I am glad to announce that Operation "Dead Dawn" by Tom Perrett is awarded the Sponsor's Award for the 2023/2024 Lindenbaum Competition.
You can download this gamebook in PDF format here
I came up with the idea about this award, because I felt it was very unfair that such a great gamebook didn't win any of the first three places in the competition. My personal analysis for this phenomenon is that most fans of the genre LOVE fantasy. I am assuming that the subject of fighting zombies didn't appeal
to the judges as much simply because it diverts away from the traditional focus of this genre.
There are no current plans to make the Sponsor's Award an annual thing, but I do reserve the right to give an award if I do like a gamebook more that the rest and I feel that it was unfairly left without recognition.
along with the Certificate, the author received
a monetary award in the amount of 40.00 USD
The gamebook "Dead Dawn" was my favorite for winning the prize this year by a lot. This short gamebook is a piece of art in every way - writing, twists and turns, difficult choices, battle mechanics and so on. I've never been a fan of zombies in books, movies or games, but this adventure was so well done, I couldn't put it down.
Here is what I praise Operation "Dead Dawn" for.
1. Very well done encounter mechanics. I would have preferred to have simpler rules, but I don't have a good suggestion on how this could have been accomplished here. Given the nature of the adventure and the specific focus on zombies, it probably couldn't be any easier on mechanics.
2. Excellent literary style, story line, and suspense. I was masterfully kept on my toes by getting enough foreshadowing without giving away any specifics. This made me keep turning to the next paragraph, rushing to find out what happens next.
3. I enjoyed having the difficult choices that didn't have a positive outcome either way. Example, shoot the Female Scientist when she got infected or try to carry out my orders and bring her home dead or alive. Also, when one of my soldiers died at the end, this evoked strong feelings of loss. I found myself mourning a friend and wondering if I could have saved him somehow. Love the way it was done.
4. Presence of Resource Management. I think this is an aspect that is overlooked in many gamebooks. Making decisions how to preserve resources during encounters always creates more suspense and gives the player choices outside of the narrative. Well done!
5. This brings me to the Battle Mechanics. Very well thought out with plenty of decision making, risk management and damage control. Combined with limited resources, the battle mechanics create a game within the actual game. Excellent work there!
6. Perfect balance between traditional literature and gamebook mechanics.
Final words.
What a great gamebook! It diversifies the traditional focus of fantasy into a completely different subject. Given the combination of suspense, great style, excellent choices and well done encounter mechanics, Operation "Dead Dawn" would be a perfect introduction to gamebooks for new, younger fans.
I, personally, can't wait for the next issue of the Lindenbaum Competition to see Tom Perrett's next gamebook.
If you have not yet played this gamebook, you can download the PDF from here
Special thanks to Stuart Lloyd for allowing me to go ahead with this award. And most importantly, thank you Stuart for running the Lindenbaum Competition and for keeping our beloved gamebooks alive!
P.S. Tom, if you have anything else published, please share it with us in the comments below! I am already a huge fan of your work.
Peter Agapov
Contributor at LloydOfGamebooks.com
Game Designer at AugmentedRealityAdventure.com
President and Chief Executive Officer of American Limo Naperville
Former Road Captain of Marine One at Operation "Welcome You Home"
