The Biblio Blogazine

Dracula Is Deadby Sheilah Kast and Jim Rosapepe
ISBN 978-1890862657
Non-fiction, 400 pages
Bancroft Press

FTC Disclosure: Book provided by publisher

This book is not what you think. In fact, it really should be pointed out what the full title is:

Dracula Is Dead: How Romanians Survived Communism, Ended It, and Emerged since 1989 as the New Italy.

Damn, that’s a mouthful. But a more accurate description as to what this book is all about.

There are many things Romania is known for, yet the most enduring is Vlad Tepes, otherwise knows as Vlad III – the man who inspired Romania’s most famous character: Dracula. (If you are wondering about other notable Romanians let’s not forget Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci, tennis player Ilie Nastase, or Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel)

But this amazing country has so much more to its history and culture. And this book describes the struggles to overcome this association while on its way to becoming the modern and culturally rich country it is today.

It’s unlikely Romania’s past issues and connection to Dracula will ever be forgotten. In many ways, it shouldn’t. As it is said, “Those that forget history are doomed to repeat it.” Considering what Romania has been through, this is a sentiment I hope is not only taken to heart, but never comes to pass.

Sheilah Kast and her husband Jim Rosapepe have a unique and knowledgeable perspective of the country. Jim was an ambassador to for three years. As they note, “We traveled all over Romania. Jim visited all forty counties, most of them more than once, and Sheilah went to some spots that Jim did not. We saw more of Romania and of Romanians – from the mines to the software labs, from the monasteries to the hospitals – than most foreigners and even many Romanians have.”

This book is more than a travel diary. It gives the reader a clearer perspective of a country that has many assumptions made of it, and how few of these are accurate.

In terms of detractions, there aren’t many.

The most irksome was the point-of-view technique used by the authors – as in plural, there are two. This is most evident when seeing “us” and “we” in the text. But whenever one party is relating something about the other or about something the other did, they use their names, as if talking about themselves in the third person.

If it’d been me, I would’ve changed the “we” and “us” into the third person plural to smooth out the transitions. Since they didn’t, I was initially confused about who was recounting their experiences. Afterward, I simply had to make a mental adjustment and not let it bother me.

However, one reader’s nitpicking may mean nothing to another. So take this observation accordingly. For me, it was something that wasn’t so detrimental that I couldn’t finish the book. It was  just an annoyance that popped up from time to time.

In terms of recommending Dracula Is Dead? 

If you are not much of a non-fiction reader, or a history buff, this may not be the book for you. But to those who are intrigued by modern history, political turmoil and change, the birth of a new democracy, and in increasing one’s knowledge of the world around them, I do recommend it.

I didn’t know much about Romania and am glad I was introduced to it through these two authors. I am intrigued and would consider traveling there if I ever had the means. I would love to see first hand this remarkable country.

Unholy Domain by Dan Ronco (2008)
Science Fiction Thriller, 352 pages
Published by Kunati Inc.

Review copy provided by author

Advisory: Language and violence. There are also scenes of a sexual nature including rape, although none of these features put me off or made me feel uncomfortable.

I haven’t read much science fiction since my twenties. Even then, I was attracted to what is now called “social science fiction”. According to releases regarding this book, it is described as a sci-fi thriller, and that it is. However I would add that there are elements that clearly delve into the “sociological speculation about human society”.

The thriller characteristic is where this writer shines. But there were times I kept thinking to myself how much “meatier” in content the book could have been if some of those ‘sociological speculations’ were given more attention . Then again, if it had, how much of this would have affected the pace of the novel, which kept me turning page after page?

This is the second of three novels Mr. Ronco will be writing. I asked him to share some background about the trilogy so I could better understand his goals. Here is an excerpt from his reply:

Some years earlier, I scoped out a series of novels to expose three oncoming challenges; computer viruses enhanced with artificial intelligence (Peacemaker, set in 2012), the oncoming clash between religion and technology concerning what it means to be human (Unholy Domain, set in 2022), and the beginnings of the integration of human and artificial intelligence into a network entity [tentatively titled Tomorrow’s Children, set in 2031). Each novel is written as a thriller – packed with adventure, sex, greed, and romance – as well as realistic science and technology. The three leading characters: Dianne Morgan, a female mega-billionaire obsessed with power; Ray Brown, her onetime lover and a brilliant software architect; and David Brown, Ray’s genetically gifted son – are developed over the timeframe of the three novels into real people with their own unique values and characteristics.

Although part of trilogy, each book is written to stand on its own. My only issue with this then is the lack of character I found in two of the main ones listed above. Part of this has to come from the fact I have not read the first book. The only standout to me in this novel was Dianne Morgan, yet it was supposed to be an introduction to David and what happens when he discovers his father may have been framed.

There is a lot of potential for not simply a sequel, but off-shoots exploring the ramifications to society from the melding of technology and humanity. I couldn’t help but be reminded of I ROBOT, BICENTENNIAL MAN, and THE MATRIX while reading Unholy Domain.

I won’t mislead you, this is no work of great literary measure, but it is an enjoyable read despite its flaws.

I don’t often read other reviews until after I’ve written mine as I don’t want to be unduly influenced. I did find this one though that I feel gives a wonderful in-depth and fair review of Unholy Domain by Harry Markov.

I am giving this book 3 out of 5 Stars. If you like science fiction with a believable premise, and a frightening one at that, then you will like this book. Just be forewarned that you should read Peacemaker first, it will help in understanding the plot and characters much better than I did.

Dan Ronco’s expertise in engineering and computer science infuses each of his books with a sense of authenticity that will keep you reading, and wondering.