Breath of Beelzebub

"Breath of Beelzebub" by Larry Sternig is a science fiction tale from the mid-20th century that is set after World War II. The story involves a curious and mighty material that's found on a ruined planetoid where consuming this material leads to bizarre results. It examines topics like intoxication, wanting more, and what happens when you mess with things you don't understand. The story focuses on Bill Dineen, the assistant to a powerful liquor businessman, Fleming Ames, after he meets Slane O'Graeme where Slane gives him a bottle of odd blue liquid known as "Breath of Beelzebub." After trying it, Dineen learns that the liquid gives a happy feeling and can make people switch personalities when combined with water, which causes a crazy night at a dinner party with Ames and his friends. As people start swapping bodies, funny things happen, like flirting and confusion among the guests. In the end, trying this experiment leads to Dineen finding love and a surprising change in his job. Through its fun and silly point of view, the book looks at what happens when people give in to their desires in space.