A teacher, a pupil, in a class taught by a madman. Within his academy of shadows teaching aids include: pornography, chains, and Mozart; discipline is vigorous; mediocrity, unacceptable; and uniforms are the curves and mounds of supple flesh. Here, Life or Death are the only grades offered; Love me or die the only subject taught. Both decadence and decency are the lessons of the day--are you ready? Good. Let the learning begin. Following his controversial first novel, Karma Incarnate: The Best of Foolkiller, Bryan Gibson returns with his most controversial work to date, Malefectus and Lesser Tales. Inspired by the gothic writings of Charles Maturin, Ann Radcliffe, and the Marquis De Sade, this collection features the bizarre and grotesque, all lavished in brilliant--at times shocking--prose that will surely delight serious readers. Prepare to be absorbed, disturbed, and entertained by this terrifying, unforgiving work.