Before video games and personal computers, there were gamebooks.  They were novels where at critical scenes you as the reader were given a series a choices.   “A troll comes out of the cave carrying a large club. You will (a) run away, (b) say hello or (c) barter for gold. ” Depending on which choice you made you would be told to go to page 34 or whatever where your choice would be played out until you reached another branch and another set of choices.

“Choice of Broadsides” is a game book in e-book format available on the Kindle.

For aficionados of Georgian Naval fiction it is a fun diversion, essentially an entire series of novels in one game, where you as the young midshipman commands a battery of guns in a battle, takes command of a captured prize, is promoted to command a sloop, and progressively rises through the ranks.  Depending on how you answer the questions, you can tailor your character to suit yourself, including playing as a woman if like.

What makes “Choice of Broadsides” fun is that is contains virtually every cliche in Georgian naval fiction.  Broadsides (of course) , a midship in command of a prize, cronyism and patronage, an attempted mutiny,  a cutting out exercise , hand to hand combat, an officer ashore on half pay, dueling, romance and marriage, command of an untrained crew, frigate battles and eventual knighthood.

“Choice of Broadsides” is available for $0.99 through January 31, when it appears that it will revert to its original price of $5.00.