Beowulf's adventures in gamebook form

The Mytago publishing house has released an adaptation of the classic Beowulf epic. This time, we're exploring the story in the form of a gamebook!

Jonathan Green is an independent British author with over 70 books to his name. He is known for his contributions to the Fighting Fantasy gamebook series and numerous publications from Warhammer Black Library. He has also written for diverse brands such as Doctor Who, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Sonic the Hedgehog, Judge Dredd, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

He is best known here for his ACE gamebook series. As he puts it, these are old-school gamebooks that adapt classic works of literature. However, he strives to inject unexpected and modern elements into them. He has adapted stories such as Alice in Wonderland, Dracula, and OZ in this way.

The Beowulf: Monster Slayer gamebook by Jonathan Green brings an interactive adventure based on the Anglo-Saxon epic of the same name. You take on the role of the legendary hero Beowulf, facing dangerous monsters and solving various puzzles. The book contains 500 game references, hiding many ciphers and plenty of combat. The paperback format (160 x 110 mm) makes it beautifully portable. The black-and-white illustrations inside are drawn by Kevin Crossley.

Beowulf travels to the land of the Danes to help break King Hrothgar's curse: a monster named Grendel Grimslayer. After defeating Grendel, Beowulf faces a multitude of other monsters and beasts. The book is packed with tense combat where Beowulf must prove his strength. On several occasions, you get the chance to glimpse into history—perhaps when Beowulf recounts his ancient adventures or listens to songs about another hero.

J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings, drew inspiration from ancient epic poems, especially Beowulf. Tolkien borrowed not only the names of characters and places but also words and literary techniques, such as alliterative verse and poetic similes typical of Old English literature. Parallels between Tolkien's work and Beowulf are also evident in the culture of the Rohirrim, their linguistic patterns, and their behavior.

Although Tolkien did not create his work entirely from scratch, he brilliantly combined ancient motifs with his own imagination, leading to the creation of the rich and unique world of Middle-earth. This approach shows that great authors have always been inspired by those who came before them and that reading and understanding old epic works can be useful for contemporary writers as well. If you know even a little bit about The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings, you will surely discover traces of the old classics.

At the end of the book, there is a bonus story featuring Grendel Grimslayer. Yes, you can even play against Beowulf!

Read the interview with the book's translator.

author Jan Konečný