This may or may not be of interest.  I've written a few articles for the
Lone Wolf E-zine (Rising Sun) about the rarity of various Lone Wolf books
and on a method I've come up with for hitting as many used book stores as
possible for gamebooks.  The first article (relative rarity of Lone Wolf
books) is in Archive 1, while the method for hitting lots of used book
stores is in the current edition located at:
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Quadrant/8474/

On a separate issue, having a survey is a good idea.  It is interesting the
differences and similarities that gamebook collectors have.  The average age
of Lone Wolf readers is 20.2 years.  Check out other Lone Wolf surveys at
http://www.scsv.nevada.edu/~blakej1/tavern/survey/
Thanks
Jason


http://www.scsv.nevada.edu/~blakej1/tavern/survey/

HTML Database Changes:
----------------------
Super Endless Quest #1: Prisoner of Pax Tharkas has been reviewed.

Want List Changes:
------------------
I miraculously happened upon a copy of Sherlock Holmes Solo Mystery #3:
Death at Appledore Towers this morning for ten cents, so I am no longer in
need of that particular book.

Hi everyone.

I have created a rough idea of what the survey page might look like.

To get to this page, please go to Demian's web page, and follow the link
next to the egroup survey section.

Thanks.

Robert.

Brilliant!

Please could you reserve (add it to the mountain!) four of those new books:

1.    Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

2.    Superman: the Man of Steel

3.    The Weird Zone

4.    Project Brain Drain

Many thanks.

Robert.


----- Original Message -----
From: Susan Katz <katz@...>
To: <gamebooks@egroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 23, 1999 9:28 PM
Subject: [gamebooks] Even more new books for sale/trade!


> I unexpectedly came across another pile of books to sell or trade...  Here
> they are:
>
> Solve it Yourself - Mystery at the Bike Race (yes, I found a second copy!
> Robert Clay claimed the first one, but here's another if someone else
> wants it!)
>
> Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (The cards are torn out but in an
> envelope in the back.  Two are missing, but I can provide copies of the
> missing parts thanks to my scanning project.)
>
> Super Heroes Which Way Book #1: Superman, the Man of Steel
>
> Star Challenge #6: The Weird Zone
>
> Find Your Fate Junior (Transformers) #8: Project Brain Drain
>
> And in addition to this, Twistaplot 4 and Lone Wolf 12 remain unclaimed.
>
> - Demian
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/gamebooks
> http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
>
>
>
>
>

That was sloppy of me.  In the previous message I said I had "Mystery at
the Bike Race."  I meant "Ball Game."  My mistake.  It's still the same
book I had another copy of earlier today, so hopefully you know what I
meant...  :)

- Demian

I unexpectedly came across another pile of books to sell or trade...  Here
they are:

Solve it Yourself - Mystery at the Bike Race (yes, I found a second copy!
Robert Clay claimed the first one, but here's another if someone else
wants it!)

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (The cards are torn out but in an
envelope in the back.  Two are missing, but I can provide copies of the
missing parts thanks to my scanning project.)

Super Heroes Which Way Book #1: Superman, the Man of Steel

Star Challenge #6: The Weird Zone

Find Your Fate Junior (Transformers) #8: Project Brain Drain

And in addition to this, Twistaplot 4 and Lone Wolf 12 remain unclaimed.

- Demian

In addition to my web page, I have a secondary project that I'm working on
while I read and review books.  I'm building up a collection of
high-resolution scans of all the parts of gamebooks that are likely to be
missing or damaged (tear-out maps/cards, character sheets, mazes, etc.).
This way I can provide clean copies of missing or damaged parts with books
that I sell as well as being able to send them to anyone in need.  If
anyone needs anything, just ask; if I have it, I'll send it to you.  I
would make these files available on my web page, but I don't have
sufficient web space for them (I only have ten megs).

