The Delvers

I never played the Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks properly until later. All of my fingers were used up as temporary bookmarks as I read through each one, because I wanted to see where all of the decision led. Eventually I would map out the paths on paper to make it easier.

My previous analogy about book covers was based on real events. My mom saw I was really into these gamebooks and purchased The Eye of the Dragon by Golden Dragon for me.

I’m sure everyone has experienced that sinking gut feeling when you wanted a specific toy or some such and you get the knock off brand. Grandparents tend to be more notorious for this, since they are typically removed from your daily life.

But my mom wasn’t removed. She saw the books I liked. How could she get the wrong kind?

Not being a complete asshole, I thanked my mom and did my best to hide my disappointment as I slunk away to my room.

Although the monster on the cover looked cool, this was not Fighting Fantasy and there was that stupid boy on the cover! He was in a toga and tennis shoes. What the hell?

I felt bad for having these thoughts, because I felt my dislike towards the book would hurt my mom’s feelings. So I sucked it up and gave it a shot.

I got to my room, opened it up, and thumbing through the pages my eyes were greeted by the interior art of Russ Nicholson.

I suddenly decided to play proper. As much as I wanted to get to certain entries based off my initial flipping of pages, I kept myself from any spoilers.

I spent weeks playing this book and I kept dying constantly and by the end of the summer I never got my hands on the Eye.

It was fucking awesome.