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The Parasite
The skeptical Gilroy's fiancée, Agatha, is put into a trance to prove Miss Penclosa's powers. This succeeds and Gilroy begins to go to the Professor's house where Miss Penclosa practices her powers on him. Let me try to reason it out. This woman, by her own explanation, can dominate my nervous organism. She can project herself into my body and take command of it. She has a parasite soul; yes, she is a parasite, a monstrous parasite. She creeps into my frame as the hermit crab does into the whelk's shell. I am powerless! What can I do? I am dealing with forces of which I know nothing. And I can tell no one of my trouble. They would set me down as a madman. Certainly, if it got noised abroad, the university would say that they had no need of a devil-ridden professor. And Agatha! No, no, I must face it alone.
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1894
46 people are currently reading
724 people want to read
About the author
Arthur Conan Doyle
15.8k books24.4k followersSir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a Scottish writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for A Study in Scarlet, the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Sherlock Holmes stories are milestones in the field of crime fiction.
Doyle was a prolific writer. In addition to the Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" (1884), helped to popularise the mystery of the brigantine Mary Celeste, found drifting at sea with no crew member aboard.
Doyle was a prolific writer. In addition to the Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" (1884), helped to popularise the mystery of the brigantine Mary Celeste, found drifting at sea with no crew member aboard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
July 5, 2023
Prof Austin Gilroy doesn't believe in mesmerism and its effectiveness. When he himself gets under the spell of a Miss Penclosa he sees the dangers of that art. Why is he speaking of a parasite? Who is he terribly afraid of? The story starts slow but soon turns out into a real page turner. A fine portrait of the belief in magic things of the Victorian Age. Eerie, ironic and with a fine ending. Recommended!
August 5, 2022
The plot in this and the fact that it was written by Arthur Conan Doyle made me jump straight into this one and I wasn't disappointed, felt like a cozy yet creepy story. Still have the chunky collection of Sherlock Holmes novella's to read through on my shelf but haven't yet gotten to that
May 24, 2024
Well off Conan Doyle's beaten track ... horror with a Victorian flair!
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is, of course, best known for his Sherlock Holmes and Professor Challenger characters. What is much less well known is that Doyle was fascinated with spiritualism and the paranormal. Indeed, his fascination may well be categorized as a morbid obsession to find proof of existence beyond the grave dating from depression which began after the death of his wife, Louisa, in 1906. Doyle's readers, at least, can be pleased with the results. His futile efforts at quasi-scientific exploration of paranormal phenomena provided fodder for an enormous number of short stories and novellas that could hardly be more different from the focused attention on data and facts - it only counts if it can be seen, felt, observed and measured - that is seen in the Sherlock Holmes canon. These little known stories, exemplified by THE PARASITE, can best be categorized within the horror genre.
Austin Gilroy, a physiologist, is a realist and is firm in his belief that the paranormal is hokum. On the other hand, his friend, Professor Wilson is a dyed-in-the-wool true believer and, with a view to convincing his skeptical friend, introduces him to a "skilled" psychic, Miss Penclosa. Despite his rejection of her amorous advances, Gilroy is maddened to discover that he is falling under the power of Penclosa's abilities and that he is being forced into the humiliating position of unwilling and subservient love slave to Miss Penclosa. And he is positively horrified to realize that he is contemplating the mutilation and murder of his current fiancée with a vial of sulphuric acid.
THE PARASITE is an enjoyable novella that can be comfortably devoured in a single sitting and atmospheric literature that exemplifies Victorian behaviour and beliefs. The story itself, while hardly up to the grisly standards of 21st century horror, is typically open-ended and, like so many Twilight Zone episodes, leaves the reader with a pleasant feeling that all is not as it seems and any number of possible resolutions might be imagined.
Highly recommended if you'd like to sample some Arthur Conan Doyle writing that is well off the beaten track! Those readers interested in pursuing more of the same might explore the anthologies ROUND THE FIRE STORIES and THE HORROR OF THE HEIGHTS.