Right now I'm in need of a few scans since my copies of the books are in
fairly poor condition...  If anyone can get me a hi-res scan of the
bookmark from AD&D Adventure Gamebook 4:  The Soulforge or the action
chart (character sheet) from the first World of Lone Wolf book, I'd really
appreciate it!  If you do send me a scan, don't do it through the mailing
list; I have a feeling not everyone on the list would appreciate getting a
huge graphics file without asking for it first. :)

Thanks!
- Demian

> Maybe we could find out a bit more about each gamebook egroup member by
> having a mini survey?  Maybe the results could be placed somewhere on your
> web site?

I definitely like the survey idea...  It would be nice to know who
everyone on the list is and what they're interested in...  The biggest
problem I can see is the maintenance involved; people will probably want
to change things over time (especially "most wanted gamebooks" and such
which are likely to change frequently).  I'm already maintaining too many
things, so I'm not sure I want to handle a survey as well...  However, if
you or anyone else in the group would be willing to compile the
information into a page and keep it updated, I'd be happy to put up a link
on my page and on the eGroups page (and, of course, fill out the survey
myself). :)

- Demian

Demian / gamebook members,

Maybe we could find out a bit more about each gamebook egroup member by
having a mini survey?  Maybe the results could be placed somewhere on your
web site?

I find myself thinking of gamebook related questions, but then I think, well
I don't know what the other gamebook members like/have read/are interested
in.  If we knew a little bit about each other's likes and interests in the
gamebook arena, then this could lead to some interesting threads being
generated.

Maybe we could all devise a 6 question survey, and you could then take the
questions you think are the best, and turn those into the official gamebook
mini survey?

I'll throw in my 6 questions, and if this generates some other survey
questions responses, then perhaps we could see this idea come to life!

1.    Name a few gamebooks that you would love to have.
2.    Who are your favourite gamebook authors?
3.    What places do you visit to go gamebook hunting?
4.    How many gamebooks do you own?
5.    What are your favourite gamebook series?
6.    What country do you hail from?

Robert.

> Can I take the following two please:
>
> Solve It Yourself: Mystery at the Ball Game.
> Where in the U.S.A. is Carmen Sandiego.

Consider them claimed. :)

- Demian

Hi Demian,

Can I take the following two please:

Solve It Yourself: Mystery at the Ball Game.
Where in the U.S.A. is Carmen Sandiego.

Could you add these to the 'second book mountain'!  :-)

Many thanks.

Robert.



susan katz <kat-@...> wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/gamebooks/?start=19
> I just picked up three new gamebooks which I'd be willing to sell or
> trade.  The first two are somewhat worn former library copies of
> Twistaplot 4: Golden Sword of Dragonwalk and Solve It Yourself:
Mystery at
> the Ball Game.  The third is a slightly bent up copy of Where in the
> U.S.A. is Carmen Sandiego with all of the cards intact and still bound
> into the book.  The Lone Wolf 12 I mentioned yesterday is still
unclaimed
> as well.  If you want any of these, let me know...
>
> - Demian
>
>

I just picked up three new gamebooks which I'd be willing to sell or
trade.  The first two are somewhat worn former library copies of
Twistaplot 4: Golden Sword of Dragonwalk and Solve It Yourself: Mystery at
the Ball Game.  The third is a slightly bent up copy of Where in the
U.S.A. is Carmen Sandiego with all of the cards intact and still bound
into the book.  The Lone Wolf 12 I mentioned yesterday is still unclaimed
as well.  If you want any of these, let me know...

- Demian

> So what you're saying is that there actually is a SwordQuest 3 book?

Indeed there is...  It's right here next to me! :)  If you want a scan,
I can provide one... :)

- Demian

>All the books added to my checklist are now on the want list and the
>following books have been removed:
>Choose Your Own Adventure 91, Crossroads: Warhorn, Find Your Fate 14,
>Pick-a-Path 9, Fighting Fantasy 36, SwordQuest 3, The Way of the Tiger 2,
>and What Would You Do? 4.

