Barnabas Collins - Book 6

Barnabas Collins by Marilyn (Dan) Ross
published by Paperback Library
Copyright 1968

Barnabas Collins, the 175-year-old vampire
who has taken the country by storm comes
alive in this new novel of gothic suspense.

Your blood will grow cold as you read the
never-before-told story of the foggy night in
1899 when Barnabas Collins first arrived at
Collinwood. You'll chill to the full horror of
the real truth about Barnabas - a secret so ter-
rible that it could not be revealed until now ...

BARNABAS COLLINS is the sixth in a series of thrilling
novels based on ABC-TV's popular suspense drama,
DARK SHADOWS. For a complete list, see page two
of this book.

More than once in this series of book Barnabas Collins, our sometimes evil, sometimes not, vampires is referred to as "young", his fashion as "mod" and his plastered bangs as "loosely spilling over". Jonathan Frid, the actor who planned Barnabas was already 43 when he began his role as the evil vampires. And not a young 43 either. I can't help but think that Dan Curtis and the bunch might have thought better of it had they known that Barnabas Collins would become so extremely popular as to be made a permit part on the show until its demise. It is hard to believe that this man would have been chased after by so many woman. Must be that vampire mojo.

The Curse of Collinwood - Book 5

The Curse of Collinwood by Marilyn (Dan) Ross
published by Paperback Library
Copyright 1968

Do Zombies Walk at Collinwood?

Upset over the death of Ernest Collins,
Victoria begins to believe that phantoms are
haunting her. Are they figments of her imagi-
nation? As the threats to her life become very
real, she is forced to accept the horrifying
truth.

The strange figures are not phantoms but
the bodies of Derek and Esther Collins, mur-
dered more than a century ago. They were
unwittingly released from their coffins by a
shaft of moonlight - and doomed to roam the
earth as the "living dead."

Nice! For the last couple of years I have read "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", the short story by Washington Irving in October but I think this year I may read me a little Marilyn Ross. I have read a couple in the passed and even a several pieces of Dark Shadows Fan Fiction but I think now would be a good time "improve my mind" with some extensive reading.

The Mystery of Collinwood - Book 4

The Mystery of Collinwood by Marilyn (Dan) Ross
published by Paperback Library
Copyright 1968

Victoria stood on the ledge known as Suicide
Cliffs and stared down at the raging surf and
jagged rocks below.

Next to her stood Professor Mark Veno, a
mysterious visitor to Collinwood. He spoke to
her in a low sinister voice. "Think of all those
who threw themselves from these very rocks."
His eyes seemed to burn into hers.

"He's hypnotizing me," she thought. She was
unable to make herself look away. "No," she
cried. "He's forcing me to jump!"

The Professor came a step closer, his eyes still
glowing.

Victoria found herself unable to move - unable
to speak. She was helpless as she felt her will-
power dissolve under his evil spell ....

Victoria Winters not only seems to have very little in the way of good judgment, but she seems to be a bit on the simple side. Not my first choice for a Governess.

Dark Shadows - Book 1

Dark Shadows by Marilyn (Dan) Ross
published by Paperback Library
Copyright 1966

Despite warnings from the townspeople,
Victoria Winters accepts the offer to come to
the strange Collins House as governess. For
some curious reason she feels the secret of her
past may be uncovered in the bleak manor
high on Widow's Hill.

From the moment she arrives, Victoria
becomes the target of someone in the house
determined to destroy her.

As the wind moans and the rain lashes
around the isolated Collins House, Victoria,
without friends in the manor, feels death close
in on her, a choking, frightening death.

Watch for VICTORIA WINTERS the next in this great series by Marilyn Ross

Wow, I am such a big fan of the television show that I find if hard to poke fun at the books. I'm reading this back cover and thinking ... yes, yes ... this sounds GREAT!

Dark Shadows Book Series

DARK SHADOWS - THE BOOK SERIES

On June 27, 1966 Dark Shadows aired on ABC. A "Women Running From Houses" saga in soap opera form, halfway through the first year, the looming danger inherent in any Gothic romances was kicked up a notch with the introduction of a real ghost. And, after its first year, facing possible cancellation, the series let go with a plethora of supernatural happenings.

The series added nearly another 4 years to its run by "borrowing" from such classic tales as The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Turn of the Screw and Wuthering Heights with the introduction of vampires, werewolves, monsters, witches, warlocks, time travel and a parallel universe. Its last episode aired on April 2, 1971 with a grand total of 1245 episodes under its belt.

Dark Shadows inspired 2 films The House of Dark Shadows in 1970 and Night of Dark Shadows in 1971, a Gold Key comic, a newspaper strip, aired for years in syndication, inspired a miniseries remake in 1991 and rumors of a possible new feature film are always floating around.

But for our purposes, the most important thing is that Dark Shadows inspired a series of 32 fabulous books. Written by Dan Ross, under the pen name Marilyn Ross, the series follows the Collins family through many looming dangers and sinister threats.

Dark Shadows (December 1966)
Victoria Winters (March 1967)
Strangers at Collins House (September 1967)
The Mystery of Collinwood (January 1968)
The Curse of Collinwood (May 1968)
Barnabas Collins (November 1968)
The Secret of Barnabas Collins (January 1969)
The Demon of Barnabas Collins (April 1969)
The Foe of Barnabas Collins (July 1969)
The Phantom and Barnabas Collins (September 1969)
Barnabas Collins vs. the Warlock (October 1969)
The Peril of Barnabas Collins (November 1969)
Barnabas Collins in a Funny Vein (1969)
Barnabas Collins and the Mysterious Ghost (January 1970)
Barnabas Collins and Quentin's Demon (February 1970)
Barnabas Collins and the Gypsy Witch (March 1970)
Barnabas, Quentin and the Mummy's Curse (April 1970)
Barnabas, Quentin and the Avenging Ghost (May 1970)
Barnabas, Quentin and the Nightmare Assassin (June 1970)
Barnabas, Quentin and the Crystal Coffin (July 1970)
Barnabas, Quentin and the Witch's Curse (August 1970)
The Dark Shadows Book of Vampires And Werewolves (August 1970)
Barnabas, Quentin and the Haunted Cave (September 1970)
Barnabas, Quentin and the Frightened Bride (October 1970)
House of Dark Shadows (October 1970)
Barnabas, Quentin and the Scorpio Curse (November 1970)
Barnabas, Quentin and the Serpent (December 1970)
Barnabas Collins A Personal Picture Album (December 1970)
Barnabas, Quentin and the Magic Potion (January 1971)
Barnabas, Quentin and the Body Snatchers (February 1971)
Barnabas, Quentin and Dr. Jekyll's Son (April 1971)
Barnabas, Quentin and the Grave Robbers (June 1971)
Barnabas, Quentin and the Sea Ghost (August 1971)
Barnabas, Quentin and the Mad Magician (October 1971)
Barnabas, Quentin and the Hidden Tomb (December 1971)
Barnabas, Quentin and the Vampire Beauty (March 1972)

In 1998, Lara Parker an actress from the show added a new novel to the Collins saga and again in 2006.

Dark Shadows: Angélique's Descent (December 1998)
The Salem Branch (July 2006)

Now sadly I do not own all of these books but I do have my fair share of them and my hope is to share them with you in a special

ALL DARK SHADOWS OCTOBER!