Americans. You need not fear retaliation, however. The former does not exist; the latter have no balls. Otherwise, this film would not have been shown..."
~~~

What happens when such an emphasis is placed on the criminal element, a small percentage of an entire population of a country? Of course the answer is easy for any thinking person--a reputation is formed... In this case, all Italian-Americans are part of the criminal element!

One of the major ways this type of prejudice is transmitted is through Mass Media... Adolph Caso has updated his earlier edition and I had a chance to read the 2014 edition now available. It is disheartening, to say the least...

Mass Media vs.

The Italian Americans

By Adolph Caso

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

~~~

Let's tell the truth--America does not have a history of actually accepting the huddled masses yearning to breathe free, does it...? Perhaps we are no different than other countries, I don't know, but I do know enough from actual history, not fictional accounts, to know that we have not lovingly accepted "different" people when they come to America to become citizens. Adolph Caso has had the opportunity as a writer, publisher, and more, to research and study the actions against, just one group of people. those originally from Italy, especially, by the media. In my opinion, the evidence is damning.

First Amendment
During the Watergate Scandal, which came  to
light mainly through the investigative work of two
newspapermen, one often heard reporters
commenting on the Press as having become the
fourth power in the process of America's checks
and balance government. The Founding Fathers
established the system so as to achieve a certain
balance between the Executive, the Legislative,
and the Judicial branches. The Press, through the
First, was, on the other hand, designed and
perceived to be a vehicle given to the people
through which to practice the ultimate check
on those branches. When, therefore, those from
the Media arrogate for themselves that power,
they do not want to understand that it belongs
to the people and is not transferable. Worse, they
do not understand that they, as media, were and
are intended to function as the means to an end.
However, when they use that power for their end,
they become tyrannical. Consequently, they go
against the very people for whom they exist...
!!!

The thing about the media is that you normally see, read, or hear about what is being said as a single entity... Unless you read a book, such as Mass Media, the impact of what is being "fed" to your brain is not noticed--until you become saturated and disgusted with it--or, worse, believe it to be true...

Consider another book I recently reviewed. Justice in the Round by Harold Michael Harvey. That author spoke in a similar way about American's Justice System vs. Black Americans.

I want to highlight here that we will learn of even more in Seduced: The Grooming of America's Teenagers...coming soon...

If you are an older American, you may have already realized how much the media has skewed and damaged both individuals as well as entire races and those of specific nationalities... And we allow it to happen, either by not caring, or by lack of attention.

Adolph Caso has recognized this problem and has spoken out on behalf of his heritage--He is an Italian-American, proud of it...and thinks they've deserved better! I agree! Let's look more closely...

Briefly, freedom of the Press, as the Founding Fathers saw it, was and is simply this: any individual has the freedom to express his or her opinion no matter how different that opinion may be from those in government or in other organizations. Through the Press, the citizens can guard themselves against possible tyrannical practices on the part of individuals in power positions, who have the capability to establish controls.

At no time did the Forefathers mean, through the First Amendment, that freedom of speech and the right of the people, peaceably to assemble, that the people had the right in public to express their opinion in vulgar terms or in ways that could inflict damage or infamy on innocent individuals with different opinions. That is why the First Amendment ends with the statement that the people have the right, if harm is done to them, "to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

After making those declarations, the author proceeds to provide background documentation to support them. He refers first to Cesare Beccaria's book, On Crimes and Punishments and then on to other references. In fact, the book is full of historical documentation to support what he presents as he speaks out against Mass Media... and to some Italian Americans such as Mario Puzo, who have supported the denigration of the reputation of Italian-Americans...

But Caso does not limit his documentation to fiction--actually it is more toward newspapers such as the New York Times who used headlines like "The Mob Gambles on Atlantic City" or The Boston Globe who spotlighted that Rocco Antonelli, held two jobs, and made more money than the governor... Details were, of course, omitted and the reader would naturally pick up on the insinuation received first-page coverage! What!? All done around election time...???

Unfortunately, the sad display of this type of "selective reporting" continues for page after page, ad nauseam. There is no need to doubt Mr. Caso's information, full details plus an index are provided for readers.  The impact of the prejudicial headlines alone is offensive for everybody, in my opinion. Who wants a newspaper to flaunt prejudice?!

And then we get into the unwillingness to reveal sources...and they claim it is to protect the rights of the public... Ahhhhhh, not this public member...

Another issue covered in the book is one about which I'd already changed my earlier opinion...that of prayer in school... If you feel strongly about this topic, the discussion alone, I think, is worth your checking out the book...

Going into many historical controversial issues have been merged into the book to support the continued negativity about the worth of Italians and Italian-Americans.

On the other hand, I must say I was relieved and enjoyed going onto a topic that brings pride--the contribution of Italians to the world of music! While Caso's review involves music from different countries, it is impossible, in my opinion, not to already have experienced the joy brought by Italian composers and artists...

The Orchestra, which made possible the symphony as a musical form, was first put together by Claudio Monteverdi, the genius that also established Opera and many other forms, including the string quartet...

The piano: The basic instrument was developed by Bartolomei Cristofori of Padova. In 1710, he created the pianoforte, the name he was to give to the first and practical hammer action instrument...

An interesting closing to the book is a guide, "How to Lessen Media Abuses" which would be applicable, I am sure, for everybody's use! We can all show similar types of abuse by mass media!

Whether you are an Italian American is irrelevant as it relates to how Mass Media is handling the news of America. Can we really afford to allow this to continue? Think about it... This book is highly recommended...

"I read the report about how Bobby Kennedy protected me from investigation by Government agents and now realize that after five grand-jury subpoenas, two (Internal Revenue Service) investigations (which probably utilized 30 men) and a couple of subpoenas to congressional committees, if you have a close friend in high office, you don't need any enemies."--Frank Sinatra

GABixlerReviews

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