Powers of Darkness
The Lost Version of Dracula
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Powers of Darkness
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Narrated by:
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Adam Verner
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Robertson Dean
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Ralph Lister
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Derek Perkins
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R.C. Bray
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 Hans Corneel de RoosListeners also enjoyed...
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What listeners say about Powers of Darkness
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Rory Patton
- 18-10-21
A different look at Dracula
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was however, slightly disappointed in its conclusion which would have benefitted from a more detailed telling to match the first part. The death of the count was far too casual and easy. The second part was quite different from the English version, had it been given the same depth of narrative detail, it might have displaced the English version in my affections.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Jon
- 15-04-20
Only for those particularly interested in Dracula
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.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Rachel
- 02-04-23
For Dracula Completionists
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.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr. C. J. Hoare
- 29-10-22
Best alternative Dracula.
Fantastic book. I am a huge Stoker fan and this the best tribute ever. Its embellishments on the original tale are brilliant. Highly recommended.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- A. J. Cummins
- 25-09-23
Dracula as you have not head
You might think it’s the same. But it’s like a darker reflection. Very cool. Deffo give it a read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- English Teacher
- 23-08-21
Essential Listening for Drac Addicts
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!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Fredrik
- 12-10-21
Different but very much the same
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.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- jd
- 18-12-20
Amateurish
The best part of the original Dracula novel (Harker's stay at the castle) is expanded here in a very poorly-structured rewrite that offers no real suspense. It's a real disappointment.
The reader of this version is also terrible. He uses the exact same voice for everything, only ever altering his speed and volume.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- BadMedisin
- 29-11-21
Very odd book.
If you’re not a bit of a Dracula nerd, you’ll be quite bored by this. I am a bit of a Dracula nerd and I was disappointed.
It starts off with about an hour and a half of forewords and introductions and explanations which are a challenge to get through if you’re waiting for the actual story.
The story is weirdly done. Firstly a lot of the names are changed for no good reason. The first four hours are a long, repetitive and unnecessarily dragging account of “Thomas” Harker’s time at Castle Dracula. This is told with absolutely no sense of sinister atmosphere, suspense or drama and at times sounds like it was written by a child.
When we finally get back to England, the story glosses over the rest of the events in an hour, as if none of it was very important.
I know this is a translation of a translation/ interpretation, somewhat like running things through google translate a few times just to see what comes out, but the result is one of the least exciting stories I’ve ever read.
Also the narrator is ok, I think it would be impossible for him to insert a sense of drama into a story that doesn’t have any.
If you’re a Dracula nerd your only reason for reading this is completeism, and if you’re not, just don’t bother. Even though it’s currently free on Audible…
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1 person found this helpful