Great photos, Joeytrom and LdyAnne!

I haven't read THE SALEM BRANCH yet, but my biggest problem with ANGELIQUE'S DESCENT was Lara's portrayal of familiar characters, making them seem strangely UNfamiliar. Her storytelling is certainly competent, and I would imagine it has improved with her experience since AD. I hope she does a better job of nailing the characters this time around.

Unfortunately, she doesn't.  Though it's not true of all her characterizations in TSB, she misses the mark on a few of them.  For example, she wrote when introducing Quentin:

An inveterate bachelor, he was the sort of philanderer whose faĤade, Barnabas knew, hid the soul of a man who secretly feared and despised women. He charmed them with ease, and abandoned them just as quickly once he became bored with them. And he made no apologies for his behavior. A sinister and elegant exterior hid an empty shell, callous and compassionless.

Oh really?  Did she watch the parts of the series when Quentin fell wholly in love with Amanda and Daphne?  Perhaps we can excuse her for missing the latter storyline, but Angelique was certainly around to taunt Amanda.  As as I said, this is only one example for one character.

The first Big Finish CD, OTOH, contains a scene that feels very right in which Quentin mocks Angelique for being oblivious to pure love.

But this is only part of why I'm getting little enjoyment out of the book.  The other problem I have with it is her writing style, which I would describe as having too many words that don't really add much except to muddy the narrative.  This was most obvious in the earliest chapters.  Just because you could use adjectives and adverbs doesn't mean that you should.   :-

Lord knows, my favorite part of writing DREAMS OF THE DARK was getting inside the people of Collinwood and trying to make sure they really -were- the people we know from Collinwood. While I think there was room for some improvement in areas, I think we did OK.

Oh yes. 

The website says the secret scene was recorded at the Fest.  I'm hoping the castmember is Nancy Barrett.  A cameo from Carolyn would certainly fit the promise that it will toy with our emotions.

To the moderators, I can't seem to get the extra icons to load, twice now when I click on MORE the board freezes. 

I don't know what to tell you because the page has been coming up fine for me.  Which browser are you using?

news about an upcoming surprise on the CDs.

That's cool!

   KLS knows how to part fans from their money. 

Connie, you were probably thinking about this post:

Connie, about 15 years ago my cousin and I were going to Maine to see Stephen Kings mansion, and we stopped in NYC to stay with my cousin friend overnight.  While there we were looking at her "stuff" and there was Jonathan Frids hair.  ...

I'm not putting my responses in spoiler boxes because, well, they're not, but please be aware that you risk having the stories spoiled for you if you read the hidden text in this thread.

[spoiler]So who did they get to play Barnabas on the audio tapes?? I agree, rather against DS canon!![/spoiler]

Miranda, iif you listen to the first CD, you'll find that there is nothing in there that is against DS canon.

[spoiler]I suggest that those of us who are mainly JF fans rather than of the show in general not buy the audio tapes[/spoiler]

You're entitled to feel as you do about them, but I think it's a mistake to suggest that any group of fans not buy the audio CDs.  Oh, where to begin?

First off, if the primary attraction that DS holds for you is Jonathan Frid, then yes, his absence could detract from your enjoyment of the stories.  But I know for a fact that you're a huge Angelique fan, so I would bet the stories will hold some appeal for you.

Secondly, the topic about the WB pilot is by far the most visited topic on these Forums.  Whether we loved or hated the idea, or had an opinion that fell somewhere in between, we were hungry for news about a possible new DS.  And unless it's one of the best kept secrets in fandom, there are no plans to film a new DS.  But we have these audio CDs that offer what fans have been clamoring for-- new stories (not rehashes!) with some of the original cast that are well-written and well-acted.  They make use of original music, are presented as episodes with voiceovers, and they respect the show's history.  An individual with a basic knowledge of DS can follow them, yet a die-hard fan can find many events within the story that will feel comfortably familiar.  Quentin is still droll, Maggie is still traumatized, Willie is still anxious, and Angelique is still unpredictable!

So I'm in the camp that asks fans to give the CDs a try before making pronouncements about them and to support the project if possible.

--I myself am very picky about the DS stuff I will buy.....

I think you should be picky.  But the quality of this is good and it's professional and sanctioned, and therefore I think it is so worth it.