Showing posts with label Snowbooks. Show all posts

Friday, 2 August 2024

YOU ARE THE HERO: An Interactive History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks

Available now from Snowbooks is the 40th anniversary interactive edition of YOU ARE THE HERO by Jonathan Green, featuring brand new cover art by none other than FF legend Iain McCaig.

Fighting Fantasy gamebooks – the publishing phenomenon of the 1980s – has sold over 20 million books worldwide, in over 30 languages. But when Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone sat down to write the original Fighting Fantasy gamebook, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, they could not have predicted that this one, simple adventure would go on to spawn over 100 titles, let alone begin to guess at the impact it would have on a generation of children growing up in the 80s.

Part history, part celebration, YOU ARE THE HERO chronicles four decades of the Fighting Fantasy phenomenon. Written by Jonathan Green (author of eight Fighting Fantasy gamebooks), this mighty tome will appeal to anyone who ever whiled away a washed-out summer holiday with only two dice, a pencil, and an eraser for company.

As well as updating and revising the text from the original two volumes of YOU ARE THE HERO, there is a significant amount of new content, particularly concerning the 40th anniversary of Fighting Fantasy in 2022.

Not only that, but you can either read YOU ARE THE HERO: An Interactive History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks from cover to cover, or you can read it as a gamebook. The blue boxes you can see in the sample spread above give you the option of turning to different sections (there are 400 in total, of course) that are in some way related to the paragraphs you have just read.

As well as being available from Amazon, YOU ARE THE HERO: An Interactive History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks will be on sale at Fighting Fantasy Fest 5 as well.

Thursday, 6 October 2022

YOU ARE THE HERO - An Interactive History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks

YOU ARE THE HERO - An Interactive History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks launches on Saturday 8th October 2022 on Kickstarter!

40 years ago, on 27 August 1982, the very first Fighting Fantasy Gamebook, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, was published.

In 2012 and 2017, FF author Jonathan Green ran successful Kickstarter campaigns to publish YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks and YOU ARE THE HERO Part 2. This year he is planning to publish a revised and updated edition to mark this landmark anniversary - and this time it's going to be interactive!

Check out the rewards and pledge your support on Kickstarter tomorrow.

Friday, 30 March 2018

Appointment with Havoc*

Next week the next tranche of Fighting Fantasy titles are released by Scholastic Books, and among them are three classic titles by Steve Jackson - Creature of Havoc, Appointment with F.E.A.R. and Sorcery! 1: The Shamutanti Hills.

Utilising a device that has been imitated in numerous gamebooks many times since (and not just Fighting Fantasy ones), Creature of Havoc begins with the hero waking up with no memory of where they are, how they came to be there, who they are or even what they are. The hero is the havoc-creating Creature of the title!

Featuring a flying ship, an undead Half-Elf and Zharradan Marr, an evil witch-born sorcerer, it is a truly memorable adventure with some wonderful set-pieces.

The book took Steve Jackson five months to write and has the longest background section of any FF adventure, containing information on everything from Elven birthing practices to the sorcerer Volgera Darkstorm.

"Always looking for new angles, I’d decided that Creature of Havoc would set the reader as a monster," says Jackson. "That was a new feature. And that I wouldn’t be bound by the 400-reference adventure. I was particularly pleased with the reader having to learn a language."

Appointment with F.E.A.R. was inspired by the comic books Jackson had so loved as a child and involved more problem-solving as opposed to the item collection ‘shopping list’ approach of some gamebooks. The action takes place in Titan City with the hero assuming the role of Jean Lafayette and his alter ego, the crime-fighting Silver Crusader.

The Silver Crusader does battle with such colourful characters as the Scarlet Prankster, the Serpent and the Alchemists, as he struggles to discover the time and location of the next meeting of F.E.A.R. – the Federation of Euro-American Rebels – an evil organisation led by Vladimir Utoshski, a.k.a. the Titanium Cyborg.

The adventure begins with the reader choosing one of four superpowers for the Silver Crusader from Super Strength, Psi-Powers, Enhanced Technological Skill (or ETS), and Energy Blast. Appointment with F.E.A.R. also makes use of a new HERO POINTS attribute. These points are awarded for every villain the Silver Crusader captures and every potential disaster he manages to avert. Rather like Batman, the Silver Crusader is not permitted to kill his enemies, and any such deaths that may occur result in the loss of precious HERO POINTS.

You can read more about the first book in the Sorcery! series - The Shamutanit Hills - here.

New editions of Creature of Havoc, Appointment with F.E.A.R and Sorcery! 1: The Shamutanti Hills will be published on 5th April 2018, and you can read more about the stories behind the gamebooks in Y ou Are The Hero - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks.

