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Review Dream Seeker: The Velvet Mask

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Dec. 10, 2006 By Gale Peterson
"This book makes you think!" The Velvet Mask
by Tony DeCarvalho and Damian Hospital
The reader is introduced to a highly complex Dream Seeker Universe inhabitated by both very ordinary folks like your next door neighbor and a collection of bigger-than-life characters. My favorite is the Realtor who buys, sells and trades realities. The story contains realities inside of realities, and sometimes closely resembling the so-called realities presented by the current governments and politicians of the world. The return of Joshua, as perhaps Jesus, at the end adds another viscious twist to the story before it finishes. This is deep reading. --Gale Peterson
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Apr. 21, 2008 By Rafael Anton
"greatstiuff"
it is like major motion picture or graphico novello.

mi favorit story is the one about the nihilist- his intellectual debates abouit reality and religion are so amaze

i laugh about the story with the martyr villian--ohh he is so crazy!!! also since i live in miami i like that story a lot because it was in miami. i wish miami had the shadow gentleman to defend the streets because sometime it is crime

i canno beleive how rich en details the book is. i work with the authors and read the book i had no idea how great they really are until i read the book. my ingles no es good but i still ableto understand the plot and dialogue and everything

en my countty i never raed anting gud like this!!!!!!!

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Oct. 14, 2006 By Damian Hospital
"Velvet Mask Book Review (Republished from TCM Reviews)"
Dream Seeker: The Velvet Mask
Tony DeCarvalho and Damian Hospital
Lulu Press
Fiction, Paranormal, Social Fiction, Fantasy
Reviewed by Tami Brady




Finally a truly original concept in a well written entertaining way!

There are so many books on the market right now that just rehash the same tired old ideas into almost cookie cutter like moulds meant to sell a few copies and then collect dust. For the most part, there is no unique thought behind these stories or any sort of purpose to the author’s work. Dream Seeker: The Velvet Mask is different.

I started reading this book and... More > was happily surprised at the originality presented. The premise of the story is that a young man realizes that he has a unique gift. He can find just the right words to make an individual remember his or her lost dreams. Moreover, in remembering these memories, the person figures out how to change their life for the better.

I thought that this was a great idea that definitely deserved an opportunity but I was a little concerned that the writers couldn’t uphold such originality throughout the entire story. A few hours later, I immerged with the book completely read. I hadn’t taken one break. I hadn’t even taken a sip of water because I was so completely immersed. Needless to say, I was completely satisfied with the rest of the story. Not only was the material fresh but I also loved the presentation, a narrative that resembled idealistic comic book stylings but had a really thoughtful philosophical aspect to it as well. < Less
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Jun. 13, 2009 By William James
"Still smiling in disbelief"
Here is a brief rundown of each story:

Part I "Prelude to Remembrance"

(4 continuous chapters): Origin of the Dream Seeker as a teenager in high school. A simpler tone than the rest of the novel.



Part II "The Velvet Mask"

"The Nurse's Dream": Straightforward heart-warming story: Dace helps a nurse to deal with death and dying.



"Melissa": Same inspiring ilk as previous story; Dace helps a woman get over her long-buried troubles she had with blaming her father for her mother's death.



"Final Fate of the Universe" I was literally out of breath after reading this story. My respect for the Realtor as a major villain... More > was established in this story.



"I.M. Girl" Parody about Internet relationships. One thing I like about these authors is that they are very hip with their tech lingo.



"The Man in the Velvet Mask" Jaw dropping. I am not big on romances, but this was handled well because the main focus was not on the love affair, per se.



Part III "There is No God"

(5 long stories featuring the Nihilist)

As a Christian, I originally cringed when I started this Part, but then I saw what the authors were up to. The Nihilist- love him or hate him (and the characters in the book seem to HATE him)- gets you THINKING. His arguments, although I do not share them, are...very persuasive. But since he is such a tragic figure who lost everything, he is pretty much obsessed and mentally unstable, so people are afraid to take him too seriously.



Part IV "Auctioneering and Soul Patrolling"

(5 stories)

Showed me how varied they are in terms of genre, and character depth. The Auctioneer is in control of the Soul Patrol, who are bound by a curse to capture people who have lost "it". Then the captured people are sold at a soul auction. These chapters detail the various aspects of this process.



Part IV "Shadow Gentleman"

(3 stories)



At first, I was taken aback because it seemed like a rip-off of Alan Moore's award winning "Killing Joke", featuring the definite battle and origin of the Joker and Batman. Of course, I then realized that it's a homage, and a very respectful one at that. If you ever wondered how a comic book would sound in prose, don't waste your time reading those official adaptations- read this! I was laughing every paragraph because it was so over-the-top. A true parody and satire. Totally blows anything else I read away that parodies comics. The great part was when the other Dream Seeker characters appeared, which established that Shadow Gentleman and Martyr are actually "real" characters in the novel, as opposed to an out-of-continuity tale, like MAD Magazine.



Part VI "The Icon of Selling Realities"

(3 stories)

These feature how influential and manipulative the Realtor is.

"Selling Security" The Realtor capitalizes on the dreams/wishes of a local band. Perfect example of the Realtor selling false hopes.

"The Greatest Wrestler of All-Time" Hands down, the ultimate pro wrestling tribute, with running commentary by two characters reminiscent of Jerry "The King" Lawler and Jim Ross.

"Dream Attack" A sequel to "Final Fate of the Universe". Great job expanding upon that.



Part VII "Return of Joshua"

(3 stories)

"Joshua" is Jesus Christ. These chapters introduce His Return. He was interviewed...truthfully, words can't do this chapter justice, so I'll shut up now. Suffice to say, His return was done in a way that was intellectually captivating, REALISTIC (!), and I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT CHAPTER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

Summary of negatives: Some stuff was over my head (I'm 46), I'll admit it. I had to Google some pop cultural references and technical stuff. Also, I am not a baseball fan, so some of that didn't hit home. The authors must be from New York and Florida since many references are from there. As a Michigan native, I didn't get it.



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. . . . . No Rating  
Aug. 10, 2009 By Jill Hoffman
"Refreshingly original"
Would be a great TV show. I can't believe how deep the stories are, and how original the characters are. I can't recommend this book enough. Price is very affordable, too. Very professional cover and layout. No spelling errors, typos, or grammatical mistakes. Very efficient. A++++

However, this book is not for everyone. I have no idea what the nitch market is supposed to be. Tends to be obscure. Some of the dialogue is over the top, very melodramatic and comic-book-like. I realize that's the style for some chapters, but it may be a turn off for some readers. (I happen to ENJOY that style.) It's sci-fi adventure.

Good vs. evil is blurred yet clear.... More > You'll know what I mean after you read it. The motivations and philosophies of the characters are complex. The authors clearly see that not everything is black and white. I also respect the fact that although the book is inspiring and at times spiritual, the authors do not try to pitch or sell any particular religion or belief system. They kind of put everything out there for us to decide. < Less

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Product Details

Copyright Standard Copyright License
Publisher Damian Hospital and Tony Vahl
Published December 22, 2011
Language English
Pages 301
 
Binding Hardcover (dust-jacket)
Interior Ink Black & white
Dimensions (inches) 6.0 wide × 9.0 tall

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