ThemaincharacterisDr.MaxHolst,asuccessfulneurosurgeon.OnedayanintenselittlemannamedSteinmetzshowsup,whohastherealabilitytocreateobjectsoutofthinair,usingonlyhismind.Asnoonebelieveshimatfirst,heisheldatawardformentalpatients,butmanifeststhekeytohisdoorandescapes.AshehasaspecialinterestinDr.Holst,SteinmetzsubsequentlyinvitesHolsttohislargemansion,whichisfullofexpensivepaintingsandsculptures,andprovestohimthathecaninfactmaterialiseobjects.Steinmetz’sabilitiesareevolvingbyleapsandbounds,andisprogressingfrombeingabletocreateobjectsonlytobeingabletocreatelivingthings.Hisultimateambitionistobeabletocreateahumanbeing.HetellsDr.Holstthatifhewillonlyperformacertainbrainoperationonhim,Steinmetzwillbecomeabletoattainhisgoal.He’sgotallthenecessaryequipmentsetupinhisbasement.Dr.Holst,however,istoospookedbythewholethingtoagreetothismadscheme,andrefuses.SteinmetzthensetsaboutmanipulatingHolst’slife,topressurehimintoperformingtheoperation.BythenSteinmetzhasbecomeabletocreateatemporaryhumanbeing,andinthehopethathecanperhapsmakehisowncreationperformtheoperation,hemanifestsadoppelgangerofDr.Holst.ThisdoubleproceedstotakeoverDr.Holst’slife,creatingchaosforhimprofessionallyandpersonally.AndthenDr.Holststartsfightingback.Theendinghasthedualvirtueofbeingbothunexpectedandsatisfying.
