Opening Moves

The Blackgaard Chronicles #1

by Phil Lollar

An Evil Genius Launches His Attack on the Heart of Odyssey. A conniving city councilman is secretly carrying out plans against John Avery Whittaker and Whit's End. Yet Philip Glossman is only a pawn in a dark game played by the mysterious Dr. Regis Blackgaard. Meanwhile, against Whit's express orders, Eugene and Connie tamper with a top-secret computer room and the destructive Applesauce program is unleashed. Can Whit counter the forces opposing him? What does Dr. Blackgaard really want? Discover The Blackgaard Chronicles, a new book series that explores more of the story beyond the Adventures in Odyssey audio drama series!

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens, Christian Fiction, Chapter Books, Fiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2017

About the author

Phil Lollar has created, written, produced, and performed in dozens of audio and video series, including Adventures in Odyssey, The Little Angels, Jungle Jam and Friends, Iliad House, Little Dogs on the Prairie, 3,2,1 Penguins, The Wubbulous World of Dr Seuss, The Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi Show, The Mr. Men Show, Olivia!, Tom & Jerry, and Space Racers, to name just a few. Two of those series have been credited with re-inventing the art of audio drama: Jungle Jam and Friends, and Adventures in Odyssey. A three-time Seneca Award winner for Excellence in Audio Drama, Phil has also written 20 books. He took a double BA in Radio/TV/Film and Philosophy from California State University Fullerton, and an MFA in Dramatic Writing and Video Production from California State University Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Collin · Rating 2 out of 5]

WOOF, this is hot trash. Whoever told Phil Lollar that fluffing out an already novelette-sized book with novelized verbatim scripts from older AiO episodes - flashbacks with very little meaning to the Blackgaard story it’s supposed to be telling - needs to be reprimanded strongly. Along with Lollar for believing them.

Almost every single POV character does that weird staple of mediocre juvenile fic where they think something funny (“””funny”””) in their internal monologue, then “chuckle” out loud.

I love me some Richard Maxwell, though. The idea of Glossman rolling up in a Pedovan and going “hey kid come with me to Chicago, a Classic Doctor Who villain knockoff wants to recruit you” makes me laugh. Also, Richard rides a motor scooter. lmao.

[Hannah Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is basically a script of the audio drama.

I LOVE listening to Adventures in Odyssey, so I thought “Oh! Maybe the Blackgaard Chronicles will have more information than the audio drama!” Ehh,
Not really. While it was still enjoyable to read, I personally enjoyed the audio drama and I’m not sure if I’ll be finishing Blackgaard Chronicles.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

About 90% content of early episodes, like Connie Comes to Town (and her later conversion), when we meet Eugene, and A Bite of Applesauce. A little background on Glossman and Maxwell.

Great for kids.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

OPENING MOVES is the first several chapters of the new serial series by Adventures in Odyssey. Whit and his wife Jenny are fighting to save the mansion that eventually becomes Whit's End from Philip Glossman who wants to tear it down and turn the property into a stripmall. Jenny dies and as you know Whit gets the property, but then it also shares how Connie and Eugene came to be hired there, other secret stuff, and of course the suspense continues as the villain still wants the property to the extent of causing mass destruction...


I want to read the second book in this ongoing serial to see what happens next! Great book for tweens and elementary age students.


I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

[Cora Rattle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having listened to The Blackgaard Chronicles album, this book is truly very similar. There are some woven thread with Richard Maxwell and Lucy that are not in the audio drama. Overall though, much of the dialogue is very similar.

The story is fascinating and engaging! A light, quick, and easy Odyssey-based read.

[Branson Bowler · Rating 1 out of 5]

Please read the whole review! The first paragraph is not a complete summary of my thoughts!

I'm going to be painfully honest: This book is horribly written (at least in my opinion; I'm no professional critic). There is a flashback basically every other scene, and I personally think the book would have been much better if the first chapter had been omitted, or at least placed somewhere else.

However: book two is leagues upon leagues better, and this one is (unfortunately) necessary reading to fully enjoy and comprehend the second one; my guess is the author just needed to get his bearings around writing this particular series. If (like me) you barely slogged your way through this book, stick it out please. I got the first two volumes for Christmas so I prayed the second one would be better, and it very much is! It took me several weeks to finish this one, but I sped through the second book in just a couple days, despite them being approximately the same length (the second one is actually a few pages longer). If you can, stick it out and see if your interest is piqued by the second book.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has all the wonder and depth of listening to aio, but instead, you're reading more into things from the character's perspectives. 10/10 would do again.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who grew up listening to Adventures in Odyssey and who believes that Dr. Regis Blackgaard is easily the best villain ever written, this series is a must!

As soon as I heard Phil Lollar was writing a novelized series to follow the Blackgaard episodes, I knew I had to read it! For those who grew up listening to the adventures online or on the radio, half of the book will just be a review, re-introducing you to characters and events that have already happened. What I love about this book is that there are brand-new scenes that add to the story which feature the villains of Odyssey: Phillip Glossman, Richard Maxwell and Regis Blackgaard. You get to discover more of the villains' motivations and also see how Blackgaard's reign of terror actually started long before "Applesauce."

I read this book in two days and do not think I will be able to wait for the second book!

[Melody M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering that I have read this series twice in the last couple years, this series is a definite must-read for any Adventures in Odyssey fan!! The books are very short and sweet and made me love the characters even more. The 6th book unfortunately isn't out yet and I don't know when it will be, but if it ever releases, I'll be sure to read it!

I must say that the quality of writing is not the greatest; there were many repeated words and phrases. But you can get over it if you love the characters at all.

[(Katie) Paperbacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy a good Adventures In Odyssey book. It's like going to visit old friends and family that you've grown up with for your entire life. I still enjoy it even though I'm over 30 now.

These books are based on a few episodes of the Adventures In Odyssey radio show. It's been awhile since I've listened to these episodes, but I'm enjoying reading them physically and seeing the inner thoughts of the characters.

[Daniel Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is great. You follow along with the Blackgaard episodes from the show Adventures in Odyssey, and get some background to characters you didn't know before, and explains what was going on in between or during episodes. This book includes "An Encounter With Mrs. Hooper" and "A Bite of Applesauce".

[Djuana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these stories

[Jackman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also sometimes boring- didn't want to read it at first!

[Kaelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It gives more detail about what was happening in the audio drama story! A great read for AIO fans!

[GheenGirls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turtle: great! Return to library.

[Emma Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Although I prefer the later books in the series, as they provide more new scenes and information not included in the episodes, this one was still pretty good.

[Alyssa Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellently written.

[Megan DeMass · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically the same as the audio, I was expecting a little more detail

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm an Adventures in odyssey fan. We listen to them all the time and I love to read their books. I received the first two for Christmas. Took me about half an hour to read them and I really enjoyed getting into the world of Odyssey.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love adventures in odyssey and enjoyed getting more insight behind the stories. This book and the ones that follow do include the same stories from the radio drama but with more detail, which I found interesting.