Endless Quest

The Endless Quest books were three series of gamebooks. The first one was released in the 1980s by TSR, while the following two were released by Wizards of the Coast. Originally, these books were the result of an Educational department established by TSR to develop curriculum programs for reading, math, history, and problem solving.[1] The first series of 36 books was released from 1982 to 1987, the second series of 13 from 1994 to 1996. These were respectively the first and last gamebooks released by TSR. A short spin-off series of 4 Endless Quest: Crimson Crystal Adventures books were also released during 1985. There were also several series of similar books that did not bear the Endless Quest name.

Cover of Dungeon of Dread

The mechanics of these books involved simple choices in the style of Choose Your Own Adventure books, rather than the game-like randomized elements of Fighting Fantasy gamebooks. However, the stories and characters in an Endless Quest book, while not necessarily more complex than in a Choose Your Own Adventure book, are often more fully developed because the Endless Quest books are much longer. For example, the character referred to as "you" in the text almost always has a name, gender, and backstory. The result is that the books in the Endless Quest series resemble miniature novels with many different endings.

The majority of the books in the series were based on Dungeons & Dragons, but some were based on other TSR games (e.g. Gamma World, Top Secret) or even licensed properties (e.g. Conan, Tarzan).

Mirrorstone, a division of Wizards of the Coast that publishes fantasy fiction for children and teens, began republishing the Endless Quest series in January 2008. The first book in the series is a revision of Claw of the Dragon (#34 from Series One). They have updated the book, including making it gender neutral so it can be enjoyed by both boys and girls, and plan to update and publish more of the D&D books pending the success of this first title.

Endless Quest: Series One

Endless Quest: Series One
#TitleSettingAuthorPublishedCover artInterior artISBN
1Dungeon of DreadD&DRose EstesJune, 1982Larry ElmoreJim Holloway0-935696-86-5
2Mountain of MirrorsD&DRose EstesJune, 1982Larry ElmoreJim Holloway0-935696-87-3
3Pillars of PentegarnD&DRose EstesJune, 1982Larry ElmoreHarry J Quinn0-935696-92-X
4Return to BrookmereD&DRose EstesJune, 1982Larry ElmoreTimothy Truman0-935696-93-8
5Revolt of the DwarvesD&DRose EstesJan, 1983Larry ElmoreJim Holloway0-88038-020-9
6Revenge of the Rainbow DragonsD&DRose EstesJan, 1983Jeff EasleyHarry J Quinn0-88038-021-7
7Hero of Washington SquareTop SecretRose EstesMay, 1983Jeff EasleyTimothy Truman0-88038-022-5
8Villains of VolturnusStar FrontiersJean BlashfieldMay, 1983Larry ElmoreJim Roslof0-88038-023-3
9Robbers and RobotsTop SecretMike CarrJuly, 1983Larry ElmoreVernon Posey0-88038-036-5
10Circus of FearD&DRose EstesJuly, 1983Keith ParkinsonKevin Nichols0-88038-037-3
11Spell of the Winter WizardD&DLinda LoweryAug, 1983Larry ElmoreJeffrey R. Busch0-88038-054-3
12Light on Quest's MountainGamma WorldMary L. Kirchoff
James M. Ward
Aug, 1983Keith ParkinsonSteve McAfee0-88038-055-1
13Dragon of DoomD&DRose EstesNov, 1983Clyde CaldwellHarry J Quinn0-88038-100-0
14Raid on Nightmare CastleD&DCatherine McGuireNov, 1983Jeff EasleyJim Holloway0-88038-101-9
15Under Dragon's WingD&DJohn KendallFeb, 1984Larry ElmoreSam Grainger0-88038-076-4
16The Dragon's RansomD&DLaura FrenchFeb, 1984Clyde CaldwellDoug Chaffee0-88038-077-2
17Captive PlanetStar FrontiersMorris SimonJul, 1984Clyde CaldwellSam Grainger0-88038-078-0
18King's QuestD&DTom McGowenJul, 1984Ben OteroKevin Nichols0-88038-079-9
19Conan the UndauntedHyborian AgeJames M. WardJun, 1984Clyde CaldwellDoug Chaffee0-88038-120-5
20Conan and the ProphecyHyborian AgeRoger E. MooreJun, 1984Keith ParkinsonSam Grainger0-88038-121-3
21Duel of the MastersD&DChris MartindaleSept, 1984Clyde CaldwellKeith Parkinson0-88038-154-X
22The Endless CatacombsD&DMargaret WeisSept, 1984Jeff EasleyJeff Easley0-88038-162-0
23Blade of the Young SamuraiD&DMorris SimonNov, 1984Clyde CaldwellGary Williams0-88038-155-8
24Trouble on ArtuleStar FrontiersCatherine McGuireNov, 1984Jeff EasleyMitchell O'Connell0-88038-169-8
25Conan the OutlawHyborian AgeRoger E. MooreDec, 1984Keith ParkinsonRon Randall0-88038-222-8
26Tarzan and the Well of SlavesTarzanDouglas NilesJan, 1985Larry ElmoreBen Otero0-394-73968-X 0-88038-206-6
27Lair of the LichD&DBruce AlgozinMar, 1985Jeff EasleyJim Roslof0-88038-212-0
28Mystery of the AncientsGamma WorldMorris SimonMay, 1985Keith ParkinsonDoug Chaffee0-88038-217-1
29Tower of DarknessD&DRegina Oehler FultzJul, 1985Jeff EasleyMark Nelson0-88038-204-X
30The FireseedD&DMorris SimonOct, 1985Larry ElmoreJeffrey Butler0-88038-171-X
31Tarzan and the Tower of DiamondsTarzanRichard ReinsmithDec, 1985Jeff EasleyJeffrey Butler0-394-74188-9 0-88038-205-8
32Prisoner of ElderwoodD&DBruce AlgozinFeb, 1986Jeff EasleyGary Williams0-88038-283-X
33Knight of IllusionD&DMary L. KirchoffJun, 1986Clyde CaldwellSam Grainger
Jim Holloway
0-88038-284-8
34Claw of the DragonD&DBruce AlgozinSept, 1986Clyde CaldwellStephen Fabian0-88038-306-2
35Vision of DoomD&DMary L. KirchoffDec, 1986Ben OteroGeorge Barr0-88038-307-0
36Song of the Dark DruidD&DJosepha ShermanMarch, 1987Jeff EasleyJim Holloway0-88038-442-5

