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The Space Vampires
When Captain Carlsen entered the vast derelict spaceship, he was stunned by its awesome splendor--and shaken by the discovery of its immobilized humanoid passengers.
Later, after three of those strange aliens had been transported to Earth, his foreboding was more than justified. The creatures were energy vampires whose seductive embraces were total, whose lust for vitality was boundless. As they took over the willing bodies of their victims and sexual murders spread terror throughout the land, Carlsen worked toward their destruction--even though he was erotically drawn to the most beautiful vampire of all!
Later, after three of those strange aliens had been transported to Earth, his foreboding was more than justified. The creatures were energy vampires whose seductive embraces were total, whose lust for vitality was boundless. As they took over the willing bodies of their victims and sexual murders spread terror throughout the land, Carlsen worked toward their destruction--even though he was erotically drawn to the most beautiful vampire of all!
220 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
69 people are currently reading
1259 people want to read
About the author
Colin Wilson
403 books1,291 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Colin Henry Wilson was born and raised in Leicester, England, U.K. He left school at 16, worked in factories and various occupations, and read in his spare time. When Wilson was 24, Gollancz published The Outsider (1956) which examines the role of the social 'outsider' in seminal works of various key literary and cultural figures. These include Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemingway, Hermann Hesse, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, William James, T. E. Lawrence, Vaslav Nijinsky and Vincent Van Gogh and Wilson discusses his perception of Social alienation in their work. The book was a best seller and helped popularize existentialism in Britain. Critical praise though, was short-lived and Wilson was soon widely criticized.
Wilson's works after The Outsider focused on positive aspects of human psychology, such as peak experiences and the narrowness of consciousness. He admired the humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow and corresponded with him. Wilson wrote The War Against Sleep: The Philosophy of Gurdjieff on the life, work and philosophy of G. I. Gurdjieff and an accessible introduction to the Greek-Armenian mystic in 1980. He argues throughout his work that the existentialist focus on defeat or nausea is only a partial representation of reality and that there is no particular reason for accepting it. Wilson views normal, everyday consciousness buffeted by the moment, as "blinkered" and argues that it should not be accepted as showing us the truth about reality. This blinkering has some evolutionary advantages in that it stops us from being completely immersed in wonder, or in the huge stream of events, and hence unable to act. However, to live properly we need to access more than this everyday consciousness. Wilson believes that our peak experiences of joy and meaningfulness are as real as our experiences of angst and, since we are more fully alive at these moments, they are more real. These experiences can be cultivated through concentration, paying attention, relaxation and certain types of work.
Colin Henry Wilson was born and raised in Leicester, England, U.K. He left school at 16, worked in factories and various occupations, and read in his spare time. When Wilson was 24, Gollancz published The Outsider (1956) which examines the role of the social 'outsider' in seminal works of various key literary and cultural figures. These include Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemingway, Hermann Hesse, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, William James, T. E. Lawrence, Vaslav Nijinsky and Vincent Van Gogh and Wilson discusses his perception of Social alienation in their work. The book was a best seller and helped popularize existentialism in Britain. Critical praise though, was short-lived and Wilson was soon widely criticized.
Wilson's works after The Outsider focused on positive aspects of human psychology, such as peak experiences and the narrowness of consciousness. He admired the humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow and corresponded with him. Wilson wrote The War Against Sleep: The Philosophy of Gurdjieff on the life, work and philosophy of G. I. Gurdjieff and an accessible introduction to the Greek-Armenian mystic in 1980. He argues throughout his work that the existentialist focus on defeat or nausea is only a partial representation of reality and that there is no particular reason for accepting it. Wilson views normal, everyday consciousness buffeted by the moment, as "blinkered" and argues that it should not be accepted as showing us the truth about reality. This blinkering has some evolutionary advantages in that it stops us from being completely immersed in wonder, or in the huge stream of events, and hence unable to act. However, to live properly we need to access more than this everyday consciousness. Wilson believes that our peak experiences of joy and meaningfulness are as real as our experiences of angst and, since we are more fully alive at these moments, they are more real. These experiences can be cultivated through concentration, paying attention, relaxation and certain types of work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
January 22, 2016
This book is famous for inspiring a movie with both Mathilda May spending the vast majority of it walking around naked and Patrick Stewart's first kiss.
This book is nowhere near that riveting.
This happens nowhere inside.
The first forty pages promises weirdness. A future expedition to the asteroid field discovers a gigantic floating spaceship, with a gothic interior and naked humanoids in suspended animation. Three of the creatures are brought to Earth. A reporter gains access to the government lab, which has less security than a Red Box's drop slot. He awakens the beautiful vampire woman, and she escapes into London.
Then the talking begins, and the drinks and meals. Scene after scene of our hero chatting about the philosophical nature of vampirism. Over a hundred pages are spent in mostly research and conversation. Hell, the protagonists leave the UK entirely and have a nice, informative vacation in Sweden.
This is the Atlas Shurgged of vampire fiction.
Within the last forty pages I sat up, gripped, as our heroes return to London and track the body-swapping energy vampires. There's brilliant science fiction world building, but you really have to work to get there.
Imagine visiting a friend who shows you brilliant horror movie DVDs but demands an hour and a half digression over cognac in the middle of the movie. So much conversation over food happens that I literally screamed in frustration when one of our steadfast heroes mentions breakfast.
