Orest Leere and His Marvelous, Mysterious, Malicious Empathy Machine is a dark fairy tale about a man who has isolated himself from the world in his gothic tower. He has created an "Empathy Machine" that allows him to steal memories from his victims, because Orest has none of his own. He has lived his whole life in his fortress, too fearful to experience life. However, when a memory is stolen, it is permanently removed and his victims become more vacuous until they eventually die. Into this world enters Imogene. She naively crosses into his fortress, and Orest is immediately smitten. However, Imogene holds a secret and is not the beacon of forgiveness that he desires.
—Jeff Smith