Zoback, Tomas
Summary
Tomas Zoback served as the former editor for Franz Bonaparta during his tenure writing picture books for the Moravian Publishing Company. After Franz achieved success with several notable works, he pitched a concept to Zoback involving a monster falling in love, blending elements of Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty. Zoback rejected this manuscript for reasons that remain unclear. The narrative Franz intended to create likely mirrored his own life and relationship with Viera, as the titles associated with the discarded project align closely with his biography, though the actual content of the story is never revealed in the series. Their final encounter took place in the doorway of Zoback’s home, where Franz proposed a tale about a door that must never be opened. When Zoback inquired about what lay behind it—paradise or another monster—Franz replied that no one would ever know, as the door was forbidden to be opened. This meeting, which Zoback estimated occurred in the summer of 1981 or 1982, marked the last time they saw each other. Franz’s rejection of the monster romance story may have led to lingering resentment toward Zoback. Zoback demonstrated deep familiarity with Franz, noting his government employment and observing that, despite Franz’s official status under the old regime, his speech, attire, and demeanor were far more sophisticated. He also knew Franz was not just a picture-book author but also a psychiatrist, psychologist, and neurosurgeon. Although Franz’s daughter once described him as intimidating, the reason for this characterization was not explained. Later, Tenma visited Zoback to gather information on Bonaparta. Recognizing Tenma from a newspaper article, Zoback contacted the police after Tenma departed his residence.
