Item - Nightmare Universe

This is an interesting item -- a linear novel which has been converted into a gamebook. According to the title page, "[p]arts of this book were previously published in the novel, Gates of the Universe, by the same authors." Since the copyright notice lists both 1975 and 1985, it can be assumed that the linear version of the story was written ten-years before the gamebook version. Origins aside, this is a fairly typical entry in the series, fairly closely resembling the first book in plot and style, though with somewhat less inventiveness on display. There aren't very many chances for decision-making, with every path through the book being either three or four sections long. Fortunately, what choices are available do make a significant difference to the unfolding of the plot, and different paths reveal different aspects of the story, making replay worthwhile. This is no classic, but it's another solid adventure.

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