Wilson obviously knew his stuff. He wrote The Occult, for Glob's sake. Fanboyishly, he spends an astounding amount of time tying in his book to the stories of M.R.James, and weeven get a little bit of Cthulhu Mythos at the end. But the work you have to go to get there is punishing.
It starts out with cool pulp SF. It ends like a vampiric version of Heinlein's The Puppet Masters. It has a middle that could stand to lose about 95% of the text. Some SF books are crazy because of the content, and I like that; see my review of Image of the Beast as evidence. The structure is what's crazy here.
This is a really bad-ass short story with a giant loaf of a diatribe pinched off in the middle of it, and I just wanted more space vampires.
This book is nowhere near that riveting.
This happens nowhere inside.
The first forty pages promises weirdness. A future expedition to the asteroid field discovers a gigantic floating spaceship, with a gothic interior and naked humanoids in suspended animation. Three of the creatures are brought to Earth. A reporter gains access to the government lab, which has less security than a Red Box's drop slot. He awakens the beautiful vampire woman, and she escapes into London.
Then the talking begins, and the drinks and meals. Scene after scene of our hero chatting about the philosophical nature of vampirism. Over a hundred pages are spent in mostly research and conversation. Hell, the protagonists leave the UK entirely and have a nice, informative vacation in Sweden.
This is the Atlas Shurgged of vampire fiction.
Within the last forty pages I sat up, gripped, as our heroes return to London and track the body-swapping energy vampires. There's brilliant science fiction world building, but you really have to work to get there.
Imagine visiting a friend who shows you brilliant horror movie DVDs but demands an hour and a half digression over cognac in the middle of the movie. So much conversation over food happens that I literally screamed in frustration when one of our steadfast heroes mentions breakfast.
Wilson obviously knew his stuff. He wrote The Occult, for Glob's sake. Fanboyishly, he spends an astounding amount of time tying in his book to the stories of M.R.James, and weeven get a little bit of Cthulhu Mythos at the end. But the work you have to go to get there is punishing.
It starts out with cool pulp SF. It ends like a vampiric version of Heinlein's The Puppet Masters. It has a middle that could stand to lose about 95% of the text. Some SF books are crazy because of the content, and I like that; see my review of Image of the Beast as evidence. The structure is what's crazy here.
This is a really bad-ass short story with a giant loaf of a diatribe pinched off in the middle of it, and I just wanted more space vampires.
September 2, 2013
don't watch Lifeforce unless you're drunk. read the book instead. can a movie rape a book? yes it can.
October 1, 2020
A good blend of science and supernaturality. The book cover is not good, looks like a piece of paper had a bullet shot thru it. Found out about this book from the movie Lifeforce.
October 25, 2010
Space Vampires AKA(Lifeforce) By Colin Wilson
216 pages
Out of print
This science fiction horror crossover is remembered mostly from the Cannon films adaptation of the novel. The film while produced by Cannon films the schlock studio behind the cinematic ascension of Chuck Norris and the Sho Kosugi Ninja trilogy is not that bad. They certainly hired excellent cast and crew. Directed by Texas chainsaw massacre director Tobe Hooper, adapted by Alien Screenwriter Dan O'Bannon and scored by Harry Mancini. Lead by an impressive bat shit crazy performance by Steve Railsbeck, a small role by the future enterprise captain Patrick Stewart and of course the naked space vampire who excited overly hormonal horror fans by walking around London naked played by Mathilda May.
It was sci-fi and horror so I have seen a few times over the years. Recently I saw a tie-in paperback on the shelf at powells and thought I would give the book a shot and re-watch the movie. The first 80 or so pages of the book I was impressed thought it was much better than my memory of the film. First off I think the novel takes place a little further in the future. The discovery of the “stranger” spaceship and the discovery of the vampires is handled excellently. The creepy-ness of finding a old dead space ship in space is well done and I felt the charcters nervous-ness come through the text.
“The stranger ship” in the novel has a very cosmic horror, lovecraftian-ness that exists in the novel but it is deeper in the book. One of the blurbs on the cover called it fast paced. Yes at times it was fast paced too fast paced, some times scenes and action transitioned so fast and I to go back and re-read sections. Wilson just skipped ahead if the part of the story bored him at least it seemed to me.
Any of my friends on Good reads might notice that I started this book in July and finished in October. I am a fast reader generally. But once this book hits the wall. For 20 or 30 thirty mind numbinging pages the main character Carlsen gets a history lesson on vampires. This is meant to connect traditional vampires to the three energy sucking space vampires. The major difference between the movie and the book is O'Bannon didn't use any of this material. Good on him, it is boring ireallavent and just straight ruined the main work of the first 80 pages.
The movie turned out a little better. Yep it's one of those rare cases like Children of Men or the English Patient where the film is much better than the book. While the movie comes off now as campy, and little over the top most of that is due to being out of date. Perhaps it seemed less cheezy in 1985,certainly when I watched it in the 80's it looked better to me.
216 pages
Out of print
This science fiction horror crossover is remembered mostly from the Cannon films adaptation of the novel. The film while produced by Cannon films the schlock studio behind the cinematic ascension of Chuck Norris and the Sho Kosugi Ninja trilogy is not that bad. They certainly hired excellent cast and crew. Directed by Texas chainsaw massacre director Tobe Hooper, adapted by Alien Screenwriter Dan O'Bannon and scored by Harry Mancini. Lead by an impressive bat shit crazy performance by Steve Railsbeck, a small role by the future enterprise captain Patrick Stewart and of course the naked space vampire who excited overly hormonal horror fans by walking around London naked played by Mathilda May.
