Death by Ecstasy

Death by Ecstasy is a science fiction novella by American writer Larry Niven, set in the Known Space universe.

[1] A belter, Owen Jennison, is found dead on Earth in a locked Los Angeles apartment.

He finds Owen with a droud (a wirehead's transformer) plugged into the back of his head.

The latter apparently starved himself to death while continuously stimulating the pleasure center of his own brain.

Hamilton, refusing to believe that his friend would commit suicide or turn wirehead, suspects foul play.