Dark Shadows (book series)
| Author | Marilyn Ross |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Paperback Library |
| Published | 1966–1972 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| No. of books |
|
Dark Shadows is a book series based on and inspired by the American gothic horror television series of the same name. Thirty three novels, including the novelization of House of Dark Shadows, were published by Paperback Library from 1966 to 1972. The novels were credited to Marilyn Ross, a pseudonym of W. E. D. Ross.
Many of the novels are based on popular gothic fiction, or popular monster or horror films.
About
The novels, with the exception of the House of Dark Shadows film novelization, do not share the continuity of the television series. House of Dark Shadows was an adaptation of the 1970 MGM film. Many printings feature production stills from the television series on the covers. The stills are often unrelated to the novel's plot.
The novels follow a discernible formula:
- Heroine arrives at, or is already living at, Collinwood in the first chapter
- Heroine falls in love with Barnabas Collins not realizing he is a vampire
- Heroine experiences a supernatural threat requiring Barnabas to rescue her
- Heroine discovers or suspects Barnabas is a vampire but she remains smitten by him
- Barnabas departs rather than risk poisoning the heroine's beauty with his vampiric curse
An unresolved plot featured in both the television and novel series was the question of Victoria Winters' origin. Ross planned to reveal Victoria as Barnabas' long-lost daughter, conceived in the 1940s when Barnabas was temporarily free of the vampiric curse. Winters' biological mother, who died young, would be revealed as a friend of Elizabeth Collins Stoddard. When Alexandra Moltke left the television series in 1968, the rights holders instructed Ross to remove Winters and related characters from future novels.[1]
Novels
| No. | Title | Release date | Heroine | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dark Shadows | December 1966 | Victoria Winters | Partial re-telling of Victoria Winters's arrival in Collinsport. |
| 2 | Victoria Winters | March 1967 | ||
| 3 | Strangers at Collins House | September 1967 | ||
| 4 | The Mystery of Collinwood | January 1968 | ||
| 5 | The Curse of Collinwood | May 1968 | ||
| 6 | Barnabas Collins | November 1968 | Margaret Collins | First book to feature Barnabas Collins. |
| 7 | The Secret of Barnabas Collins | January 1969 | Lady Clare Duncan | |
| 8 | The Demon of Barnabas Collins | April 1969 | Rita Glenn | Barnabas depicted as heroic, following changes made by the television series. |
| 9 | The Foe of Barnabas Collins | July 1969 | Paula Collins Jennings | |
| 10 | The Phantom and Barnabas Collins | September 1969 | Maggie Evans | |
| 11 | Barnabas Collins vs. the Warlock | October 1969 | Based on Henry James' novella The Turn of the Screw. | |
| 12 | The Peril of Barnabas Collins | November 1969 | Diana Hastings | |
| 13 | Barnabas Collins and the Mysterious Ghost | January 1970 | Diana Samson | |
| 14 | Barnabas Collins and Quentin's Demon | February 1970 | Lara Balfour | Introduces Quentin Collins. |
| 15 | Barnabas Collins and the Gypsy Witch | March 1970 | Roxanna Collins | |
| 16 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Mummy's Curse | April 1970 | Maggie Evans | Based on scenarios prepared for the television series that were never filmed. |
| 17 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Avenging Ghost | May 1970 | Carolyn Stoddard | |
| 18 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Nightmare Assassin | June 1970 | ||
| 19 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Crystal Coffin | July 1970 | Betty Ward | Based on Edgar Allan Poe's short story The Premature Burial. |
| 20 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Witch's Curse | August 1970 | Anita Burgess | |
| 21 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Haunted Cave | September 1970 | Harriet Turnbridge | |
| 22 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Frightened Bride | October 1970 | Ann Hayward | |
| House of Dark Shadows | Maggie Evans | Film novelization based on early drafts of the script. | ||
| 23 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Scorpio Curse | November 1970 | Diana Collins | |
| 24 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Serpent | December 1970 | Irma Collins | |
| 25 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Magic Potion | January 1971 | Carolyn Stoddard | Changes to Quentin Collins' depiction following changes made by the television series. |
| 26 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Body Snatchers | February 1971 | Marjorie Gray | Based on Jack Finney's The Body Snatchers. |
| 27 | Barnabas, Quentin and Dr. Jekyll's Son | April 1971 | Emily Collins | Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. |
| 28 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Grave Robbers | June 1971 | Paula Sullivan | Published after the television series was cancelled. |
| 29 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Sea Ghost | August 1971 | Norah Bliss | |
| 30 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Mad Magician | October 1971 | Carolyn Stoddard | |
| 31 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Hidden Tomb | December 1971 | Ellen Drury | |
| 32 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Vampire Beauty | March 1972 | Adele Marriot |
References
- ^ "The Secret of Victoria Winters: novella". www.darkshadowsonline.com. Retrieved 2026-01-13.