Vienna and Beyond: ... a Sci-Fi Thriller

By Pat Serby

The author is also the main character of this book, and some parts of the book are autobiographical. Pat while doing genealogical research, finds out an intriguing story about one of her ancestors. She goes back to Vienna, Austria to try to understand why things turned out the way they did. While in Vienna a most extraordinary occurrence happens to her.

The reader, as well, is taken on a private tour of present day Vienna, with all the important sights to see, the sounds and unique food.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Apr 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9781665738613

Pat Serby

Pat Serby lives in Manhattan, where she has lived most of her life, with her family. She has been a successful, residential real estate broker, in Manhattan, for over twenty-five years. Pat has had an interest in her family genealogy, which has led her to do extensive research. From this research, the idea for this book came to her, while looking at old photographs of her ancestors.

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Copyright © 2023 Pat Serby.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Archway Publishing

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.archwaypublishing.com

844-669-3957

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3860-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3861-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023902511

Archway Publishing rev. date: 04/18/2023

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

PART ONE

CHAPTER 1 The Seidler Homeland

CHAPTER 2 The Metzgers Immigrate to America

CHAPTER 3 Discovery of the Seidlers in Vienna

CHAPTER 4 Return to Vienna

CHAPTER 5 A Most Extraordinary Occurrence

CHAPTER 6 Living Back in 1938 Vienna

CHAPTER 7 Out and About in Vienna

CHAPTER 8 The Famous Vienna Opera House

CHAPTER 9 Coming Up with A Plan

CHAPTER 10 Back to Reality

CHAPTER 11 Going Back to The Future

CHAPTER 12 Back in Vienna in 2019

PART TWO

CHAPTER 13 The Long Explanation

CHAPTER 14 Home Again

CHAPTER 15 A Letter from Vienna

CHAPTER 16 How Americans Got Their News in the 1940s

CHAPTER 17 Reporting the News in 2019

CHAPTER 18 Reunion

CHAPTER 19 The Jewish Population in Present Day Vienna

CHAPTER 20 Richard Back in the United States

Recipes and beyond…

Kugelhopf

Pat’s Austrian Schlag (Whipped Cream)

Pat’s German Apple Pancake

BOOKS AND OTHER SOURCES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

This book is dedicated to my daughter, Jennifer Lauren, and my wonderful parents, Horty and David Serby, who instilled in me the importance of family.

FOREWORD

For years, I was drawn to as many movies as I could find on World War II. During this war in the United States and England, the people of these countries were so devoted to the war effort. It was a part of their everyday lives. Young men and women enlisted in the armed forces. People left at home replaced workers in the factories, many of which were enlisted and fighting. Women and children were raising money for causes.

The general population was united and volunteering, in any way they could. There was a romantic notion about this war. Sweethearts were kissing and saying goodbye at train stations. Couples got married just before the men were being sent overseas. There was an anxious, optimistic energy all around.

I wanted to better understand World War II, especially how the European countries and its people were affected, the horrors of the Holocaust and especially how the war was won by the Allies.

Winston Churchill was a brilliant leader for his people, as well as the allies. He was one of the first political leaders to understand Hitler’s Fanatical Plan for world dominance. He helped sway the world away from appeasing Hitler, as Lord Chamberlain did before him. Churchill made such inspiring speeches to the people on the radio during World War II, encouraging all to fight to the end.

My dad, David Serby, enlisted during World War II and joined the US Coast Guard. Before long he was out on a 60- foot sailboat, cruising the north- east shoreline searching for German submarines.

When Dad had a shore leave, he would go to Manhattan, to visit The Stage Door Canteen. This night club was created for men and women in uniform. Dad met Hollywood stars and starlets at the club. Constance Bennett, Joan Bennett and Addison Randall were a few stars of the day he spent time with. A couple of these friendships lasted long past the end of World War II.

All servicemen would go for free to the famous Stage Door Canteen. They would be entertained by famous movie stars and bandleaders. Single women volunteered to be hostesses at the club to dance with the men and to help keep morale up. Everyone wanted to support the men and women who served.

Movie stars travelled the country selling war bonds. One such movie star, Carole Lombard, while on a trip selling war bonds, died in a plane crash.

By now, I learned as much as possible about my father David’s ancestors from Austria and Russia. I had written a book, The Serby Saga as well. It was published in 2016.

My family and friends said they appreciated the book and enjoyed reading it. It appeared on the bookshelves of a few popular bookstores in Manhattan, for many months."

However, I was not satisfied. Something inside me told me to research further on my mother, Horty Metzger’s, side of the family, The Seidlers and Metzgers. I just knew there was another story to tell about this part of my family.

PART

ONE

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CHAPTER 1

The Seidler Homeland

M y great- grandmother, Anna Seidler Metzger, was born in a town called Vertelka, Poland, in 1872. Her parents, Feige and Meyer Seidler owned a farm in Vertelka, a shtetl of Poland, near the border of Russia.

Feige and Meyer and their six children worked on their farm, which had a lot of land. They were farmers and landowners. They owned one of the largest homes in the area. They grew all the vegetables and fruits they needed to live on. On the farm they had lots of goats and chickens. They also had horses.

On their farm, at some time, a tavern and small inn were built with about a half dozen rooms, for paying guests. They were known in the