Dark Shadows Audio Tales, Vol. 4 - Dreams of Long Ago

It's been a bit since I listened to one of the Dark Shadows audio tales.  A recent vacation gave me quite a bit of drive time with which to listen to audios, so needless to say, the next CD of short stories was on the top of my list!  Dreams of Long Ago features four new tales of the characters that I have grown to love over the years, and hearing the (mostly) original actors reprise their roles from the series is always a real treat.  I also enjoy the fact that these stories build on previously released audio tales, as well as set up brand new stories that we will hopefully have sequels to in the future.

 

The CD set opens with "The Reflected Man," featuring the return of Sabrina Jennings. This story has a loose connection to an earlier audio story, "The Enemy Within," which featured Sabrina and Cyrus Longworth.  This short tale fills in a bit of the gap between the time when Sabrina and Chris Jennings were married and the time she moved to Bangor.  Chris is dead, having been murdered on their wedding night, and Sabrina is now working as a waitress in New York City just to make ends meet.  She has yet to make peace with her husband's death, and it seems the dark shadows that have been cast over her life aren't done with her - for out of nowhere, Sabrina begins to be haunted to the image of a man in the reflection of windows ... mirrors ... and any other reflective surface.  Someone seems to be watching her from the other side.  Just as she is about to have a complete breakdown, that reflected man makes contact - and Sabrina soon discovers that not everything is what it seems!  While I do love this story, and the fact that it deals beautifully with the grief felt when a loved one is taken away from us, it does bother me that this story does not quite fit with the dark revelations from "The Enemy Within."  Perhaps at this juncture, Sabrina is completely unaware of the dark secrets revealed in "The Enemy Within," but I think there should have been at least some kind of hint in this story as to the horrors in store for the poor woman...

 

The next story, "Old Acquaintance," features the return of Quentin Collins.  An interesting tidbit about this story is that it is written by Matthew Waterhouse, an actor who portrayed Adric back in the day on BBC's Doctor Who, and who has also voiced a few characters in the Dark Shadows audio tales.  As with many of Quentin's stories, this one provides a glimpse into his past, where he makes a choice that will have dire consequences in the present.  It is New Year's Eve in Collinsport (1971), and while Quentin is celebrating at the Blue Whale, a creature he escaped from over fifty years ago is about to make a reappearance.  Quentin does what he always does to protect his loved ones and the villagers of Collinsport, and this time he has a bit of help from an unexpected source (no, I won't spoil that surprise).  I would say of the four stories, this one is probably my least favorite.  I don't know exactly why, but Quentin is not really a favorite of mine, so his stories feel tame and somewhat bland (even though there is some rather graphic descriptions in this story that might create some bloody visuals in your head!).  But, I suppose fans of Quentin Collins might enjoy the tale.

The third story features Andrew Collins reprising his role as Barnabas Collins in "Devil's Rock."  Since taking over the role of Barnabas (after the passing of the irreplaceable Jonathan Frid), Collins (coincidence??) has managed to assume the character, and his accent rather reminds me of Ben Cross from the '90s television show.  In this story, Barnabas and Willie are off to find Dr. Julia Hoffman.  But they are barely started when they stop in a small town in Maine that has some secrets of its own.  The two stumble across a body that is about to be swept out into the ocean, and unwittingly, by rescuing the body, they set in motion a series of events that will lead them to uncover the dark secret behind the small town's longevity and prosperity.  This story takes a page from the final tale of the television show, in which the characters are chosen by lottery to face a certain fate - only, in this story, they must be sacrificed to the sea or the town faces the retaliation of an insatiable demon.  The only thing is, when these villagers decide that Barnabas will take the place of their intended sacrifice, they are unaware of his own secret - one that could spell disaster for them all!

