Day: September 26, 2013
Review of “Once Human” by Massimo Marino
Massino Marino’s Once Human: Vol. 2 of the Daimones Trilogy continues the saga of Dan Amenta and his family after the arrival of the Moirai on earth has triggered the culling of the human race and the resurrection of humanity. Dan has been ‘selected’ by the Moirai and given special powers. New communities of the ‘selected’ have cropped up, the largest being that led by Dan. Humanity seems on its way to a new beginning, until raids by the ‘spared,’ humans not selected for transformation, signal the presence of a third entity, the Kritas, a race at war with the Moirai.
Dan, with his Moirai allies must deal with the incursions, a task complicated by the possibility of traitors within the Moirai ranks, and doubts about the real intentions of the Moirai.
Marino, in this second volume, has found his stride. The suspense that began to build in the first book rises to heights that will make your blood race. At the same time, he explores what it really means to be human, even when given superhuman capabilities.
One has to wonder whether Marino will be able to maintain the same level of wonder in the final book of the trilogy – but, I predict that he will not only maintain, but surpass.
Once Human is easily four stars, and for all the right reasons.
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DS Wikipedia: All Things Diplomatic Security — Deaths, Heroism, Authors, Videos and Black Dragons
— By Domani Spero
One of our readers pointed us to a new wiki on all things Diplomatic Security. DS Wikipedia is described as “an unofficial, non-US government affiliated wiki for both the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the Diplomatic Security service – more commonly known as DS.”
Updated on 10/1 at 10:02 am – The site’s name has been changed to Diplomatic Security Wiki – http://www.diplomaticsecuritywiki.com; a contact page has also been added for the wiki administrator.
Why was it created? “This Wiki was created to provide a common location to put information that would not meet Wikipedia normal submission guidelines. Specifically, it was originally created to hold a page for DS affiliated personnel who were killed in the line of duty. Although originally on Wikipedia, the page was deleted by editors because it was considered to be a memorial page.”
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Review of “Daimones” by Massimo Marino
Strange and unexplained deaths of several species of animals go unnoticed on an earth beset with the misery that mankind visits upon himself. Dan, an employee of a high-tech firm in Switzerland, like others around him, fails to notice what is happening until he is fired from the firm in a power play.
Curious, and now with idle time to use in other pursuits, Dan begins to investigate the strange occurrences. His research is interrupted, however, when, while taking his daughter Annah to school, he observes multiple fatal accidents. Dan then discovers that people all around him are dead or dying. Can the world be coming to an end – or just the world as he knows it?
Daimones, is an interesting first novel by Massimo Marino, a scientist who writes about technology and science with authority, and who also has woven a tale that will captivate fans of apocalyptic literature. The only real weakness in this tale, for me, is Dan’s ability to make contact via Internet and Facebook, while unable to contact the local police. That some people survive what appears to be a culling of earth’s species makes perfect sense, but that technology and energy-dependent platforms would continue to work needs more explanation. There are also a few places where the language comes across as a less than perfect translation into English from some other language.
These are, however, only minor imperfections – that are easily fixed – in a gripping narrative that I highly recommend. Marino, whether or not it was his intention, has effectively captured the hubris and folly of humanity.
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