VENOM

About the Book

About the Book Mysteries generally take place in large cities. Tucson, Arizona was one such city. An explosion and a fire engulfed the San Xavier High School bordering on the Santa Cruz River, just south of Tucson. Eleven people die in the holocaust. A few blocks away, at the San Xavier Mission the following week, a debate focuses on the burnt out school. Several people, while having lunch, in the midst of San Xavier’s ostentatious splendor, discuss intriguing parts of the mystery. Their judgments hint at the fickle, American’s moral fiber. In a novel way, various conversations are raised covering several metaphysical issues that are germane in American society. Then another diverse fact develops: An offhand comment by a Professor from the University of New Mexico centers a different discussion. His concern confounds the listeners: He raises the question: the coming of the Anti-Christ. This narrative does not attempt to solve that deliberation, but mentioning the point lays the background for dealing with separate parallel subjects that ground the book’s main objective. In the story, several characters display an academic bent which carries forward at a lively pace. Another notable, advances a follow-up question, “Is the Anti-Christ here, now?” Apart from religion, America’s boorish attitude, in relation to the United States Foreign Policy, also receives its share of discussion. The high point in the novel, involves a vigorous debate between two Islamic fundamentalists. This gives the reader an insight that directs responsibility for propelling terrorist activities into mainstream world thought. Mounting fear fills the minds of several dilettantes seated at the dinner table. They began to realize America’s educational system is warped. The learning curve, childlike as it has become, has carried the country into the grip of Hedonism. In that emerging society, political jackals pick the bones of original thought clean. Unfortunately, the average citizen imagines America’s path as the right one. That attitude prevents judgment, but it does spur the media jackals forward. The explosion and the burning of San Xavier High School develop several different concerns. Media moguls headline those assessments, but the voting public fails to appreciate the newspaper’s positions. The assessment allows that the average person doesn’t care. Material wealth, escape from drudgery, and mindless wandering hold sway. In this modern era, living the good life sometimes produces the antithesis of pleasure. The book’s personages also take issue with the American government for disregarding the true reason for the fire: They, the experts, think they know! Correcting this error becomes one of the main stream efforts of the Tucson police force. By focusing attention of the Law, the subject develops a social pull that in many ways holds the casual reader spellbound. In this grip, clear thinking hopefully finds itself. Embroiled in the disaster, by dint of location, several visitors from Canada embellish the process. They have come together to hear the judgment, of the school’s presiding PTA President. Academic feelings run high. To better serve the students, attending San Xavier High, the School Principal proffers a list of changes. The changes give the visitors a chance to compare curriculums. Observers, in the group, begin to notice the way in which America approach’s the problem of educational disinterest. That leads to further debate. After several speeches by reigning educators, the PTA closes the meeting and asks the Canadian contingent to return to the cafeteria for a late dinner. It happens the meal is not to their liking. Eleven people lose their lives in the fiery explosion. The police department of Tucson takes the call. Their involvement in solving the largest homicide in the city’s history begins the next morning. Let the mystery run its course.

About the Author

About the Author Born in Minneapolis some eighty years ago, one could say I’m a late bloomer. Having experienced death at an early age, ( my father died when I was nine), I found that my existence was almost totally lived in the presence of women. Mother, a sister and teachers were shaping my thought processes in a way in which femininity was gaining the upper hand. World War II gave me a chance to live with and observe men in my search for male identity. I must say that it worked out well. I dropped my older approach to growing up and took on the role of being a male. In my younger years, other boys were testing their skills at a sport etc. I however was at home with a book in my hand, vicariously following an adventuresome life, wherever the author took me. An honorable discharge from the service gave me the opportunity to savor higher learning. Majoring in psychology and sociology brought me to the brink of understanding my relationship to others and to the long enduring problem of whom and what I represented. Supreme beings are a part of my life. The study of a Higher Power gave me the insight to write about the mental conflict that drives most everyone to the edge of darkness. Along the way one does gain a slice of understanding. The one remaining virtue that the writer was able to call his own, having lost the others one in a pitch battle with his ego, was humility. Ah, humility, I still have it today.