Thursday, March 25, 2021

Gamebooks are booming

 Hello all. It's been a while, hasn't it? 

Firstly, I'm mindful that when a blog has a post about how it's been a long time since the last post and that the writer wants to start posting again, it's usually a sign that the blog is dead. So, I just want to say that this blog is definitely not dead yet. And now I'm thinking of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.


I stopped blogging because I got turned into a newt. I got better.

So, why am I blogging now? Well, I have more time now. A little bit. Since starting this blog, I got marred, had kids and went from teaching as a job to teaching as a self employed person. A lot has changed and I didn't engage with the gamebook community much from about 2015 onwards.

I dipping in and out now and then and there are loads of gamebook authors who have popped up. There is a swish looking website called Gamebook News. There is a new gamebook zine called the Gamebook Zine which has done it's first gamebook gamejam on Itch.

Presumably, they named the zine just after watching this advert.

There's also another gamebook podcast out called the Instadeath Survivors Support Group which you can listen to and support at its Patreon page. I'm really excited about the future guests which include great current gamebook authors. I'm also in episode 1, explaining what gamebooks are and the host Brian has done a great job of editing it to make me sound intelligent.

So please listen to it, and, if you can afford to, support the podcast and your local (online anyway) gamebook authors and creators. Or join in with them.

If I do get round to another post, I might make a list of gamebook related podcasts as there are a few, but not too many of them.

Recently, I discovered another podcast called Campaign on Dice where the hosts play through the Fighting Fantasy books with amusing banter. I know there are others though and also Dave Morris (who has managed to keep up a blog this whole time) has been a guest on some podcasts, talking about gamebooks and his latest projects.

I'll get on it as soon as I've looked up what the Ronseal man is up to these days.


Happy gamebooking!


2 comments:

  1. It's great to have you back, Stuart.

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    Replies
    1. Many thanks! It's good to be back! I look forward to more of your posts in future too.

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