The final tale on this CD is "Cobwebs," which, quite frankly, is the darkest of all the stories, as it delves into the human psyche and just how fractured and frightening it can be.  Written by Aaron Lamont, who was a co-writer for the Bloodline full cast audio drama, this story picks up after the events in Dreaming of the Water, in which Sebastian Shaw finds himself a patient at Wyndcliff Sanitarium, after having brought Maggie Evans there to escape the horrors of Collinwood.  Now, in "Cobwebs," we find that Sebastian has sunk deeper into darkness, as he slips in and out of consciousness, unable to tell the real world from the dreaming world.  His only companions are a tiny spider, a burned man he meets outside of his room, and the mysterious new doctor who, it turns out, is providing him with new therapy - electric shock therapy!  Christopher Pennock, who played Sebastian Shaw on the television show, reprises the role here, and his descent into insanity is uncanny and frightening.  As he tries to keep it together and focus on what he can only guess to be real, he soon discovers the secret of the burned man, and for long-time fans of Dark Shadows, it will come as no surprise when a long-time villain of the show makes Sebastian an offer her can't refuse ... culminating in that wickedly evil laugh that only she can do!

Overall, the CD offers a satisfying set of tales, but again, I do miss the full length audio stories which feature two or more characters.  I'm hoping the cast is working on a sequel to the Bloodlust and Bloodline stories, because I can't be the only fan wanting to know what's next for the denizens of Collinsport!

RATING:  9 shattered coffee pots out of 10 for continuing in the spirit of the television show and providing fans new stories from the multitude of characters in the Dark Shadows universe!

Mask - Book Two of the League of Secret Heroes series

Having thoroughly enjoyed the first book in The League of Secret Heroes series, I went into this second book with considerable enthusiasm.  After all, as a fan of comics, as well as children's series books, it only stands to reason that a children's series about young super heroes would be right up my alley.  In the first book, our three protagonists - Akiko, Mae, and Josie - find a way to put their deductive and coding skills to work to aid their country during World War II, and along the way, they discover that not only do they make an amazing team, but they also have the chance to become super-powered heroes - the Violet Vortex, the Orange Inferno, and the Emerald Shield.  Together, they formed the Infinity Trinity!  Now, in this second book, the three have another chance to decode some extremely important messages and stop a super criminal from terrorizing San Francisco!

Mask brings the three young heroes to California, where author Kate Hannigan introduces readers not only to Akiko's hometown of San Francisco, but also provides a bit of a history lesson regarding what happened to American citizens of Japanese descent during the time of World War II (after Pearl Harbor).  One of the good things about this book (and this series in general) is that Hannigan mixes some real life history with the fictional tale.  In this instance, readers learn a bit of what it was like for Japanese-Americans who were removed from their homes, forced into concentration camps, and in some cases, separated from their families - all simply because they were of Japanese descent.  As Akiko shares with her friends the story of what it was like to lose their home, their belongings, and everything they knew, the reader can't help but feel the frustration, anger, and incredulousness in the idea that something like that could ever happen in our country!  (Of course, looking at events transpiring in our country right now, maybe it's not so difficult to believe any more....)

At any rate, the jaunt to San Francisco turns out to be more than an excursion to see if they can locate Akiko's mom, who seems to have gone missing, as the three young heroes discover a message that they must decode - one that will lead them to Mrs. B., who had indicated that she would be in contact with them.  As they work to decipher the code, they suddenly find themselves in the middle of more than they bargained for - not only does Akiko spot her mother there in San Francisco (when she should still be in the concentration camp), but the three also come face to face with a group of clowns who seem to want nothing more than the create havoc and destruction by dropping exploding balloons on the waterfront!  Without hesitation, the Infinity Trinity jump into action!

Akiko, Mae, and Josie all learn some important lessons throughout this story - about each other, about never jumping to conclusions, about teamwork, and about their own self-confidence and abilities.  This time, they face the threat of Side-Splitter, a clown with a deadly mission in San Francisco.  They also face the question of whether Akiko's mother is a traitor, helping the Nazis by passing along secret messages, as well as having to decode some very important messages for Mrs. B., which could lead to the truth about whatever happened to Zenobia and all of the other missing heroes, as well as why some of the other heroes seemed to be literally fading out of existence!  

