The main character is Dr       Max Holst, a successful neurosurgeon       One day an intense little man named Steinmetz shows up, who has the real ability to create objects out of thin air, using only his mind       As no one believes him at first, he is held at a ward for mental patients, but manifests the key to his door and escapes       As he has a special interest in Dr       Holst, Steinmetz subsequently invites Holst to his large mansion, which is full of expensive paintings and sculptures, and proves to him that he can in fact materialise objects       Steinmetz’s abilities are evolving by leaps and bounds, and is progressing from being able to create objects only to being able to create living things       His ultimate ambition is to be able to create a human being       He tells Dr       Holst that if he will only perform a certain brain operation on him, Steinmetz will become able to attain his goal       He’s got all the necessary equipment set up in his basement       Dr       Holst, however, is too spooked by the whole thing to agree to this mad scheme, and refuses       Steinmetz then sets about manipulating Holst’s life, to pressure him into performing the operation       By then Steinmetz has become able to create a temporary human being, and in the hope that he can perhaps make his own creation perform the operation, he manifests a doppelganger of Dr       Holst       This double proceeds to take over Dr       Holst’s life, creating chaos for him professionally and personally       And then Dr       Holst starts fighting back       The ending has the dual virtue of being both unexpected and satisfying