Air travel may have rendered adventure novels redundant, but now that vacations and leisure trips are no longer advised, let exciting reads like Around the World in Eighty Days and more make its comeback. And while you’re at it, why not really walk a mile in someone else’s shoes by taking on the role of the protagonist in some choose-your-own-adventure books? It may not be enjoyable for all, but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
First published in French during the 1800s, Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne follows a rich British gentleman who accepts the challenge of globetrotting within a mere 80 days after getting into a heated debate over such a possibility. So journey alongside the man himself, Fogg, as he crosses the Indian Ocean, makes a stopover in Singapore and even heads to the city that never sleeps.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Imagine what the universe would be like if other planets were inhabitable and Earth ceased to exist. In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, Arthur Dent is rescued by his friend just before Earth is destroyed by aliens and they hitch rides on spaceships to travel to a legendary planet which offers answers to the questions they seek.
If by Nicholas Bourbaki
Take on the role of the protagonist in this epic choose-your-own-adventure literary piece that offers choices at the end of every chapter. As your decisions take you far and beyond, the tale changes and If ultimately poses the question: how much of life is within your control?
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Though considered a philosophical novel, Yann Martel’s Life of Pi recounts some unbelievably interesting events experienced by Indian Tamil boy Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel, which makes us inclined to think that this counts as an adventure novel too. Explore Pi’s life at length as soon as he becomes stranded on a lifeboat with a 450-pound Bengal tiger.
The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe
Famed American poet Edgar Allan Poe’s The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket happens to be the only complete novel of his. Presenting the tale of Pym who finds himself aboard a whaling ship named Grampus, this is the eventful story of the young man’s adventures at sea.
To Be or Not To Be: A Chooseable-Path Adventure by Ryan North
Published with the help of a successful Kickstarter campaign, To Be or Not To Be: A Chooseable-Path Adventure conceptualised by Ryan North retells the story of Shakespeare’s beloved Hamlet through the unique choose-your-own-adventure format. With over 100 different ending possibilities, get excited to portray some of literature’s most famous characters, including Ophelia and Hamlet.
