1899. The mood of fin-de-siècle Paris is one of the old order crumbling
away, as ancient superstitions are replaced by scientific discoveries.
The director of the Théâtre Tragicomique is intent on staging an updated
version of Faust to usher in the new century -- and stave off
bankruptcy. But some supernatural agency is determined to rewrite the
play, striking dead every actor playing the part of Faust. Is it a
manifestation of the Devil, as the superstitious believe, a bizarre
side-effect of the universe making ways for new laws, as the positivists
proclaim, or merely the magic of the theater? Brian M. Stableford has
been a professional writer since 1965. He has published more than 60
science fiction and fantasy novels, as well as several authoritative
non-fiction books. He is also translating the works of Paul Féval and
other French writers of the fantastique for Black Coat Press which also
published his most two recent fantasy novels: The Wayward Muse and The
Stones of Camelot.