2. Tick Tock, You're Dead
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrator: Nagata (cover), no internal illustrations
First Published: November, 1995
ISBN: 0-590-56645-8
Length: 135 pages
Number of Endings: 28
Plot Summary: Your uncooperative younger brother stumbles into a
time travel experiment at a museum and you must bring him back before his
time runs out and he ceases to exist.
Collected In: Give Yourself Goosebumps Books #1-#4
My Thoughts: This is a fairly well-designed book; the various story
threads fit together pretty well and some are creatively reused. There
aren't as many games and non-typical choices as the previous book, but it is
something of a challenge to get through successfully.
3. Trapped in Bat Wing Hall
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrator: Nagata (cover), no internal illustrations
First Published: December, 1995
ISBN: 0-590-56646-6
Length: 137 pages
Number of Endings: 27
Plot Summary: After moving to a new town you have difficulty making
friends until you are invited by a boy you can't quite remember to a club
meeting in a haunted house.
Collected In: Give Yourself Goosebumps Books #1-#4
Translations: German, Italian
My Thoughts: This is the most straightforward,
Choose Your Own Adventure-like book so far in the
series as far as gameplay goes. In every other respect, it's fairly typical.
4. The Deadly Experiments of Dr. Eeek
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrator: Nagata (cover), no internal illustrations
First Published: February, 1996
ISBN: 0-590-67318-1
Length: 130 pages
Number of Endings: 26
Plot Summary: You and your best friend try to find your mother in
the research lab where she works.
Collected In: Give Yourself Goosebumps Books #1-#4
My Thoughts: This book is considerably weaker than the previous
three. The plot is fairly aimless, the internal consistency is poor, and
there's nothing particularly unusual about the gameplay.
5. Night in Werewolf Woods
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrator: Nagata (cover), no internal illustrations
First Published: April, 1996
ISBN: 0-590-67319-X
Length: 133 pages
Number of Endings: 23
Plot Summary: A summer vacation at WoodsWorld turns out to be
rather unpleasant thanks to a multitude of werewolves.
Translation: German
My Thoughts: This is a decidedly strange book; the events in it really
have nothing to do with one another and some of the locations are quite
bizarre. Sadly, this strangeness doesn't prove to be a good thing and the
incoherent text isn't backed up by interesting gameplay. All in all, this
isn't a terribly enjoyable read.
6. Beware of the Purple Peanut Butter
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrator: Nagata (cover), no internal illustrations
First Published: June, 1996
ISBN: 0-590-67320-3
Length: 135 pages
Number of Endings: 26
Plot Summary: Eating food in the off-limits basement of your aunt's
house proves to be a bad idea - it causes your size to change dramatically.
My Thoughts: Like the previous book this is strange , but not in a
good way... The plot is ludicrous (which is to be expected from this series,
I suppose) and the novelties in the gameplay (which include some coin
flipping and choices dependent on time of week or age of the reader) are
pointless and uninteresting.
7. Under the Magician's Spell
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrator: Nagata (cover), no internal illustrations
First Published: July, 1996
ISBN: 0-590-67321-1
Length: 135 pages
Number of Endings: 23
Plot Summary: Your annoying younger sister tags along when you go to
the mall to meet a friend and ultimately ends up causing trouble in a magic
shop.
Translation: German
My Thoughts: This isn't too bad for the series, but it's a fairly
tedious read. Just about the most innovative thing in the book involves
drawing a card out of a deck, but it serves little purpose and is merely
another variation on the pointless randomization that's in many of these
books.
8. The Curse of the Creeping Coffin
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrators: Nagata (cover), internal illustrator uncredited
First Published: August, 1996
ISBN: 0-590-84765-1
Length: 132 pages
Number of Endings: 21
Plot Summary: The graveyard behind your grandmother's house is
presently moving around by itself, a fact which unnerves you greatly...
My Thoughts: This book is surprisingly good for the series; some of
the decisions are aided by actual thought rather than luck and the sarcastic
sense of humor present in many of these books is used much more effectively
than usual.
10. Diary of a Mad Mummy
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrator: Nagata (cover), internal illustrator uncredited
First Published: October, 1996
ISBN: 0-590-84767-8
Length: 136 pages
Number of Endings: 23
Plot Summary: While examining an Egyptian mummy in an American-built
pyramid-shaped skyscraper you stumble across an ancient diary which appears
to have been written by the corpse... in English!
Translations: German, Italian
My Thoughts: While being for the most part stupid and senseless, this
book has several redeeming features. First of all, while it includes many of
the cliches common to gamebooks involving mummies, it twists them enough to
be slightly unpredictable. Second, it uses the phrase Klaatu Barada
Nikto, something a movie buff like myself can't help but appreciate.
Finally, it has more illustration than usual, including a maze used in a
slightly unconventional (but sadly ineffective) manner. Also worth noting
is that the player has an older sibling in this story, something which
happens fairly infrequently in gamebooks of this sort.
