A. Merritt's Seven Footprints To Satan (1927) is a classic novel of exotic mystery with supernatural overtones, in which Satan is an obese criminal mastermind of monstrous appetites - and the evil genius to satisfy them. When art-thief and gambler Jim Markham falls foul of this Oriental beast, he must undergo the ordeal of the seven footprints in order to avoid slavery or death. If he fails, he will be forced to carry out Satan's demonic bidding for the next year of his life. Merritt's Satan remains one of the most memorable super-villains in pulp literature.
