Choice of Alexandria

"Choice of Alexandria" is an interactive novella written by Kevin Gold, the author of "Choice of Robots." This unique story puts you in control of the narrative through your choices. The entire experience is text-based, with no graphics or sound effects, allowing your imagination to take the lead. Set in the year 245 BCE, you play as a heroic polymath librarian who has been invited to Alexandria to tutor Prince Ptolemy IV. However, the real Ptolemy IV was led astray by his evil advisor Sosibius, causing the downfall of the empire. But with your guidance, perhaps things will turn out differently.

As you navigate through the story, you have the option to focus on your responsibilities as a tutor or pursue your passion for inventions. With the help of famous historical figures such as Archimedes and Euclid, you can make groundbreaking discoveries such as the steam engine, the germ theory of disease, and even robotic automata, centuries ahead of their time.

But your choices don't just affect your own path. You also have the power to shape the fate of the city of Alexandria. Will you deplete the libraries of other cities to enrich your own? Will you gain popularity for your scientific inventions, or will you prioritize protecting the legacy of the empire? And most importantly, will you be able to guide Prince Ptolemy IV towards becoming a wise and just ruler, or will he succumb to a hedonistic and selfish lifestyle?

Throughout the novella, you will encounter various challenges and obstacles, including being held for ransom by the pirate queen Nefertari. Will you use your intelligence and charm to win her over, or will you have to find another way to escape? The fate of the city of wonders truly rests in your hands.

With "Choice of Alexandria," you have the opportunity to play as a brilliant inventor, a gifted speaker, or a life-saving doctor. You must use your skills and knowledge to protect Prince Ptolemy IV from manipulators at court and save famous mathematicians like Archimedes and Euclid from untimely deaths. The story is based on the real life of Eratosthenes, an ancient genius who calculated the size of the Earth. And if that wasn't enough, you also have the chance to save the Great Library and invent the steam engine two thousand years early.

Immerse yourself in this captivating and historically-inspired world, where your choices truly matter. Will you be able to shape the course of history and leave your mark on the city of Alexandria? The only way to find out is to play "Choice of Alexandria" and see where your imagination takes you.