Fighting Fantasy co-creators pen two new books for the series' 40th anniversary

As announced by The Bookseller yesterday, Sir Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson have written two new titles in the gamebook franchise for Scholastic UK, marking the series’ 40th anniversary.

Shadow of the Giants by Sir Ian Livingstone and Secrets of Salamonis by Steve Jackson will be published in paperback this September, to mark 40 years since the release of the first Fighting Fantasy gamebook, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain.

The plot of Shadow of the Giants features an ancient artefact discovered inside Firetop Mountain, whose evil magic unleashes terrifying Iron Giants upon the world of Allansia. It is Livingstone’s third new Fighting Fantasy book since Scholastic starting publishing the series in 2017.

Secrets of Salamonis is Steve Jackson's first new title for 33 years, since the publication of The Trolltooth Wars in 1989. Having arrived in the City of Salamonis following a run of a bad luck, the adventurer must turn to the Salamonian Adventurers’ Guild, who will offer the player quests such as defeating the Ratterpillar.

Sir Ian said: “I am incredibly proud that The Warlock of Firetop Mountain is 40 years old and continues to entertain children and adults around the world. I am delighted to be celebrating the 40th anniversary with the publication of my new Fighting Fantasy gamebook, Shadow of the Giants, and hope readers will enjoy the new challenge.” 

Steve Jackson added: “It’s been a little longer than a two-day hike needed to reach Firetop Mountain in the first book. Forty years, in fact. And during that time 20 million books in 26 languages have turned Fighting Fantasy readers around the world into armchair adventurers in search of great treasures. May their stamina never fail!”

Make sure you follow the official Fighting Fantasy blog for more news regarding Shadow of the Giants and Secrets of Salamonis in the months to come.