Dreams of the Dark (Dark Shadows) [Mass Market Paperback]

Stephen M. Rainey (Author), Elizabeth Massie (Author), Lara Parker (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 6, 1999

Blood Revenge

Angelique and Barnabas. Lovers once upon a time, through treachery and deceit they have now become immortal enemies. To pay for her jealousy that left Barnabas damned to feast on the blood of humans, Angelique has been banished to the netherworld. Meanwhile, Barnabas lives a lie, carefully guarding his hellish secret from the unsuspecting mortals with whom he lives -- including Victoria Winters, the ethereally beautiful governess to the Collins family.

Determined to escape her dark imprisonment, Angelique conjures a diabolical plan that will make her flesh again. Using her psychic powers, she will send another vampire to destroy Barnabas, completely. But as she will soon discover, the powers of darkness will find their match in the burning light of innocence . . . and love.

Vividly imagined, grippingly written, each "Dark Shadows novel is filled with the eroticism, supernatural suspense, and spellbinding storytelling that has made this classic daytime serial a timeless hit.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: HarperEntertainment (October 6, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061057525
• ISBN-13: 978-0061057526
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #795,210 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

The writer is not the infamous Stephen King antihero Mort Rainey, but the far more nefarious author of the novels Dark Shadows: Dreams of the Dark (with Elizabeth Massie, HarperCollins, 1999), Balak (Wildside Books, 2000), The Lebo Coven (Thomson Gale/Five Star Books, 2004), The Nightmare Frontier (Sarob Press, 2006, and in e-book format by Crossroads Press, 2010), and Blue Devil Island (Thomson Gale/Five Star Books, 2007); three short story collections; and over 80 published works of short fiction.

Those with long memories may recall that I edited Deathrealm magazine, from 1987 to 1997. In its decade-long history, Deathrealm won a bunch of nice awards and featured hundreds of short stories, poems, and essays by authors ranging from the most established professionals to young, aspiring first-timers, many of whom proceeded to carve out names for themselves in the horror/dark fantasy field.

In 2004, I edited a new anthology for Delirium Books, titled Deathrealms, which features a wide selection of short stories from the magazine. I've edited a couple of other anthologies as well. The Song of Cthulhu (Chaosium, 2001) features 20 stories of Lovecraftian horror, and in 2006, I co-edited (with James Robert Smith) a new anthology for Arkham House titled Evermore, which features short stories about Edgar Allan Poe.

In summer, 2008, Dark Regions Press released a new collection of my short fiction, titled Other Gods, featuring 16 of my tales. Dark Regions is scheduled to release another collection of my short fiction, titled The Gaki & Other Hungry Spirits in 2011.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it and Read it - You'll LOVE it!, October 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dreams of the Dark (Dark Shadows) (Mass Market Paperback)

I LOVED this new Dark Shadows novel. It is true to the series in so many ways, with lots of little references that only die-hard DS fans would notice as well as twists and turns and surprises! I mean, the "Pennock Supper Club?" Who else but real DS fans would write a nifty reference like this into a novel! And there are so many more! I could feel Collinsport and Collinwood as if I was really there. Barnabas is written true-to-form! I especially loved the way Victoria Winters was presented. I always knew she was from an orphanage and knew she was battling insecurities that we the viewers just couldn't really see; this book gives us fresh insight into her fears of abandonment (which most adults who were raised in such a situtation would be haunted by) and I liked her all the more for her courage in face of her fears. And talk about sensual! I loved it and read it in two sittings. I hope that we see more Rainey-Massie Dark Shadows novels, as well as more from our favorite "witch" Lara Parker!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Note to Harper: "More, please!", November 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dreams of the Dark (Dark Shadows) (Mass Market Paperback)

Let's hope that Lara Parker's words in her introduction to this great book are true: that there are many more stories to come. When I last heard, Harper had committed only to Ms. Parker's ANGELIQUE'S DESCENT and this book which is, with all respect to Ms. Parker, much superior to the first. Authors Rainey and Massie have taken the best aspects of the series (suspense and romance) and given them an updated point of view, while still apparently setting the story in 1968. A cameo by Chris Jennings whets the appetite for more appearances by other familiar characters in books to come. The "revelation" about Victoria Winters did seem to be somewhat tacked-on (and will hopefully be more fully dealt with in a future book), but, to true fans of the show who are aware of at least one interview given by Alexandra Moltke, can hardly come as a surprise. My only regret was the absence of Julia Hoffman, but given the theme of the book, her appearance may have been too much of a complication for the authors to deal with. Harper should take note of the lucrative paperback franchise of Star Trek novels and, true to Lara Parker's words, give DS fans old and new more great novels such as this.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, March 1, 2004

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dreams of the Dark (Dark Shadows) (Mass Market Paperback)

Angelique has spent untold time in her damnation, plotting revenge against her truelove, Barnabas Collins and everyone close to him. And now, she has found the perfect tool, a powerful vampire named Thomas Rathburn. Barnabas has succeeded in keeping the secret of his vampirism, but now he stands to loss everything. Plus, if Angelique succeeds in returning to life, there will be no escape for Barnabas Collins.

This wonderful novel is based on the American television show Dark Shadows (1966-71), and brings back all of the magic of that great show! I loved the way that the author used the old characters, and yet brings them to life with new details. Plus, I found the character of Thomas Rathburn to be fascinating in his own right.

If you are a fan of the old Dark Shadows, then you will *love* this book. If you are a fan of Gothic horror, and are not familiar with the show, you will still find this to be a great book, with a great story and characters. I highly recommend this book!