Dawn of the Dreadfuls - Steve Hockensmith 
 Rating: 1/2 
 (view spoiler)[As the local apothecary rises in the middle of his funeral, Mr Bennett is the only one to see the threat for what it is. Entrusting young Master Hawksworth with the training of his daughters, he tries to defend the town with the help of the single company of soldiers sent by the War Office. A ball at Netherfield Park turns into a siege as a herd of unmentionables attacks, but the timely arrival of Lady Catherine's forces, alerted by Hawksworth after he cowardly fled, saved the people of Meryton. (hide spoiler)] 
 This prequel focuses more on Mr Bennett's efforts to protect Meryton than on his daughters' training. The absence of the original entourage of the family was a great loss and the new characters (Lord Lumpley, Master Hawksworth, Dr. Keckilpenny, Capt. Cannon and his Limbs) were added either to create cheap laughs or as romantic interests. The epilogue with Lady Catherine de Bourgh was the only aspect of the story that interested me.