Paul Weiss
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is, of course, best known for his Sherlock Holmes and Professor Challenger characters. What is much less well known is that Doyle was fascinated with spiritualism and the paranormal. Indeed, his fascination may well be categorized as a morbid obsession to find proof of existence beyond the grave dating from depression which began after the death of his wife, Louisa, in 1906. Doyle's readers, at least, can be pleased with the results. His futile efforts at quasi-scientific exploration of paranormal phenomena provided fodder for an enormous number of short stories and novellas that could hardly be more different from the focused attention on data and facts - it only counts if it can be seen, felt, observed and measured - that is seen in the Sherlock Holmes canon. These little known stories, exemplified by THE PARASITE, can best be categorized within the horror genre.
Austin Gilroy, a physiologist, is a realist and is firm in his belief that the paranormal is hokum. On the other hand, his friend, Professor Wilson is a dyed-in-the-wool true believer and, with a view to convincing his skeptical friend, introduces him to a "skilled" psychic, Miss Penclosa. Despite his rejection of her amorous advances, Gilroy is maddened to discover that he is falling under the power of Penclosa's abilities and that he is being forced into the humiliating position of unwilling and subservient love slave to Miss Penclosa. And he is positively horrified to realize that he is contemplating the mutilation and murder of his current fiancée with a vial of sulphuric acid.
THE PARASITE is an enjoyable novella that can be comfortably devoured in a single sitting and atmospheric literature that exemplifies Victorian behaviour and beliefs. The story itself, while hardly up to the grisly standards of 21st century horror, is typically open-ended and, like so many Twilight Zone episodes, leaves the reader with a pleasant feeling that all is not as it seems and any number of possible resolutions might be imagined.
Highly recommended if you'd like to sample some Arthur Conan Doyle writing that is well off the beaten track! Those readers interested in pursuing more of the same might explore the anthologies ROUND THE FIRE STORIES and THE HORROR OF THE HEIGHTS.
Paul Weiss
July 9, 2024
Impressive, probably the “inspiration” for the much better known, but inferior: "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James.
August 6, 2020
3-1/2 Stars
This is an excellent little mystery with some gothic horror thrown in. The ending is a little simplistic and left me thinking surely “Sir Arthur Conan Doyle” could do better. But the reader does realize what could have occurred to Agatha Marden if the infamous Miss Penclosa had succeeded.
This is an excellent little mystery with some gothic horror thrown in. The ending is a little simplistic and left me thinking surely “Sir Arthur Conan Doyle” could do better. But the reader does realize what could have occurred to Agatha Marden if the infamous Miss Penclosa had succeeded.
October 20, 2022
Ma 10/10 prijatelji
November 13, 2022
an interesting mixture of what is actually possible, what believe and what is simply superstitious.
Doyle always has something interesting and most of the time different times say in his stories, especially remembering when he wrote them.
this was an interesting, slightly spooky and creepy read.
Doyle always has something interesting and most of the time different times say in his stories, especially remembering when he wrote them.
this was an interesting, slightly spooky and creepy read.
January 27, 2021
A lot of love for this book!
The diary entry layout was highly effective in following the fast-paced plot, and truly gave an extraordinary insight into the deteriorating psychological state of a protagonist possessed by mesmerism. By the last chapter your wee heart breaks for him! And the villain - oof. Conan Doyle lets her character say *just* enough to remain mysterious but also makes her increasingly detestable.
The last line of each chapter was written so fantastically in willing you to read on - each one felt like a cliffhanger.
Short of five stars as I have mixed feelings about the very last line/the ending of the story.
However, this was read through a brilliant audiobook by the talented Simon Stanhope, who acted more than read and whose voice was perfect.
Highly recommend!
The diary entry layout was highly effective in following the fast-paced plot, and truly gave an extraordinary insight into the deteriorating psychological state of a protagonist possessed by mesmerism. By the last chapter your wee heart breaks for him! And the villain - oof. Conan Doyle lets her character say *just* enough to remain mysterious but also makes her increasingly detestable.
