First published 2013
Dr. Sergei Polyakov arrives at a remote hospital, overwhelmed by the brutal medical conditions of post-revolutionary Russia. When a horrific case of gangrene pushes him past his limits, he turns to morphine—first as a clinical necessity, then as a desperate escape. As his addiction spirals, Polyakov struggles to maintain his professional responsibilities while battling increasingly intense physical and psychological dependencies. Each injection promises temporary relief but destroys more of his professional reputation and personal stability. He must confront the thin line between medical intervention and self-destruction before morphine consumes everything he values.
Genres: addiction, medical, 20th-century, psychological-thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, descent-into-madness, medical-drama
Setting: Soviet Union
Period: 20th Century
64 pages · Paperback · New Directions
Content warnings: addiction, drug-use, medical-trauma