It was sci-fi and horror so I have seen a few times over the years. Recently I saw a tie-in paperback on the shelf at powells and thought I would give the book a shot and re-watch the movie. The first 80 or so pages of the book I was impressed thought it was much better than my memory of the film. First off I think the novel takes place a little further in the future. The discovery of the “stranger” spaceship and the discovery of the vampires is handled excellently. The creepy-ness of finding a old dead space ship in space is well done and I felt the charcters nervous-ness come through the text.
“The stranger ship” in the novel has a very cosmic horror, lovecraftian-ness that exists in the novel but it is deeper in the book. One of the blurbs on the cover called it fast paced. Yes at times it was fast paced too fast paced, some times scenes and action transitioned so fast and I to go back and re-read sections. Wilson just skipped ahead if the part of the story bored him at least it seemed to me.
Any of my friends on Good reads might notice that I started this book in July and finished in October. I am a fast reader generally. But once this book hits the wall. For 20 or 30 thirty mind numbinging pages the main character Carlsen gets a history lesson on vampires. This is meant to connect traditional vampires to the three energy sucking space vampires. The major difference between the movie and the book is O'Bannon didn't use any of this material. Good on him, it is boring ireallavent and just straight ruined the main work of the first 80 pages.
The movie turned out a little better. Yep it's one of those rare cases like Children of Men or the English Patient where the film is much better than the book. While the movie comes off now as campy, and little over the top most of that is due to being out of date. Perhaps it seemed less cheezy in 1985,certainly when I watched it in the 80's it looked better to me.
October 30, 2024
I was excited to read this because I love its 80's canon movie adaptation.
the movie does use elements from the book but unsurprisingly departs from it quite a bit in the name of cheesy 80s action.
astronauts discover a fifty mile long, derelict spaceship adrift in the solar system. on board are several humans in suspended animation. the ship may be thousands of years old and the people may have been to earth before. these people aren't really humans but body hopping space vampires! vampires that don't drink blood, but drain life-force. how do they get it? you guessed it, from your dick! these vampires vant to fahk!
Late in the book it dawned on me that the whole scenario was dreamed up as an excuse in the mind of the space ship captain, who after returning to earth a hero, cheats on his wife incessantly.
follow me for more deep literary insights.
the movie does use elements from the book but unsurprisingly departs from it quite a bit in the name of cheesy 80s action.
astronauts discover a fifty mile long, derelict spaceship adrift in the solar system. on board are several humans in suspended animation. the ship may be thousands of years old and the people may have been to earth before. these people aren't really humans but body hopping space vampires! vampires that don't drink blood, but drain life-force. how do they get it? you guessed it, from your dick! these vampires vant to fahk!
Late in the book it dawned on me that the whole scenario was dreamed up as an excuse in the mind of the space ship captain, who after returning to earth a hero, cheats on his wife incessantly.
follow me for more deep literary insights.
March 31, 2025
This book was very dry and very British at times.
They based the 1980s movie Lifeforce on this book. And I enjoyed the movie so much more.
They based the 1980s movie Lifeforce on this book. And I enjoyed the movie so much more.
October 2, 2009
The Space Vampires is by no means a great scifi book. Colin Wilson's style is somewhat awkward and mechanical. In fact, it almost seems this book were contrived as a means of expressing his ideas on the dynamic of vampiric exchange and the nature of consciousness, and that's fine by me because Wilson is spot on with his observations. From what I've been told his novel The Mind Parasites is a similar venture into expressing his ideas as fiction. I plan on reading that very soon.
The end of the book touches on the idea of consciousness overcoming biology and therefore mortality. I tend to agree with this, as did the alchemists. Consciousness shall eventually supersede nature causing our endocrine and other system to obey the will of consciousness rather than the mechanical dictates of biology. The individuation process of soul (which is simply another word for consciousness) can only logically lead to this conclusion.
There is a dated quality to this work that will make you snicker, such as the preface of 'space' or 'electrical' before gadgets and gizmos. The "spacemen" wore "space helmets", etc. And there is an obsession with whiskey that borders on the absurd. It seems nearly every conversation and encounter between characters begins with them having a wee nip o'the spirits. Whether this is the reality Wilson lived in, or his odd projection of life in 2080 is uncertain, but it sure was funny.
All in all worth the read simply for Wilson's impassioned descriptions of the vampiric dynamic.
The end of the book touches on the idea of consciousness overcoming biology and therefore mortality. I tend to agree with this, as did the alchemists. Consciousness shall eventually supersede nature causing our endocrine and other system to obey the will of consciousness rather than the mechanical dictates of biology. The individuation process of soul (which is simply another word for consciousness) can only logically lead to this conclusion.
There is a dated quality to this work that will make you snicker, such as the preface of 'space' or 'electrical' before gadgets and gizmos. The "spacemen" wore "space helmets", etc. And there is an obsession with whiskey that borders on the absurd. It seems nearly every conversation and encounter between characters begins with them having a wee nip o'the spirits. Whether this is the reality Wilson lived in, or his odd projection of life in 2080 is uncertain, but it sure was funny.