So what you're saying is that there actually is a SwordQuest 3 book?
Thanks
Jason


-----Original Message-----
From: Susan Katz <katz@...>
To: gamebooks@egroups.com <gamebooks@egroups.com>
Date: Friday, October 22, 1999 10:19 AM
Subject: [gamebooks] Page Update - 10/22/99


>Checklist Changes:
>------------------
>My non-English gamebook checklist now lists the Fighting Fantasy books
>released in Brazil and Portugal and the first Star Challenge book in
>French.  I've also added more data on the Spanish-language Fighing
>Fantasy and Sorcery! books.
>
>The English-language checklist has had the Narnia Solo series expanded and
>four new series added:  Warhammer Warriors, Masters of the Universe
>Adventure Gamebooks, Earth Brain and Puzzlequest.  I've also properly
>numbered the What Would You Do? series.
>
>HTML Database Changes:
>----------------------
>I've added data on the revised cover of the first Interplanetary Spy book.
>
>Want List Changes:
>------------------
>All the books added to my checklist are now on the want list and the
>following books have been removed:
>
>Choose Your Own Adventure 91, Crossroads: Warhorn, Find Your Fate 14,
>Pick-a-Path 9, Fighting Fantasy 36, SwordQuest 3, The Way of the Tiger 2,
>and What Would You Do? 4.
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/gamebooks
>http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
>
>
>
>
>

I just acquired a copy of Lone Wolf #12 (an American printing) which is
now available for sale or trade...  If anyone wants to claim it now,
please do...  If I don't get any responses within a couple of days I'll
add it to the sale/trade list on my web page; I just figured I'd save
myself the trouble of adding it and then removing it if there's somebody
who wants it right away anyway. :)

- Demian

Checklist Changes:
------------------
My non-English gamebook checklist now lists the Fighting Fantasy books
released in Brazil and Portugal and the first Star Challenge book in
French.  I've also added more data on the Spanish-language Fighing
Fantasy and Sorcery! books.

The English-language checklist has had the Narnia Solo series expanded and
four new series added:  Warhammer Warriors, Masters of the Universe
Adventure Gamebooks, Earth Brain and Puzzlequest.  I've also properly
numbered the What Would You Do? series.

HTML Database Changes:
----------------------
I've added data on the revised cover of the first Interplanetary Spy book.

Want List Changes:
------------------
All the books added to my checklist are now on the want list and the
following books have been removed:

Choose Your Own Adventure 91, Crossroads: Warhorn, Find Your Fate 14,
Pick-a-Path 9, Fighting Fantasy 36, SwordQuest 3, The Way of the Tiger 2,
and What Would You Do? 4.

> I'll believe that. I have to admit that I cheat at gamebooks (but only
> to the extent that I mysteriously win all battles...without rolling any
> dice!)

That I can understand; it's very frustrating indeed to get killed in
combat even though you've made all the right choices...  I'm having
that problem with the second Sagard the Barbarian book, which is the
reason I haven't yet reviewed it...  (I try to win the books without
cheating before reviewing them so my comments can be as informed as
possible).

- Demian

"robert_clay" <robert_cla-@...> wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/gamebooks/?start=9

> Apparently, it's supposed to be the hardest book
> to solve out of the 59 FF titles.

I'll believe that. I have to admit that I cheat at gamebooks (but only
to the extent that I mysteriously win all battles...without rolling any
dice!) and I still haven't gotten through that one yet. What annoys me
about that book is that there are quite a few sections you can get to
where no matter what you choose to do, you die. There are also a few
battles where, even if you win, the game ends. What's the point of
fighting or having a list of choices if you're just going to lose
anyway???

> Steve Jackson deliberately put in
> duplicate paragraphs inside this book to make it harder ( according
to Lafe
> Travis in his review of the book on fightingfantasy.com ), so I wonder
> whether this ties in with what you've found about duplicated
references?
>
> Robert.