The last line of each chapter was written so fantastically in willing you to read on - each one felt like a cliffhanger.
Short of five stars as I have mixed feelings about the very last line/the ending of the story.
However, this was read through a brilliant audiobook by the talented Simon Stanhope, who acted more than read and whose voice was perfect.
Highly recommend!
June 23, 2015
¡Qué historia tan genial! Excepto por el final, que no entiendo por qué fue tan abrupto...
Pero, dejando eso de lado, me gustó mucho que la historia del profesor Gilroy se contara a manera de diario, pues me recordó mucho a Dracula. Además, fue muy fuerte ir leyendo cómo el hombre va perdiendo poco a poco su cabeza y el dominio sobre sí mismo víctima del "parásito", de la mujer extraña que lo controlaba.
Pero, dejando eso de lado, me gustó mucho que la historia del profesor Gilroy se contara a manera de diario, pues me recordó mucho a Dracula. Además, fue muy fuerte ir leyendo cómo el hombre va perdiendo poco a poco su cabeza y el dominio sobre sí mismo víctima del "parásito", de la mujer extraña que lo controlaba.
January 19, 2016
What on earth happened? I read it twice but I still can't get what really happened! Anyone to explain?
July 3, 2020
Fin dove può spingersi la mente umana? Una persona che ti ama può cercare di manipolarti?
Tramite un'impostazione diaristica, Conan Doyle costruisce una narrazione in ascendenza che non permette di far riposare il libro neanche un attimo se non a lettura terminata. Le pagine di diario scritte dal professor Gilroy catapultano il lettore direttamente tra i pensieri, i dubbi, le emozioni del protagonista, che si ritrova ad essere una marionetta nelle mani di Miss Penclosa Fino a che punto sarà "tenuto in ostaggio"? Sta a voi scoprirlo.
La traduzione, condotta da Oscar Ledonne, è integrale, annotata, fedele al testo di partenza, precisa (non poteva essere altrimenti, Oscar è un estimatore dell'autore!).
Tramite un'impostazione diaristica, Conan Doyle costruisce una narrazione in ascendenza che non permette di far riposare il libro neanche un attimo se non a lettura terminata. Le pagine di diario scritte dal professor Gilroy catapultano il lettore direttamente tra i pensieri, i dubbi, le emozioni del protagonista, che si ritrova ad essere una marionetta nelle mani di Miss Penclosa Fino a che punto sarà "tenuto in ostaggio"? Sta a voi scoprirlo.
La traduzione, condotta da Oscar Ledonne, è integrale, annotata, fedele al testo di partenza, precisa (non poteva essere altrimenti, Oscar è un estimatore dell'autore!).
October 3, 2024
Holmes no asoma ni las pestañas aquí. Sin embargo, nuestro protagonista es un típico personaje doyleano: hombre de ciencia, de razón.
Ahora bien, fenómenos extraños desafían las leyes racionales. Pero el escéptico no conoce otra cosa que el método científico, la experimentación, el ensayo... el error.
Noto una pincelada de Quiroga y su almohadón de plumas —quizás este relato haya sido la inspiración de Horacio—. Pero nuestro parásito no es ningún bicho repulsivo, al contrario. ¿Podrá el hombre resistir a sus encantos? ¿Podrá aplacar su mórbido deseo de saber qué hay detrás?
Como decimos por mis pagos, esta historia "le pasa el trapo" a cualquier dilema detectivesco.
Ahora bien, fenómenos extraños desafían las leyes racionales. Pero el escéptico no conoce otra cosa que el método científico, la experimentación, el ensayo... el error.
Noto una pincelada de Quiroga y su almohadón de plumas —quizás este relato haya sido la inspiración de Horacio—. Pero nuestro parásito no es ningún bicho repulsivo, al contrario. ¿Podrá el hombre resistir a sus encantos? ¿Podrá aplacar su mórbido deseo de saber qué hay detrás?
