PAIN MACHINE
2025 - 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
This text has been edited and revised, and contains the bonus short story, “Dance At My Funeral.”
ISBN: 978-0-9812459-3-5
When she was ten years old, Veronica Gray disobeyed her father and talked back when she knew she shouldn't have. Her punishment came in the form of the “Taps.” Fifty years later, Dr. Veronica Gray may seem like a harmless old lady, but with her partner Dr. Mark Ivy, the pain machine was born: a device that can transfer pain from one person to another.
Angela, suffering with Fibromyalgia, has trouble finding anyone who believes her. She needs them to measure her pain as much as they need her to test their machine.
Available soon at:
Wildside Press
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Reviews/Comments:
"Like a spike hammered under your fingernail, PAIN MACHINE leaves you scarred. A medical miracle gone out of control, a neurological disease that's all too real, and a doctor who can't escape the legacy of her past all come together in Italiano's gripping and deeply personal debut."
Nicholas Kaufmann, author of "The Dead Stay Dead" and "The Jew of Prague"
"The PAIN MACHINE hurts so good! Italiano's writing is sharp and gripping. Darkly emotional themes await if you're brave enough to explore it. Italiano brings the pain!"
Brian Keene, author of The Rising, No Rest For The Wicked, Talking Smack
"I would like to let you know I received your book titled 'Pain Machine' the other day. I read it and let me tell you it was a great book it kept me on edge. I just hope I am never hooked up to a machine like that ha ha, and the only Taps I want to see or hear is through the military. ...If anyone out there knows about your book and have not read it they are definitely missing out."
-- Sergeant Tait Warren (email from Baghdad)
"Chronic pain sufferers will really appreciate this fine work of fiction"
-- Kevin Ryan
"I read your book last week. I loved it. You did such a good job of making me understand what Angela was feeling. And I loved the whole premise of being able to transfer your pain so that someone else would understand it. The characters stayed with me and I found I was wondering about them when I wasn't reading. Great work. On a personal note I seemed to be having a lot of headaches, muscle aches and even a migraine over the time I was reading. I probably just had a bug but my theory was the book IS the pain machine. ... I look forward to your next book."
-- Carolyn Kelly
"I just wanted to let you know that I just finished reading 'Pain Machine', and really enjoyed it! I had tucked it away, after picking it up at Word On The Street for some 'creepy' Halloween reading! It certainly fit the bill! I'll be sure to recommend it to my friends!!!"
-- Lee
"I just finished the book and it was great. Your development of characters was terrific, I really feel I knew them. ... Pain was something she felt at the beginning but I think it was the more the isolation and separation from people that drove her."
-- Barb
"That was such a great read! I finished it this morning.
Here's what I loved....
I loved the description of fibromyalgia...crocodiles...bears, and boa constructors.
I loved the departed ones' voices. Each was unique, and authentic. You have such a great grasp of language and dialect.
I loved the Isaac and Angela storyline.
I loved the relationship between Mark, and Veronica.
I loved the ending.
I loved the whole concept. What a neat idea. To experience others pain both physically, and mentally.
Dean, I raced through the book.
I'm going to recommend it to my yoga participants who deal with fibromyalgia...I think they will get a sense of validation... I'm going to spread the word."
-- Liz
2025 - 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
This text has been edited and revised, and contains the bonus short story, “Dance At My Funeral.”
ISBN: 978-0-9812459-3-5
When she was ten years old, Veronica Gray disobeyed her father and talked back when she knew she shouldn't have. Her punishment came in the form of the “Taps.” Fifty years later, Dr. Veronica Gray may seem like a harmless old lady, but with her partner Dr. Mark Ivy, the pain machine was born: a device that can transfer pain from one person to another.
Angela, suffering with Fibromyalgia, has trouble finding anyone who believes her. She needs them to measure her pain as much as they need her to test their machine.
Available soon at:
Wildside Press
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Reviews/Comments:
"Like a spike hammered under your fingernail, PAIN MACHINE leaves you scarred. A medical miracle gone out of control, a neurological disease that's all too real, and a doctor who can't escape the legacy of her past all come together in Italiano's gripping and deeply personal debut."
Nicholas Kaufmann, author of "The Dead Stay Dead" and "The Jew of Prague"
"The PAIN MACHINE hurts so good! Italiano's writing is sharp and gripping. Darkly emotional themes await if you're brave enough to explore it. Italiano brings the pain!"
Brian Keene, author of The Rising, No Rest For The Wicked, Talking Smack
"I would like to let you know I received your book titled 'Pain Machine' the other day. I read it and let me tell you it was a great book it kept me on edge. I just hope I am never hooked up to a machine like that ha ha, and the only Taps I want to see or hear is through the military. ...If anyone out there knows about your book and have not read it they are definitely missing out."
-- Sergeant Tait Warren (email from Baghdad)
"Chronic pain sufferers will really appreciate this fine work of fiction"
-- Kevin Ryan
"I read your book last week. I loved it. You did such a good job of making me understand what Angela was feeling. And I loved the whole premise of being able to transfer your pain so that someone else would understand it. The characters stayed with me and I found I was wondering about them when I wasn't reading. Great work. On a personal note I seemed to be having a lot of headaches, muscle aches and even a migraine over the time I was reading. I probably just had a bug but my theory was the book IS the pain machine. ... I look forward to your next book."
-- Carolyn Kelly
"I just wanted to let you know that I just finished reading 'Pain Machine', and really enjoyed it! I had tucked it away, after picking it up at Word On The Street for some 'creepy' Halloween reading! It certainly fit the bill! I'll be sure to recommend it to my friends!!!"
-- Lee
"I just finished the book and it was great. Your development of characters was terrific, I really feel I knew them. ... Pain was something she felt at the beginning but I think it was the more the isolation and separation from people that drove her."
-- Barb
"That was such a great read! I finished it this morning.
Here's what I loved....
I loved the description of fibromyalgia...crocodiles...bears, and boa constructors.
I loved the departed ones' voices. Each was unique, and authentic. You have such a great grasp of language and dialect.
I loved the Isaac and Angela storyline.
I loved the relationship between Mark, and Veronica.
I loved the ending.
I loved the whole concept. What a neat idea. To experience others pain both physically, and mentally.
Dean, I raced through the book.
I'm going to recommend it to my yoga participants who deal with fibromyalgia...I think they will get a sense of validation... I'm going to spread the word."
-- Liz