Synopsis
Two alien beings, whose race feeds on blood and so are vampires, stumble upon Earth, which is quarrantined from the galactic community because Earth has not developed far enough.
History
First publication: Astounding May 1942
Review
Space vampires! Who doesn’t love that? This story may be the first example of that trope, being published in 1942, fairly early in Van Vogt’s career, but already he had distinguished himself as a top writer and had published the classic novel Slan (1940). Very much a classic space opera with villians, a galactic empire, superweapons and an earthman blundering into the middle of things. The characterization is good enough for a novella, the writing is quite good. The story is only a little bit dated. There’s an excellent twist ending and a strong sense of wonder. This sort of story is why I fell in love with science fiction. Recommended. -Gregory Kerkman
Videos
We have the story in these editions:
The Great SF Stories 4 (1942), edited by Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg, paperback, DAW Books, 1980-10-00
Transfinite: The Essential A. E. Van Vogt, hardcover, NESFA Press, 2003-04-00
