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Powers of Darkness

The Lost Version of Dracula

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About this listen

Powers of Darkness is an incredible literary discovery. In 1900, Icelandic publisher and writer Valdimar Asmundsson set out to translate Bram Stoker's world-famous 1897 novel Dracula.

Called Makt Myrkranna (literally, 'Powers of Darkness'), this Icelandic edition included an original preface written by Stoker himself. Makt Myrkranna was published in Iceland in 1901 but remained undiscovered outside of the country until 1986, when Dracula scholarship was astonished by the discovery of Stoker's preface to the book.

However, no one looked beyond the preface and deeper into Asmundsson's story. In 2014, literary researcher Hans de Roos dove into the full text of Makt Myrkranna, only to discover that Asmundsson hadn't merely translated Dracula but had penned an entirely new version of the story, with all new characters and a totally reworked plot. The resulting narrative is one that is shorter, punchier, more erotic, and perhaps even more suspenseful than Stoker's Dracula.

Incredibly, Makt Myrkranna has never been translated or even read outside of Iceland until now. Powers of Darkness presents the first ever translation into English of Stoker and Asmundsson's Makt Myrkranna. With a foreword by Dacre Stoker, Bram Stoker's great-grandnephew and best-selling author, and an afterword by Dracula scholar John Edgar Browning, Powers of Darkness will amaze and entertain legions of fans of Gothic literature, horror, and vampire fiction.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc. (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Horror Literary Fiction Scary Fantasy
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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.

For Dracula Completionists

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You might think it’s the same. But it’s like a darker reflection. Very cool. Deffo give it a read.

Dracula as you have not head

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Best heard as a companion piece to the original novel, PoD explores the character of Dracula in greater depth, creates new characters from nothing, and gives details of the New World that the Count wished to build. Bonus nerd points: Ralph Lister, who reads most of the book, played Walter Dolnase in Hellsing Ultimate, an anime series that riffs off Stoker's novel. Marvellous work!

Essential Listening for Drac Addicts

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I certainly don’t recommend this over the original, as it is technically and plot-wise inferior to the original on all points. It expands Harker’s experience in Transylvania, introducing plot points with little to no pay-off, though it still makes for a somewhat interesting read. On the other hand, it abbreviates the rest of the story to about 9,000 words (according to one of the prefaces that really should be listened to after the story itself), omitting much.
If you’re a die-hard Dracula fan it will be an interesting though inferior read, otherwise I can’t recommend it.

Only for those particularly interested in Dracula

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A different version of Dracula, but somehow remarkably similar. The biggest difference being the time spent in the count's Castle, which is in Powers of Darkness 80% of the text.

I can only recommend it for those who've already read Bram Stoker's Dracula. The quality of characters and plot points lost would be greater than those they gain if the reader chooses Powers of Darkness before Dracula.

Different but very much the same

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