Are you from Omerta?

[Guv]

Some time ago, I was shown an abstract of a story called "Those who walked away from Omerta" or some similar title.

It dealt with a town (Omerta) in which everyone was prosperous and happy. Their good fortune was due to a child who was imprisoned and subjected to terrible abuse.

All the literature databases I have tried came up blank. Perhaps I have the title wrong. Perhaps it is a short story in an anthology and I need to know the author.

Do any of you know this story? If so, can you give me the name of the author and/or the correct title?

I have been wondering about the story. Was some kind of magic involved? Did the citizens merely believe that their good fortune was due to the abuse of the child? Was the situation due to some ancient curse, god, or witch which established the situation? Was the child replaced by another child when he/she became an adult? How was the child chosen in the first place? Did any of those who walked away try to change the situation before walking away?

The story is suggestive of a Stephen King (I think) novel in which a town saves itself from disaster by giving a young boy to an evil wizard, in spite of fierce objections by his father who wanted to defy the wizard no matter what the consequences. The neat thing in this story was that the father wanted to defy the all powerful wizard before he knew it was his son who would be taken. Everybody else (especially those without children) was willing to give in.

[barrk]

Hello. I don't know the name of the Omerta story but the Stephan King story was titled Storm of the Century. Hope this helps.

[barrk]

Did you find an answer???? You've got my curiousity aroused now and I NEED an answer! Was it the first whack at Storm of the Century. Was the author Stephan King? When your in space CAN anybody hear you scream? CAN a snake ride a bicycle? DOES a chicken have lips???? I need to know!

[Guv]

{B]Barrk,[/B] I think "Storm of the Century" or something similar was the name of a movie based on a Stephen King (I think) novel. I saw the movie, but never read the novel. My gut feeling was that the movie probably followed the book fairly well.

I read more Dean Koontz that King, but think I have a feel for King's style. Koontz is great: I have read everything he has published.

The Omerta story is still eluding me. I play serious tournament bridge, and encounter some people who read a lot at the bridge table. I have been asking some and them, and have gotten no replies yet.

If I find the author or other data, I will post it here. When all else fails, I will try an Internet search for Omerta, and also some searches for Sci-Fi authors (It sounds a bit like Sci-Fi or fantasy fiction).

One of my bridge friends claims that "Omerta" means death or silence (possibly both) in Italian. She was not certain, merely said it seemed correct to her.

[barrk]

This doesn't sound at all like what you described but it is the only reference to Omerta I could find. Take a look at http://www.publisher2006.com/reviews.html

[Guv]

Barrk, a bridge playinge friend said that perhaps the story was written by Ursla Le Guin (?spelling). She said her memory of the title was hazy, but thought it was associated with Ursula. She said she decided not to read the story, but had this vague memory of the title. She has one of those weird memories that will hold a vague image forever.

First chance I get, I will look for works by this author. I have seen the name in the Sci-Fi section at Barnes & Noble. I think she wrote a series involving "Dragon Riders."

To the Stephen King readers: what do you think about his latest publishing strategy (http://www.stephenking.com/download.html?) with his novel "The Plant"? He's writing it in episodes (like The Green Mile), releasing them online only, one after the other. Each downloader is supposed to pay $1 for each installment. Now, only if enough (75%) of the downloaders actually pay for their installment, will King continue to write (and complete) the book. At this point there are 3 installments released, and it's still on.

What do you think?

[barrk]

Ursula Le Guin wrote a series called The Earthsea Trilogy that I really enjoyed. More Fantasy than science fiction though.

[Guv]

Barrk, thanx for info on Ursula.

Karel, I am not enough of a King fan to care about his On-line promotion. I might be interesteed if some one else did it.