All in all worth the read simply for Wilson's impassioned descriptions of the vampiric dynamic.
July 14, 2013
Wilson did not write a novel, but an extended stage play of talking heads (when they weren't drinking), who discuss the philosophy of vampirism ad nauseum. It's as if Wilson wanted solely to explore his notion of vampirism and nothing more. As for the elements of science, it's hard to take a book seriously when the the author uses "apparatus" four times on one page.
If you're like me, you probably indulged in the B-movie horror LIFEFORCE (1985), and found your way to the book expecting one great sci-fi/horror/action adventure. Well, this is not even close. Then again, I know through a friend of Wilson's that the author hated the movie. Then again, if the producers had wished to make a film close to the book, audiences the world over would have either fallen asleep or walked out. Talking heads do not make for good pictures (unless you're Jerome Bixby who wrote the fantastic THE MAN FROM EARTH (2007).
Sadly, this book is so long-winded, I decided to skip a thirty-page section only to find the scene had not changed - and that I had not missed any information. If anything, open this work only to read the last five pages regarding consciousness, energy, and immortality.
If you're like me, you probably indulged in the B-movie horror LIFEFORCE (1985), and found your way to the book expecting one great sci-fi/horror/action adventure. Well, this is not even close. Then again, I know through a friend of Wilson's that the author hated the movie. Then again, if the producers had wished to make a film close to the book, audiences the world over would have either fallen asleep or walked out. Talking heads do not make for good pictures (unless you're Jerome Bixby who wrote the fantastic THE MAN FROM EARTH (2007).
Sadly, this book is so long-winded, I decided to skip a thirty-page section only to find the scene had not changed - and that I had not missed any information. If anything, open this work only to read the last five pages regarding consciousness, energy, and immortality.
October 11, 2025
"The Space Vampires" is one of those old 1970s books with an outrageous cover. That's probably why I picked it up. I was perhaps 13 years old at the time, and the book blew me away. I will never forget some of the amazing visuals and some of the more interesting concepts.
However, this book was a big slogfest. I didn't realize it at the time, but I'm somewhat dyslexic, so reading was a struggle for me. So if a book didn't keep my interest very well, I always blamed it on myself. I thought, if it was published, it must be good. 🤣😂🤣😂🤣
I've learned, of course, it's not always me. I'm very grateful, though, to my mom, who kept pushing and pushing me to read, insisting I read at least an hour a day. Without her push, I would never have read a book at all. lol
However, this book was a big slogfest. I didn't realize it at the time, but I'm somewhat dyslexic, so reading was a struggle for me. So if a book didn't keep my interest very well, I always blamed it on myself. I thought, if it was published, it must be good. 🤣😂🤣😂🤣
I've learned, of course, it's not always me. I'm very grateful, though, to my mom, who kept pushing and pushing me to read, insisting I read at least an hour a day. Without her push, I would never have read a book at all. lol
April 27, 2023
Three and a half stars
Finished! A very entertaining novel that I add to the good memories I have of the movie Lifeforce.
Finished! A very entertaining novel that I add to the good memories I have of the movie Lifeforce.
October 27, 2025
Colin Wilson’s 1976 novel “The Space Vampires” is actually less cheesy than the title may suggest, although there is no escaping the inherent cheesiness of the concept of vampires from outer space. It immediately brings to mind Ed Wood’s classic so-bad-it’s-good movie “Plan 9 from Outer Space” (which has the distinction of being both Bela Lugosi’s last film and voted worst film ever made) as well as a famously awful episode of the ‘80s TV show Buck Rogers simply called “Space Vampire”.
Nearly every attempt to put vampires in a sci-fi setting fails due to the fact that most vampires simply can’t shake the stereotypical pale-faced creature in a black cape hovering over a damsel in distress. The idea just doesn’t work in a sci-fi setting, not without conjuring laughable “grade-B horror” movie cliches.
That said, some authors have come close to making it work. “Carrion Comfort” by Dan Simmons is perhaps one of the most thought-provoking science fiction twists on the vampire mythos. Published in 1989, Simmons re-imagines vampires as humans with a rare genetic trait: telekinetic mind-control. These rare individuals have existed throughout history to bend other humans to their will, to do things that they wouldn’t normally do, and to reap the benefits, usually in the form of fame or power. People like Adolf Hitler, who may or may not have even been aware of their innate powers, used their vampiric mental abilities to charm and manipulate and ultimately take control of governments and businesses for self-aggrandizement.
Wilson’s novel is another clever twist on the concept of vampirism. His vampires don’t suck the blood from his victims; instead, they suck life-energy. Vampirism, according to Wilson, is a kind of energy transference. In mild cases, the victim is simply left drained and exhausted. In extreme cases, the victim can be sucked dry of energy until they are a lifeless vessel. The vampire can also “hop” from body to body, constantly changing his or her form by simply transferring its life-energy into another human.
Wilson’s twist is that this vampirism can be both harmful and helpful. In its parasitic form, the vampire drains its victims of energy. In its symbiotic form, the vampire can transfer energy into its victims, giving a dying person more energy and opportunities to heal.
In the book, astronauts discover a mile-long spaceship floating in space for what may have been thousands of years. Inside, they discover the bodies of several humanoid creatures. They resemble humans in every way, and they seem to have been perfectly preserved.
