The price of genius is your soul. The payment is made in full.
When talented young writer Reginald Clarke is taken under the wing of the renowned author Ernest Commonwealth, he believes he's found the key to success. Commonwealth is brilliant, magnetic, and lives in an opulent Manhattan mansion, a haven for artists and intellectuals.
Yet, as Reginald's own career skyrockets, he notices a terrifying trend: his most original ideas, his most vital energy, and his very soul seem to be draining away. Meanwhile, Commonwealth's work becomes more dazzling and powerful than ever. The older author thrives on his disciples' creativity, growing younger, bolder, and more successful with every book Reginald struggles to complete.
Reginald soon realises that the "Master" is not merely a mentor, but a psychic vampire--a brilliant predator who feeds not on blood, but on the intellectual and creative essence of genius. He must now fight to reclaim his talent and his identity before he is drained to a hollow shell, forever contributing to the success of the monster who destroyed him.
Published just before the rise of the classic horror genre, this chilling and sophisticated novel is a powerful, early exploration of the psychic vampire mythos and a biting satire on the ruthless demands of artistic life.