Collectors' sets

  1. contains Books 1–4, ISBN 0-88038-056-X
  2. contains Books 5–8, ISBN 0-88038-057-8
  3. contains Books 9–12, ISBN 0-88038-163-9
  4. contains Books 13–16, ISBN 0-39472-777-0

Endless Quest: Crimson Crystal Adventures

TSR also released a spin-off series of four Endless Quest: Crimson Crystal Adventures books during 1985. These books add a small twist in the form of a clear sheet of red plastic that comes stapled to the inside. This plastic piece is removed and then overlaid on top of certain portions of the book to reveal hidden images (by acting as an optical filter).

Endless Quest: Crimson Crystal Adventures
#TitleSettingAuthorPublishedCover artInterior artISBN
1Riddle of the GriffonD&DSusan Lawson (pseudonym for Margaret Weis and Roger E. Moore)March, 1985Keith ParkinsonMario D. Macari, Jr.
Gary Williams
0-880382-10-4
2Search for the PegasusD&DRoger E. MooreMarch, 1985Clyde CaldwellMario D. Macari, Jr.
Gary Williams
0-880382-11-2
3Renegades of LuntarGeneric Sci-FiRoger E. MooreJune, 1985Keith ParkinsonMario D. Macari, Jr.0-880382-18-X
4Stop that Witch!D&DMary ClarkSeptember, 1985Larry ElmoreMario D. Macari, Jr.0-880382-51-1

Endless Quest: Series Two

The second series differed from the first in several ways: they were printed in smaller type, the section numbers were independent of the page numbers, they were based on different original games, and they were not officially numbered (collectors and gamers use the numbering shown below, continuing from series one, for convenience).

