Fantasy Forest is a series of ten gamebooks published by TSR, Inc. from 1983 to 1984. [1] The books are works of children's literature; eight of them are set in the fantasy world of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game created by TSR, Inc., and two are set in TSR's science fiction world of Star Frontiers. They have been compared to other gamebook series, such as Choose Your Own Adventure or Endless Quest. [2]
Format
The series was based upon a concept created by Edward Packard and originally published as the "Adventures of You" series, starting with Packard's Sugarcane Island in 1976. [3] Each story in the Fantasy Forest series is written from a second-person point of view, with the reader assuming the role of the protagonist and making choices that determine the main character's actions and the plot's outcome. Unlike many gamebooks in which the reader's character is left purposefully gender-neutral, [4] there are several Fantasy Forest books in which the reader is placed in an unambiguously female protagonist's shoes. [5]
Books
| No. | Title | Author | Publisher | Date | Genre | Illustrated by | Cover art | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Ring, the Sword, and the Unicorn | James M. Ward | TSR, Inc. | 1983 | Fantasy | Mario Macari, Jr. | Jeff Easley | 9780880380591 |
|
The only book in the series to start in a contemporary setting, the story opens on the main character, referred to by the narrator as "you", trying to prove to their siblings that there is a magical world in the forest behind their backyard.
[1] | ||||||||
| 2 | Ruins of Rangar | Michael Carr | TSR, Inc. | 1983 | Fantasy | Mario Macari, Jr. | Jeff Easley | 9780394723150 |
|
This book introduces the good knight Gregor and his struggle with the evil skeleton king, Nightshade. The reader takes on the role of his brother, Erik, a younger boy accompanying him. In addition to elves, dwarves, magic users, and zombies, this book includes lesser known creatures that are featured in the Dungeons & Dragons
Monster Manual, such as "stirges" and an "umberhulk". | ||||||||
| 3 | Shadowcastle | Michael Gray | TSR, Inc. | 1983 | Fantasy | Mario Macari, Jr. | Clyde Caldwell | 9780880380614 |
|
The recurring characters of Nightshade and Sir Gregor, now referred to as the Good Knight of the Golden Dragon, are featured once again. Rather than reprising their role from the previous novel, the reader instead takes on the role of Molly, who is out picking berries when a halfling stumbles across her and asks for her help in rescuing his brother from the evil Nightshade.
[5] | ||||||||
| 4 | Keep of the Ancient King | Michael Carr | TSR, Inc. | 1983 | Fantasy | Michael Fishel | Keith Parkinson | 9780394723174 |
|
In this book, the reader takes on the role of Amy, whose beloved horse, Acorn, has been stolen by the Shadow Rider, a servant of Nightshade. They join Gregor the Good Knight in journeying to a castle and fighting monsters, where the Shadow Rider tries to tempt the reader with the promise of Acorn's safe return in exchange for betraying Gregor.
[6] | ||||||||
| 5 | Dungeon of Darkness | John Kendall | TSR, Inc. | 1984 | Fantasy | Pamela Summertree | Ben Otero | 9780880380638 |
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As the only villager to escape capture during an attack by the Shadow Rider and Nightshade's troops, the reader joins forces with Gregor the Good Knight to rescue the other villagers. | ||||||||
| 6 | Star Rangers and the Spy | Jean Blashfield, Beverly Charette | TSR, Inc. | 1984 | Science fiction | Mario Macari, Jr. | Joe DeVelasco | 9780880380805 |
|
This book is set in the
science fiction world of the
Star Frontiers game world. The reader takes on the role of Ranger Chaylo, a human boy who is a member of a club called the Star Rangers. The other members are all alien children, such as Rama, who is a female apelike "Yazarian", Carrel, who is an insect-like "Vrusk", and Gogol, who is an amoeba-like but intelligent, humanoid "Dralasite", alien races used in the
Star Frontiers role-playing game. The goal of the story is to stop MR. Drel, one of Chaylo's father's co-workers, from stealing an experimental starship and giving it to the "Sathar", another popular Star Frontiers alien, who plans on using it to invade other planets.
[7] | ||||||||
| 7 | Castle in the Clouds | Morris Simon | TSR, Inc. | 1984 | Fantasy | Gary Williams | Jeff Easley | 9780880381574 |
|
While investigating strange noises in the attic, the reader as the principal character, Mary, is transported to the magical kingdom of Perlon and must make appropriate choices to evade danger and to reach the Castle in the Clouds.
[8] | ||||||||
| 8 | Star Rangers Meet the Solar Robot | Beverly Charette | TSR, Inc. | 1984 | Science fiction | Mario Macari, Jr. | Jeff Easley | 9780880381567 |
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The reader's choices will determine whether Chaylo and the other Star Rangers can prevent an experimental robot from destroying the Solar Star Station. | ||||||||
| 9 | Jason's First Quest | Roger E. Moore | TSR, Inc. | 1984 | Science fiction | Ivor Janci | Ben Otero | 9780394727882 |
|
In this book, the reader takes on the role of the character
Jason from
Ancient Greek mythology. The story begins with Jason as a young boy being raised by Centaurs, detailing the first of many quests that he must go on in order to prove himself worthy of take the throne. | ||||||||
| 10 | The Lost Wizard | Michael Gray | TSR, Inc. | 1984 | Fantasy | Ivor Janci | Ben Otero | 9780394727875 |
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The reader, as Andru, has shrunk to the size of a fly and is on a quest to find the Lost Wizard. | ||||||||
See also
References
- ^ a b Ward, James M.; Macari, Mario (1983). The ring, the sword, and the unicorn. Internet Archive. TSR, Inc. ISBN 978-0-88038-059-1.
- ^ "Series - Fantasy Forest - Demian's Gamebook Web Page". gamebooks.org. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
- ^ "The Day - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
- ^ Hendrix, Grady (2011-02-18). "Choose Your Own Adventure books: How The Cave of Time taught us to love interactive entertainment". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
- ^ a b Gray, Michael; Macari, Mario; Caldwell, Clyde (1983). Shadowcastle. Internet Archive. TSR ; [New York] : Distributed by Random House. ISBN 978-0-88038-061-4.
- ^ Carr, Mike; Fishel, Michael; Parkinson, Keith (1983). Keep of the ancient king. Internet Archive. TSR, Inc. ; [New York] : Distributed by Random House. ISBN 978-0-88038-062-1.
- ^ Blashfield, Jean F.; Charette, Beverly Rae; Macari, Mario (1984). Star Rangers and the spy. Internet Archive. TSR, Inc. ; [New York] : Distributed by Random House. ISBN 978-0-88038-080-5.
- ^ "Castle in the Clouds (Fantasy Forest, book 7) by Morris Simon". www.fantasticfiction.com. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
External links
- Fantasy Forest at Demian's Gamebook Web Page
- Fantasy Forest board game by TSR