I post reviews of books and games and stuff here,
as well as my thoughts on the creative process.
~!~ Latest Gamebook: White Warlord & Black Baron ~!~
~!~ Latest Anthology: Invasion of the Road Weenies ~!~
~!~ Latest Game: Master Labyrinth ~!~
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Listed below are the series I own one or more entries of. As I finish them, I’ll add a link to a review under their respective brand. I try to keep the intended age group in mind when I discuss these books, since most of them are for middle grade and teen readers.
The articles will be listed in the order I read the books. So don’t be surprised if Twistaplot #6 is listed first, and #1 near the bottom. It just means #6 was the first book I read for the purpose of this blog.
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The series where it all started. These books put the reader in the role of the hero as he/she adventures through a variety of settings, from the deep sea to the himalayas, from outer space to the distant past. Meant for younger readers, so the focus is more on the novelty of the gamebook genre rather than deep narratives.
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A sister series to CYOA in a way, definitely meant for young readers as text on the page is usually sparse. Not as long-running as CYOA and other series, but the quality level is pretty similar.
Poltergeists, Ghosts, and Psychic Encounters
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A fantasy series where you solve mazes and die a lot.
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Goofy gamebook series that never takes itself seriously, often to a fault. The books are very short and not very involved. Tonally in the same ballpark as Goosebumps. A VERY mixed bag that is occasionally worth a read.
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This gamebook franchise focused on licensed properties like GI Joe, Transformers, Indiana Jones, James Bond, and Jem and the Holograms to name a few. Quality varies quite a bit, but there are a few gems in here.
GI Joe: Everglades Swamp Terror
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A puzzle- and game-heavy series that emphasizes pulp sci-fi comic art rather than plain text. The reader becomes an interplanetary spy who takes on dangerous missions like tracking down fugitives, solving mysteries, and exploring alien worlds. Easily my favorite gamebook series as a kid.
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These chapter books have the occasional puzzle or game, and mainly focus on the adventures of Mario and Luigi, though two volumes were set in Hyrule. The Mario books tend toward the lighthearted comedy adventure end of things.
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Fantasy chapterbooks with multiple paths and endings, and a unique gimmick where every other book has a male or female protagonist. Overall these books have an old school Disney vibe (less Beauty and the Beast, more Black Cauldron). One of my favorites.
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A very short-lived series from the 1980s. Largely in the CYOA style, but the narrative seems a bit punchier.
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A very obscure series of gamebooks based on Bible stories.
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A gamebook series for young readers with a reputation for excellent storytelling.
Terror in the Fourth Dimension
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An unpolished yet atmospheric horror series that actually tries to be scary.
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A more advanced gamebook brand, going as far as involving character sheets and dice combat. A hugely popular and long-running series that is still going strong today, co-authored by Steve Jackson (the Munchkin guy).
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A “Fighting Fantasy” style trilogy set in ancient Greece. Extremely difficult series with unforgiving combat and some questionable design/writing choices, but overall a must-read in spite of its flaws.
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You are a ninja on a fictional world who goes on a variety of missions, usually to kill somebody evil. Utilizes a very nuanced combat system.
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A two-volume RPG gamebook series based on classic horror literature, where you can play as the human hero OR the monster. Written by the Grailquest author, J H Brennan, for better or worse…
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A fascinating and short-lived two-player gamebook series.
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These gamebooks and oddities don’t fall into the categories listed above for any number of reasons. Maybe they’re one-shots, or exceptionally gimmicky, or otherwise completely defy human description. Or maybe I decided the series wasn’t worth digging into further. Think of it as a grab-bag of mystery crap!
You Can Be The Stainless Steel Rat!
Super Eye Adventure: Treasure Hunt
Give Yourself Goosebumps: One Night in Payne House
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I grew up a big fan of short story anthologies, especially scary ones. Here are some favorites.
I started out writing scary tales in my early writing career, and I largely had these books to thank for that.
These are two-part reviews where the first section covers my overall thoughts of the anthology, and the second part recaps and reviews the individual stories.
More Scary Stories For Sleepovers
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The edgier cousin to Sleep-Overs. Stories tend to rely more on gruesome imagery than clever twists.
The Slithering Corpse & Other Sinister Stories
The Dripping Head & Other Gruesome Stories
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Another YA horror series in the same vein as Sleepovers, centered around folklore and outdoorsiness.
Scary Stories for Stormy Nights
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A hysterical series of short story collections about a weird school and its equally weird students.
Sideways Stories from Wayside School
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If I talk about an anthology that isn’t part of a series, or a series I don’t intend to revisit, I’ll post it here.
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Here I’ll talk about weird games that I find interesting.
Click on the picture of the game to read about it.
Uncle Mac's Gamebook Shack 