Como decimos por mis pagos, esta historia "le pasa el trapo" a cualquier dilema detectivesco.
May 17, 2024
⚠️RECENSIONE CENSURATA PERCHÉ, A QUANTO PARE, UNA RECENSIONE NEGATIVA È DIFFAMAZIONE⚠️
July 17, 2023
“I am in a horrible position, but, above all, I must not lose my head. I must pit my intellect against her powers.”
A short, stand-alone work from 1894. This is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in a Gothic mood. It’s written in the form of the diary entries of a scientist who prides himself on his materialist philosophy, yet gets drawn into experiments involving dark psychic phenomena that allow a creepy woman to latch onto his mind like a parasite. The villain’s increasing hold over the diarist, her “hag’s clutch” deep in his nerves, and his waning strength reminded me of Stoker’s Dracula, written three years later. (The bloodsucking Dracula is also a kind of parasite).
Two things are fascinating about this tale of psychological horror. First, it’s from a time when Psychology was still a new, and somewhat disreputable, branch of science, in which the brain represented a “vast virgin field” of study, and so you have to try to imagine how fantastic and almost supernatural the possibilities for discovery must’ve seemed. Second, hypnosis was also the latest thing, and Doyle makes you feel, in his Victorian nightmare of a story, how frightening it must have appeared (and reflect how odd that it turned out to be just a kind of psychological novelty). Again, this was published in 1894, in Harper’s Weekly, a few months after Trilby (in Harper’s Monthly). Mesmerism had its own literary sub-genre that year.
Okay, enough context. I loved this work. A number of aspects will feel vaguely familiar to modern readers and movie-goers: the way the psychic takes a particular interest in our narrator; the wedding subplot, which somehow adds to the horror. The novella is only about 55 pages—more a long short story—so I don’t think Doyle was trying to be too ambitious here, but I’m a sucker for weird fin de siècle fiction and it’s great to see a master try his hand at it. Look forward to reading all his horror stories.
A short, stand-alone work from 1894. This is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in a Gothic mood. It’s written in the form of the diary entries of a scientist who prides himself on his materialist philosophy, yet gets drawn into experiments involving dark psychic phenomena that allow a creepy woman to latch onto his mind like a parasite. The villain’s increasing hold over the diarist, her “hag’s clutch” deep in his nerves, and his waning strength reminded me of Stoker’s Dracula, written three years later. (The bloodsucking Dracula is also a kind of parasite).
Two things are fascinating about this tale of psychological horror. First, it’s from a time when Psychology was still a new, and somewhat disreputable, branch of science, in which the brain represented a “vast virgin field” of study, and so you have to try to imagine how fantastic and almost supernatural the possibilities for discovery must’ve seemed. Second, hypnosis was also the latest thing, and Doyle makes you feel, in his Victorian nightmare of a story, how frightening it must have appeared (and reflect how odd that it turned out to be just a kind of psychological novelty). Again, this was published in 1894, in Harper’s Weekly, a few months after Trilby (in Harper’s Monthly). Mesmerism had its own literary sub-genre that year.
Okay, enough context. I loved this work. A number of aspects will feel vaguely familiar to modern readers and movie-goers: the way the psychic takes a particular interest in our narrator; the wedding subplot, which somehow adds to the horror. The novella is only about 55 pages—more a long short story—so I don’t think Doyle was trying to be too ambitious here, but I’m a sucker for weird fin de siècle fiction and it’s great to see a master try his hand at it. Look forward to reading all his horror stories.
April 5, 2018
Zagrebačka naklada
Zagreb, 2008.
Prevela Sanja Petriška
Urednik zbirke priča "Horor priče za laku noć" je Tomislav Matković. U sklopu navedene zbirke je objelodanjena i naslovljena novela.
