1. Journey to the Center of the Atom
Author: Carol Gaskin
Illustrators: Paul Rivoche (cover), Walter P. Martishius (interior)
First Published: May, 1987
ISBN: 0-590-40336-2
Length: 115 pages (plus background material)
Number of Endings: 7
Plot Summary: You are assigned to help two scientists learn more about
the subatomic realm. To accomplish this, you must shrink to an incredibly
small size and see a quark.
My Thoughts: This book has quite a few flaws and redeeming features,
so it's hard to decide whether it's good or not. It seems unlikely that the
educational aspect of the book could be very effective (particle physics are
rather hard to accurately describe in two or three pages of background
material) and the science in the book is really quite silly for the most
part. On the other hand, there are a few moments where interesting ideas
are put forth and some of the endings are delightfully bizarre.
2. Destination: Brain
Author: Seth McEvoy
Illustrators: Paul Rivoche (cover), Walter P. Martishius (interior)
First Published: August, 1987
ISBN: 0-590-40337-0
Length: 112 pages (plus background material)
Number of Endings: 7
Plot Summary: A global plague can only be cured by one scientist's
formula, and a brain injury prevents him from remembering it. You must
shrink, find the damaged area of the man's brain and stimulate the memory.
My Thoughts: While the plot of this book is rather derivative of a
certain classic science fiction film it works fairly well as a gamebook.
The writing is fairly weak, being rather repetitious and using exposition
poorly, but the game aspect is interesting; though the storyline is fairly
linear (something which usually bothers me), the choices make it feel more
flexible than it really is, somehow managing to make it quite enjoyable.
3. In Search of a Shark
Author: Peter Lerangis
Illustrators: Paul Rivoche (cover), Walter P. Martishius (interior)
First Published: October, 1987
ISBN: 0-590-40338-9
Length: 113 pages (plus background material)
Number of Endings: 10
Plot Summary: A box containing the formula for a new shark repellent
is stolen - by a shark! You must retrieve it.
My Thoughts: This book doesn't feel like part of the series; while
the other three books relate to each other through references to each other's
characters, this stands completely alone. It also seems to take place in a
less futuristic setting than the others. Despite its inability to fully
integrate into the series, it's not a bad book, though it also suffers from
somewhat cringe-inducing character names and a bit of hard-to-believe shark
behavior (which admittedly makes the book more exciting than it would be if
the sharks in it were less bloodthirsty).
4. Escape from Jupiter
Author: Seth McEvoy
Illustrators: Bob Eggleton (cover), Walter P. Martishius (interior)
First Published: December, 1987
ISBN: 0-590-40339-7
Length: 115 pages (plus background material)
Number of Endings: 8
Plot Summary: You must explore the moons of Jupiter to find if there
are enough natural resources on them to support Earth when its own supplies
run dry.
My Thoughts: The characters in this book are really exceptionally
annoying but it's otherwise about on a par with the other books in the
series.