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 by W. E. D. Ross writing as Marilyn Ross.
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 1927 MGM film. Many novels follow a formula involving the heroine, who: (1) arrives at, or is already living at, Collinwood; (2) falling in love with Barnabas Collins, not realizing he is a vampire; (3) and then falling prey to a supernatural threat, or unspeakable horror, requiring Barnabas to rescue her. By the novel's conclusion, the heroine discovers or suspects Barnabas is a vampire but she remains smitten by him. This prompts Barnabas to depart rather than risk poisoning her beauty with his vampiric curse.
An unresolved plot featured in both the television and novel series was the explanation 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. Her biological mother, who died young, was to be revealed as the best friend of Elizabeth Collins Stoddard. When actress Alexandra Moltke left the television series in 1968, the rights holders instructed Ross to remove the character from any future novels. [1]
Many printings feature production stills from the television series as the book cover. The stills chosen have little to do with the novel's plot.
| No. | Title | Release Date | Heroine | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dark Shadows | December 1966 | Victoria Winters | Partial re-telling of Victoria Winters's arrival in Collinsport. Originally printed with an illustrated cover, subsequent editions featured a photographic cover featuring Alexandra Moltke with Jonathan Frid, although the character of Barnabas Collins does not appear. |
| 2 | Victoria Winters | March 1967 | Victoria Winters | |
| 3 | Strangers at Collins House | September 1967 | Victoria Winters | Partially takes place in 1916. |
| 4 | The Mystery of Collinwood | January 1968 | Victoria Winters | |
| 5 | The Curse of Collinwood | May 1968 | Victoria Winters | The only book in series not to be printed with a photographic cover. Derek and Esther Collns terrorize Collinsport as Zombies! |
| 6 | Barnabas Collins | November 1968 | Margaret Collins | Takes place in the early 1900s. First book to feature Barnabas Collins. In the TV series Barnabas was chained to his coffin in 1796 and not released until 1967. Ross offers an alternate timeline in which Barnabas was never held captive at all. |
| 7 | The Secret of Barnabas Collins | January 1969 | Lady Clare Duncan | Takes place in 1870. |
| 8 | The Demon of Barnabas Collins | April 1969 | Rita Glenn | The first book to present Barnabas in a heroic vein rather than as the villain, following the trend set by the television series. |
| 9 | The Foe of Barnabas Collins | July 1969 | Paula Collins Jennings | Takes place in 1910. Features the character of Chris Jennings, although presented here as a villain rather than the sympathetic victim depicted in the television series. It also features a rare appearance by Angelique. |
| 10 | The Phantom and Barnabas Collins | September 1969 | Maggie Evans | Takes place in 1880 (courtesy Maggie travelling through time!). |
| 11 | Barnabas Collins vs. the Warlock | October 1969 | Maggie Evans | A homage to Henry James' 1898 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 the character of Quentin Collins to the range. Takes place in 1895. |
| 15 | Barnabas Collins and the Gypsy Witch | March 1970 | Roxanna Collins | Takes place in the 1890s. |
| 16 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Mummy's Curse | April 1970 | Maggie Evans | Professor Anthony Collins awakens a shambling, bandage-draped Egyptian terror to prowl Collinwood, Plot never realized before the TV series was cancelled. |
| 17 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Avenging Ghost | May 1970 | Carolyn Stoddard | |
| 18 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Nightmare Assassin | June 1970 | Carolyn Stoddard | Takes place in 1869, again courtesy time travel! |
| 19 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Crystal Coffin | July 1970 | Betty Ward | A homage to Edgar Allan Poe's 1844 short story The Premature Burial , a text also used in the television series for inspiration. The bulk of the story takes place in 1897. |
| 20 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Witch's Curse | August 1970 | Anita Burgess | Takes place in 1900. |
| 21 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Haunted Cave | September 1970 | Harriet Turnbridge | Though most of the book is set in modern day, Harriet experiences strange dream sequences set in 1705. |
| 22 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Frightened Bride | October 1970 | Ann Hayward | Takes place in 1920. |
| House of Dark Shadows | October 1970 | Maggie Evans | Novelization. Includes scenes cut from the film. Features 16 pages of B&W production stills. | |
| 23 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Scorpio Curse | November 1970 | Diana Collins | |
| 24 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Serpent | December 1970 | Irma Collins | Takes place in 1870. |
| 25 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Magic Potion | January 1971 | Carolyn Stoddard | This story marks a sudden shift in the characterization of Quentin Collins, who up to this point in the range had been portrayed as an enemy of Barnabas. |
| 26 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Body Snatchers | February 1971 | Marjorie Gray | This is the only book in the series told in the omniscient point of view. It also features a rare appearance by Julia Hoffman. It is an homage to Jack Finney's 1955 science fiction novel The Body Snatchers . |
| 27 | Barnabas, Quentin and Dr. Jekyll's Son | April 1971 | Emily Collins | Takes place in 1908. As suggested by its title, a homage to Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde , a text also used in the television series for inspiration. Published the same month TV series aired its final episode. |
| 28 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Grave Robbers | June 1971 | Paula Sullivan | Takes place in 1830. First book published after the TV series was cancelled. |
| 29 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Sea Ghost | August 1971 | Norah Bliss | Features a rare appearance by Julia Hoffman and Professor Stokes. |
| 30 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Mad Magician | October 1971 | Carolyn Stoddard | |
| 31 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Hidden Tomb | December 1971 | Ellen Drury | Takes place in 1866. |
| 32 | Barnabas, Quentin and the Vampire Beauty | March 1972 | Adele Marriot |