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The Top Fifty (Or So) Works of Interactive Fiction
(In One Person's Opinion)
For Use In Middle (Students Aged 10-13) and High Schools (Students Aged 14-18)
If a story's name appears as a link, click on that link to read
the story online. Firefox may be the most reliable browser
for this purpose. Many of the stories include ancillary materials that can be
obtained by Googling the stories' websites.
- Arthur: the Quest for Excalibur
by Bob Bates, a well-plotted version
of the story of King Arthur as a boy, excellent for middle school (Available in
Masterpieces of Infocom,
and other Infocom collections, often Offered at Ebay and Amazon)
Wishbringer by Brian Moriatry, a rather gently fantasy adventure,
excellent for middle school (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom)
The Firebird by Bonnie Montgomery, a comic retelling of the Russian
folk tale, excellent for middle school (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org.
The archive is well catalogued at Baf's Guide to the Interactive Fiction
Archive, http://www.wurb.com/if)
Winter Wonderland by Laura Knauth, a finely crafted winter solstice
story, excellent for middle school (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive,
http://www.ifarchive.org)
A Bear's Night Out by David Dyte, a funny story of a teddy bear who
comes to life (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
The Earth and Sky Trilogy--Earth and Sky by Paul O'Brian, three comic superhero stories (Available
at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
The Earth and Sky Trilogy--Another Earth, Another Sky by Paul O'Brian, three comic superhero stories (Available
at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
The Earth and Sky Trilogy--Luminous Horizon by Paul O'Brian, three comic superhero stories (Available
at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Photopia by Adam Cadre (With Censoring of Opening Scene of Some
Versions), a challenging, beautiful, and very sad story of a middle school girl
(Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
The Matter of the Monster
by Andrew Plotkin, an inventive variation on the "Choose Your Own Adventure"
type of story. Quite brief and very enjoyable.
Jack Toresal and the Secret
Letter by Michael Gentry, an exciting interactive novel with a suspenseful
plot and wonderfully interactive characers (Available for purchase at https://www.textfyre.com/Games.aspx)
Mother Loose by Irene Callaci, an amusing retelling of some classic
fairy tales, excellent for middle school (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Bonehead by Sean M. Shore, the mostly-true story of Fred Merkle, who
made one of major league baseball's most famous mistakes. Part of the 2011
Spring Thing Competition. (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Aoteoroa by Matt Wingall, a
lively tale of the modern world--with dinosaurs! (Available at the
Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
History Repeating by Mark and Renee Choba, a time travel story about a
man who neglected an important assignment in his high school history class
(Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Lost New York by Neil DeMause, a detailed, well research time travel
story about the Big Apple; excellent for more mature middle schoolers and for
high schoolers (Available
at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Suspect by Dave Lebling, a rather challenging murder mystery, set at
a high-society costume party (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom)
Moonmist by Jim Lawrence and Stu Gally, a mystery for kids, set in a
Cornish castle, good for middle school (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom)
Zork I by Marc Blank and Dave Lebling, a fantasy treasure hunt
(Available at http://www.csd.uwo.ca/Infocom/download.html)
The One That Got Away by Leon Lin, a brief, funny story about
fishing (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Glowgrass by Nate Cull, a sad but graceful science fiction story,
set in a post apocalyptic future (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Small World by Andrew Pontius, a fantasy about a boy who sets a
mixed up world right (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Mrs. Pepper’s
Nasty Secret by Eric Eve and Jim Aiken, a clever and lighthearted
puzzle-fest, good for beginners. (Available
at http://ifdb.tads.org/viewgame?id=dcvk7bgbqeb0a71s)
The Magic Toyshop by Gareth Rees, an imaginative puzzle fest
(Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Minsheng by Deane Saunders, a sometimes mystical story, always
gentle story involving martial arts (Available at the Interactive Fiction
Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Dragon Adventure by William Stott, an adventure story for children
aged nine and up (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
The Great Xavio by Reese Warner, a comic detective story
(Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Bronze by Emily Short, a Gothic retelling of Beauty and the Beast,
with some relatively mild references to sexuality and suicide, good for high
school (Available at the
Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Dreamhold by Andrew Plotkin, a difficult fantasy story with help
for beginners (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
The Lost Islands of Alabaz
by Michael Gentry, an action-packed fantasy tale. Winner of the 2011 Spring
Thing Competition. (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
The Shadow in the Cathedral by Ian Finley and John Ingold, a fantasy
puzzle fest with a compelling plot (Available for purchase at https://www.textfyre.com/Games.aspx)
The Witness by Stu Galley, a mock-noir mystery, good for high
school (Available in Masterpieces
of Infocom)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Steve Meretzsky and
