TSR, $2.00, ISBN 0-88038-037-3
Fantasy, 1983

Circus of Fear by Rose Estes – yes, it’s her again – is set in Greyhawk, but don’t expect any flavor of that setting here. This campaign feels as generic as can be – it can be set in Faerun, Krynn, Timbuktu, and things won’t be much different. It’s a shame that this one predates the creation of Ravenloft – this campaign being set in the Carnival of that setting would be awesome.

You play Laela, the rare female lead character in this gamebook line, and with your friend Petra, the two of you visit The Bombax Brothers’ Circus of Fantasy. In a setting where pegasi and other woo-woo creatures are normal, one can only wonder why this circus is named that way. Anyway, the moment you two show up, Petra immediately complains about the circus is chaining up its pegasus and other PETA-friendly nonsense, because you two kids are so dumb that you don’t know what you expect when you go to a circus. Worse, you overhear doppelgangers plotting to take over Greyhawk – by taking over the appearance of circus people, because circus people rule the world or something. Maybe these are deranged cultists of Olidammara? So, it’s up to you two stumpy brats to humiliate these people by bursting their delusions of grandeur.

This one is tailored for either what these people believe what female readers will like themselves to be – weepy emotional creatures – or what they imagine females are like. Either option isn’t exactly flattering, as you may end up gritting your teeth and wish that Laela would just quit being a dumbass. The only character worse off is Petra, who is basically the male version of a damsel in distress that is as equally whiny your character. Occasionally, these folks remember that this is a gamebook, so you will be asked to make some choices now and then. Some of these choices aren’t technically “gamebook choices” – instead, you get to choose what you or Petra will say in response to a situation.

There isn’t anything interesting here, just a campaign contrived to attract the stereotypical female young reader – lots of flying horses, abused animals to save and nurse, and the lead female character bursting into tears now and then while announcing that she can’t imagine life without Petra.

It’s likely that there will be a few young ladies who may enjoy reading Circus of Fear, but frankly, this one feels like a product of a Care Bear and My Little Pony orgy, and still manage to come off as boring and vapid despite its illustrious pedigree.