Duncan Smith, cover art for "Scorpion Swamp" from Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, 1984

🎵 Great River Road by Zach Schimpf

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The shadow in the tower (Duncan Smith, Fighting Fantasy Gamebook 8: Scorpion Swamp, Puffin/Penguin Books, 1984)

Number 8 in the Fighting Fantasy series, and the first book to be written by the other, American Steve Jackson. Unique in the series, this book offers three different adventures depending on whether you want to be good, neutral, or evil. Somewhat maligned due to this unsual structure and the relative ease of the book (although the evil path is more difficult), Scorpion Swamp is also notable for the non-linear freedom of movement you get and how -- unlike Forest of Doom -- it allows you to revisit areas without creating weird contradictions. Duncan Smith's cover and interior art is generally good, but many of the illustrations, while well done, feature rather boring subject matter (a tree, a unicorn, or your legs covered in crab grass).

Corporal Bob Kelly hands out the parcels to Private Bob Grieve, Lance Corporal Arnold Bennett and Private Bill Stevenson.  Bren gunner Private Duncan Smith glances over his shoulder to make sure he is not left out.

Luna Mae London | Bespoke lingerie SS2018 | Film by Duncan Smith | Model Caroline Winberg

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