Douglas Adams, a sometimes-silly interactive story based loosely on a famous
novel (Available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/hitchhikers/game.shtml)
Trinity by Brian Moriarty, brilliant but difficult fantasy based
on the origin of nuclear weaponry (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom)
A Mind Forever Voyaging by Steve Meretzsky, soaringly literary but
difficult tale of a dangerous future, good for high school (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom)
Seastalker by Stu Galley and Jim Lawrence, adventure in a
futuristic submarine, good for middle school (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom)
The Orion Agenda
by Ryan Weisenberger, a Star-Trek-like story of a
distant planet (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Ballyhoo by Jeff O’Neill, mystery-adventure, set in a circus
(Available in Masterpieces of Infocom)
At the Bottom of the Garden by Adam Biltcliff, a comic tale of an
invasion by miniature dragons (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Arrival by Stephen Granade, funny sendup of low-budget science
fiction movies (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Plantefall by Steve Meretzsky, a comic science fiction story with
some tough puzzles, good for high school (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom)
Savoir Faire by Emily Short, a beautifully written, difficult
puzzle fest, with a romantic twist, excellent for high school (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Zork III by Marc Blank and Dave Lebling, a fantasy story with
interesting character interaction. (Available at http://www.csd.uwo.ca/Infocom/games.html)
Christminster by Gareth Rees, a difficult, detailed, finely
crafted tale of alchemy and intrigue, set at a British university (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Plundered Hearts by Amy Briggs, a spoof or romance novels, with
some mild sexual references, good for high school (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom)
Sherlock: the Riddle of the Crown Jewels by Bob Bates, a complex
mystery with a realistic map of Victorian London (Available in Masterpieces
of Infocom)
MythTale by Temari Seikaiha, a clever blending of several Greek
myths (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
The Colour Pink by Robert Street, a space-exploration story with
some clever twists, a mild sexual reference or two, sometimes simplistic prose
styles, some avoidable violence (Available at the Interactive
Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Galatea by Emily Short, lovely and challenging retelling of the
Pygmalion myth, good for high school (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Curses! by Graham Nelson, a difficult, witty, atmospheric tale of
a haunted house (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
1893: A World's Fair Mystery, by Peter Napstad, a remarkably
detailed story, set at America's most important world's fair, a bit gory at
times, with one mild sexual reference (Available for Purchase at
http://www.cdaccess.com/html/shared/1893.htm)
Wetlands by Clara Raubertas, a rather difficult fantasy story with lots of
atmosphere. Part of the 2011 Spring Thing Competition. (Available at
the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Worlds Apart by Suzanne Britton, an extraordinarily rich fantasy
story for skilled readers (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
The Meteor, the Stone, and a Long Glass of Sherbet by Graham
Nelson, a funny and cohesive fantasy tale (Available at the Interactive Fiction
Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Zork Zero by Steve Meretzsky, a very funny fantasy adventure, good for
high school (Available in Masterpiece of Infocom)
Spider and Web by Andrew Plotkin, a spy story with an unusual plot
structure and theme, ideal for skilled readers (Available at the Interactive
Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Moon-Shaped by Jason Ermer, a compelling, somewhat Gothic fairy
tale. Though sad and intense, this story is accessible to some younger
teenagers. (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Once and Future by Kevin Wilson, a time travel adventure that
combines Arthurian legends and the Vietnam War, for mature readers (Available at
the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Zork II by Marc Blank and Dave Lebling, a challenging fantasy
treasure hunt with an amusing wizard character (Available at http://www.csd.uwo.ca/Infocom/games.html)
Enchanter by Marc Blank and Dave Lebling, a challenging tale of spells
and magic (Available in Masterpiece of Infocom)
Floatpoint
by Emily Short, an artistically crafted story of interplanetary diplomacy.
Themes of genetic engineering of sentient life make this story better for older
students. (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Beyond Zork by Brian Moriaty, a detailed and difficult fantasy tale,
with some options for shaping the player-character, good for high school
(Available in Masterpiece of Infocom)
The Light: Shelby's
Addendum, by Colm McCarthy, a complex science fiction tale with a carefully
crafted map and difficult problems (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It by Jeff O'Neil, a
hilarious collection of short stories based on word play (Available in Masterpieces
of Infocom)
The Beetomonger's Journal by Scott Sharkey,
well-written, enjoyable tale of archeology (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Tales of the Traveling Swordsman by Mike Snyder, a
swashbuckling adventure with a twist at the end (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Metamorphoses by Emily Short, a challenging story of magical
transformations (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org)
Deadline by Marc Blank, a really hard mystery story with good
character interaction (Available in Masterpiece of Infocom)
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