The space mission, led by Captain Carlsen, retrieves three of the bodies to take back to Earth for further study. When they arrive on Earth, however, they come back to life and leave a wake of bodies sucked dry of life-energy. Carlsen, with the help of a scientist named Dr. Fallada, must hunt down these space vampires, who have laid waste to countless other worlds for countless eons.
If this novel sounds similar to the 1985 Tobe Hooper film “Lifeforce” it’s because it was the basis for the film, although there is very little resemblance, other than that basic plot, between book and film. Hooper’s film was a sci-fi action thriller with a gothic tone and a lot of gratuitous blood and guts, as well as plenty of gratuitous nudity. And while I certainly have nothing against any of that, Wilson’s book succeeds over Hooper’s film in its intelligence and subtle tongue-in-cheek self-reflexiveness.
Nearly every attempt to put vampires in a sci-fi setting fails due to the fact that most vampires simply can’t shake the stereotypical pale-faced creature in a black cape hovering over a damsel in distress. The idea just doesn’t work in a sci-fi setting, not without conjuring laughable “grade-B horror” movie cliches.
That said, some authors have come close to making it work. “Carrion Comfort” by Dan Simmons is perhaps one of the most thought-provoking science fiction twists on the vampire mythos. Published in 1989, Simmons re-imagines vampires as humans with a rare genetic trait: telekinetic mind-control. These rare individuals have existed throughout history to bend other humans to their will, to do things that they wouldn’t normally do, and to reap the benefits, usually in the form of fame or power. People like Adolf Hitler, who may or may not have even been aware of their innate powers, used their vampiric mental abilities to charm and manipulate and ultimately take control of governments and businesses for self-aggrandizement.
Wilson’s novel is another clever twist on the concept of vampirism. His vampires don’t suck the blood from his victims; instead, they suck life-energy. Vampirism, according to Wilson, is a kind of energy transference. In mild cases, the victim is simply left drained and exhausted. In extreme cases, the victim can be sucked dry of energy until they are a lifeless vessel. The vampire can also “hop” from body to body, constantly changing his or her form by simply transferring its life-energy into another human.
Wilson’s twist is that this vampirism can be both harmful and helpful. In its parasitic form, the vampire drains its victims of energy. In its symbiotic form, the vampire can transfer energy into its victims, giving a dying person more energy and opportunities to heal.
In the book, astronauts discover a mile-long spaceship floating in space for what may have been thousands of years. Inside, they discover the bodies of several humanoid creatures. They resemble humans in every way, and they seem to have been perfectly preserved.
The space mission, led by Captain Carlsen, retrieves three of the bodies to take back to Earth for further study. When they arrive on Earth, however, they come back to life and leave a wake of bodies sucked dry of life-energy. Carlsen, with the help of a scientist named Dr. Fallada, must hunt down these space vampires, who have laid waste to countless other worlds for countless eons.
If this novel sounds similar to the 1985 Tobe Hooper film “Lifeforce” it’s because it was the basis for the film, although there is very little resemblance, other than that basic plot, between book and film. Hooper’s film was a sci-fi action thriller with a gothic tone and a lot of gratuitous blood and guts, as well as plenty of gratuitous nudity. And while I certainly have nothing against any of that, Wilson’s book succeeds over Hooper’s film in its intelligence and subtle tongue-in-cheek self-reflexiveness.
July 9, 2013
There's this movie.... I love this movie... it's called "Lifeforce." I love it because the cast is great, the story arc is great. The reason I am writing a review of the book, called, "Space Vampires," when published by Colin Wilson in 1976 is that one reviewer of the movie said that while a fun movie to watch, it missed the real guts of the story. I found this intriguing and decided to get a kindle copy and see for myself. Lo and behold, the other reviewer was right. The movie maker, Golan/Globus, directed by Tobe Hooper, simplified things to close to a salacious level. The essence of the vampirism is glossed over in the movie and makes the book stand out. This was not just about wiping out earthlings; it was about stealing the very essence of what makes them human. So, my advice is watch the movie because it's fun - get the new remastered, director's cut Blu-Ray if you can, but do read the book. It is much better and is a great sci-fi adventure.
January 27, 2014
First off, if you're looking for the book that the insanely awesome Life Force movie was based on, this is it. No wonder they changed the name for the movie, haha.
Anyway, the first 50 pages or so of this book was just rocking as hard as a pirate ship in a hurricane. Some space explorers come across a 50km derelict ship floating around, with insanely huge fixtures, stairs, badass gothic cathedral architecture, weird artwork involving Lovecraftian squiddy things, and some naked people in suspended animation behind glass walls that open telepathically. And they are space vampires. And in the ship there is a map of ancient Greece. Holy shit, the stage is set for some badassery.
Unfortunately, that's about all the badassery we're going to get. As another reviewer has said on this sight, it's mostly talking heads, scientists, cops, politicians, all talking about vampirism, parasitism, then a couple of nicely-placed scenes that follow, to give examples of what everyone was just talking about. I won't give away the ending, even though it's not that awesome, but just want to say that if Colin Wilson had handed in the first 50 pages to the publisher and said, "Ok, here's the rest of the story, blah blah blah," then had the publishers pull in, like, Dan Simmons or someone like that to finish it up, would have been the best sci-horror novel ever. But, he fucked it up.