Again, it is rather cool that Hannigan integrates real facts into the story.  The Japanese did use balloon bombs during the war; Executive Order 9066 did force thousands of Japanese from their homes along the West Coast; Genevieve Grotjan and Elizebeth Friedman (both of whom appear in the story) were real-life cryptologists and code crackers who served this country during the war; and the Doll Lady was an actual person who sent spying letters through a contact in South America (although she did not run a store out of San Francisco - her store was in New York).  This type of fictionalization of facts is something the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books did for many years (although, perhaps, not quite to this extent), and it's great to see that authors still want to educate children in some fashion through the stories they tell!

And, of course, I cannot let this post pass without mentioning the comic book pages throughout the story.  In fact, the book opens with a 12-page sequence that shows the arrival of the three girls in San Francisco.  The art by Patrick Spaziante is fantastic, and each panel, each page of art, conveys so much story, it's almost like having an entire chapter encapsulated in just a few pages of art!  I love the mixture of comic and prose, and since most series these days do not have internal illustrations like the books I read growing up, this is a great way to make up for that!

The last book in this trilogy, Boots, is coming out in August, so it will be interesting to see how Hannigan brings this series to a conclusion.

RATING:  8 speeding out of control trolley cars out of 10 for good, clean fun and family-friendly reading with super-hero antics and code-cracking galore!

Capturing the Devil - the fourth Audrey Rose Wadsworth novel

It is always bittersweet to read the last book in any series, because you know this will be the last adventure you get to share with some of your favorite characters.  Although this series was rather short-lived, with only four books, the author, Kerri Maniscalco, created such endearing characters and such a vibrantly real world that I took my time reading this one, relishing every scene, every interaction between Audrey and Thomas, and every clue that would lead them to solving a mystery that had been haunting them since they first started stalking Jack the Ripper!  It has been fun watching the relationship develop and strengthen between Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell - their bantering always makes me smile.  And with this book, Maniscalco provides readers with resolution to more than just the mystery!

Capturing the Devil finds Audrey and Thomas in America, preparing for their big wedding day.  As much as they both relished the ghoulish crimes they have solved, they are content right now with getting everything ready for the most important day of their lives.  But Audrey is receiving some rather unsettling notes, unsigned, about a surprise for her beloved.  And some women have been found murdered in New York City, raising questions as to whether someone is copying the Jack the Ripper murders.  Audrey had thought all of that was behind her, now that her brother had been put to rest - but what if it weren't?  What is her brother had an accomplice?  And what if that accomplice had come to America?  Or, and she daren't even consider this possibility - - what if Nathaniel Wadsworth was not the killer at all?

Maniscalco gives Audrey and Thomas some of their most challenging puzzles ever to solve - and in so doing, ties in everything that has happened to the dynamic duo to date!  Their stalking of Jack the Ripper and the clues Audrey's brother had left behind in his journals; the hunting of Prince Dracula in Romania and the surprising assistance they receive from fellow students at the academy there; and the escaping from Houdini aboard the U.S.S. Etruria and the lessons they learned about each other and what they were capable of while on that journey.  Now, the two of them must take everything they have experienced and learned to capture the devil that has been taunting them ever since they first met!  Of course, if that were all they had to face, it probably wouldn't have been so difficult - but throw in a surprise fiance that claims she was already betrothed to Thomas, thus putting a halt to the wedding of Audrey and Thomas right in the middle of their ceremony ... a father who will do anything in his power to see his son married to the woman of his choosing so as to further his family's political and financial status ... and the ever-increasing desires of both Audrey and Thomas to be with one another when they can't, forcing them to fight their own cravings for each other!  Plus, a trip to Chicago for the World's Fair of 1889, where women are disappearing and a diabolical killer stays one step ahead of the pair, ultimately getting Audrey into his clutches, where he plays a deadly game of cat and mouse that only one of them can possible survive!

While I certainly hate the idea of this series coming to an end, this book is probably the prime example of how an author should conclude a series.  While there was a lot more romance and sexual encounters than in the prior three books put together, the author brings together everything that has been building over those books and creates a very satisfying conclusion to the overarching tale (which the reader will likely not realize was an overarching story until this book!).  At the same time, Maniscalco also provides her main characters with a happy ending that they definitely deserve, and it is one that they have to fight tooth and nail to achieve - but it is well worth it.

