What is the Dream Seeker: The Velvet Mask about?
It's about a young man who inspires people by helping them remember a long-lost dream.
It's about Icons who control our reality.
It's about misunderstood anti-heroes who capture persons who have lost "It."
It's about a superhero in Miami who patrols the streets in a jet-black pick-up truck, fighting murderous villains.
The stories are varied. The writing feels like a movie or comic book.
Much like a dream, the book will come and go quickly, with many unexpected twists and turns, and it will linger in the back of your mind, subtly altering your perception of the world around you.
The Dream Seeker helps people remember dreams, one person at a time. This book will inspire a dream within you.
The Velvet Mask is the first book in an on-going series of novels, written by two Enneagram enthusiasts. 301 pages.
$1 from every book sold will go to Children's Organ Transplant Association.
"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. 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... More > particular religion or belief system. They kind of put everything out there for us to decide.< Less
"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 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... More > 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.< Less
"Uhmmm....Diamond in the Rough? I couldn't BELIEVE how good this is!" These authors are absolutely mind-blowing. Very deep yet HUMOROUS. It has a comic-book feel, almost like Buffy, yet the characters are definitely serious. I highly recommend it- it was a great change of pace. Each chapter is different story set in the "Dream Seeker Universe", focusing on different characters or important events. Dace, the Dream Seeker, well...I wish he was real because I think I'm in love! lol... He is so sweet and tries to do the right thing. I enjoy the way strangers interact with him, as he tries to help them back on the path. The main villain, the Realtor, is better than any antagonist I've ever seen. He is handsome, intelligent, calculating, charming, COCKY, ARROGANT, IMMORAL- I hate him so much!! :-) I was just stunned how original and innovate the other Icon characters are. I found this book out from surfing the web and came across DailySkew.com. I think these guys are... More > really going to be successful.< Less
"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!!!!!!!
"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