Anyway, the first 50 pages or so of this book was just rocking as hard as a pirate ship in a hurricane. Some space explorers come across a 50km derelict ship floating around, with insanely huge fixtures, stairs, badass gothic cathedral architecture, weird artwork involving Lovecraftian squiddy things, and some naked people in suspended animation behind glass walls that open telepathically. And they are space vampires. And in the ship there is a map of ancient Greece. Holy shit, the stage is set for some badassery.
Unfortunately, that's about all the badassery we're going to get. As another reviewer has said on this sight, it's mostly talking heads, scientists, cops, politicians, all talking about vampirism, parasitism, then a couple of nicely-placed scenes that follow, to give examples of what everyone was just talking about. I won't give away the ending, even though it's not that awesome, but just want to say that if Colin Wilson had handed in the first 50 pages to the publisher and said, "Ok, here's the rest of the story, blah blah blah," then had the publishers pull in, like, Dan Simmons or someone like that to finish it up, would have been the best sci-horror novel ever. But, he fucked it up.
June 9, 2025
This novel was published in 1976 and is a product of it's time (this produced a few snickers up the sleeve from me), and is heavily influenced by H.P. Lovecraft's ideas and a story by M.R. James. I liked the plot and the concept, but I found the writing serviceable rather than thrilling, suspenseful, exciting or terrifying. But still fun. This is more a book about ideas, than action. A large portion of the narrative involves characters chatting about the philosophical nature of vampirism over meals and nips of whiskey. I don't think the psychology, space physics or Wilson's guess at future technology holds up, but that isn't really the point of the novel. With a title like 'The Space Vampires' I was expecting a science-fiction/horror novel set in space. That's were the story starts - on a space exploration ship near an asteroid belt. But most of it takes place on a late 21st century Earth. I loved the description of the enormous derelict cathedral-like alien spacecraft, even if I'm having difficulty wrapping my mind around a nearly 80km/50 miles long spaceship. I was appalled at the blitheness in which our intrepid explorers were quite happy to ship a few of the desiccated "corpses" discovered on the alien ship back to earth. Not to mention the casual manner in which a Captain Olof Carlsen just lets a reporter into the lab and leaves him there by himself to cause mischief. Of course, with this sort of sloppy security, one of the alien guests revives itself and escapes, much to the detriment of the arrogant reporter. It eventually turns out that the alien visitors are psychic vampires that feed on life energy, and the chase is on to contain the threat.
Random factoid: This novel was the basis of the 1985 film Lifeforce, directed by Tobe Hooper, adapted by Dan O'Bannon and Don Jakoby, music composed by Henry Mancini, and starring Mathilda May (who apparently spend most of the film walking around in her birthday suit).
Addendum: Serendipity? A few months ago I read 'Blindsight' by Peter Watts. The novel is about psychic vampires in space. A few days later I came across 'The Space Vampires' by Colin Wilson at a charity shop. I couldn't very well just leave it there, so fished it out of the discards bin. I got halfway through Colin Wilson's 'The Space Vampires' and there is a large section revolving around Count Magnus - the same Count Magnus that features in a short story ('Count Magnus' by M.R. James) I read this past week in the Classic Horror Tales anthology published by Caterbury Classics. Funny, riiiight?
Random factoid: This novel was the basis of the 1985 film Lifeforce, directed by Tobe Hooper, adapted by Dan O'Bannon and Don Jakoby, music composed by Henry Mancini, and starring Mathilda May (who apparently spend most of the film walking around in her birthday suit).
Addendum: Serendipity? A few months ago I read 'Blindsight' by Peter Watts. The novel is about psychic vampires in space. A few days later I came across 'The Space Vampires' by Colin Wilson at a charity shop. I couldn't very well just leave it there, so fished it out of the discards bin. I got halfway through Colin Wilson's 'The Space Vampires' and there is a large section revolving around Count Magnus - the same Count Magnus that features in a short story ('Count Magnus' by M.R. James) I read this past week in the Classic Horror Tales anthology published by Caterbury Classics. Funny, riiiight?
August 20, 2014
I enjoyed this despite the misogyny.
It was a vintage pulpy sci-fi novel, so it was exactly how you think it is.
It was a fun, entertaining, and short read (finished it the same day).
This book was extremely dated, but that was part of the charm.
It was a vintage pulpy sci-fi novel, so it was exactly how you think it is.
It was a fun, entertaining, and short read (finished it the same day).
This book was extremely dated, but that was part of the charm.
May 23, 2019
I hate to say it but I will anyway: the movie (Lifeforce - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifefor...) was better. I mean the book was good but it went on and on about things that were not that damn important to the plot. Apparently not only are the 52,000-year-old space vampires who have visited Earth multiple times in the past to manipulate mankind to what they are today (aka cattle) but there are also people on the planet that may be descendants of these creatures who are either psychic or spiritual vampires. Never the less, too much time on "Lambda Fields" (aka the "Lifeforce" that the movie was named after) and not enough time on what was really going on. Comte St. Germain, Count Magnus (of MR James fame) and others are talked about as the vampires of legend, but not enough time spent on the meat of the book.
214 pages (some an afterward) of time (mine was 6 or 8 point font in the original printing) spent adrift in space. If you like the movie, stick with it. If you prefer to read materials that inspired something but were limited to what you are aware of from the movie, then pick one and then go with the other.
