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Post by Zagreus on Aug 15, 2016 16:29:25 GMT
I'm adding this series to my next mega-pass through the Dark Shadows franchise, and, if timed right, I'll actually get to it in the queue for that in its own upcoming 50th anniversary year. I've watched a bit of it before on youtube, and I must say I do like it.
Anyone here seen the series? Or read any of its few tie-in novels?
Also, did any of the former Dark Shadows writers who worked on Strange Paradise in its latter two story arcs ever sneak in some DS references? Or put in side-plots that they'd wanted to do in DS but couldn't?
I'd love to hear more about the series as a whole.
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Post by Trace on Aug 16, 2016 0:59:16 GMT
i have homemade copies of the entire series in storage but have never watched it. I want to someday!!
Are the tie-in novels fan-fiction, or official canon?
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Post by Zagreus on Aug 16, 2016 1:34:15 GMT
There were three officially published tie-in novels. I have no idea beyond that. I shall attempt some research. There's also some fan-produced audio dramas that follow-up the series, which are most definitely not canon, but are the only continuation of the series around, as far as I am aware. EDIT: Apparently there's one audio that's somewhat official, but not (for legal reasons). Ian Martin apparently adapted a lot of Strange Paradise stuff for his work on CBS Radio Mystery Theater. The most blatant is To Die Is Forever, which changes some of the names, but is pretty blatantly set on Maljardin (which is apparently near Martinique, natch). maljardinblog.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/maljardin-revisited-1975/ |
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Post by Zagreus on Aug 16, 2016 2:18:34 GMT
Upon some internet diving, the three published tie-in novels are of the Paperback Library (!), and follow a similar sort of "based on the show but not compatible with it" mold that the Dark Shadows line did.
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Post by Zagreus on Aug 16, 2016 18:44:46 GMT
Interestingly, To Die is Forever states that "Richard the Red-Hand", who is Jacques Eloi des Mondes by another name (yay for reusing plots but changing the names for legal reasons), built the great house on Maljardin "some three hundred years ago" (so we can assume circa 1675) to "house the dusky princess he stole for his bride from the island of Martinique". We can assume it's talking about Huaco
Now, as far as I recall, the only Dark Shadows incidents that date back to even close to that are Isaac Colins' ocean crossing and Judah and Miranda being involved in the witch trials, both in the 1690s. If the two series were to ever formally cross over, this would be the earliest event yet.
Hmm, I wonder if Emily Blair is related to Nicholas at all...
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Rob Morris
Big Finish Creative Team
Avoiding this place for a while as it's become somewhat toxic.
Likes: 781 
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Post by Rob Morris on Aug 17, 2016 8:32:22 GMT
I watched a couple of episodes when Dark Shadows Every Day featured it as a comparison exercise.
It's certainly interesting. And the first episode does have the most hilariously gay thing happen in it I've possibly ever seen.
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Post by barnabaslives on Aug 18, 2016 0:32:24 GMT
This sounds like a fun series to get into, although I've never been clear how much Dark Shadows might be expected to turn up in it. One item I read nearly made it sound like I should expect Bob Cobert music cues and the DCP logo in the closing credits, while another only offered that Ron Sproat was involved in writing a few later episodes of Strange Paradise. He might have been a bit out of the DS loop by that point, also? I watched the first couple of episodes and they weren't too bad, although I haven't developed an affection for it yet. Dunno why I didn't take to it enthusiastically, maybe there were futuristic pants or something?  Such a thing does seem to go on in the present, though... Keep an ear out for Dark Shadows references in things written by this Joseph Lidster fellow, such as Torchwood: Broken. |
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Rob Morris
Big Finish Creative Team
Avoiding this place for a while as it's become somewhat toxic.
Likes: 781
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Post by Rob Morris on Aug 18, 2016 8:58:53 GMT
I think that's the thing about it: it clearly wants to be Dark Shadows but it hits the same problems that anyone who tries to recreate Dark Shadows hits: simply trying to tick boxes because because you've boiled the show down too much to particular elements. (Dan Curtis himself hit this problem in 1991.)
Strange Paradise is even more hampered than most because Dark Shadows was on the air at the time so it had to avoid doing some things in case it seemed like a ripoff.
I know many people don't like Danny Horn's analysis of DS because he often isn't particularly reverential (or to put it another way: rips the piss a bit) but his understanding of soap opera story structure is second to none and on his fifth entry when he analyses what's wrong with the structure of Strange Paradise's first week it's hard to disagree with him.
But it's certainly worth a look. And the title sequence reminds me of a Dark Shadows dream sequence so that's fun at least.
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Post by Trace on Aug 19, 2016 0:12:36 GMT
I found the three paperback novels on Amazon and bought them....used, naturally! Should be fun!
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Post by Zagreus on Aug 25, 2016 4:52:04 GMT
I found the three paperback novels on Amazon and bought them....used, naturally! Should be fun! Be sure to let us know how they are! |
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Post by Trace on Aug 26, 2016 1:19:56 GMT
1 & 3 have arrived! Just waiting for 2!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2016 0:31:14 GMT
I watched a couple of episodes when Dark Shadows Every Day featured it as a comparison exercise. It's certainly interesting. And the first episode does have the most hilariously gay thing happen in it I've possibly ever seen.
I need to see this show immedietly!
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Post by Zagreus on Oct 13, 2016 22:49:01 GMT
1 & 3 have arrived! Just waiting for 2! So how are they Trace? Any good? |
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Post by Trace on Oct 14, 2016 2:31:01 GMT
I think they are!! They remind me very much of the Ross DS books in tone! And while so far, they don't necessarily follow plot lines in the series, they do build on them. I'm only partway into the 2nd book. Liking them very much!!
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Post by Zagreus on Nov 3, 2016 5:30:16 GMT
I want to find a foreign dub (French Creole would be the preferred) and subtitle it with the names changed to be more Dark Shadows. I'd do a blanket change from "Desmond" to Collins, ditto for Desmondton/Collinsport and Desmond Hall/Collinwood. Jacques becomes the 1600s Collins who owned the house that became the plantation in the Caribbean that became the plantation in Angelique's Descent. After the Maljardin storyline is over, with the return to Desmond Hall Collinwood, I'd change Ada to be a grown Carolyn, Philip is grown up David (who is missing), and Julien becomes Paul Stodard, mysteriously back again from the apparent dead. And David has apparently expanded Collins Enterprises to include lumber operrations. Basically, it would be Dark Shadows: The Next Generation: The Caribean Branch. Judging by actor ages, and syncing up "David" with the character's given birth year, this would set Strange Paradise in the late 80s, early 90s. That also lines up with the date of "Paul's" death, now that I think about it. I like it. I am okay with this. I know this invites continuity errors with Return to Collinwood, but it's all in good fun anyway  |
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