So, even though I much prefer ongoing series, I can honestly say that this 4-book series was most certainly worth the purchase and worth the read.  I thoroughly enjoyed all four books, and who knows? Maybe some day in the future, Maniscalco will return to the world of Wadsworth and Cresswell and give us some more great crime-solving adventures!

RATING:  10 sugar cubes doused in rosewater out of 10 for providing a conclusion to the adventures of Wadsworth and Cresswell that will please even the most die-hard fan!

It Rhymes With Lust - a PS Artbooks Picture Novel

I truly do enjoy supporting the independent comic book companies, and quite frankly, they put out some of the best comic material on the market these days.  DC and Marvel have become so boring, rehashing the same stories and same material over and over by different writers and artists.  But the indy publishers put out a lot of fresh stories and unique characters - and in some cases, they re-release some vintage comics that truly deserve recognition.  This small graphic novel I stumbled across in Previews, and since I have come to appreciate a lot of the older works and pulp styles, I picked it up.

It Rhymes With Lust is written by Drake Waller with art by Matt Baker and Ray Osrin.  Baker is probably best known for his work on the golden age stories of Phantom Lady, but he also did work on Canteen Kate and other books back in the day.  (And the writer, "Drake Waller," was actually a pseudonym for Arnold Drake and Leslie Waller, who wrote the story together.)  It Rhymes With Lust was originally published by St. John Publications as one of its "picture novels," which was an early form of graphic novels, featuring comic stories published in a format that was more the size of an old Reader's Digest or TV Guide.  PS Artbooks republished this comic in its original format, and even reprinted the original front and back covers inside!

The story centers around Hal Weber, a newspaper man who arrives in Copper City just in time to witness the funeral procession of Buck Masson - and to catch a glimpse of his old flame, Rust Masson, the widow of the deceased man.  (And, as you can see, the title of the book comes from the sultry woman's first name - which, it should be pointed out, is also a play on words, since this vixen is a villain of the worst kind, whose actions could very well bring about the destruction of Copper City!)  It turns out, though, that Buck is not a very strong-willed man - before long, he's chasing after both Rust and her step-daughter, Audrey Masson.  He longs to help Audrey put an end to her step-mother's plans to completely take ontrol of Copper City, but he can't help himself every time he comes in contact with Rust, and he finds himself helping her with her plans to take out all of her competition!  Hence, it is his "lust" for these women that could prove his downfall.

The story is an interesting twist, as it is usually the male lead that is the hero of the story, with all confidence and strength to stop the crime and protect the innocents; yet, in this tale, Drake and Waller provide readers with a weak-willed man who allows his carnal desires dictate his actions.  It is the strong-willed and determined step-daughter who stands firm in the story and who is the catalyst that finally gets Hal to do the right thing for the city and its citizens.  For a story that is over 70 years old (it was originally published back in 1950), it still holds up well, particularly in today's world where people are clamoring for more strong female leads!

And Matt Baker's art - WOW! Literally, there's no other word I can think of that can truly describe the beauty and artistic talent on display in this picture novel.  Baker's art is tremendous - from the superb, life-like expressions of his characters to his "faded" backgrounds to keep focus on the action going on in the forefront of the panels, Baker provides a beautiful, cinematic feel to the story.  Every panel flows to easily into the next, and the reader can literally SEE the action as it happens - whether it's Rust slapping her daughter in the backseat of the limousine to the climactic scene at the mine. There is intensity in the emotions, in the action, in the story itself that keeps the reader hypnotically drawn into the tale, page after page, and leaving you (ME!) heaving a huge sigh of relief when you reach that final page.

 

Reading this picture novel makes me wish more of the pulp stories from back in the day had been published in this format, rather than just as prose novels!  

RATING:  9 copies of the Copper City Express out of 10 for re-presenting a unique and visually exquisite pulp tale for today's readers to enjoy!

