Series - Storytrails

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Language:	English
Publishers:	Cambridge University Press -- United Kingdom Regensteiner Publishing Enterprises -- Canada Regensteiner Publishing Enterprises -- United States
Categories:	Complexity Level : Basic (No Game System) Format : Hardback Format : Paperback Genre : Adventure Genre : Historical Fiction Genre : Horror Genre : Mystery Genre : Science Fiction Genre : Western Licensed / Adapted Property : Novel Tie-In Target Age Group : Older Children Writing Style : First Person Writing Style : Past Tense
Translated Into:	jué zé cóng shū [抉擇叢書] (Chinese) mí jīn tàn àn xiǎo cóng shū [迷津探案小丛书] (Chinese) Nyomkereső (Hungarian) Silsilat arwa' al-mughamarat [سلسلة أروع المغامرات] (Arabic) Sporhunden (Danish) Storytrails (Bulgarian) Tú resuelves el caso (Spanish)

This series of slim books features a format somewhat different from the usual basic gamebook; the writing is in the first person, and each section of the story lasts exactly two pages – only every other page of each book is numbered. A variety of genres are covered by the series, and despite their brief length, storylines are written in a fairly mature fashion (though still aimed at children). The books were first published by Cambridge University Press in the United Kingdom; selected volumes were reprinted in North America by Regensteiner Publishing Enterprises. The American editions are hardbound and include information on British vocabulary (i.e. "sweet means dessert"); because of their hardcover format, they are more commonly found in public libraries than in private collections, though they are becoming increasingly rare.

Collections

The Storytrails Book of Science Fiction (1987; Terror in the Fourth Dimension and 3 more items)
The Storytrails Book of Thrillers (1987; Invitation to Murder and 3 more items)

Gamebooks

1. Invitation to Murder (1982)
2. Terror in the Fourth Dimension (1982)
3. The Evil of Mr. Happiness (1982)
4. The Haunters of Marsh Hall (1982)
5. The King's Mission (1982)
6. The Stone of Badda (1982)
7. Night of the Comet (1983)
8. The Deadly Trap (1983)
9. The Dirty Dollars (1983)
10. The Tomb of Amenosis (1983)
11. Conspiracy of Blood (1984)
12. Return of the Undead (1984)
13. The Sicilian Contract (1984)
14. The Unsolved Case of Sherlock Holmes (1984)
15. Shadow over the Marsh (1985)
16. The Eye of Heaven (1985)
17. The Hands of Pablo Santos (1985)
18. The Second Conquest (1985)
19. Sherlock Holmes - The Meyringen Papers (1986)
20. The Dark Awakening (1986)
21. Island of the Walking Dead (1986)
22. The Busting of Frankie Da Mora (1986)
23. The Wolf with No Tail (1987)
24. Sherlock Holmes – The Case of the Dancing Bees (1987)
25. Death's Drum (1988)
26. To Catch a Bunyip (1988)

User Comments

Storytrails seem to buck the trend for fiction aimed at pre-teen children as being unrewarding consumption for adults. Thoughtfully and clearly written, these gamebook stories conjure up a warm charm that entertains rather than patronises their early aged readers. For a series of books that are so hard to find, it seems an anomaly that so many were published - an impressive 26 titles can be collected. Recommended... If you can find them!

--Robert123