During the month of September, I spent my days hard at work designing, laying out, and creating graphics for one of the most intensely detailed projects I've ever undertaken: the third in a series of books about the legendary TV series, Dark Shadows, titled Our Shadowed Past, created by the legendary Bob Issel, Dark Shadows devotee and mastermind of many evil things. (See "Our Shadowed Past III In the Works," September 16, 2025). It's a 256-page volume of essays by fans, interviews with show's stars, fan fiction, and—as the book's centerpiece—a retrospective of the many fan gatherings, all organized by Mr. Issel, at Seaview Terrace, a.k.a. Collinwood, in Newport, Rhode Island. There's also a detailed look at Dark Shadows: Sanctuary, which would have been the fourth Dark Shadows audio drama I wrote for Big Finish, had things not gone south prior to its production.
This book is a big, sturdy monster, with around 750 photos throughout, about
half of which comprise the Seaview Terrace retrospective section. Alas, I've
never been to any of the Seaview gatherings. Brugger and I were planning to go
last year, but HBO tossed a monkey wrench in that plan—see
"A Weekend in Providence," November 19, 2024
for details. But the in-depth essays and photo albums from the gatherings are
so detailed and immersive, it really makes me feel as though I were a part of
it all. We're still hoping we can get there for a gathering at some point,
though the Carey family, who owns Seaview, has put it up for sale (at a cheap
$29.5 million). We'll just have to see how things pan out in the coming days.
If you're even a casual Dark Shadows fan, I don't think you could ask for a better, more compelling volume to
draw you into the world of Collinsport, Maine, and the big house on the hill
known as Collinwood.
Our Shadowed Past III, like its predecessors, is a very limited edition, so few copies will be
available beyond those who pre-ordered the book. However, I can't recommend
this big honking love letter to Dark Shadows highly enough, so if you are interested in a copy, email Mr. Issel at
bobubas59@gmail.com right
now, and I mean NOW. You'll not regret it.