214 pages (some an afterward) of time (mine was 6 or 8 point font in the original printing) spent adrift in space. If you like the movie, stick with it. If you prefer to read materials that inspired something but were limited to what you are aware of from the movie, then pick one and then go with the other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2013
Sometime in the 21st Century Commander Olof Carlsen and the crew of the Hermes discover a colossal and archaic alien craft drifting in the asteroid belt. Christened 'Stranger' exploration of its fantastic interior discovers among many weird marvels a number of well-preserved humanoids returning home with three of these beings Carlsen unknowingly unleashes on the planet and himself the space vampires.
Best known as the basis for cult-chesnut "Lifeforce" (1985) this epic of life-sucking, demonic/fallen angel members of a divine race of telepathic, teleporting space-squid is perhaps more stimulating intellectually than that none-the-less fun flick.
Most action-packed of Colin Wilson's Lovecraftian trilogy of novels, essentially blending elements of "The Call of Cthulhu" and "The Shadow Out of Time" with Stoker's "Dracula" and M.R. James' "Count Magnus" bridged by the plot derived (though used more effectively here) from A.E. van Vogt's "Asylum" - alien vampires whose condition is the result of a cosmic accident take Earth as their next victim planet. As well as Wilson's own interest in criminology - it's perhaps most entertaining. Though some will find the long dialogue and exposition scenes dragging.
Though his 'Mythos masterpiece' has to be 'The Return of the Lloigor' in both Turner and Derleth editions of 'Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos', I find this novel handles 'Alien Theology' in a generally more fun way than C.S. Lewis' "Space Trilogy".
Best known as the basis for cult-chesnut "Lifeforce" (1985) this epic of life-sucking, demonic/fallen angel members of a divine race of telepathic, teleporting space-squid is perhaps more stimulating intellectually than that none-the-less fun flick.
Most action-packed of Colin Wilson's Lovecraftian trilogy of novels, essentially blending elements of "The Call of Cthulhu" and "The Shadow Out of Time" with Stoker's "Dracula" and M.R. James' "Count Magnus" bridged by the plot derived (though used more effectively here) from A.E. van Vogt's "Asylum" - alien vampires whose condition is the result of a cosmic accident take Earth as their next victim planet. As well as Wilson's own interest in criminology - it's perhaps most entertaining. Though some will find the long dialogue and exposition scenes dragging.
Though his 'Mythos masterpiece' has to be 'The Return of the Lloigor' in both Turner and Derleth editions of 'Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos', I find this novel handles 'Alien Theology' in a generally more fun way than C.S. Lewis' "Space Trilogy".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2009
As much horror as SF. It's about what the title says. They based a movie on this. I can't remember the title right now but it wasn't the same title. The book was better but the movie was OK.
nevermind
December 31, 2014I made it about 100 pages into this and was extremely disappointed. There was barely any space, although in the beginning when there WAS space, the book seemed very promising. This was just a bunch of academic types sitting around discussing vampirism, which might have been fine had it not been for the creepy sexism exhibited by the male characters (and the vampirism being of the spirit variety—not into that).
December 6, 2013
Nutty people create religions out of sci-fi novels like these.
June 25, 2025
3.65 stars.
February 1, 2025
There ain't a single goddamn real vampire in this whole book
February 15, 2012
I originally read this book about 1980 not long after its publication in 1976. On reading it again, I really didn't remember much from the first read. I read it originally because it was written by Colin Wilson. When I was in the military in the early 70s, one of my friends there was a Wilson fanatic and had to read everything ever written by him. Wilson is best known for his nonfiction works such as the "Outsider" and his existentialism philosophy. On my friends recommendation, I read several of his books but mostly his fiction such as this novel. According to Wilson's acknowledgements, "Space Vampires" originated in a discussion with A.E. van Vogt and his story "Asylum". This was another reason to read this novel.
On rereading this, I have to say that Wilson did pull you into this story. The novel starts out with the discovery of a space derelict containing the bodies of alien life forms. This initially reminded me of Clarke's "Rendezvous with Rama" - a super sci-fi novel. But then Wilson takes a twist when the bodies are transported to earth and found to be vampires, not in the usual sense, but beings able to suck the "lifeforce" from other beings. The novel goes on for an entire section discussing vampirism in general and how other creatures such as a moray eel also have vampire traits. Overall, I would give this one a mild recommendation but I think some of Wilson's other work is much superior.
On rereading this, I have to say that Wilson did pull you into this story. The novel starts out with the discovery of a space derelict containing the bodies of alien life forms. This initially reminded me of Clarke's "Rendezvous with Rama" - a super sci-fi novel. But then Wilson takes a twist when the bodies are transported to earth and found to be vampires, not in the usual sense, but beings able to suck the "lifeforce" from other beings. The novel goes on for an entire section discussing vampirism in general and how other creatures such as a moray eel also have vampire traits. Overall, I would give this one a mild recommendation but I think some of Wilson's other work is much superior.
April 25, 2023
Reading older science fiction written by men is fascinating. In The Space Vampires, Colin Wilson expends considerable energy and invention on his alien energy parasites, but describes a version of late 21st century Earth that's basically "1975 but with video phones and a few helicopter cars." Everyone day drinks constantly, there's no suggestion of any shift in class structures, and of course all positions of power and influence are held by men while women are content to be wives, nurses and secretaries.
