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147 reviews for:
Powers of Darkness: The Lost Version of Dracula
Bram Stoker, John Edgar Browning, Dacre Stoker, Valdimar Ásmundsson
3.62 AVERAGE
147 reviews for:
Powers of Darkness: The Lost Version of Dracula
Bram Stoker, John Edgar Browning, Dacre Stoker, Valdimar Ásmundsson
3.62 AVERAGE
fast-paced
Far shorter than the original, with quite a bit of literary history prefacing the story. The editors argue that Stoker likely endorsed and perhaps even collaborated with this version, as some of the plot differences track with ideas found in his earlier notes.
The first half of the story nearly matches that of the original, showing us Harker’s journey and imprisonment in Dracula’s castle. It’s more interesting and perhaps faster paced. There are more characters, and the Count’s motives and ideas are more clear; his aims come across as more political and it’s clear he’s in league with aristocrats and other prominent figures.
The second half of the story feels unfinished, more like it’s an outline that was never fleshed out. The plot points seemed more interesting to me than the original Dracula’s highly Victorian commentary on gender and virtue.
The first half of the story nearly matches that of the original, showing us Harker’s journey and imprisonment in Dracula’s castle. It’s more interesting and perhaps faster paced. There are more characters, and the Count’s motives and ideas are more clear; his aims come across as more political and it’s clear he’s in league with aristocrats and other prominent figures.
The second half of the story feels unfinished, more like it’s an outline that was never fleshed out. The plot points seemed more interesting to me than the original Dracula’s highly Victorian commentary on gender and virtue.
An Icelandic version of Dracula written by an academic scholar studying Bram Stoker. This is a more modern retelling of everyone's favorite vampire story. There's the spooky castle that the locals don't go near, a Count who keeps strange hours and sleeps in even more strange places.
It's been a long while since I read the original Dracula but I enjoyed this read. It's relatively short and the plot moves along at a good clip. There is a good economy of characters with just enough to do the job. It has all the suspense and creepiness of any modern horror novel. Lots of fun without the slog of a huge novel.
It's been a long while since I read the original Dracula but I enjoyed this read. It's relatively short and the plot moves along at a good clip. There is a good economy of characters with just enough to do the job. It has all the suspense and creepiness of any modern horror novel. Lots of fun without the slog of a huge novel.
In tutta onestà, ho preferito questa versione all'originale. Ovviamente, Dracula di Stoker resta un capolavoro - e d'altronde, questa versione non esisterebbe altrimenti. Le differenze presenti nel libro sono tangibili, in primis nel rendere il conte una figura più carismatica, terribile, oscura. Se siete fan del gotico e dei vampiri, il Dracula rimaneggiato potrebbe fare per voi.
This adaptation read a lot like a fan fiction with Asmundsson expanding on his favourite parts of Dracula’s world and sweeping his least favourite bits of Stoker’s original story (the majority of what happens in the UK) under the metaphorical carpet.
I honestly found the story behind Asmundsson’s adaptation much more fascinating than the story itself however I can imagine Dracula fans would love his unique take on Stoker’s creation.
I honestly found the story behind Asmundsson’s adaptation much more fascinating than the story itself however I can imagine Dracula fans would love his unique take on Stoker’s creation.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
The full version is written in exquisite English in epistolary style, but this trimmed down version is complete squalor.
It's been years since I read Bram Stoker's Dracula. Part I of Powers of Darkness takes the form of journal entries, which are introspective and tense, set almost entirely within Dracula's castle. Part II follows Dracula to England. It reads like a synopsis of Dracula with its quick recounting of plot points, few details, and little (nil?) character exploration. I seem to recall the latter half of the original book also seemed a little rushed. Still an interesting read.
Touted as the lost true manuscript of Dracula, in reality seems to be just an early draft which was in need of revisions. Seems incomplete and jumbled.
I read part 1 of this book in real time (reading the dated passages in the day), however, unlike Dracula, this book sticks with Harker for the first part. Rarely do we see the other characters. I enjoyed this first part as it expanded on Harker’s time at the castle.
Then we come to part 2…and my liking of the telling fades. We are now with a narrator, rather than the characters telling the tale. It also seems more in the lines of “just the facts”…the build up from part 1 is quickly wrapped up. And we get a ton of new characters. Who are alluded to also be vampires, and who disappear once the count is taken care of, but even that is unclear.
This book feels like it is unfinished..maybe just a draft that needed for fleshing out. Like maybe part 2 was just an outline for a real ending?
Cool to read another version of Dracula, but Bram’s version is still my go to story.
Then we come to part 2…and my liking of the telling fades. We are now with a narrator, rather than the characters telling the tale. It also seems more in the lines of “just the facts”…the build up from part 1 is quickly wrapped up. And we get a ton of new characters. Who are alluded to also be vampires, and who disappear once the count is taken care of, but even that is unclear.
This book feels like it is unfinished..maybe just a draft that needed for fleshing out. Like maybe part 2 was just an outline for a real ending?
Cool to read another version of Dracula, but Bram’s version is still my go to story.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced