New York: Simon & Schuster, (1995) dj. Hardcover first edition - Budapest-born author's first novel, "a darkly lyrical, semi-autobiographical account of a drug addict's life in Venice, California in the early 1970s. When a prostitute, Cassandra, puts a needle full of heroin into the arm of a young man who calls himself College, he instantly responds to the drug. Soon he's addicted and sharing his apartment with Cassandra and her pimp," (PW) although, like Plesko himself, he does manage to break the bonds of addiction. Cover praise from Kate Braverman who calls this "a novel of scathing, indelible brilliance. . the best book I have ever read about the 60s, drugs and the death of the American dream." 269 pp. ISBN: 0-671880497.