Return to Firetop Mountain with Fighting Fantasy Classics!

Zagor lives! Dare YOU return to Firetop Mountain?

Ten years have passed since the evil Warlock of Firetop Mountain was defeated. His treasure was plundered. His reign of terror was ended. His name became a warning whispered across Allansia.

But dark sorcery does not die so easily.

Zagor has returned from the dead, more powerful, more twisted, and more determined than ever to wreak revenge upon Allansia. Now, some brave adventurer must journey once more to the most infamous dungeon in Fighting Fantasy history, brave the wild lands beyond, enter the mountain, and face the resurrected Warlock in his lair.

That brave adventurer is YOU!

Return to Firetop Mountain is Ian Livingstone’s thrilling sequel to the original Fighting Fantasy classic, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain. First published as the landmark 50th book in the original series, this adventure takes you back to where the legend began, but don’t expect old memories to save you. The mountain has changed. Its horrors have multiplied. Its master is waiting.

Before you even reach Firetop Mountain, you must travel through the perilous lands of northern Allansia, seeking aid, clues, weapons, and magical knowledge. Along the way you may encounter the wizard Yaztromo, cross dangerous rivers, wander through deadly forests, and meet a cast of strange allies, treacherous rogues, and monstrous foes.

Once inside the mountain, every choice could bring you closer to victory, or to a sudden and grisly end. Goblins, trolls, undead warriors, mutant beasts, vampires, traps, riddles, and dark magic stand between you and your final confrontation with Zagor himself.

This is not just a return. This is revenge.

FEATURES

• Face the resurrected Zagor, one of the greatest villains in Fighting Fantasy canon.
• Includes the classic cover art by Les Edwards.
• Features original interior illustrations by the late, great Martin McKenna.
• Built-in mapping system tracks your progress across playthroughs, helping you explore the deadly routes to and through Firetop Mountain.
• Unlimited bookmarks let you retry difficult sections as often as you like.
• Automated Adventure Sheet handles your stats, inventory, combat, and key decisions, so you can focus on surviving the mountain.

Will you defeat Zagor once and for all? Or will Firetop Mountain claim another victim?

Return to Firetop Mountain... again!

Arriving in just a few weeks' time on Steam, courtesy of Tin Man Games, is Ian Livingstone's Return to Firetop Mountain.

Years have passed since Zagor the Warlock fell, but the shadows never truly left Firetop Mountain. Evil stirs once more within its depths, and the labyrinth you thought you knew has changed. New dangers, twisted passages, and deadly secrets await those brave (or foolish) enough to enter again.

Tin Man Games' digital edition will feature the original striking cover art by Les Edwards, alongside atmospheric interior illustrations by the late, great Martin McKenna, bringing every dark corridor and monstrous encounter vividly to life.

So sharpen your sword, steady your nerves, and get ready to take that first step into the darkness once more.

The mountain is waiting...

Crypt of the Sorcerer - coming soon!

Coming soon to the Fighting Fantasy Classics library, from Tin Man Games, is Sir Ian Livingstone's legendary FF adventure, Crypt of the Sorcerer.

An ancient evil is stirring!

The long-dead sorcerer Razaak has been re-awoken and is poised to fulfil his promise of death and tyranny. The Forces of Chaos are at large across Allansia and it seems that they are all pitted against YOU! For it is up to you to battle against the odds - to find the only weapon to which Razaak is vulnerable, to arm yourself with protections against his awesome powers, and to face him in his lair, the Crypt of the Sorcerer!

Descend into one of the most punishing dungeons in Allansia with Crypt of the Sorcerer, a legendary Fighting Fantasy adventure by series co-creator Ian Livingstone!

First published in 1987, Crypt of the Sorcerer has earned its reputation as one of the most challenging and deadly gamebooks in the entire Fighting Fantasy series. With its dark, oppressive atmosphere, brutal encounters, and iconic villains, this book is not for the faint of heart.

You must take up arms against the resurrected sorcerer Razaak – a being of pure evil whose return threatens to plunge the world into eternal darkness. Armed with only your courage, your sword, and a handful of enchanted relics, can you survive the sorcerer’s devious traps, ruthless minions, and the final confrontation with death itself?

Whether you're a seasoned veteran eager to face one of the toughest trials Fighting Fantasy has to offer, or a brave newcomer ready to test your mettle, Crypt of the Sorcerer delivers a merciless and unforgettable experience.

FEATURES

• Les Edwards' original front cover from the 1987 Puffin edition!
• Amazing original black and white line artwork by John Sibbick.
• A new difficulty setting to make things a little easier if needed and a special ‘Free Read’ mode to explore the book with no restrictions.
• Built-in mapping system tracks your progress across playthroughs – perfect for planning your next run (or brutal demise).
• Unlimited bookmarks let you retry difficult sections as often as you like.
• Automated Adventure Sheet that handles all your stats, inventory, and key decisions – so you can focus on surviving!