Hardy Boys Adventures, Book 23 - Mystery on the Mayhem Express

Move over Agatha Christie, the Hardy Boys now have their own "mystery on a train."  In the grand tradition of all those locked room mysteries comes the latest of the Hardy Boys Adventures series, featuring a mystery that would stump even Hercule Poirot!  I must say, this latest Hardy Boys series by Simon & Schuster has far surpassed the previous "Undercover Brothers" series and has provided some well-plotted mysteries (although I still wish the publisher would allow the mysteries to be longer, so as to allow the authors to truly flesh out the characters, settings, and mysteries just a bit more...) that, as a non-fan of the Hardy Boys, I have come to really enjoy.

Mystery on the Mayhem Express finds Frank and Joe joining a group of guests on board the Mayhem Express, a train being refurbished by the Bayport train museum.  A local "murder mystery" group is putting on a show for the train in hopes of raising money to support the train museum's preservation of the old trains.  Unfortunately, Frank, Joe, and the rest of the guests (including Chet Morton!) soon discover that the cast of the show are not exactly top notch actors (even if one of them is the Hardys' friend, Biff Hooper).  The murder mystery is rather lackluster until Biff comes to the Hardys with a problem - the member of the cast who is supposed to be kidnapped during the show has gone missing, and it appears he may very well have been kidnapped for real!  But the question is - how does a person disappear from a moving train?

The ghostwriter for this book provides a fast-paced mystery filled with suspects and red herrings, and plenty of secrets that must be dragged out of each of the suspects.  As Frank and Joe investigate, they discover that not only does the missing Trent Couture have a very big secret (that provides motive for a number of people), but a couple of the cast members, as well as a few passengers, have secrets of their own, including some surprising connections to Trent himself.  Throw in the fact that the train was built during the bootlegging years, and the Mayhem family built secret tunnels and hidden compartments throughout the train, and you've got all the makings of a great mystery.

I do enjoy the fact that Chet and Biff are back for this story, but it makes me wonder if their appearance has more to do with the fact that both of those characters appeared in the recent Hulu television show, The Hardy Boys.  Regardless of the incarnation, Nancy has always had Bess and George at her side, so I have wondered why the Undercover Brothers series, as well as this Adventures series, do not feature the Hardys best friends more often.  In fact, Chet's whole "apprentice detective" in this mystery is rather enjoyable, and his popping in at just the right moment is almost TV-worthy in its timing.  And the climactic chase scene on top of the train, with the express train heading towards a bridge that was never completed is definitely suspense-filled writing at its best!

One thing I did notice is more pop culture references popping up.  Chet mentions watching Snowpiercer, and Joe mentions watching Marvel movies on Disney+, and it surprises me that name-dropping like this is allowed, since it will certainly date the book years from now.  Then again, perhaps S&S isn't expecting the book to still be in print years from now, which is rather disheartening.  The classic series was written in such a way that (for the most part), it holds up against the test of time and can still be read and enjoyed today without too many references to date it.  But mentioning specific movies or streaming platforms will definitely date this book is someone 20 years from now picks it up to read it.

Two things that did surprise me in the story: (1) the reference to Chet enjoying food so much.  While there is only one real reference to Chet's weight when he has to try and squeeze into a hidden tunnel, there are a number of instances where either Chet or one of the Hardys make reference to Chet coming on the trip simply to enjoy all of the desserts - in today's climate of political correctness, you'd think someone would balk at writing that pokes a bit of fun at someone who enjoys eating so much; and (2) the casual reference in the book to a gay couple (as well as one of the male suspects having a boyfriend).  While I obviously have no negative feelings towards gay people (well, duh!), I do not find it necessary to see it in books aimed at children.  I will say, though, at least these references were merely in passing and not anywhere as near as overt as the ones in Nancy Drew's The Vanishing Statue, which went way overboard with the references.  

Overall, this was a great book, and I enjoyed it immensely.  Now, I am wondering about the next book, "As the Falcon Flies," as the title can only remind me of a soap opera ("As the World Turns"), and I can't begin to imagine what the story will be!

RATING:  9 months of dirty soapsuds out of 10 for giving the boys a Christie-like mystery to solve that allows their detective skills to really shine!

