1. Flight from the Dark
Author: Joe Dever
Illustrators: Gary Chalk (interior and original British cover), Brian Salmon (British Beaver cover), Don Maitz (American cover), Peter Andrew Jones (credited as Peter Jones) (British Red Fox cover)
First Published: 1984
ISBN: 0-09-935890-5 (British editions), 0-399-21217-5 (American Pacer edition), 0-425-08436-1 (American Berkley edition)
Length: 350 sections
Number of Endings: 17 (not including failure by loss of points)
Plot Summary: You are Silent Wolf, a young man studying with the Kai
monks. When the Dark Lords attack and wipe out the Kai monastery, you rename
yourself Lone Wolf and set off to warn the king of the approaching evil.
Collected In: The Lone Wolf Adventures, Lone Wolf Game Book Omnibus
Translations: Danish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Spanish, Swedish
My Thoughts: It's practically impossible to write objectively about
this book. I've probably read and re-read it more times than any other book
that I own. Although the writing is a bit more dry than I remember it being
(I guess childhood imagination does make a difference), this remains a
satisfying start to a grand adventure. The challenge level is neither too
hard nor too easy, with numerous ways to reach a successful conclusion and
choices that are always in some way meaningful. It was a great pleasure to
revisit the adventure, and if you somehow haven't played it yet, you owe it
to yourself to give it a try. Since it's now available for free online play
at Project Aon, there's really no
excuse not to.
The British Beaver edition of this book is not part of my collection; the
scan is courtesy of Tan Hong Kiat.
3. The Caverns of Kalte
Author: Joe Dever
Illustrators: Gary Chalk (interior and original British cover), uncredited artist (first British Beaver cover), Brian Salmon (second British Beaver cover), Don Maitz (American cover)
First Published: 1984
ISBN: 0-09-938530-9 (British editions), 0-425-09357-3 (American edition)
Length: 350 sections
Number of Endings: 21 (not including failure by loss of points)
Plot Summary: Vonotar, the traitorous magician who betrayed the Kai
to the Darklords, has retreated to the icy realm of Kalte and taken control
of the Ice Barbarians residing there; you must capture him and bring him to
justice.
Translations: French, German, Greek, Italian, Spanish, Swedish
My Thoughts: I have very fond memories of this book, but having
replayed it, I'm not exactly sure why. It certainly doesn't strike me as a
bad book by any means, but it doesn't really stand out either. It's a
perfectly decent entry in the series, with all the usual characteristics that
make a Lone Wolf book fun, but it doesn't strike me as being a really
special book the way it did when it first made an impression on me. I think
that initial reaction must have been due to the atmospheric icy setting;
although I maintain that Dever's style of writing is adequate but nothing too
special compared to his greater skill in game design, he does have some nice
touches here that help to convey the peril and beauty of a frozen
environment -- the threat of snow blindness, the interesting Cloudmaker
Mountain, the constant threat of cold-adapted creatures. It all goes by
rather quickly, but there are certainly some nice sights along the way.
The first British Beaver edition of this book is not part of my
collection; the scan is courtesy of Ed Jolley.