Radi se, dakle, o noveli jer radnja obuhvaća dulji vremenski period te se problematika radnje razvija unutar tog vremenskog odsječka do kulminacije.
Jezik je jednostavan. Tekst se oslanja ponajviše na dijaloge.
Sadržaj je iskaz tipične doylovske racionalnosti. Podsjeća me na priče Sherlocka Holmesa koje čitah u osnovnoj. Jedino djelo koje sam svježe pročitao od Doylea jest "Izgubljeni svijet". Jezik "Izgubljenog svijeta" mi je daleko kvalitetniji od jezika "Parazita". Razlog navedenom leži u tome što "Izgubljeni svijet" posjeduje više estetski jezik u vidu atmosferičnosti jezika. Doyle je u "Parazitu" suzdržan u tekstu. To je ta dosadna racionalističko-viktorijanska furka.
Ideološki podtekst bi bila nekakva teozofska furka. Tematika radnje jest svjesnost, odnosno poniranje u nečiju razinu svjesnosti, nečije elektromagnetsko polje. Madame Balavatsky meets Poe, na neki način.
Hasta luego!
Zagreb, 2008.
Prevela Sanja Petriška
Urednik zbirke priča "Horor priče za laku noć" je Tomislav Matković. U sklopu navedene zbirke je objelodanjena i naslovljena novela.
Radi se, dakle, o noveli jer radnja obuhvaća dulji vremenski period te se problematika radnje razvija unutar tog vremenskog odsječka do kulminacije.
Jezik je jednostavan. Tekst se oslanja ponajviše na dijaloge.
Sadržaj je iskaz tipične doylovske racionalnosti. Podsjeća me na priče Sherlocka Holmesa koje čitah u osnovnoj. Jedino djelo koje sam svježe pročitao od Doylea jest "Izgubljeni svijet". Jezik "Izgubljenog svijeta" mi je daleko kvalitetniji od jezika "Parazita". Razlog navedenom leži u tome što "Izgubljeni svijet" posjeduje više estetski jezik u vidu atmosferičnosti jezika. Doyle je u "Parazitu" suzdržan u tekstu. To je ta dosadna racionalističko-viktorijanska furka.
Ideološki podtekst bi bila nekakva teozofska furka. Tematika radnje jest svjesnost, odnosno poniranje u nečiju razinu svjesnosti, nečije elektromagnetsko polje. Madame Balavatsky meets Poe, na neki način.
Hasta luego!
September 6, 2021
A friendly competition between academics takes a turn when the Wilson the psychologist introduces a medium to Professor Gilroy, the sceptic. To prove her bona fides Miss Penclosa mesmerises his fiancée, Agatha.
He is unimpressed by the woman herself:
Yikes.
But in the interests of science, he agrees to let her use him as a guinea pig.
It does not go well. This is in the psychic vampire genre, and under her influence, he starts to behave out of character. It becomes a battle of wills; a battle Gilroy is fast losing.
3 stars
He is unimpressed by the woman herself:
Any one less like my idea of a West Indian could not be imagined. She was a small, frail creature, well over forty, I should say, with a pale, peaky face, and hair of a very light shade of chestnut. Her presence was insignificant and her manner retiring. In any group of ten women she would have been the last whom one would have picked out. Her eyes were perhaps her most remarkable, and also, I am compelled to say, her least pleasant, feature.
Yikes.
But in the interests of science, he agrees to let her use him as a guinea pig.
It does not go well. This is in the psychic vampire genre, and under her influence, he starts to behave out of character. It becomes a battle of wills; a battle Gilroy is fast losing.
3 stars
October 14, 2020
The 'parasite' of the story follows the 'old crone who has powers' trope. It's such a common concept, (the fear of wise women) that women have even been killed as witches. That said, someone has to be the 'bad guy'. The story focuses on Professor Gilroy and his sudden interest in the occult. What he encounters, to his detriment, is mesmerism on steroids. He makes some bad choices in the name of keeping up appearances.
