After being released from prison, Danny returns to his old neighborhood in order to start his life anew. Unfortunately, an act of aggression against his mother soon leads him on a quest to avenge her, a quest that leads him right back into the seedy underbelly of society that he had hoped to escape.

Max Normane is a successful editor with an eye for undiscovered talent. Unfortunately, her personal life isn't nearly as good as the stories in her magazine. With her biological clock ticking and a history of failed romances, Max pursues an unorthodox path to motherhood. Jake Buckley is a struggling but talented writer whose previous attempts at getting published have failed miserably. Max offers the perfect solution; she'll publish his story, giving life to his "baby", if he'll give life to hers. Afterwards, Max throws herself headfirst into the world of single motherhood, while Jake travels the world as a celebrated literary figure. Now having achieved their dreams, Max and Jake realize they must deal with the one thing they didn't bargain for - each other.

The evil Djinn is back at it again, this time wreaking havoc on the students of Illinois' Baxter University. His victim is a beautiful, innocent and studious teenage girl named Diana Collins who accidentally opened up the Djinn's tomb and released him.

Two men who were "best friends" while growing up together and into their 20's, reconnect after years apart. On the surface, their lives have gone in opposite directions, one married, successful, respectful and settled; the other divorced, footloose, unemployed and prowling. The narrative is not linear but vertical as simple get together to "have a drink" leads to a nihilistic descent into macho hell. The only thing that survives their reunion is their love for one another.