11. Deep in the Jungle of Doom
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrator: Nagata (cover), no internal illustrations
First Published: November, 1996
ISBN: 0-590-84768-6
Length: 136 pages
Number of Endings: 25
Plot Summary: You go off the trail on a South American jungle tour
with your friend Zoe and have an adventure.
Translation: German
My Thoughts: This book was a bit more entertaining than most of the
others in the series, but that may just be the result of a personal leaning
towards cheesy adventure stories set in the jungle... In most respects it's
really just average.
12. Welcome to the Wicked Wax Museum
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrator: Nagata (cover), no internal illustrations
First Published: December, 1996
ISBN: 0-590-84772-4
Length: 137 pages
Number of Endings: 22
Plot Summary: On the way to a wax museum, you and two of your friends
get in trouble and are forced to stay in the lobby when you reach your
destination. Your friend Jake decides to wander off anyway, and it's all
downhill from there...
My Thoughts: This book seems to cover a bit more territory than some
of the others in the series, which makes the gameplay a bit more fun than
usual. The story is incredibly unoriginal, of course, but it would be quite
a surprise if it weren't. The book also includes a maze which brings the
Be an Interplanetary Spy series to mind but is
pretty much pointless.
13. Scream of the Evil Genie
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrator: Nagata (cover), no internal illustrations
First Published: January, 1997
ISBN: 0-590-84773-2
Length: 137 pages
Number of Endings: 22
Plot Summary: You find a genie in a cola can and she offers you
three wishes...
Translations: German, Italian
My Thoughts: The genie scenario is a familiar one in the gamebook
world and this is a fairly unexceptional version of the story. This book
does seem to have a wider variety of choices than many other books in the
series, but that doesn't help it to escape the familiarity of its plot.
14. The Creepy Creations of Professor Shock
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrator: Nagata (cover), no internal illustrations
First Published: February, 1997
ISBN: 0-590-84774-0
Length: 135 pages
Number of Endings: 21
Plot Summary: You get hired to clean out an inventors garage, and
what do you do? You go through the door you were specifically instructed
to avoid at all costs!
My Thoughts: This is a very strange book in a series of very strange
books. While its strangeness doesn't really manage to be particularly
clever, it does have its moments and is a fairly enjoyable read. The mirror
world section is particularly interesting. The game design here is also not
too bad, being more sophisticated than usual for the series; sections are
re-used creatively here and there.
Errata: For some reason, the back of my copy of this book (which is
a first edition) lists the next book in the series as Secret Agent
Grandma when it should be Please Don't Feed the Vampire.
15. Please Don't Feed the Vampire
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrator: Nagata (cover), no internal illustrations
First Published: March, 1997
ISBN: 0-590-93477-5
Length: 137 pages
Number of Endings: 21
Plot Summary: The "Vampire in a Can" costume you just
bought turns out to be a bit troublesome when you discover (the hard way)
that the fake blood it contains turns whatever consumes it into a vampire!
My Thoughts: Although the gameplay in this book is almost totally
uninteresting, the writing isn't too bad... Some of the humor comes close to
actually being funny (though not too close). Of some note is the fact
that the first choice comes only two pages into the book; this is a bit
quicker than usual. Further into the story, though, there are plenty of long
stretches devoid of choices. On an unrelated note, it's interesting that the
description on the back cover suggests that Fifi the dog is male. Hmm...
16. Secret Agent Grandma
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrator: Nagata (cover), no internal illustrations
First Published: April, 1997
ISBN: 0-590-84775-9
Length: 131 pages
Number of Endings: 23
Plot Summary: You have to meet your grandmother at the train station.
This being a gamebook, that doesn't prove to be a simple or safe task.
My Thoughts: This is a pretty lousy book; its plot is derivative
(which is no surprise for this series), its internal consistency is just
about nonexistent, and it's full of annoyingly weak attempts at suspense.
17. Little Comic Shop of Horrors
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrator: Nagata (cover), no internal illustrations
First Published: May, 1997
ISBN: 0-590-93483-X
Length: 137 pages
Number of Endings: 30
Plot Summary: A shortcut home from school leads you to a comic shop.
Unfortunately, wandering into the store leads to you getting trapped in an
unusual place...
My Thoughts: This isn't one of the absolute best books in this series,
but it's on the higher end of the scale. The story's not too bad and the
gameplay is made more interesting by some choices which require you to test
your balance and reflexes.
18. Attack of the Beastly Baby-Sitter
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrators: Nagata (cover), internal illustrator uncredited
First Published: June, 1997
ISBN: 0-590-93485-6
Length: 136 pages
Number of Endings: 23 (plus two "false" endings
Plot Summary: You're annoyed when you discover that you're going to
have a babysitter and horrified when you discover that your babysitter is an
evil imposter...
My Thoughts: This isn't the most well-written book, but it does have a
much higher number of mini-games and puzzles than most books in this series,
so fans of gamebook novelties should find it somewhat entertaining...
There's a maze, a follow-the-ropes puzzle, a "spinner" like the
one used in the first book of this series and various other challenges of
luck and skill. The book's continuity is also a bit better than usual...