I'll have to read that review. There may be some sort of connection.
The weird thing is that the two sets of duplicate references are both
numbered 124-173, and the pages are layed out the same for both sets,
as if the pages were in fact stuck in the book twice. I don't think it
was intentional. Especially if no one else so far has seen this in
their copy.

Aaron

Anyone have any comments on this, or perhaps another misprint story to
>share?
>
I've got a few experiences to share on misprints, erratta, etc.
I've seen two Lone Wolf #1 books that have an extra map/exlibris page.
That's an expensive production mistake because the map/exlibris page is made
out of thick card rather than the thin paper of the book.

I've got a Grey Star#4 that has no Random Number table.  I've also got a GS
that has the same map/exlibris error above.
Thanks
Jason


>
>eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/gamebooks
>http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
>
>
>
>
>

> I've just had a look through my copy, and I can't find any pics that appear
> twice, however the title on my copy is different to yours! ;-)  I wonder why
> Puffin changed the name of the book for the US market?  (The UK book is
> called the House of Hell.)

I would imagine that LaurelLeaf, being a young adult imprint, considered
the word "hell" too objectionable to include in the title...  Kind of
silly, really. :)

- Demian

> First off, kudos to Demian for starting this mailing list. I think it's a
> great idea and an excellent way to keep this wonderful - yet dying - method
> of gaming alive. Who would've thought that the popularity for gamebooks
> would have come and gone so quickly (at least in the U.S.)? It's a shame.

I'm glad so many people have already joined the list!  It's exciting to
feel like I'm making some sort of difference in the gamebook world... :)

> Anyone have any comments on this, or perhaps another misprint story to
> share?

Well, if you visit the "Make Believe It's You" section of my HTML database
you'll find some information about a rather severe misprint in the series
explanation part of the page...  Not too much of a tragedy, though,
considering the rather ridiculous nature of the series. :)

By the way, another update to my web page will hopefully be coming soon,
but I've become simulateously sick and busy and it's slowing me down a
bit...  We'll see what happens, though. :)

- Demian

I've just had a look through my copy, and I can't find any pics that appear
twice, however the title on my copy is different to yours! ;-)  I wonder why
Puffin changed the name of the book for the US market?  (The UK book is
called the House of Hell.)  Apparently, it's supposed to be the hardest book
to solve out of the 59 FF titles.  Steve Jackson deliberately put in
duplicate paragraphs inside this book to make it harder ( according to Lafe
Travis in his review of the book on fightingfantasy.com ), so I wonder
whether this ties in with what you've found about duplicated references?

Robert.


----- Original Message -----
From: TURIELLO,AARON M. <TURIELAM@...>
To: <gamebooks@egroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 1999 8:40 PM
Subject: [gamebooks] A Hello...and an interesting misprint....


>
> Hello all!
>
> First off, kudos to Demian for starting this mailing list. I think it's a
> great idea and an excellent way to keep this wonderful - yet dying -
method
> of gaming alive. Who would've thought that the popularity for gamebooks
> would have come and gone so quickly (at least in the U.S.)? It's a shame.
>
> Anyway, on to start what I hope will be an interesting
thread.....misprints!
> Gamebook oddities and erratta. I'll start off with an unusual one. I just
> traded with Demian a few weeks back for some FF gamebooks, among them the
> family-oriented "House Of Hades". As I was reading it, I noticed that some
> full-page pics appeared twice in the book. Upon closer inspection, I
notice
> that the pages containing references 124-173 are in the book TWICE. It's
> still readable, of course, since all of the references are in there, but
it
> certainly is strange, no?
>
> Anyone have any comments on this, or perhaps another misprint story to
> share?
>
> 'K bye,
> Aaron
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/gamebooks
> http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
>
>
>
>
>

Hello all!

First off, kudos to Demian for starting this mailing list. I think it's a
great idea and an excellent way to keep this wonderful - yet dying - method
of gaming alive. Who would've thought that the popularity for gamebooks
would have come and gone so quickly (at least in the U.S.)? It's a shame.

