Difference between revisions of "Worlds of Power"

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[[Image:Worlds of Power - Logo.png|thumb|256x256ps|Logo.]]
 
[[Image:Worlds of Power - Logo.png|thumb|256x256ps|Logo.]]
  
'''''Worlds of Power''''' is a series of young adult novelizations of popular [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] video games published by [[Scholastic]]. Ten books were published from 1990-1991. The series was produced by Seth Godin who wanted to encourage children obsessed with video games to read more. All of the books are attributed to the pen name "F.X. Nine," but they are written by various authors. Each book included hints for the game between chapters. The series was reprinted later and each book included a collectible card that could be cut out of the book. The cards had the game's box art on the front. The books themselves have become rather collectable and now regularly sell for around $10-$20 apiece.
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'''''Worlds of Power''''' is a series of young adult novelizations of popular [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] video games published by [[Scholastic]]. Ten books were published from 1990-1991. The series was produced by Seth Godin who wanted to encourage children obsessed with video games to read more. All of the books are attributed to the pen name "F.X. Nine," but they are written by various authors. Each book included hints for the game between chapters. The initially sold for $2.95 USD, $3.95 CAD, but have become rather collectable and now regularly sell for around $10-$20 apiece.
  
 
Though Seth Godin claims to have played each of the video games in great detail in order to make a reference document for each author, the books usually bore only a passing resemblance to the source material. Either the authors were supplied too little information, incorrect information, or allowed to take great liberties with the game (probably a combination of all three). Scholastic also required the stories to be heavily censored from the source material. Despite many of them being about the war and battles with monsters, people are rarely killed. Instead, the heroes stun their enemies or knock them unconscious.
 
Though Seth Godin claims to have played each of the video games in great detail in order to make a reference document for each author, the books usually bore only a passing resemblance to the source material. Either the authors were supplied too little information, incorrect information, or allowed to take great liberties with the game (probably a combination of all three). Scholastic also required the stories to be heavily censored from the source material. Despite many of them being about the war and battles with monsters, people are rarely killed. Instead, the heroes stun their enemies or knock them unconscious.
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The first three books in the series advertise the ability to win a [[Game Boy]]. The first five books include a collectible card that could be cut out of the book, but the card was removed for the second printing. The first six books were printed in the UK.
  
 
My mother allowed me to order the ''[[Blaster Master]]'' novella through my elementary school's monthly book catalog. I had never played or even seen the game, but the fact that the book was about a Nintendo game was enough to entice me. As a child, I really liked the book and it encouraged me to seek out and play the game, which I discovered was very different than the book. Re-reading the book years later, I realized just how hokey the story was, but I still enjoyed it due to nostalgia. In my late 20s, I decided to try and find the other books and see how they were, and, sure enough, they were equally as hokey and took great liberties with the actual games.
 
My mother allowed me to order the ''[[Blaster Master]]'' novella through my elementary school's monthly book catalog. I had never played or even seen the game, but the fact that the book was about a Nintendo game was enough to entice me. As a child, I really liked the book and it encouraged me to seek out and play the game, which I discovered was very different than the book. Re-reading the book years later, I realized just how hokey the story was, but I still enjoyed it due to nostalgia. In my late 20s, I decided to try and find the other books and see how they were, and, sure enough, they were equally as hokey and took great liberties with the actual games.
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|  || ''[[Bases Loaded II: Second Season (book)|Bases Loaded II: Second Season]]'' || [[Peter Lerangis]] || 1991 || 0590-44312-7 ||  
 
|  || ''[[Bases Loaded II: Second Season (book)|Bases Loaded II: Second Season]]'' || [[Peter Lerangis]] || 1991 || 0590-44312-7 ||  
 
