By Stephen Pytak 

     This is probably the best biography you're going 
to find on the woman who is known to horror 
enthusiasts as the first to portray "Vampirella."
     It's also a time capsule filled with a bunch of 
interesting stories about Barbara, Elvis, Steve 
McQueen and Aubrey, who was president of MGM 
Studios.
     I bought the book  from Barbara at the Chiller 
Theatre convention in East Rutherford, N.J. in 
October 2002. 
     I met her before at these conventions, since I'm a 
big Vampi fan. And when I stepped up to say hello, 
she dropped the hot dog with mustard she was 
eating, stood up and shook my hand. Then she 
showed me the book.
     She had a spring in her step and the most inviting 
smile. She was really excited about this. Barbara has 
the power to generate excitement. And I think 
everyone around her table was feeling the buzz. Even 
the actress who was sitting next to her, Jennifer 
Rubin of "Bad Dreams (1988)," bought a copy.
     The first part I read, in all honesty, was chapter 
16. The black and white pictures of her in that 
famous skimpy bikini told me immediately this 
chapter was about her life as "Vampirella."
     She got the part in 1975 when Hammer Films 
was planning to do a live-action movie based on the 
character created by Forrest J. Ackerman, the editor 
of "Famous Monsters of Filmland."
     Barbara includes a bunch of interesting facts. I 
didn't know Linda Carter was after the role. And I 
didn't realize how consumed Barbara became by the 
character.
     After she signed a three-picture deal with 
Hammer Films, she said "I actually became her in 
my mind…Eventually friends would tell me to get a 
hold of myself, which I eventually did."
     The details she adds about that phase will no 
doubt give fans some different impressions. I'm sure 
they'll think about it next time they examine her full 
figure on those old Warren magazines. It might even 
fuel a few new fantasies.
     That section also includes some pictures from a 
Famous Monsters convention held in New York in 
November 1975. I wish I could see more from that 
show. And if they're in color, even better.
     The best is on page 294. It's a shot of her with 
Ackerman. And it's further proof that she's a goddess. 
     It's also proof that Elvis, McQueen and Aubrey 
were lucky as Hell.
     If you want to know the intimate details of 
Barbara's life with them, then crack open the front 
cover and start at page 1.
     It's very well written and I did get a few things 
out of it. Barbara did an excellent job of not only 
telling all about her relationships with these guys,
but she managed to intertwine her life story into it 
as well.
     Honestly, I'm not into heavy romance stories. So, 
no matter how much I love Barbara or how well her 
book was written, I wasn't going to dwell on every 
line. 
     However, there were a few things which made 
me raise an eyebrow. In particular, there were some 
details about The King's life which piqued my 
interest.	His bedroom chat included conversations
about numbers.
     Barbara writes: "Elvis, smiling, pulled out his 
favorite book on numerology, 'Cheiro's Book of 
Numbers,' then asked me my birth date. He told me 
I was the spiritual number seven, based on my birth 
date of November 16."
     What I also like about the book, as the above 
quote will suggest, is it's written in her voice. It's in 
the first person. And when you read it, you feel like 
she's talking to you. 
     So, if you want to spend a night with one of the 
most beautiful women in the world, buy it now.