When
Deathtrap Dungeon became a publishing phenomenon, it cannot be over-exaggerated how high anticipation was for a sequel when Sir Ian Livingstone's
Trial of Champions was published just two years later in 1986.
Number 21 in the original Puffin series, Trial of Champions wasn’t a direct sequel,
but is set a
year after the hero of Deathtrap Dungeon has beaten Baron
Sukumvit’s deadly labyrinth for the first time.
All the familiar Deathtrap Dungeon tropes are there to be
enjoyed, including a host of deadly monster encounters and lethal traps, as well as the other competitors who are encountered as the hero
takes ‘The Walk’ through the dungeon - not to mention the massive cash
prize for anyone who actually makes it through to the other
end alive.
However, the story adds an element of sibling rivalry to the
tale, with the hero having been taken captive by the Baron’s
jealous brother Lord Carnuss and sent to Fang specifically to
beat the dungeon and shame Sukumvit.
Author and creator of the Illmoor Chronicles, David Lee
Stone, cites
Trial of Champions as being one of his favourite
gamebooks:
“House of Hell or Trial of Champions: both are
absolutely brilliant fun, and classic examples of two authors
completely focused on creating an atmosphere for the games
they’re constructing. I couldn’t choose between them.”
Trial of Champions was the only time Brian Williams
illustrated an FF gamebook, providing the striking cover
art as well as the internal black and white illustrations
(although he also illustrated The Riddling Reaver, published
the same year). His clean line art and representations of the
human form were exquisite.
Sadly, Williams passed away
unexpectedly at his home in October 2010.
While not currently in print, adventurers can still tackle Baron Sukumvit's updated dungeon via Tin Man Games' Fighting Fantasy Classsics app.
Of course,
Trial of Champions received its own sequel, of sorts, when
The Dungeon on Blood Island was published in 2024, to coincide with
Fighting Fantasy Fest 5.
Sir Ian Livingstone has written another new gamebook, this time to coincide with Fighting Fantasy Fest 6.
Tomb of the Golden Skull will launch at the event, on Saturday 5th September 2026, so make sure you've reserved your place at FFF6.
