Stainless Steel Rat

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There have been a lot of gamebooks released based on popular novels. This is, however, the only one I know of actually written by the author of the popular novels on which it was based. This is a good thing indeed, as it is a well-written and entertaining book. Too bad it was only a one-time project. In any case, while it's aimed at an adult audience, the game aspect of the book is fairly simple. There are no rules and the only randomization used involves the flipping of a coin. Oh, in case you care, the American version of the book was released by Ace Books in 1988 while the British printing was released by Grafton Books in 1985.

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You Can Be the Stainless Steel Rat
Author: Harry Harrison
Illustrators: Allan Craddock (British cover), Bryn Barnard (American cover), Dave McKean (interior illustrations, British edition only)
First Published: 1985 (British edition), June, 1988 (American edition)
ISBN: 0-586-06359-5 (British edition), 0-441-94978-9 (American edition)
Length: 156 pages (343 sections)
Number of Endings: 1
Plot Summary: You are a new recruit in the Special Corps. Aided by James diGriz, the Stainless Steel Rat, you must track down Professor Geisteskrank, an evil genius intent on destroying the universe.
My Thoughts: There's a lot to say about this book... First of all, the criticism, which is minimal. The title lies (you in fact can't be the Stainless Steel Rat) and there's only one ending (which makes the book decidedly unchallenging). The title, of course, doesn't really matter, and the lack of challenge is forgivable because this book is just so amusing! It's a long, satisfying and funny read and it doesn't give you the frustration of having to restart again and again. There's also an ancient ruin to explore for those of you who love mapping (for those of you who don't love mapping, don't worry... it's not too hard). I definitely recommend this one if you can find a copy!
The British edition of this book is not part of my collection; the scan is courtesy of Guillermo Paredes.