Doyle creates an air of anticipation , i.e. how far will this story go. The story is a page turner. Unfortunately the ending does not live up to the rest of the story.
Originally published in 1894.
Doyle creates an air of anticipation , i.e. how far will this story go. The story is a page turner. Unfortunately the ending does not live up to the rest of the story.
Originally published in 1894.
January 12, 2017
For me, the most interesting part of the story was seeing the representation of the Miss Penclosa character, knowing of Doyle's fascination with spiritualism. Making her the villain certainly plays to the fears of the time, but it makes me curious to his own feelings were he to meet someone with the powers he describes and purportedly held a high personal interest in.
Upon finishing the story, the ending felt unsatisfying as the resolution is very abrupt, but I can see how someone could appreciate the implications of the timing.
Upon finishing the story, the ending felt unsatisfying as the resolution is very abrupt, but I can see how someone could appreciate the implications of the timing.
March 21, 2020
Wow, now here's an interesting read.
What if a psychic, an adept in eastern mysticism were to exercise her power upon others as she pleases?
This story hits a bit closer to home as one can see it's application far more in the east than in the west.
For instance, the psychic in this story tries to make the protagonist fall in love with her.
Here in India we have such people who (for a fee) will offer the same thing.
In fact, they advertise on billboards.
Sir Conan Doyle wrote a profound story here.
What if a psychic, an adept in eastern mysticism were to exercise her power upon others as she pleases?
This story hits a bit closer to home as one can see it's application far more in the east than in the west.
For instance, the psychic in this story tries to make the protagonist fall in love with her.
Here in India we have such people who (for a fee) will offer the same thing.
In fact, they advertise on billboards.
Sir Conan Doyle wrote a profound story here.
November 16, 2022
3.5
apparently I have been in the mood for horror in the past couple of weeks and this was in a list of possible "vampire" books before actual Dracula and I was instantly hooked!
I liked the way Arthur described Austin's madness through diary entries, honestly I could feel the desperation in every entry. I liked that even if he wasn't in control of himself, he was never unfaithful (points for Austin) and I'm glad love was what struck a cord without it being cheesy, it was very refreshing. I liked it a lot!
apparently I have been in the mood for horror in the past couple of weeks and this was in a list of possible "vampire" books before actual Dracula and I was instantly hooked!
I liked the way Arthur described Austin's madness through diary entries, honestly I could feel the desperation in every entry. I liked that even if he wasn't in control of himself, he was never unfaithful (points for Austin) and I'm glad love was what struck a cord without it being cheesy, it was very refreshing. I liked it a lot!
March 16, 2019
The writing is atmospheric and descriptive enough to make this short horror story entertaining, but I might have strained my eyeballs by rolling them so hard through this story of an honorable man whose life and reputation is ruined by the spiteful woman he rejected. Give an ugly woman a little bit of power, and naturally the first thing she does is try to control a man's mind and body, first for love, then for hate. *rolls eyes again*
September 16, 2015
This is a fairly creepy story, but probably not quite as startling now as it was when published. The use of hypnotism to control people's actions was a new idea when this was originally published. Nevertheless, it's a tale worth reading.
September 26, 2025
Bu sene Arthur Conan'ın Sherlock dışında yazmış olduğu kısa öyküleri de okudum. Gerçekten o döneme göre farklı tarzlarda yazmış. Spiritüel anlamda çok fazla öyküsü var. Hepsi de akıcıydı. Burada da hipnoz konusunu işlemişti. Beğendim.
January 21, 2018
me ha encantado como el protagonista va cambiando de actitud respecto a determinados temas y cómo cambia su estado de ánimo, lo recomiendo.
October 17, 2018
3.5-ish. This was first attempt at horror for this month and it wasn’t really scary but I’d still consider it pretty good. It was not all close to Stephen King Novel scary but it was good/okay.
January 23, 2020
It is one of the ironies that the inventor of the most rational and intelligent private detective in fiction was also remarkably credulous when it came to supernatural phenomenon.