Doctor Who: Time Lord Victorious - The Knight, The Fool, and The Dead

While I normally do not get any Doctor Who books that don't feature a companion I like - such as Donna Noble, Rory Williams, Bill Potts - but with this new "Time Lord Victorious" multi-media cross-over story, I had to pick up the two novels that are part of the cross-over.  I've read the comic issues, and we have a couple of the Doctor Who Magazine issues that have short comic tales connected to the overall story.  And now that I have read the first of the two novels, a lot of what happened in those comic stories makes much more sense.

The Knight, The Fool, and the Dead is the first of the two novels.  Written by Steve Cole, the story follows the Tenth Doctor no long after his "Waters of Mars" adventure (the third special following the third series of the new Doctor Who show).  Cole does not shy away from the Tenth Doctor's dilemma following what happened in that TV special.  He saved a group of scientists who were meant to die on Mars - only to have the captain from that group kill herself at the end to prevent time from changing.  He had already faced the reality of Davros' observation of how he was so adverse to weapons of any kind, yet he managed to fashion himself an army of companions who would be his weapons for him.  Plus, how many warnings did he get that his time was coming to an end?  He survived the Time War, he defeated the Daleks' plan to wipe out reality, and he had to wipe the memories of one of his beloved companions.  This book is a prime example of why Donna made the Doctor promise her he would find someone (after "The Runaway Bride" Christmas special), because he should never travel alone.  Cole shares the story of what happens when the Doctor travels alone...

The Kotturuh are creatures that are spreading judgment throughout the universe.  When they arrive on a planet, it is to pass sentence on the life form there and to provide a limitation on the lifespan of those living on the planet.  For some, it is hundreds of year.  For others, it is only a few years, a few months, or in some cases, a few days.  No one has opposed them, although there is one who seeks to make a profit from these death sentences.  And there is one ... the last of his kind ... who has traveled back in time to the Dark Ages to explore ... but who realizes that by putting a stop to the Kotturuh in this far past, he could potentially save millions upon millions of lives in the future.  The question isn't whether he can do it or not - he's the Doctor, so of course he CAN do it.  The real question is - should he do it?

It starts out innocently enough.  The Doctor is witness to the fate the Kotturuh have passed upon the people of Andalia.  He witnesses an Ood attack a young girl, Estinee, who is wearing an armor of sorts that could protect people from the effects of the Kotturuh.  And he does what the Doctor always does - he sets out to protect the innocent.  Or so he thinks.  For not everything is what it seems with Estinee, nor is everything what it seems with the Ood (whose name, oddly enough, is "Brian").  As the Doctor and Brian soar through space to find and rescue Estinee, the Doctor discovers he has the opportunity to put a stop to the Kotturuh - to turn their own curse upon them.  But even Estinee questions the idea of extinguishing a race, no matter how awful they may be.  But who can stop the Doctor when he has his mind set on something?  Well, only the Doctor can, of course!

Cole's tale is a dark one, no doubt, but it is spattered with interludes featuring the First Doctor with Ian and Barbara, the Ninth Doctor with Rose, and the Eighth Doctor.  As hinted at by the previous comic stories by Titan and the Doctor Who Magazine, the "Time Lord Victorious" is a story that spans all of the Doctors' lifetimes, and this book solidifies that.  And if your were expecting a nice, tidy resolution at the end of this book, well think again - Cole leaves us with a huge cliffhanger that rivals any cliffhanger the television show has ever had.  As I said above, this story shows us what happens when the Doctor does not have a companion to keep him in check - to remind him of what it means to be human - to remind him of what it's like for those who can't regenerate, for those who only have one life to live.  I think we all know that the Doctor could very easily be victorious in anything he chooses to do, but now we see what could potentially happen when a Time Lord is victorious!

The Doctors are converging and the story is building to a climax .... can't wait to see what happens next in All Flesh is Grass.

RATING:  10 original bulky Lifesuits out of 10 for taking the Doctor down a whole new path and giving fans a chance to see a totally different side to the Time Lord!