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Post by gregm on Aug 3, 2019 23:20:09 GMT
I haven't yet received the second to fourth releases. As mentioned above, I've ordered physical copies from Book Depository. I queried why Victoria Winters (the second) hasn't shipped yet and have been advised they have only been able to get copies in small numbers, and the demand has been outstripping that supply.
I enjoyed the first one. Kathryn Leigh Scott's narration voice seems lower-pitched than her Maggie voice on the BF releases, but her voice pitches higher when delivering the Victoria dialogue (for example) making for a more textured performance.
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Post by silverednickle on Aug 5, 2019 18:16:43 GMT
I'm sorry it has taken so long for you to receive the CDs, though I am glad that their success is going over. Here's to hoping they get all the way through the books. I was worried KLS wouldn't have much to do with her diminished role in Bloodline, but it seems she's been quite busy with other types of Dark Shadows audios. Good for her!
So far, I've been enjoying these stories. They certainly aren't the strongest forms of literature, and some parts haven't aged well, but overall, it's been fun visiting another iteration of Dark Shadows with a seemingly sassier Victoria Winters and a more complicated Collins family tree.
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bobod
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 2,759
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Post by bobod on Aug 5, 2019 18:20:06 GMT
I was worried KLS wouldn't have much to do with her diminished role in Bloodline, That was just to provide a contrast with Bloodlust, where she was the only character in every episode and given a (temporary exit) at the climax. She had The Lovers' Refrain to keep her BF-active as well.
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Post by Trace on Aug 5, 2019 23:59:48 GMT
So far, I've been enjoying these stories. They certainly aren't the strongest forms of literature, and some parts haven't aged well, but overall, it's been fun visiting another iteration of Dark Shadows with a seemingly sassier Victoria Winters and a more complicated Collins family tree. It's true--all of these gothic "pulp" romance/suspense novels from this era are very formulaic, but they are a good, atmospheric read/listen. I could read a 150 page book in one evening! And even when you start to tire a little of the formula, there are lots of fun moments that make you go "hmmmm"--they may be little nods to the show, or little things that could NEVER have happened on the show, or even the strange little oddities like "why does EVERY woman who meets Barnabas Collins fall in love with him--including his cousin Carolyn?" Strange! It's also fun to look for the few appearances of many of the other show characters, and how different they seem from the show--well, it's a parallel time, so naturally! There's Angelique, Quentin, Barnabas, Chris, Julia, Eliot, Willie, Maggie, Carolyn, Vicki, David, Liz, Roger, Burke, Josette (and I'm sure I'm forgetting some!)...and a host of other Collinses from other time periods....plus some memorable new characters too! My favorite stuff are the phrases that became overused by the author--"the older woman" for Liz, "the young governess" for Vicki, the "pretty teenager" for Carolyn, the "red life-giving fluid" for blood, the "evil taint" (HAHA!! that's the BEST!) for Barnabas' affliction, "It's a bad business." for ANY character to utter in conversation about the evil goings-on in Collinsport/or at Collinwood.
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Post by gregm on Aug 12, 2019 9:23:42 GMT
In exciting news, 5th time lucky - Victoria Winters will soon be mine! She's on her way... She'll be here after the two successor readings.
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Post by Trace on Aug 12, 2019 23:21:30 GMT
I’m thoroughly enjoying my first listen of the first book! KLS is a wonderful reader—love her voice, and her talent as an actress pays off in spades. As a diehard fan of audiobooks, I can tell you I have suffered through some real stinkers. Big Finish has never had this problem, utilizing quality actors for their drama. Likewise, these gothic melodramas from the Marilyn Ross archives are even better than the paperback versions with KLS lending her voice and talents, changing inflection and dialect for different characters, and always dripping with vocal gothic intrigue.
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Post by TommyP on Aug 14, 2019 23:57:31 GMT
I’ve just played the sample in the Audible App, it sounds really good like everyone else has said getting KLS to read them was perfect! Her voice is just so easy to listen along to. I’m sadly going to have to wait for next months credit to get the first one, I would love to have the CD Copy’s to go long with my other DS items but I haven’t the space and I hardly ever listen to physical media anymore so I’m really happy that they have released it on both formats.
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Post by gregm on Aug 16, 2019 14:10:23 GMT
Slightly surprisingly, Book Depository has advised that my copy of The Curse of Collinwood (#5) is on its way, 10 days before the advised release date! That's the last of the pre-Barnabas books, the next one (no surprise that it's called Barnabas Collins) is not yet available.
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Post by Trace on Aug 17, 2019 1:48:15 GMT
Slightly surprisingly, Book Depository has advised that my copy of The Curse of Collinwood (#5) is on its way, 10 days before the advised release date! That's the last of the pre-Barnabas books, the next one (no surprise that it's called Barnabas Collins) is not yet available. LOL! This whole thing has been rather weird in its availability! On Amazon, Barnabas Collins is showing up as “in stock” (which we know it is NOT!) and The Curse of Collinwood still says “release date August 26th”! Too funny!