Arthur Conan Doyle was not totally foolish, and he recognised many frauds. Nonetheless the world of mediums and mesmerism was something that he took seriously, and this spilled into his fiction.
Conan Doyle sensibly kept Sherlock Holmes away from real ghosts and spirits, something which would have diminished the appeal of his most popular character. He was quite prepared to exploit his second best-loved character Professor Challenger to defend the batty world of psychics and other charlatans.
The Parasite is one of Conan Doyle’s more ‘credulous’ stories, but he does at least subordinate this to entertainment rather than seek to preach the ‘truth’ of mesmerism and superstition. Nonetheless the story would perhaps have benefited from a less straightforward presentation.
In the story, a young scientist becomes interested in studying mesmerism, and allows a West Indian psychic to practise on him. Unfortunately she falls in love with him, and begins to exploit her power over him to get him to come to her.
When he spurns her attentions during a moment of control, she avenges herself by forcing him to perform foolish or bad actions that risk losing his job and fiancée, and put him in danger of being arrested.
The title is a curious one. Conan Doyle likens her ability to control other people to that of a parasite, rather than a vampire – the metaphor most of us might have chosen. In an age when Varney and Dracula were popularising actual vampires, he may have wished to avoid confusing the reader.
There is an element of prejudice in the narrator’s attitude towards the parasite, Miss Penclosa. Her West Indian background is a mere exotic touch, but the narrator makes a few disparaging comments about the fact that she is crippled, implying her deformity is one reason he would not be interested in her. This may make some readers cringe a little.
What would have made the story better is a little more ambiguity. Is the narrator really under Miss Penclosa’s mesmeric influence, or is he perhaps really fascinated by her? Has he been leading her on, as she says? Is his bad behaviour the result of a pending nervous breakdown?
Sadly the story does not allow us to fairly ask these questions. Conan Doyle clearly intends us to believe that her powers are real, and thereby precludes any psychological interpretation of what we are reading.
As a result, the story is entertaining, but plain. It tells an interesting tale, but fails to tap into its potential to be something greater.
Arthur Conan Doyle was not totally foolish, and he recognised many frauds. Nonetheless the world of mediums and mesmerism was something that he took seriously, and this spilled into his fiction.
Conan Doyle sensibly kept Sherlock Holmes away from real ghosts and spirits, something which would have diminished the appeal of his most popular character. He was quite prepared to exploit his second best-loved character Professor Challenger to defend the batty world of psychics and other charlatans.
The Parasite is one of Conan Doyle’s more ‘credulous’ stories, but he does at least subordinate this to entertainment rather than seek to preach the ‘truth’ of mesmerism and superstition. Nonetheless the story would perhaps have benefited from a less straightforward presentation.
In the story, a young scientist becomes interested in studying mesmerism, and allows a West Indian psychic to practise on him. Unfortunately she falls in love with him, and begins to exploit her power over him to get him to come to her.
When he spurns her attentions during a moment of control, she avenges herself by forcing him to perform foolish or bad actions that risk losing his job and fiancée, and put him in danger of being arrested.
The title is a curious one. Conan Doyle likens her ability to control other people to that of a parasite, rather than a vampire – the metaphor most of us might have chosen. In an age when Varney and Dracula were popularising actual vampires, he may have wished to avoid confusing the reader.
There is an element of prejudice in the narrator’s attitude towards the parasite, Miss Penclosa. Her West Indian background is a mere exotic touch, but the narrator makes a few disparaging comments about the fact that she is crippled, implying her deformity is one reason he would not be interested in her. This may make some readers cringe a little.
What would have made the story better is a little more ambiguity. Is the narrator really under Miss Penclosa’s mesmeric influence, or is he perhaps really fascinated by her? Has he been leading her on, as she says? Is his bad behaviour the result of a pending nervous breakdown?
Sadly the story does not allow us to fairly ask these questions. Conan Doyle clearly intends us to believe that her powers are real, and thereby precludes any psychological interpretation of what we are reading.