Endless Quest: Series Two
#TitleSettingAuthorPublishedCover artInterior artISBN
37Dungeon of FearDragon StrikeMichael Andrews1994Jeff EasleyTerry Dykstra1-560768-35-5
38Castle of the UndeadAD&D RavenloftNick Baron1994Clyde CaldwellTerry Dykstra1-560768-36-3
39Secret of the DjinnAD&D Al-QadimJean Rabe1994Jeff EasleyTerry Dykstra1-560768-64-9
40The Siege of the TowerAD&D GreyhawkKem Antillies1994Jeff EasleyTerry Dykstra1-560768-94-0
41A Wild RideWildspaceLouis Anderson1994Jeff EasleyTerry Dykstra1-560769-28-9
42Forest of DarknessDragon StrikeMichael Andrews Jeff EasleyTerry Dykstra1-560769-32-7
43American KnightsGamma WorldNick Pollotta1995Jeff EasleyTerry Dykstra0-099540-21-5 1-560768-99-1
44Night of the TigerAD&D RavenloftJean Rabe1995Roger LovelessTerry Dykstra0-099540-81-9 0-786901-14-4
45Galactic ChallengeAmazing EngineAllen Varney1995Dennis KauthTerry Dykstra0-786901-58-6
46Bigby's CurseAD&D GreyhawkAnne K. Brown1995Jeff EasleyTerry Dykstra0-786901-78-0
47The 24-Hour WarGamma WorldNick Pollotta1995Keith ParkinsonTerry Dykstra0-786901-98-5
48The Test*AD&D GreyhawkWes Nicholson1996  0-786904-85-2
49Sands of Deception*AD&D Al-QadimJean Rabe1996  0-786904-94-1

* These were never released. The Test was written, turned in, and ready to print, but dropped at the last minute. Sands of Deception was written, but dropped as well.[2]

Endless Quest (2018-9)

These books were all written by Matt Forbeck. Each one is loosely based on a Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition campaign.

Endless Quest (2018-2019)
TitleModulePublishedISBN
Escape the UnderdarkOut of the Abyss20189781787410510
Big TroubleStorm King's Thunder20189781536202441
Into the JungleTomb of Annihilation20189781536202410
To Catch a ThiefWaterdeep: Dragon Heist20189781536200669
Escape from Castle RavenloftCurse of Strahd20199781536209235
The Mad Mage's AcademyWaterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage20199781536209259

The related Super Endless Quest series changed its name to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Gamebooks starting with the fourth book; these books added a more complex game system to stories that otherwise share the same style with the Endless Quest books. A bookmark-style insert was provided with simple Dungeons & Dragons statistics for the book's main character, and a dice-rolling mechanic was added for determining the character's fate within the story.

The Fantasy Forest series of gamebooks (1982–1983) is quite similar to the Endless Quest books, but it is aimed at a somewhat younger audience.

Other similar series from TSR included HeartQuest (interactive romances, set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons), Catacombs Solo Quest (more complex again than Super Endless Quest), and 1 on 1 Adventure Gamebooks that were each a pair of books for two players/readers.

TSR also used the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Gamebooks format for books tied into their Marvel Super Heroes roleplaying game, published as single-character Adventure Gamebooks, and later as 1 on 1 Adventure Gamebooks, and featuring licensed Marvel Comics characters.

Reception

The first four Endless Quest books were reviewed by Marcus Rowland in White Dwarf #39 (March 1983).[3] Rowland rated Pillars of Pentegarn as 5 out of 10, Mountain of Mirrors as 4 out of 10, Dungeon of Dread as 6 out of 10, and Return to Brookmere as 7 out of 10.[3] Rowland also reviewed the next two books in the series, giving both Revolt of the Dwarves and Revenge of the Rainbow Dragons 5 out of 10.[4]

References

  1. "The History of TSR". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2008-10-04. Retrieved 2005-08-20.
  2. "Unreleased Books". The Acaeum Forum. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
  3. Rowland, Marcus L (March 1983). "Open Box: Dungeons & Dragons Endless Quest Books". White Dwarf. Games Workshop (39): 14. ISSN 0265-8712.
  4. Rowland, Marcus L. (April 1983). "Open Box". White Dwarf (44): 13.
  • "D&D 4th Edition and Endless Quest". Gamer Radio Zero Podcasts. Episode 29. 2008-02-13.
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