Dark Shadows is a Gothic romance novel series based on the American horror television series of the same name. Thirty-three books, including a novelization of the 1970 feature film House of Dark Shadows, were published by Paperback Library from 1966 to 1972. The novels are credited to Marilyn Ross, a pseudonym of Canadian author W. E. D. Ross.
Production
The novels were published by Paperback Library between 1966 and 1972 and sold approximately 17 million copies. W. E. D. Ross, a prolific author who specialized in popular fiction, was selected for the series due to his experience in the genre and his ability to produce manuscripts quickly. According to Ross, he wrote each novel within three weeks. Instead of adapting scenarios from the television series, Ross chose to develop original storylines, using only the characters and setting of the series, to provide readers with a "fresh viewpoint".
With the exception of the House of Dark Shadows novelization, which adapts the 1970 feature film, the novels do not follow the televised narrative. The novels reflect conventions of Gothic fiction, including an emphasis on atmospheric settings, haunted locations, and family secrets. Many stories center on a young woman living at, or arriving at, the Collinwood estate who becomes entangled in a romantic relationship amid a supernatural threat.
Series development The early novels focus on the character of Victoria Winters, depicting her arrival at Collinwood as a governess and her attempts to uncover her origins. Following the 1968 departure of actress Alexandra Moltke from the television series, the character was removed from subsequent novels. The vampire Barnabas Collins is portrayed as both a threatening and protective figure throughout much of the series. The novels shifted their emphasis toward other characters as the series continued, including Barnabas and Quentin Collins. Later novels included stories originally planned for the television series that were never filmed, such as a cursed mummy story partially adapted as Barnabas, Quentin and the Mummy's Curse.
Continuity within the series itself is limited, and most entries function as self-contained stories despite recurring characters and settings. In addition to the Collinses, later entries incorporated a wider range of supernatural themes, including werewolves, ghosts, mummies, and other creatures and occult mysteries, in line with the television series.
Cover art The books were issued in paperback format and featured both painted covers and photographic stills from the television series, which were often unrelated to the plots. Early volumes were widely printed, while later titles had smaller print runs and are less common. Ross owned a number of the original cover paintings.
Novels TitleRelease dateNotes1Dark ShadowsDecember 196652-386Partial re-telling of Victoria Winters's arrival in Collinsport2Victoria WintersMarch 196752-4213Strangers at Collins HouseSeptember 196752-5434The Mystery of CollinwoodJanuary 196852-6105The Curse of CollinwoodMay 196852-6086Barnabas CollinsNovember 196862-001First novel to feature Barnabas Collins7The Secret of Barnabas CollinsJanuary 196962-0398The Demon of Barnabas CollinsApril 196962-084Barnabas depicted as heroic in line with changes made by the television series9July 196962-13510September 196962-19511Barnabas Collins Versus the WarlockOctober 196962-212Inspired by The Turn of the Screw by Henry James12The Peril of Barnabas CollinsNovember 196962-24413Barnabas Collins and the Mysterious GhostJanuary 197063-25814Barnabas Collins and Quentin's DemonFebruary 197063-275First novel to feature Quentin Collins15Barnabas Collins and the Gypsy WitchMarch 197063-29616Barnabas, Quentin and the Mummy's CurseApril 197063-318Based on story originally planned for the television series17Barnabas, Quentin and the Avenging GhostMay 197063-33818Barnabas, Quentin and the Nightmare AssassinJune 197063-36319Barnabas, Quentin and the Crystal CoffinJuly 197063-385Inspired by The Premature Burial by Edgar Allan Poe20Barnabas, Quentin and the Witch's CurseAugust 197063-40221Barnabas, Quentin and the Haunted CaveSeptember 197063-42722Barnabas, Quentin and the Frightened BrideOctober 197063-446—House of Dark Shadows64-537Film novelization23Barnabas, Quentin and the Scorpio CurseNovember 197063-46824Barnabas, Quentin and the Serpent63-49125Barnabas, Quentin and the Magic PotionJanuary 197163-51526Barnabas, Quentin and the Body SnatchersFebruary 197163-534Inspired by The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney27Barnabas, Quentin and Dr. Jekyll's SonApril 197163-554Inspired by Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson28Barnabas, Quentin and the Grave RobbersJune 197163-58529Barnabas, Quentin and the Sea GhostAugust 197164-66330Barnabas, Quentin and the Mad MagicianOctober 197164-71431Barnabas, Quentin and the Hidden TombDecember 197164-77232Barnabas, Quentin and the Vampire BeautyMarch 197264-824
References
External links
Paperback Library checklist at Dark Shadows Online