The setup is certainly unusual - an unhingedly passionate miscroscopist is willing to go to any length to construct an instrument of surpassing power. There's a twist, undoubtedly meant to be shocking, but unfortunately it completely failed to surprise me.

The start is slow, but tempo and interest builds up, and apart from the twist failing to surprise, it's not bad.

Young man fascinated by microscopy will stop a nothing to build the most powerful microscope in existence. But when he does, he sees much more than he bargained for. Very well done, in a florid 19th century sort of way. ( )

"The Diamond Lens," a short story published in 1858, focuses on a young man who is obsessed with the study of microscopic life. After learning everything there is to know about microscopes, he becomes increasingly dissatisfied with the magnification currently available to him and he resolves to craft a perfect microscope. After speaking with a medium who channels the spirit of Leeuwenhoek (the father of microbiology), he discovers the secret to the perfect lens. But the construction of this microscope brings with it major consequences and moral dilemmas and when the diamond lens is perfected, the young scientist's life is forever changed by what he discovers in a single drop of water. ( )

http://tinyurl.com/gyk5f

"I destined myself to be a microscopist."

"The unsuccessful madman is disgraced, and called a lunatic."

The main character becomes completely obsessed with microscopes. He travels to New York to attend medical school at the bequest of his parents, but only pays tuition. Instead of attending lectures, he continues to work with his microscopes.

Is murdering a criminal to benefit the scientific society the proper thing to do? The lens is crafted. He sees in it a creature having the outline of humanity (Animula). He fell in love and the death of her drove him mad.