The space vampires themselves are pretty interesting though Wilson's ideas around life force and "lambda readings" is heavily cribbed from Wilhelm Reich's Orgone theories (Wilson had recently written an essay on Reich and later wrote a full biography of him). The action mostly proceeds through men drinking brandy in drawing rooms as they discuss what they think is going on. But the discussions are interesting and the sudden bursts of action are fun.
Somehow this book was made into an expensive movie filled with gratuitous nudity, the best special effects the 1980s could manage and a soundtrack by Henry Mancini. Very little of the book remains in the film, Lifeforce, other than some choice dialogue and several set pieces; the movie is content to be a sci-fi action zombie movie rather than attempt to match Wilson's heady ideas.
The space vampires themselves are pretty interesting though Wilson's ideas around life force and "lambda readings" is heavily cribbed from Wilhelm Reich's Orgone theories (Wilson had recently written an essay on Reich and later wrote a full biography of him). The action mostly proceeds through men drinking brandy in drawing rooms as they discuss what they think is going on. But the discussions are interesting and the sudden bursts of action are fun.
Somehow this book was made into an expensive movie filled with gratuitous nudity, the best special effects the 1980s could manage and a soundtrack by Henry Mancini. Very little of the book remains in the film, Lifeforce, other than some choice dialogue and several set pieces; the movie is content to be a sci-fi action zombie movie rather than attempt to match Wilson's heady ideas.
February 7, 2015
There's a lot wrong with this book: structurally and in terms of pacing; even the dialogue is clunky and unconvincing. The general idea isn't entirely original either. However, there's something inexplicably alluring about it - that vampiric charm - which draws you in, and entertains you.
But it doesn't suck away your life-force.
It's incredibly light-reading, and pulpy too. However this is Colin Wilson the great philosopher, so if you take a few steps back you're presented with a large tapestry of ideas being presented through pulp fiction -- and even if vampires are not 'your thing', there's something here that might make you reconsider the notion of what a vampire truly is.
A lot of research is hidden behind those clunky info-dumping monologues, and you go away from this book feeling full and wholesome. There's something immensely satisfying about this piece of pulp literature bestowing philosophic messages about the power of phenomenology.
It's got that subliminal bite.
But it doesn't suck away your life-force.
It's incredibly light-reading, and pulpy too. However this is Colin Wilson the great philosopher, so if you take a few steps back you're presented with a large tapestry of ideas being presented through pulp fiction -- and even if vampires are not 'your thing', there's something here that might make you reconsider the notion of what a vampire truly is.
A lot of research is hidden behind those clunky info-dumping monologues, and you go away from this book feeling full and wholesome. There's something immensely satisfying about this piece of pulp literature bestowing philosophic messages about the power of phenomenology.
It's got that subliminal bite.
November 21, 2008
okay, so, setting aside the title, which is maybe the dumbest title for a book ever, this is actually a very smart book. maybe too smart, actually. it starts off absolutely fascinating with a 50-mile-long alien spaceship showing up in our solar system, in which there are a bunch of dead human bodies and a map of greece drawn circa 2000+ b.c.; then it rapidly descends into people yammering on about vampires and life force and sex roles and theories about evolution and yadda yadda yadda. where's the action and the laser weaponry? is my question. just got really tiresome. reminded me of a brian lumley book, which is bad, only with less excitement, which is worse. a lot smarter and better written, though, for what it's worth.
note: this book was made into the movie lifeforce, which i haven't seen, but has a much better title. i bet it has more action and laser weaponry, too.
note: this book was made into the movie lifeforce, which i haven't seen, but has a much better title. i bet it has more action and laser weaponry, too.
April 10, 2017
Di solito si dice che il libro sia migliore del film.
Non è sempre vero e in questo caso ancora di più.
Il film lo ricordo per Matilda May e le scene di Londra.
Non ricordo la fine.
Insomma, non un capolavoro, questo è certo. Un discreto filmetto gradevole da vedere e non certo memorabile.
Il romanzo è una cavolata.
Comincia bene, ma presto si imbarca in una disquizione su concentti che sembrano una banalizzazione delle teorie di Reich e qualche altra fuffagine paragnostica.
Finale ridicolo.
Non è sempre vero e in questo caso ancora di più.
Il film lo ricordo per Matilda May e le scene di Londra.
Non ricordo la fine.
Insomma, non un capolavoro, questo è certo. Un discreto filmetto gradevole da vedere e non certo memorabile.
Il romanzo è una cavolata.
Comincia bene, ma presto si imbarca in una disquizione su concentti che sembrano una banalizzazione delle teorie di Reich e qualche altra fuffagine paragnostica.
Finale ridicolo.
February 9, 2009
This book was awesome. A very interesting take on what life force in humans is and how it can be related to this version of vampires. There are definately some new thoughts about vampire-type beings, and it is a good thriller. Very enjoyable.
January 1, 2014
I enjoyed this book! It's ridiculous and over the top and quite sexist (allowances given for time written), but in the end very entertaining. The Aliens had some interesting twists and I would love to read an extension on them. For a light vacation read its perfect.
August 3, 2015
The Space Vampires is every bit as tacky as the title would lead you to believe. It also reminded me of Wilhelm Reich's orgone theory.
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