As a result, the story is entertaining, but plain. It tells an interesting tale, but fails to tap into its potential to be something greater.
December 18, 2025
4/5 Sternen
Der Parasit ist im Grunde die Geschichte eines Mannes, der langsam merkt, dass sein Leben nicht mehr ihm gehört. Glaubt ihr an Hypnose? Oder daran, dass man Menschen nur mit purer Gedankenstärke steuern kann? Unser Hauptcharakter trifft auf eine Frau, die ihm genau das beibringen will. Doch was passiert, wenn sich eine so mächtige Person in einen verliebt und dir zeigt, wie mächtig sie wirklich ist? Spoiler: Ein Nein wird sie nicht akzeptieren. Das Buch spielt stark mit dem Ungesagten und mit all dem, was vielleicht passiert ist oder hätte passieren können.
Das Ganze baut sich ruhig auf, wird immer bedrückender und dann ist es plötzlich vorbei. Ich wusste vorher, dass das Ende abrupt sein soll, aber ratet mal, wer trotzdem erst mal googeln musste, ob das Buch wirklich zu Ende ist oder ob die Ausgabe fehlerhaft ist.
Beim Lesen konnte ich mir ständig vorstellen, wie gut das als Theaterstück funktionieren würde. Wenige Figuren, viel psychologischer Druck, eine Frau, die den Raum beherrscht, und ein Mann, der langsam die Kontrolle verliert.
Kurz, düster, seltsam und überraschend modern.
Der Parasit ist im Grunde die Geschichte eines Mannes, der langsam merkt, dass sein Leben nicht mehr ihm gehört. Glaubt ihr an Hypnose? Oder daran, dass man Menschen nur mit purer Gedankenstärke steuern kann? Unser Hauptcharakter trifft auf eine Frau, die ihm genau das beibringen will. Doch was passiert, wenn sich eine so mächtige Person in einen verliebt und dir zeigt, wie mächtig sie wirklich ist? Spoiler: Ein Nein wird sie nicht akzeptieren. Das Buch spielt stark mit dem Ungesagten und mit all dem, was vielleicht passiert ist oder hätte passieren können.
Das Ganze baut sich ruhig auf, wird immer bedrückender und dann ist es plötzlich vorbei. Ich wusste vorher, dass das Ende abrupt sein soll, aber ratet mal, wer trotzdem erst mal googeln musste, ob das Buch wirklich zu Ende ist oder ob die Ausgabe fehlerhaft ist.
Beim Lesen konnte ich mir ständig vorstellen, wie gut das als Theaterstück funktionieren würde. Wenige Figuren, viel psychologischer Druck, eine Frau, die den Raum beherrscht, und ein Mann, der langsam die Kontrolle verliert.
Kurz, düster, seltsam und überraschend modern.
January 18, 2024
The Parasite is a horror(ish) novella first published in Harper's Weekly magazine in 1894 (he had “killed” Sherlock Holmes in December 1893). At this point in his life, ACD had not yet become an active spiritualist or a proponent of various psychic phenomena, but was still somewhat sceptic. The Parasite’s main character is a doctor (like ACD) who doesn’t believe in mesmerism or mind control. However, frightening personal experiences convince him to change his mind. One could draw some parallels between The Parasite’s protagonist and ACD’s own life.
The novella is an enjoyable read, written as diary entries. The structure works fine. The only complaint I have is that the ending was rather abrupt.
4.25/5
The novella is an enjoyable read, written as diary entries. The structure works fine. The only complaint I have is that the ending was rather abrupt.
4.25/5
February 17, 2022
3.5
No sé, siento que la forma en la que Doyle escribe me llama mucho.
No sé, siento que la forma en la que Doyle escribe me llama mucho.
November 27, 2024
Just goes to show how anyone can understand consent and how its lack is absolutely appalling.
A very well done little horror story.
A very well done little horror story.
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