Search - Life Force

Probably Wilson's Best Sci-Fi, March 17, 2002
Reviewer: Bruce Rux (Aurora, CO)

Nine years after first attempting a Lovecraftian sci-fi novel in The Mind Parasites, Wilson made another stab at essentially the same plot, and wrote it much better, as The Space Vampires (Lifeforce). The major difference between the two - aside from a noticeably more mature approach in The Space Vampires - is the addition of plentiful story-required sex.
Wilson's plots never move briskly, but they often make up for it by being intellectually engaging. The Space Vampires is a quick and interesting read, contrasting extraterrestrial criminals with the more common garden variety found on Earth. Discussions abound on predation, and the precise nature of sex in general.

Filmed as Lifeforce in '85, the movie retained the basics of the plot, but went inexplicably overboard in directions Wilson wisely avoided. It is still a watchable movie, but not as good as Wilson's original novel.

Not a novelization of the movie, the book came first, January 10, 2000
Reviewer: Nevada Hamaker (Bellevue, WA USA)

It was originally titled The Space Vampires. The copy I read had a picture of a seductive woman on the cover with fangs and a trickle of blood. I put off reading it for a while because I thought it would be cheesy.
However I was pleasantly surprised. While the movie wasn't bad, and was visually stimulating (especially the female "vampire), the book is much better. It contained more detail and contained many significant plot threads that were omitted from the film. If you have a chance to read this book, do so. I also enjoyed The Mind Parasites, also by Colin Wilson.

Was offered as a movie titled "Lifeforce" also, Book originally was called "The Space Vampires". Good read..........