The Empty People — Barry N. Malzberg

First there was Della, the woman who wanted . . . love? She did not - could not - know, for where love should have been was emptiness.

Then came the Poet, who wanted only to please, but did not know how. His every effort was rejected - but he could not stop trying.

Rogers was the completion, the part above all other parts that made the whole.

And then there was Archer - and the thing in his brain . . .