Dermaphoria by Craig Clevenger

This text provides extensive excerpts from the novel "Dermaphoria" by Craig Clevenger, detailing the disoriented life of the protagonist, Eric, following a catastrophic chemical lab explosion that resulted in memory loss and severe burns. The narrative follows Eric's struggle to recall his identity, his past involvement in the production and distribution of a highly potent synthetic drug called "Skin" or "Firefly," and his relationship with the mysterious woman, Desiree. While attempting to reconstruct his fragmented memories—often triggered by pain, sensory input, and the effects of his own drugs—Eric is relentlessly pursued by his lawyer, hostile drug organization figures (White and his enforcer Toe Tag), and Detective Anslinger, who seeks to prosecute him for the explosion and drug manufacturing. The text culminates in Eric’s decision to flee his trial and return to the abandoned lab site in the desert, believing that confronting the location will resolve the conflict between his invented and real memories of Desiree and the disastrous events.