Blast from the Past! Crypt of the Sorcerer

Originally pitched as Crypt of the Necromancer - until someone at Puffin decided that you couldn’t have the word ‘Necromancer’ in the title of a book aimed at children - Ian Livingstone’s tenth Fighting Fantasy adventure (published in 1987) saw the return of some familiar FF faces and places, whilst also introducing readers to a whole new region of Allansia and some new allies in the hero’s quest to defeat Razaak, the undead sorcerer of the title.

So in Crypt of the Sorcerer we have a return to Darkwood Forest and an appearance by the Wizard Yaztromo (both originally from The Forest of Doom) whilst the hero is transported aboard a hot air balloon to not only the Moonstone Hills but also the baking Plain of Bronze. The adventure is incredibly hard, but full of wonderfully evocative encounters, backed up by the talented fossil-reconstructor John Sibbick’s captivating artwork.

“I found it quite easy to create a style for the interior drawings – more than I expected really," says Sibbick, "although it could be pretty relentless churning out the drawings – and I had no time for any ‘rough’ sketches. Now and again I look at the originals and am amazed at the work and detail involved.”

Demonspawn, by John Sibbick.

“My favourite artist is John Sibbick,” says FF enthusiast Thomas Nielsen. “I think his illustrations hit a nice balance between being realistic, stylised and dirty, and he knows how to make a monstrous creature really monstrous.”

The adventure had a second alternative working title, The Howling Tunnels, which is the place you have to visit to find the fabled Gargantis horn.

Gargantis, by John Sibbick.

Crypt of the Sorcerer was the third FF adventure to feature an original Les Edwards cover, showing the deformed Razaak preparing to cast a spell upon the hero. The painting now resides within Ian Livingstone's personal collection of Fighting Fantasy art.

When the gamebook was reissued by Wizard Books in 2002, Les Edwards produced a new composition for the cover.

As well as being the first gamebook to feature internal black and white art by John Sibbick, Crypt of the Sorcerer is also notable for being the first book to feature a colour map by Leo Hartas, centred upon the Moonstone Hills of central Allansia.

Crypt of the Sorcerer remains one of the hardest Fighting Fantasy adventures to complete, but maybe it's time it was released again to challenge a new generation of brave adventurers.

Legendary fantasy artist Les Edwards to attend Fighting Fantasy Fest 3!

What do the Fighting Fantasy gamebooks Caverns of the Snow Witch, Crypt of the Sorcerer and Return to Firetop Mountain all have in common?

Well, apart from the fact that they were all written by Fighting Fantasy co-creator Ian Livingstone, they all feature cover art by legendary British fantasy artist Les Edwards.

Les actually provided the cover art for 11 of the Puffin-printed titles - including the infamous Sky Lord - and new cover art for four of the Wizard Books releases.

We are delighted to announce that, all being well, Les will be joining us for Fighting Fantasy Fest 3, at the University of West London on Saturday 31st August 2019.

This will be Les's first appearance at a Fighting Fantasy Fest, and so will be the perfect opportunity to get some classic FF adventures signed by him.

If you've not secured your ticket for the day yet, what are you waiting for?

Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone interviewed in Phantasmagoria Magazine

The latest issue of Phantasmagoria Magazine is a Fighting Fantasy special, featuring interviews with not only the co-creators of the series, Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, but also sometime FF cover artist Les Edwards.

Other tidbits to tantalise readers include a personal tribute by the magazine's editor, Trevor Kennedy, a fiendish Top Ten of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks, and an interview with FF author and historian Jonathan Green.

Available now from Amazon, and both Forbidden Planet and Comic Book Guys in Belfast, it is a must for every Fighting Fantasy fan, and even contains some exclusive FF-related news.

The Edifying Art of Les Edwards

Anyone who remembers Fighting Fantasy gamebooks from their original run with Puffin Books in the 1980s will already be familiar with the work of fantasy artist extraordinaire Les Edwards.

Les produced the cover art for no fewer than eleven titles, including such classics as Demons of the Deep, Daggers of Darkness and Return to Firetop Mountain.

He also produced the cover art for Keith Martin's two blood-sucker adventures, Vault of the Vampire and Revenge of the Vampire.

When Wizard Books republished the Fighting Fantasy series in the new millennium, Les was asked to produce a new piece of cover art for Steve Jackson's House of Hell and Creature of Havoc.

He even got to revisit the artwork he originally produced for both Ian Livingstone's Caverns of the Snow Witch and Crypt of the Sorcerer.

“I enjoyed doing them,” Les said, when asked how his work for Fighting Fantasy differed from other illustration jobs. “I always liked using that kind of material as it wasn’t anywhere as commonplace as it is now. We seem to have Fantasy-like material wherever you look now.”

Les sold the original paintings of his FF art long ago, but you can still purchase prints of said pieces direct from his website.