The Parasite

Name: The Parasite
Price: 6.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781979226820

✍️ Arthur Conan Doyle

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$6.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A physiology student falls victim to a psychic woman's obsessive control.

This narrative explores the vulnerability of rational minds when confronted with unexplained phenomena. Gilroy begins as an observer, documenting Miss Penclosa’s abilities for academic purposes. His detachment dissolves as she targets him directly. The story details how her powers override his will, forcing him to act against his nature. The horror stems not from ghosts, but from the loss of personal agency and the manipulation of human behavior through psychic means. The ending leaves Gilroy in a precarious position, highlighting the dangers of engaging with forces that defy logical explanation.

Key Themes

psychic manipulation scientific skepticism loss of autonomy

Literary Context

Arthur Conan Doyle wrote this during the late nineteenth century, a period marked by intense interest in spiritualism and the occult. The story reflects contemporary anxieties about the boundaries between science and supernatural belief, set against the backdrop of Victorian England's intellectual circles.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

M.R. James · Sheridan Le Fanu · Bram Stoker · H.P. Lovecraft

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2017 📖 34 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781979226820

📝 Description: The Parasite

Arthur Conan Doyle presents a tale of scientific skepticism clashing with supernatural intrusion in The Parasite. The narrative follows Austin Gilroy, a physiology student who encounters Miss Penclosa, a woman with psychic abilities and a crippled leg. Through her connection to the Professor’s wife, she enters Gilroy’s circle, initially demonstrating her powers by placing his fiancée Agatha into a trance. This event draws Gilroy to the Professor’s home, where he observes the physical mechanics of these phenomena. As the story progresses, Miss Penclosa develops an intense affection for Gilroy. She utilizes her psychic gifts to compel him to express love and physical affection toward her. When Gilroy rejects her advances and loses his temper, the dynamic shifts from observation to persecution. Miss Penclosa begins to manipulate his actions through her powers, subjecting him to a series of cruel tricks that erode his sanity and autonomy. The plot culminates in a disturbing scene where Gilroy finds himself in Agatha’s room, holding a small bottle of sulphuric acid under the influence of these external forces. This work examines the tension between empirical study and occult practice. It suits readers interested in late Victorian Gothic fiction and the psychological horror found in Doyle’s lesser-known works. Those seeking straightforward scientific texts or purely romantic narratives may find the supernatural elements and moral ambiguity unsettling.

💎 Our verdict on The Parasite

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Doyle effectively explores the tension between empirical study and occult practice through Austin Gilroy’s harrowing experience. The narrative succeeds in portraying the erosion of autonomy under psychic influence, creating a sense of claustrophobic dread without relying on spectral imagery. The focus on physiological observation adds a layer of intellectual horror that distinguishes it from standard ghost stories. This book is best suited for readers who appreciate late Victorian Gothic fiction and psychological depth over action-oriented plots. It provides a chilling examination of how rational detachment can dissolve when confronted with forces that defy logical explanation, offering a sophisticated entry point into Doyle’s darker literary repertoire.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers interested in the intersection of science and the supernatural will find this narrative compelling. It appeals to those who enjoy psychological horror where the terror stems from the loss of personal agency rather than traditional ghosts. Fans of Arthur Conan Doyle’s lesser-known fiction will appreciate seeing his skepticism challenged by unexplained phenomena. The story offers a unique perspective on Victorian anxieties about psychic control and the vulnerability of rational minds, making it suitable for audiences seeking atmospheric tales that question the boundaries between logic and the occult.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Doyle effectively explores the tension between empirical study and occult practice through Austin Gilroy’s harrowing experience. The narrative succeeds in portraying the erosion of autonomy under psychic influence, creating a sense of claustrophobic dread without relying on spectral imagery. The focus on physiological observation adds a layer of intellectual horror that distinguishes it from standard ghost stories. This book is best suited for readers who appreciate late Victorian Gothic fiction and psychological depth over action-oriented plots. It provides a chilling examination of how rational detachment can dissolve when confronted with forces that defy logical explanation, offering a sophisticated entry point into Doyle’s darker literary repertoire.