Sub-Optimal

The six Transformers Adventure Game Books were released between 1985 and 1987 by Corgi. Gamebooks based on licensed properties are rarely high points of the genre, and whilst these don't plumb the depths of Dick Tracy: A Catch-a-Crook Adventure, they're not especially remarkable: each runs between 67 and 72 pages, and can have as few as three possible endings. They were authored by Dave Morris, who also wrote the Knightmare gamebooks and The Crystal Maze gamebook, as well as other series based on Enid Blyton's Adventure Squad, LEGO, James Bond Jr. and HeroQuest, but is best known for his work with Jamie Thomson on their own original ideas, most notably the incredibly ambitious Fabled Lands series.

The second book, Perils From the Stars, is the one that only has three possible endings -- one good, two bad. One of those bad endings, though, is a stunning example of one of my favourite ways to die in interactive fiction: The game allows you to voluntarily do something incredibly, lethally stupid. (Much thanks to regular commentator Ed Jolley for putting me on to this.)

You look to JAZZ, but he is still too groggy to act. STARSCREAM's homing beacon, which is attracting the falling weapons pod straight towards it, lies on the floor beside the telescope.

If you want to get the homing beacon and hurl it at STARSCREAM, turn to page 44

If you want to put it in your pocket, turn to page 46

If you put the homing beacon which you have just been expressly told the weapons pod is homing in on in your pocket, the book even gives you a chance to back out:

You slip the flashing beacon into your pocket as STARSCREAM roars up away from the dome. BOMBSHELL has also recovered now, and he quickly flies after his master. Your uncle and aunt are standing around, dazed with shock, as JAZZ searches frantically for something amid the debris.

If you tell JAZZ you have the homing beacon, turn to page 50

If you keep quiet about it, turn to page 51

Well I don't see what value there could possibly be in telling--

Too bad you don't mention that you have the homing beacon, because that is exactly what JAZZ is so eager to find. The descending weapons pod is heading straight towards it! It will hit the ground exactly where you are standing, and the impact will destroy the observatory -- to say nothing of its human occupants. Best that we close the book on this dreadful scene, for this is

THE END

Still, at least you won't have to live through Revenge of the Fallen.