The Parasite by Ramsey Campbell
"The Parasite" is a supernatural thriller that follows the story of Rose Tierney, a young girl who, along with her friends, explores a deserted house known for its haunting reputation. During a séance, a spirit makes its presence known, leading to a traumatic experience where Rose feels an unseen force violating her. As an adult, after a mugging in New York City, Rose starts to experience out-of-body travels and discovers that she has been subject to a parasitic possession by an occultist named Peter Grace, who aimed for psychic immortality through her. The narrative unfolds to reveal a world increasingly influenced by occult practices, with Rose's neighbor Colin initially appearing as a friend but ultimately revealing darker intentions. Rose's husband Bill becomes ensnared by the same parasitic force, culminating in a shocking twist where Rose realizes she is pregnant with a child that carries the essence of the parasite. The story reaches a climax as Rose confronts her demons, leading to a tragic end where she sacrifices herself to eradicate Peter Grace's spirit. The implications of the plot delve into themes of control, identity, and the pervasive nature of evil, making it a thought-provoking piece on the human experience intertwined with the supernatural.
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Subject Terms
The Parasite
First published: 1980 (published in Great Britain as To Wake the Dead)
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Fantasy—occult
Time of work: The 1980’s
Locale: England, Germany, and New York City
The Plot
When she is a young girl, Rose Tierney, with a group of teenagers, sneaks off to a deserted, reputedly haunted house. During a séance in the house, a spirit speaks and says that it pervades the house. When the young girl is locked by accident in a room in the house, she senses that an unseen spirit is raping her and inhabiting her body.
After Rose, as an adult, is mugged in New York City, she begins to experience out-of-body traveling and gradually learns that she has been raped by the parasitic form of an occultist, Peter Grace, who, through her, sought psychic immortality. The implications are subtle and terrifying, as Rose comes to learn that the world is gradually being dominated by occultists.
One such person is Rose’s neighbor, Colin, who deceives her and pretends to be her friend and adviser, until his true nature is revealed in the final scenes. Rose’s husband, Bill, becomes a member of the occultist class as the parasite takes over his body. In an almost-too-clever plot twist, Rose is reunited with Bill after the trauma apparently has ended. She becomes pregnant with his child. At the beginning of her labor, Colin appears again (he was presumed killed in a car accident), and Rose realizes that she is giving birth to a new life containing the parasite. She finally kills herself, thereby killing the spirit of Peter Grace.