Space Demons is a young adult novel written by Gillian Rubinstein, first published in 1986.

When they meet up after school a couple weeks later, Andrew reveals that a gun from the game came back into reality with him.

Space demons from the game begin to manifest in the real world.

Anger and resentment build between the players, driven by difficult events in their home lives.

Andrew's nightmares become darker as he dreams about killing people with the gun from the game.

Andrew and Elaine argue and end up in the game, where they find the space demons have all been replaced by clones of Mario.

[2] Teacher Ashley Lower said that its critical reception did not surprise her: "I've just read it with a Year 9 class, who would not let me put it down.".

[9] Yvonne Frey says of the novel: "The story is more complex, with well-rounded characters and conflicts that are not simply drawn".

Author Rubinstein has commented on the theme, saying "family is where we have the most pain and the most pleasure and the most intense emotions".

[13] Andrew Butler focuses on the violence of the game and the use of love and hate as gameplay mechanics.

Butler believes that the ultimate purpose of the program is to force the player to confront hate and thus reduce their tendency toward it.

[14] Ashley Lower comments that the book discusses modern society's "pre-occupation with television".