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Post by gregm on Aug 18, 2019 5:48:04 GMT
Slightly surprisingly, Book Depository has advised that my copy of The Curse of Collinwood (#5) is on its way, 10 days before the advised release date! That's the last of the pre-Barnabas books, the next one (no surprise that it's called Barnabas Collins) is not yet available. LOL! This whole thing has been rather weird in its availability! On Amazon, Barnabas Collins is showing up as “in stock” (which we know it is NOT!) and The Curse of Collinwood still says “release date August 26th”! Too funny! I'm going with "lucky to have them" as the blanket response
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Post by barnabaslives on Aug 19, 2019 0:16:00 GMT
Just out of curiosity, can anyone tell me how close the stories are to the original novels so far?
I don't know how or when it will be able to happen, but I've decided I'd really like to have all of these.
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Post by Trace on Aug 19, 2019 2:37:01 GMT
Just out of curiosity, can anyone tell me how close the stories are to the original novels so far? I don't know how or when it will be able to happen, but I've decided I'd really like to have all of these. If I understand your question correctly, these are unabridged recordings of the novels. As such, they are the exact, word-for-word, audio versions. Nothing has been left out or changed from the novels. They are not dramatic audio presentations or adaptations. Just the same as the books. Is that what you mean?
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Post by barnabaslives on Aug 19, 2019 3:57:43 GMT
Just out of curiosity, can anyone tell me how close the stories are to the original novels so far? I don't know how or when it will be able to happen, but I've decided I'd really like to have all of these. If I understand your question correctly, these are unabridged recordings of the novels. As such, they are the exact, word-for-word, audio versions. Nothing has been left out or changed from the novels. They are not dramatic audio presentations or adaptations. Just the same as the books. Is that what you mean? Yes, exactly, thanks. I just wanted to know if should prepare myself to meet all sorts of Collinses I never knew existed. :-)
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Post by Trace on Aug 20, 2019 0:53:11 GMT
If I understand your question correctly, these are unabridged recordings of the novels. As such, they are the exact, word-for-word, audio versions. Nothing has been left out or changed from the novels. They are not dramatic audio presentations or adaptations. Just the same as the books. Is that what you mean? Yes, exactly, thanks. I just wanted to know if should prepare myself to meet all sorts of Collinses I never knew existed. :-) Oh--well, the answer to that is yes--if you're only familiar with the TV series! However, if you've read the paperbacks, you've already met them. And don't expect linear continuity. Lots of time overlaps, which you'll either decide to call many different parallel universes, or just ignore them all together!
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Post by silverednickle on Aug 21, 2019 18:04:57 GMT
Marilyn Ross wrote so many novels under so many names and didn't worry about continuity, which we've become especially aware of these days. These are fun adventures with insert your villain and/or monster of the week, and a lot of relations of the week. Best to enjoy the ride and not fuss about the questionable scaffolding of plot to get you through story.
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Post by gregm on Aug 22, 2019 11:28:25 GMT
Just to uodate - go on holidays for a week and The Mystery of Collinwood, allegedly dispatched, has been cancelled and refunded...? Must have been an error as it well before the listed release date.
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Post by Trace on Aug 27, 2019 0:11:15 GMT
Wow! The Apple/iTunes Store had books 5 and 6, The Curse of Collinwood and Barnabas Collins, available for download IMMEDIATELY on the expected release date, August 26th! Bought, and downloaded! Love the expediency!
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Post by TommyP on Aug 28, 2019 3:49:49 GMT
To anyone who still hasn’t picked up any of these yet Audible have a 40% discount sale on all available downloads meaning you can pick up a copy for around a £5 which isn’t bad for 6hours of audio...
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Post by Trace on Aug 28, 2019 16:30:06 GMT
I’ve noticed that 6 more of Marilyn Ross’s novels, outside of, and in addition to, all 32 of the DS books are on the schedule to be released. The non-DS books are on the schedule for 2 in a few days, 2 more in Nov., and 2 more in Dec. The narrator is Romy Nordlinger—which accounts for the initial confusion when she was listed as the narrator of the DS books, before the change to Kathryn Leigh Scott.
So far, I see no indication that the novelization of “House of Dark Shadows” is in plans for a release. But, if these all continue to sell well, it probably will be.
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Post by gregm on Aug 28, 2019 18:55:28 GMT
I’ve noticed that 6 more of Marilyn Ross’s novels, outside of, and in addition to, all 32 of the DS books are on the schedule to be released. The non-DS books are on the schedule for 2 in a few days, 2 more in Nov., and 2 more in Dec. The narrator is Romy Nordlinger—which accounts for the initial confusion when she was listed as the narrator of the DS books, before it changing to Kathryn Leigh Scott. So far, I see no indication that the novelization of “House of Dark Shadows” is in plans for a release. But, if these all continue to sell well, it probably will be. i've preordered The Mistress of Ravenswood to see if I think non-DS non-KLS Marilyn Ross will appeal to me.
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