Anyway, on to start what I hope will be an interesting thread.....misprints!
Gamebook oddities and erratta. I'll start off with an unusual one. I just
traded with Demian a few weeks back for some FF gamebooks, among them the
family-oriented "House Of Hades". As I was reading it, I noticed that some
full-page pics appeared twice in the book. Upon closer inspection, I notice
that the pages containing references 124-173 are in the book TWICE. It's
still readable, of course, since all of the references are in there, but it
certainly is strange, no?

Anyone have any comments on this, or perhaps another misprint story to
share?

'K bye,
Aaron

HTML Database Changes:
----------------------
The Choose Your Own Adventure - Passport books now have a page in the
database and all six of them have been detailed and reviewed.

> I've got a few pages ready to go that honor SWORDQUEST, WIZARDS WARRIORS AND
> YOU, and a few others.  It may be nice to link to them from your listing
> page (or then again, maybe not, it is your page and I don't want to impose).
> As far as I'm concerned, the more web pages out there honoring gamebooks,
> the better!!!

I'd be happy to link to your pages once they exist...  I'm trying to keep
external links out of my database (except for official sites) for the sake
of simplicity, but if you made a central page providing access to your
various pages I'd be happy to add that to my main page. :)

- Demian

Actually, I was thinking of starting up a few web pages for some of the
gamebook series' you have listed on your page, ones that I read growing up.

I've got a few pages ready to go that honor SWORDQUEST, WIZARDS WARRIORS AND
YOU, and a few others.  It may be nice to link to them from your listing
page (or then again, maybe not, it is your page and I don't want to impose).
As far as I'm concerned, the more web pages out there honoring gamebooks,
the better!!!

When I post my web pages, I'll let you all know, and you may do what you see
fit.
Thanks
Jason

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert_Clay <Robert_Clay@...>
To: gamebooks@egroups.com <gamebooks@egroups.com>
Date: Monday, October 18, 1999 2:37 AM
Subject: [gamebooks] Re: Update Format


>It's just right!
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Susan Katz <katz@...>
>To: <gamebooks@egroups.com>
>Sent: Sunday, October 17, 1999 9:12 PM
>Subject: [gamebooks] Update Format
>
>
>> Well, there's my first update announcement on the list...  If anyone has
>> suggestions for making the update messages more interesting or useful,
>> feel free to let me know... :)
>>
>> - Demian
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/gamebooks
>> http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/gamebooks
>http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
>
>
>
>
>

It's just right!

----- Original Message -----
From: Susan Katz <katz@...>
To: <gamebooks@egroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 17, 1999 9:12 PM
Subject: [gamebooks] Update Format


> Well, there's my first update announcement on the list...  If anyone has
> suggestions for making the update messages more interesting or useful,
> feel free to let me know... :)
>
> - Demian
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/gamebooks
> http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
>
>
>
>
>

Well, there's my first update announcement on the list...  If anyone has
suggestions for making the update messages more interesting or useful,
feel free to let me know... :)

- Demian

Checklist Changes:
------------------
Justice League of America has been added to the Which Way Super
Heroes/Powers section of the checklist.

HTML Database Changes:
----------------------
The details of the Which Way Super Powers page have been updated to
acknoweledge the existence of Justice League of America.

Reviews have been added to the Give Yourself Goosebumps page for books 4,
8, 13, and 17.

Choose Your Own Nightmare #5 has been reviewed.

Want List Changes:
------------------
Justice League of America has been added to my want list, the above
reviewed books have been taken off it.

This list is devoted to gamebooks such as the Fighting Fantasy and Lone Wolf books and all other forms of printed interactive fiction.

Group Manager: gamebooks-owner@egroups.com

To subscribe, send a message to gamebooks-subscribe@egroups.com or go to the e-groups's home page at http://www.egroups.com/group/gamebooks/