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41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A truly essential guide, December 16, 2000
The original edition of the "Dark Shadows Almanac" proved extremely popular with fans, and for many of them contemplating purchasing this update, there will be concern that the new edition fails to offer sufficient new material. However, in spite of my general dislike of rehashed titles, I find the "Dark Shadows Almanac: Millenium Edition" to be an exemplary title, which will doubtless be treasured by enthusiasts of the series.If the previous book felt somewhat uncohesive, with its broad mixture of facts, trivia and tributes, this book succeeds in feeling genuinely more authoritative, with a much heavier leaning towards the factual. While the book has smaller dimensions than its parent, its hugely increased word and page count helps make it far more substantial than the original. The typesetting and design is also a great improvement. Of the original fan and alumni tributes, only those of David Selby and scenic designer Sy Tomashoff remain. In their place are new chapters from Kathryn Leigh Scott, Chris Pennock, Denise Nickerson, cameraman Stuart Goodman and Lara Parker, who provides an enthusiastic commentary on her 1998 "Dark Shadows" novel "Angelique's Descent". Bringing the show's story to the present day is a genuinely compelling chapter from Darren Gross, detailing his recent recovery of the lost director's cut of the spin-off film "Night of Dark Shadows". Photographically, this is easily the strongest series guide ever published, with only a handful of its photographs having seen print previously. Unlike the original "Almanac", which relied heavily on amateur snapshots to provide illustration, the new book boasts a genuine wealth of quality photographic content. Aided by excellent reproduction, particularly in the vibrant colour section, the pictorial element alone is worth the purchase price, and will not leave even the most seasoned of fans disappointed. Ultimately, though a few minor errors have crept across from the original, this book manages to genuinely justify its new edition, drawing and building upon the parent book's strengths and in both style and content. Entering a library which could be accused of being dangerously close to satuaration, it is heartening that the "Dark Shadows Almanac: Millennium Edition" allays these fears by proving itself a definitive guide to a classic series.
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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Must-Have for any fan of Dark Shadows!, February 2, 2003
When I was a young lad, I used to run home from school to watch Dark Shadows, that most excellent Gothic horror television program that ran from 1966-1971. Though the show has been off the air for many years, I never forgot my fondness for the show. Now that it is available on tape and DVD, I am back into it. My pleasure was made complete when I got a hold of a copy of this book.This book contains everything I could want: interviews, pictures of the cast and settings, a list of characters, a list of actors, a list of storylines, a timeline of the story, a timeline of the show itself, and so much more! I would love to list everything that is in this book, but it would take me far too long! Suffice it to say, this is a great book, and a Must-Have for any fan of Dark Shadows!
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A New Almanac for a New Millenium, June 22, 2000
Most revised books have only superficial changes--not so with DARK SHADOWS ALMANAC: MILLENIUM EDITION. Filled with new articles and photos even the most diehard DARK SHADOWS fan has NEVER seen, this revised edition of the ALMANAC is a must-have for the DARK SHADOWS fan, the serious soap opera scholar, and a serious fan of popular culture (with an emphasis on cult television). DARK SHADOWS is indeed the series that will not die. Still shown on SCI-FI television, it maintains a loyal following--one that grows annually with new, younger, equally loyal viewers. The Millenium Edition of the DARK SHADOWS ALMANAC is a trove of information for new fans. It is cross-referenced with information about the show, related merchandise, behind-the-camera information, profiles of actors and actresses (some penned by the actors and actresses themselves; for example, a piece by Lara "Angelique" Parker as to how she approached writing the first in Harper Collins new series of DARK SHADOWS novels, ANGELIQUE'S DESCENT). What the buyer will NOT find in this books is simply a rehash of the first version of the DARK SHADOWS ALMANAC. Instead, the reader will find new, updated information and never-before-seen pictures. Words are inadequate when it comes to describing the exceptional level of information--both written and pictoral--in this millenium edition. Just buy it.
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