''The Mind Parasites'' is a

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

horror novel by English author Colin Wilson. It was published by

Arkham House Arkham House was an American publishing house specializing in weird fiction. It was founded in Sauk City, Wisconsin, in 1939 by August Derleth and Donald Wandrei to publish hardcover collections of H. P. Lovecraft's best works, which had ...

in 1967 in an edition of 3,045 copies. It was Wilson's first and only book published by Arkham House. The book is based on

H. P. Lovecraft Howard Phillips Lovecraft (, ; August 20, 1890 – March 15, 1937) was an American writer of Weird fiction, weird, Science fiction, science, fantasy, and horror fiction. He is best known for his creation of the Cthulhu Mythos. Born in Provi ...

Cthulhu Mythos The Cthulhu Mythos is a mythopoeia and a shared fictional universe, originating in the works of American Horror fiction, horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. The term was coined by August Derleth, a contemporary correspondent and protégé of Lovecraft, t ...

Publication history

In his introduction to ''The Philosopher's Stone'' (1969), Wilson explained how he wrote ''The Mind Parasites'' at the urging of

August Derleth August William Derleth (February 24, 1909 – July 4, 1971) was an American writer and anthologist. He was the first book publisher of the writings of H. P. Lovecraft. He made contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos and the Lovecraftian horror, cosmi ...

. Wilson had earlier written an essay explaining his admiration for Lovecraft as a thinker or conceptualist, while also expressing a dislike for Lovecraft's prose as ungainly and ponderous. Derleth replied to Wilson, offering a friendly challenge to write a narrative exploring Lovecraft's themes. Wilson took up the challenge, and Derleth published the first American edition of ''The Philosopher's Stone''. The novel was published earlier in 1967 by Arthur Barker, but with a different introduction. It was then reprinted by Oneiric Press from 1972 to 1975, initially by Michael Besher (also known as Misha PanZobop) and Chellis Glendinning; then by Besher and his brother Alexander Besher. In 1994, the first Russian translation of the book was published by a Ukrainian publishing house Sofia, with 20,000 copies printed.

Plot summary

The story is about Professor Gilbert Austin's conflict with the Tsathogguans, invisible mind parasites that menace the most brilliant people on Earth.

Critical reception

Reviewing ''The Mind Parasites'' for ''

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction ''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'' (usually referred to as ''F&SF'') is a U.S. fantasy fiction magazine, fantasy and science-fiction magazine, first published in 1949 by Mystery House, a subsidiary of Lawrence E. Spivak, Lawrence Spiv ...

'',

Joanna Russ Joanna Russ (February 22, 1937 – April 29, 2011) was an American writer, academic and feminist. She is the author of a number of works of science fiction, fantasy and feminist literary criticism such as '' How to Suppress Women's Writing'', as ...

gave the book a negative assessment. Russ stated "the Outsider's latest is not in the Lovecraft tradition but in the '' Boy's Life'' Gee Whiz tradition, and ought to be called ' Tom Swift and the Tsathogguans.'" Russ said the book would disappoint Lovecraft enthusiasts, and called it "one of the worst books I have ever read and very enjoyable, but then I did not have to pay for it." David Pringle rated ''The Mind Parasites'' with one star out of four. Pringle described the novel as a "stilted version" of the traditional science fiction plot of humanity being controlled by invisible entities, and said ''The Mind Parasites'' "doesn't live up to the author's reputation gained in other fields."Pringle, David (1990) ''The Ultimate Guide To Science Fiction''. New York: Pharos Books: St. Martins Press, (p.205).

References

Sources

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mind Parasites, The 1967 British novels Cthulhu Mythos novels 1967 science fiction novels 1960s horror novels Novels by Colin Wilson British philosophical novels Novels about telepathy Arthur Barker Limited books