TSR
Before I discovered history, I had discovered Endless Quest books by TSR. I haven’t put the details above because there are 36 of the damn things and, brother, I collected and read them all, too (there was a second series published later in the 90s, but I had outgrown them by then). But the books I did read were, in a word, awesome. Now, if you are not familiar with these modern-day works of literature – you poor, benighted bastard – allow me to fill you in: each Endless Quest book is written from a second-person point of view, with you, the Reader, assuming the identity of the protagonist and making choices that determine the character’s actions and the plot’s outcome; if you made the wrong choice and got yourself killed, well, no matter, chief; just start over and make the right decision the time second time around and no one will be none the wiser, I promise. So, what were these gems of 80s culture and style? Here they are:
“Mountain of Mirrors”, by Rose Estes
“Pillars of Pentegarn”, by Rose Estes
“Return to Brookmere”, by Rose Estes
“Revolt of the Dwarves”, by Rose Estes
“Revenge of the Rainbow Dragons”, by Rose Estes
“Hero of Washington Square”, by Rose Estes
“Villains of Volturnus”, by Jean Blashfield
“Robbers and Robots”, by Mike Carr
“Circus of Fear”, by Rose Estes
“Spell of the Winter Wizard”, by Linda Lowery
“Light on Quest’s Mountain”, by Mary L. Kirchoff and James M. Ward
“Dragon of Doom”, by Rose Estes
“Raid on Nightmare Castle”, by Catherine McGuire
“Under Dragon’s Wing”, by John Kendall
“The Dragon’s Ransom”, by Laura French
“Captive Planet”, by Morris Simon
“King’s Quest”, by Tom McGowen
“Conan the Undaunted”, by James M. Ward
“Conan and the Prophecy”, by Roger E. Moore
“Duel of the Masters”, by Chris Martindale
“The Endless Catacombs”, by Margaret Weis
“Blade of the Young Samurai”, by Morris Simon
“Trouble on Artule”, by Catherine McGuire
“Conan the Outlaw”, by Roger E. Moore
“Tarzan and the Well of Slaves”, by Douglas Niles
“Lair of the Lich”, by Bruce Algozin
“Mystery of the Ancients”, by Morris Simon
“Tower of Darkness”, by Regina Oehler Fultz
“The Fireseed”, by Morris Simon
“Tarzan & the Tower of Diamonds”, by Richard Reinsmith
“Prisoner of Elderwood”, by Bruce Algozin
“Knight of Illusion”, by Mary L. Kirchoff
“Claw of the Dragon”, by Bruce Algozin
“Vision of Doom”, by Mary L. Kirchoff
“Song of the Dark Druid”, by Josepha Sherman
I
won’t claim that each and every one of the Endless
Quest books was a gem, but I gotta believe that at least 2/3rds of them
were. But what was most important about these books was not the story
necessarily, nor even the format, but the fact that they planted that love of
reading that has never left me. This love is what led me to read ever-more
books featuring ever-changing subjects and topics, so that, to a great extent,
I am somewhat self-taught. As the old saying goes, reading really is
fundamental. Oh, and as for the subject matter of these books – wizards,
demons, undead, aliens, espionage and so on – they didn’t scar me, either. Endless Quest books, the works that
launched my own endless quest to improve my education and explore new and
exciting subjects on my own.
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