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David, a young scientist investigating what happens to the brain during the process of learning, suddenly finds himself the subject of a bizarre experiment. On the way home from the lab one night he spies Tony, a fitness instructor from his gym, on the same platform waiting for the tube. David's had an obsession with Tony for weeks, but Tony's barely noticed him at all. Until now. When David imagines the man naked, an extraordinary thing happens: Tony strips there and then on the platform and offers himself in front of all onlookers. Horrified, David flees. But back at his flat, Tony reappears, as if by magic. And disappears, when David wishes him away. And reappears when he calls him back. David can conjure up anyone, from any time, and he does: Billie Holliday, Johnny Weismuller, Daffy Duck, Picasso, Sophia Loren, even his younger self. Mad with lust and losing all scientific objectivity, he runs the gamut of his fantasies until, sated and morally bankrupt, he's forced to confront himself. It is not a pretty sight.
A scientist discovers he possesses the ability to manifest his deepest desires into physical reality, triggering a chaotic descent into moral and psychological instability. David, a researcher studying the mechanics of learning, finds his life upended when his fantasies begin to materialize in the physical world. As he begins to conjure historical figures, celebrities, and even versions of himself, he loses his grip on scientific objectivity and personal ethics. The narrative follows his rapid decline as he exploits this power to satisfy his cravings, eventually forcing him to face the consequences of his own unchecked impulses.
This work is characterized by its sharp, unsettling examination of the human psyche when stripped of external constraints. The narrative structure suggests a descent into madness that serves as a critique of modern obsession and the commodification of desire. Readers often note the stark contrast between the protagonist's scientific background and the irrational, chaotic nature of his manifestations. The book functions as a dark, introspective study on the dangers of self-absorption and the difficulty of confronting one's own moral failings.
Page Count:
416
Publication Date:
2002-01-01
Publisher:
Flamingo
ISBN-10:
0006552072
ISBN-13:
9780006552079
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