19. Escape from Camp Run-For-Your-Life
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrator: Nagata (cover), no internal illustrations
First Published: July, 1997
ISBN: 0-590-93489-9
Length: 137 pages
Number of Endings: 23
Plot Summary: Your trip to a summer sports camp turns out to be
considerably less pleasant than you expected...
My Thoughts: Apart from a choice which asks you to point at a random
spot on a map of the United States in order to make a decision, there's
nothing new in this book, though it's not as bad as some of the other books
in the series.
20. Toy Terror: Batteries Included
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrator: Nagata (cover), no internal illustrations
First Published: August, 1997
ISBN: 0-590-93492-9
Length: 137 pages
Number of Endings: 21
Plot Summary: You've won a contest and now you have a choice: do
you want to take a tour of a toy factory, or would you rather get your very
own Annihilator 3000 toy robot?
My Thoughts: This is a pretty dull entry in the series. There are no
games or puzzles to supplement the text and the choices are for the most part
uninteresting. Certain elements of the plot are slightly reminiscent of some
classic Doctor Who episodes, but I suspect it's just a coincidence...
21. The Twisted Tale of Tiki Island
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrators: Nagata (cover), internal illustrator uncredited
First Published: September, 1997
ISBN: 0-590-93500-3
Length: 137 pages
Number of Endings: 21
Plot Summary: Your summer vacation at Tiki Island turns out to be
rather unpleasant thanks to a rumored curse...
My Thoughts: This is a fairly enjoyable entry in the series; the
"quest of the Tiki Eye" plot strand is particularly fun to play
through. A few of the choices in the book are rather frustrating, though;
there are times when the option that seems to make the most sense just isn't
possible. The book also includes a maze which serves as a trap for those who
would cheat...
22. Return to the Carnival of Horrors
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrator: Nagata (cover)
First Published: October, 1997
ISBN: 0-590-21062-9
Length: 137 pages
Number of Endings: 21
Plot Summary: Just when you thought you were safely away from the
Carnival of Horrors, you find yourself trapped in it once more!
My Thoughts: As the title suggests, this is a sequel to the first
book in the series, and it's a worthy successor. While it's almost exactly
the same as its predecessor in terms of plot and format, it's worth reading
for its numerous entertaining puzzles and games-within-the-game. They're not
particularly challenging, but they're the sort of thing I always enjoyed when
I read these books as a kid -- the hand-eye coordination game is a particular
highlight. The book also benefits from an intelligent design -- it's not
entirely linear, and in at least one place it refers back to a particular
plot elements to keep track of what the reader has and hasn't done already.
My only real complaint (a big one, I fear) applies to the rest of the series
as much as to this book, and it relates to the blandness of the writing. The
characters are pure stereotypes, and the humor doesn't go far enough into
absurdity to actually be funny most of the time. If the book had less of a
"paint-by-numbers" feel, I might have gone so far as to say it was
good. Oh well. I suppose it's also worth mentioning that this is the final
entry in the series to feature a nifty prism cover.
23. Zapped in Space
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrators: Nagata (cover), internal illustrator uncredited
First Published: November, 1997
ISBN: 0-590-39774-5
Length: 137 pages
Number of Endings: 22
Plot Summary: You pay a visit to Madame Zapp's Virtual Reality
Arcade, where you get to participate in one of two different VR games:
"Abominable Snow Woman" or "Adrift off Vega."
My Thoughts: Being a Goosebumps book, this is no great piece of
English literature, and, like many other books in the series, its internal
consistency is more or less non-existent; still, it's an above-average kids'
gamebook. The virtual reality theme is a good excuse to use diverse settings
in the story, and both plot strands are satisfyingly goal-oriented. Along
the way to completing each mission, the reader gets to face a variety of
puzzles, ranging from choosing which item to grab to solving word searches
and math problems. There's even a trivia question referring back to an
earlier volume in the series (Trapped in Bat Wing Hall). All of these
challenges are quite simple, but they give the book a lot of flavor. It's
not quite at the level of Be an Interplanetary Spy
as far as puzzles go, but it's up there with the more interesting
Twistaplot books. Also worth noting is the fact
that the cover art is printed backwards -- just look for the artist's
signature and you'll see what I mean!
24. Lost in Stinkeye Swamp
Author: R. L. Stine
Illustrators: Nagata (cover), internal illustrator uncredited
First Published: December, 1997
ISBN: 0-590-39775-3
Length: 134 pages
Number of Endings: 26
Plot Summary: You've just moved into a new house, which happens to
be directly adjacent to a swamp rumored to contain treasure... and ghosts.
My Thoughts: Like many books in the series, this one contains
several storylines, all using the same basic plot elements in totally
different ways; in other words, it lacks internal consistency. This didn't
bother me too much here, though, as each storyline provides a relatively
engaging quest, and puzzles and riddles are used liberally to keep things
enjoyable. It's just about as tacky and unoriginal as the rest of these
books, but its swampy setting and slightly eccentric characters strike enough
pleasant chords to make for fun, if intellectually undemanding, reading.