Interactive Fiction

I have been reading a book called "Twisty little Passages". I read a review and found that the Rice library did have a copy. It was written in 2003 so it is dated.

The title is a grabber for me because I did Adventure (or Colossal Cave) when it first came out in a write protected 5.25" disk under the Microsoft label. At the time it was about the only game available for the IBM-XT. Anyway I did finally finish it with the help of others and a cheat. But I did solve some of the puzzles myself. A few of them.

If you have ever played Adventure you know what Twisty Little Passages refers to, a maze that you get lost in and cannot get out of without help, and without first being robbed by the thief.

This book covers the history of IF pretty well. It begins by speaking of non-computer attempts at IF. The many computer games it speaks of were fairly familiar. Most of them I have tried or had a copy of but never tried. So it was like a review. I loved seeing better how they were connected.

The last few chapters deal with present attempts at computer generated IF most of which is free and distributed on the internet. I need to check this out. The reviews he gives make most of it seems depressing and some seem downright cruel. So maybe I won't like it. But I wish to dabble in it. Maybe after I finish taxes and my Greek class. Maybe.

Like a lot of books, after giving a survey of the field he spends the last chapter describing where he wants IF to go. I do not share his opinions. This last chapter is short.

He admires the IF which brutally mocks and parodies our present society. He seems to approve of the fiction that complains about our lack of freedom. We think we are free but it is an illusion. I think I know his frustration. He is life is short and then we die.

He seems to have the problem of sensing death is the end. All of those authors he cites have the same sense. All our efforts do not change the fact that our time on earth is limited. As a Christian I do not believe death is the end. So I am happy to use the limited freedom that I have to enjoy life and do good when I can. I do not share his feeling that life is a big joke. God gave us life and it is precious. God loves us and that helps to give life some sense, we are created to love God back. It is a good thing.