The Rise and Fall of Gamebooks (Part Two)

You can read the first part of the article here.

Although most gamebooks were published until the turn of the millennium, many series vanished much earlier. The decline of gamebooks is attributed to the rapid and financially successful evolution of video games, which experienced a similar boom during the same period. Many gamebook writers subsequently became level designers for games.

The dawn of video gaming, especially text-based games like Zork, offered similar entertainment with often more significant player interaction, leaving gamebooks to die-hard fans and collectors. Gamebooks and video games went hand in hand, and according to Darwin's theory of natural selection, the stronger one won.

It was clear that outdated printed literature, which has been with us for centuries, could not compete with the modern form of computer evolution. Just look at how far video games have come in the last 40 years and the possibilities and genres they offer. A poor, niche product in the form of a pocket book with a fantastic but limited story didn't stand a chance. For example, the Fighting Fantasy series was sold in 2002 to the more famous publisher Wizard Books, who only added a few unpublished and a couple of new titles to the series.

Another reason for the death of gamebooks was likely the new, more conservative financial approach of publishers who, after 2000, narrowed their editorial plans and focused on pure profit. Furthermore, the gamebook never outgrew its origins in children's books, fictional stories, and grandiose fantasy, and many specialists still do not consider it a separate literary genre today.

Compared to, for example, comics—which, like gamebooks, were barely considered literature in the past—modern pop culture society has embraced them enthusiastically. Superheroes in spandex have become entertainment for the general public, thanks not only to Hollywood films and games but, of course, to their own graphic works. Comics are no longer just a hobby for pimply, bespectacled nerds. In this case, the gamebook lost out.

What about the Czech Republic?

Before the revolution, gamebooks were considered an imperialist threat from the Western world, and their boom in our country only came after the fall of the Iron Curtain. Since the early 90s, a fair number of titles have been published here, and many are now considered rarities because they were often released in low print runs or only had one edition. The most successful series here were Lone Wolf and Fighting Fantasy.

The British tradition completely prevailed, and although the publisher Pocket Book tried to bring the American glory of Choose Your Own Adventure to Czech readers, it never achieved the success that the British model enjoyed here. Pocket Book only published 12 titles from the famous American series.

While gamebooks were dying out in the rest of the world, they were experiencing their greatest boom here at that time. Lone Wolf was enthusiastically published by the Science Fiction Fans Association, who gave up after 15 volumes and failed to complete the entire Grand Master Kai period. After the millennium, Polaris took on the Grailquest gamebook series, inspired by the legend of King Arthur. However, the most successful series in our country was Fighting Fantasy (Perseus publishing house), which successfully released the first 39 titles and the four-part Sorcery! saga.

After the millennium, Perseus tried to appeal to Czech fans with a would-be continuation of the series, this time penned by Czech authors Václav Kroc and Zbyněk Dach, called Negart Group. Their attempts brought 14 titles, which, however, barely reached the success of the original pair.

There were, however, more successful Czech attempts at gamebooks. Ignoring the mostly exemplary gamebook adventures for tabletop RPGs like Dračí doupě and others, unforgettable pieces include Ve Službách Krále Reginalda by Michal Bronec, or the slim gamebook Zelekova dobrodružství – Zlodhův hrad, skillfully written by Libor Pavel and Libor Kejklíček. The beautiful gamebook Na rozkaz krále by Ljuba Štíplová might remind many of their childhood years.

The most famous Czech gamebook, however, was the brilliant, witty, and incredibly difficult and readable story O Norikovi, brought to the world by the famous Vláďa Chvátil, who today shines as a successful world-class board game designer.

What does the future hold?

As often happens, history repeats itself, and the dust that settled on gamebooks is disappearing today. Their glory may be gone, but it's not the end of the road. In today's era of mobile games and indie video games, gamebooks have become an ideal way to monetize their fame.

In mobile form, you can enjoy, for example, the complete Sorcery! series (the four-part Magie series) by Steve Jackson, which can be downloaded for a few bucks on Google Play or the Apple Store. On the same market, you can also find the Lone Wolf saga itself and a whole range of cheaper new games that use the classic tree system of choices and decisions.

Some mobile games are even free, although it's clear they don't reach the quality of the original, heart-written gamebooks. Even so, they can entertain you for long hours. Unfortunately, these electronic remakes can be a linguistic pain for Czech readers, as you will rarely find a Czech localization here.

Among book titles, a new gamebook project pops up here and there, but it usually falls into oblivion quickly. An exception in our country was the new edition of unfinished series taken on by the Mytago publishing house. They promised their readers a completely reworked, newly translated Lone Wolf, including unpublished volumes.

Mytago, of course, also publishes unique gamebook one-shots such as Rytíř temného slunce by Swen Harder. At the same time, Mytago creates beautiful accessories for gamebooks, whether they are maps or book boxes where you can place complete series and decorate your library. You might also appreciate the option to purchase a gift wooden chest with a selection of gamebook production.

The Czech community is also regularly enriched by independent gamebook authors. Jiří Mikulík has already successfully published six of the planned eight gamebooks about the elite mercenary Gabriel Knox. The series is very likable and definitely has its place among gamebooks. Jan Kšanda has published several gamebook projects himself, and he too receives praise. You can enjoy a "Mad Max-style" post-apocalypse in the witty horror Junktown by Jakub Krásný, which was created on the foundations of a LARP event of the same name.

Few global gamebooks are being published, but occasionally an interesting project appears. Recently, several titles have emerged that try to restore gamebook glory. The dark sci-fi Verax - Experiment by Jörg Benne, Měsíční oheň by the Sussner brothers, or the aforementioned Rytíř Temného Slunce are just a small sample of all the titles I could name here.

Gamebooks will probably never experience such a rise as they once did, but they have their place among fans. Due to the unavailability, rarity, or uniqueness of some volumes affected by publishing mishaps, gamebooks have become a collector's commodity, and putting together a complete Czech Fighting Fantasy series can be a real challenge, or at least a giant hole in your wallet.

However, some significant titles are slowly returning to the scene, such as the recent reprint of the gamebook O Norikovi (Altar publishing house) or the unavailable Město Zlodějů from Fighting Fantasy (Mytago publishing house), which has curbed the frantic bidding appetites in gamebook auctions.

That, however, does not change the fact that whether on a mobile phone or with a real, tangible book in hand, gamebooks bring joy and entertainment. They will be a great and fun way to introduce children and teenagers to reading books. We who spent our youth with them will always return to them.

Pencils in hand, eraser ready! Let's go roll for stamina and skill.

author Honza Kohoutek

List of parts:

The Rise and Fall of Gamebooks (Part One)
The Rise and Fall of Gamebooks (Part Two)