Man Without a Shadow

By: Colin Wilson, Colin Stanley - introduction

Narrated by: Paul Jenkins

"One of the more earnest and interesting writers of his generation." (The Guardian)

"Mr Wilson's vitality comes through. He writes a clear, light prose, and he makes his interests, however bizarre, seem important." (Punch)

"Compelling."(New Statesman)

Gerard Sorme thinks the key to a more meaningful life lies in an expansion of human consciousness, and he believes that one way to expand it is through sexual experiences. He sets out to record in diary form his sexual encounters with various women: the middle-aged Gertrude, her teenage niece Caroline, and Diana, the wife of a mad composer determined to adapt Varney the Vampire into an opera.

But Sorme finds his beliefs and ideas challenged when he meets the fascinating and dangerous Caradoc Cunningham, who seems to possess occult powers and who has developed his own ways of expanding consciousness through drugs, orgies, and black magic.

And when Cunningham is targeted by his enemies, fellow black magicians who he believes are directing the powers of evil spirits at him, Sorme will find himself caught up in Cunningham's peril, culminating in his participation in a bizarre occult ritual....

First published in 1963, Man Without a Shadow explores Wilson's philosophy in the form of a black magic thriller that draws on inspirations as diverse as the writings of Aleister Crowley and Montague Summers, Huysmans's Là-bas, and the "penny dreadfuls" of Thomas Prest.

©1963, 2018 Colin Wilson (P)2018 Valancourt Books

Holy Sh......!

Um, whoa! It was a little too much for me, but all in all a very interesting and compelling book. Definitely something I wasn't expecting, but I thought it was decently written and I do love Paul Jenkins as narrator.

It's pretty dark, so be ready. But, if you like that sort of thing, this will take you on a very wild ride. I'm still whoa-ing.

Definitely interesting! :)

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
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Excellent story

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Excellent story and a great way to pass a long commute. I always enjoy a good thriller.

I very much enjoy the narrator's voice -- he sounds clear and easy to understand, even at high er speeds.

wow

Totally caught me off guard. Guess I didn't know what I was getting into. Once I started though, I couldn't stop. Definitely recommend.

Occult Thriller

An exciting occult thriller from Colin Wilson (author of THE SPACE VAMPIRES and THE MIND PARASITES) which follows Gerard Sorme through a gripping--and often amusing--adventures. The narrator does an excellent job with the characters and building suspense.

A Man's Fantasy World

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

This is a most unusual book that centers on a man's conflicting feelings in his inability to resist his sexual urges. I cannot say that I could relate to the protagonist's protestations of the "devil man made me do it"... We hear often enough that men's urges are different than women's and I won't argue that point. However there are fortunately men that can control their behavior better than others. The protagonist is not that man... We are transported in a world where promiscuity is treated as experimentation. Except for the protagonist's personal and egocentric feelings, the other characters are used as mere tools. I guess it is an attempt at a philosophical treaty on mens' sexual behavior and what motivates it, so I might not be the best critic of this book. The writing is good and the narration enjoyable so you should give it a try and see what you think. I'm sure there are readers who will enjoy it more than I did.