The Space Vampires

Some time in the not too distant future, astronauts discover a derelict spacecraft and bring three of its dormant occupants back to Earth. Unfortunately, they turn out to be some kind of energy vampires. This premise is fine, but what follows is around 200 pages of bullshit philosophy and pseudoscience rather than a story. I was somewhat aware that Wilson actually believed in this stuff but I didn't expect it to hijack the story so much. This definitely isn't a science fiction novel, and is barely a horror story--more a weak vehicle for "new age" mumbo-jumbo.

The story begins when a space expedition in the asteroid belt finds a massive abandoned spaceship. It takes place in the not-too-distant future (around 2080). Within this enormous "flying cathedral," the crew discovers thousands of preserved humanoids in clear cubes. Three extraterrestrial energy vampires are unintentionally released when the investigators bring three of these dormant bodies back to Earth. These aliens, whose race is associated with an ancient cosmic horror entity, do not consume blood, in contrast to traditional undead revenants. Rather, they devour human "life-force" or "vitality," frequently using sexual attraction to entice victims, seize control of their consenting bodies, and transform people into organic show more batteries.

The book primarily concentrates on the mechanics of energy exchange because Wilson was a philosopher with a strong interest in phenomenology and humanistic psychology. Captain Carlsen, the main character, learns that vampirism isn't just an alien characteristic through lengthy, academic-style conversations and lectures. The book makes the case that common people also deplete one another's energy through self-pity, selfishness, or psychic. The story is just quirky enough to be engaging for sci-fi fans like myself. show less

oh man, written in the 70's, this was pure crap! The whole story is centered around Freudianism, masochim/sadism and some mumbojumbo about lifeforce". Why anyone would consider this entertaining is beyond me!"

Read this as a teenager. Had a naked woman on the cover! What's not to like?

blah, totally stupid human scientists. very seldom do i give a blah, at least i finished it.

vampires in space.

*note to self. Copy from A.