|}
 
|}
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==Media==
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<gallery>
 +
Worlds of Power - Blaster Master - Mass Market - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|''Blaster Master'', USA, 1st edition.
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Worlds of Power - Blaster Master - Mass Market - USA - 2nd Edition.jpg|''Blaster Master'', USA, reprint.
 +
Worlds of Power - Blaster Master - Mass Market - UK.jpg|''Blaster Master'', UK.
 +
Worlds of Power - Metal Gear - Mass Market - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|''Metal Gear'', USA, 1st edition.
 +
Worlds of Power - Metal Gear - Mass Market - USA - 2nd Edition.jpg|''Metal Gear'', USA, reprint.
 +
Worlds of Power - Metal Gear - Mass Market - UK.jpg|''Metal Gear'', UK.
 +
Worlds of Power - Ninja Gaiden - Mass Market - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|''Ninja Gaiden'', USA, 1st edition.
 +
Worlds of Power - Ninja Gaiden - Mass Market - USA - 2nd Edition.jpg|''Ninja Gaiden'', USA, reprint.
 +
Worlds of Power - Ninja Gaiden - Mass Market - UK.jpg|''Ninja Gaiden'', UK.
 +
Worlds of Power - Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - Mass Market - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|''Castlevania II: Simon's Quest'', USA, 1st edition.
 +
Worlds of Power - Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - Mass Market - USA - 2nd Edition.jpg|''Castlevania II: Simon's Quest'', USA, reprint.
 +
Worlds of Power - Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - Mass Market - UK.jpg|''Castlevania II: Simon's Quest'', UK.
 +
Worlds of Power - Wizards and Warriors - Mass Market - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|''Wizards and Warriors'', USA, 1st edition.
 +
Worlds of Power - Wizards and Warriors - Mass Market - USA - 2nd Edition.jpg|''Wizards and Warriors'', USA, 2nd edition.
 +
Worlds of Power - Wizards and Warriors - Mass Market - UK.jpg|''Wizards and Warriors'', UK.
 +
Worlds of Power - Mega Man 2 - Mass Market - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|''Mega Man 2'', USA, 1st edition.
 +
Worlds of Power - Bionic Commando - Mass Market - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|''Bionic Commando'', USA, 1st edition.
 +
Worlds of Power - Bionic Commando - Mass Market - UK.jpg|''Bionic Commando'', UK.
 +
Worlds of Power - Infiltrator - Mass Market - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|''Infiltrator'', USA, 1st edition.
 +
Worlds of Power - Before Shadowgate - Mass Market - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|''Before Shadowgate'', USA, 1st edition.
 +
Worlds of Power - Bases Loaded II - Second Season - Mass Market - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|''Bases Loaded II: Second Season'', USA, 1st edition.
 +
</gallery>
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==

Revision as of 17:45, 20 January 2020

Logo.

Worlds of Power is a series of young adult novelizations of popular Nintendo Entertainment System video games published by Scholastic. Ten books were published from 1990-1991. The series was produced by Seth Godin who wanted to encourage children obsessed with video games to read more. All of the books are attributed to the pen name "F.X. Nine," but they are written by various authors. Each book included hints for the game between chapters. The initially sold for $2.95 USD, $3.95 CAD, but have become rather collectable and now regularly sell for around $10-$20 apiece.

Though Seth Godin claims to have played each of the video games in great detail in order to make a reference document for each author, the books usually bore only a passing resemblance to the source material. Either the authors were supplied too little information, incorrect information, or allowed to take great liberties with the game (probably a combination of all three). Scholastic also required the stories to be heavily censored from the source material. Despite many of them being about the war and battles with monsters, people are rarely killed. Instead, the heroes stun their enemies or knock them unconscious.

The first three books in the series advertise the ability to win a Game Boy. The first five books include a collectible card that could be cut out of the book, but the card was removed for the second printing. The first six books were printed in the UK.

My mother allowed me to order the Blaster Master novella through my elementary school's monthly book catalog. I had never played or even seen the game, but the fact that the book was about a Nintendo game was enough to entice me. As a child, I really liked the book and it encouraged me to seek out and play the game, which I discovered was very different than the book. Re-reading the book years later, I realized just how hokey the story was, but I still enjoyed it due to nostalgia. In my late 20s, I decided to try and find the other books and see how they were, and, sure enough, they were equally as hokey and took great liberties with the actual games.

Books

The complete collection.
# Title Author Published ISBN Own
1 Blaster Master Peter Lerangis 1990 0-590-43778-X Yes
2 Metal Gear Alexander Frost 1990 0-590-43777-1
3 Ninja Gaiden Peter Lerangis 1990 0-590-43776-3 Yes
4 Castlevania II: Simon's Quest Christopher Howell 1990 0-590-43775-5 Yes
5 Wizards and Warriors Ellen Miles 1990 0-590-43769-0 Yes
Mega Man 2 Ellen Miles 1990 0-590-43772-0
6 Bionic Commando Judith Bauer Stamper 1991 0-590-44315-1 Yes
7 Infiltrator Peter Lerangis 1991 0-590-44314-3
8 Before Shadowgate Ellen Miles 1991 0-590-44313-5
Bases Loaded II: Second Season Peter Lerangis 1991 0590-44312-7

Media

Links

Link-Wikipedia.png