In other news, Fighting Fantasy historian Jonathan Green will be attending the Chatham Dockyard Festival of Steam and Transport on Sunday 1st and Monday 2nd April 2018. So if you're in the area, and you've yet to pick up a copy of YOU ARE THE HERO or YOU ARE THE HERO Part 2, why not pop along?

Tell him the Warlock sent you.

* Or should that be Galleykeep Crusader?

Friday, 9 March 2018

The Trial of Fire Island

It's not long* until the next tranche of Fighting Fantasy titles are released by Scholastic Books. Among them are two classic titles by Ian Livingstone - Deathtrap Dungeon and Island of the Lizard King.

Inspired by a holiday Livingstone had taken to Thailand, Deathtrap Dungeon saw the hero taking up the challenge of the Trial of Champions, devised by the devilish mind of Baron Sukumvit, entering the eponymous dungeon, braving the labyrinth’s fiendish traps and monstrous denizens, in the pursuit of fame and fortune.

“I went trekking in Northern Thailand in 1981,” explains Livingstone. “I passed through Fang and crossed the River Kok on my way to the jungle near the Burmese border. I took lots of photos of villagers and scenery on the trek. It was an incredible adventure, and one not without drama. Our guide was constantly fretting about armed bandits coming over the border to rob us! The trek made a big impression on me, enough for me to want to reference the people and places in Deathtrap Dungeon which I began writing in late 1983.”

As well as the River Kok and Fang, the names of several other places Livingstone visited on that fortuitous trip made it into the book, including Chiang Mai. Baron Sukumvit himself was named after Sukumvit Road in Bangkok. The marriage of both eastern and western influences in the adventure created something entirely new, helping to give the world of Fighting Fantasy a truly unique flavour.

Island of the Lizard King has the hero fighting to free the young men of Oyster Bay from the tyranny of the insane Lizard King who rules his island domain through a combination of black magic, voodoo and sheer force of arms. It features many memorable jungle-based encounters and even includes a trip up the side of an active volcano!

The books is also famous for the introduction of a companion - albeit is a temporary one - the sailor Mungo. In fact, Mungo was such a popular character that Livingstone gave him a cameo role in his most recently penned adventure, The Port of Peril.

Close inspection of Iain McCaig’s cover art for the hardback collector’s edition of The Port of Peril shows Mungo in the bottom right of the image. Considering the subject matter of the adventure, and Mungo’s presence, it can be determined that The Port of Peril takes place after City of Thieves but before Island of the Lizard King.

New editions of Deathtrap Dungeon and Island of the Lizard King will be published on 5th April 2018, and you can read more about the stories behind the gamebooks in Y ou Are The Hero - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks.

* Less than 4 weeks in fact!

Friday, 16 February 2018

The History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks at the Forbidden Planet Megastore

On Saturday 24th February, the Forbidden Planet London Megastore will be hosting an event with a difference – welcoming a host of authors and editors from four small press publishers into a mini convention in the store, from 1:00-2:30pm!

Snowbooks, publishers of YOU ARE THE HERO Parts 1 and 2, will be among them, as will the books' author Jonathan Green. So, if you're in town that day, why not pop along, buy a book, and get it signed?

And talking of Jonathan Green, he was recently interviewed by Jonathan Hicks, a.k.a. the Farsight Blogger, and the interview is now online here.

Saturday, 26 August 2017

One week to go until Fighting Fantasy Fest 2!

One week today the doors open on Fighting Fantasy Fest 2!

Featuring a host of special guests, including Guests of Honour Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, along with the likes of Iain McCaig, Marc Gascoigne, Malcolm Barter, and Jamie Thomson, it is going to be a 35th anniversary celebration to remember.

There will be talks, gaming sessions, comics, a cosplay competition, video game demonstrations, signings, and all manner of traders. On top of that, Snowbooks will be launching YOU ARE THE HERO Part 2 at the event.

With so much going on, you might find it helpful to have a look through the talks schedule for the day, which runs across two strands in two halls.

It's not too late to buy your ticket and make sure you don't miss out on the Fighting Fantasy event of the year!

Saturday, 19 August 2017

The Book Launch of Firetop Mountain

With only two weeks to go until Fighting Fantasy Fest 2, we're counting down the days until doors open on the second Convention of Firetop Mountain!

As well as a host of guests, including Guests of Honour Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, and Special Guest Artist Iain McCaig, all manner of traders will be there, selling their wares on the day - everything from role-playing games and fantasy miniatures, to books and audio dramas.

One of the books that will be on sale at Fighting Fantasy Fest 2 is Part 2 of Jonathan Green's history of FF gamebooks, YOU ARE THE HERO, which is actually launching at the event.

The book covers developments since Part 1 was published back in 2014 but also delves into the history of Fighting Fantasy on TV and radio, looks at bands and musicians who have been inspired by the world's premier gamebook series, and profiles a number of individuals who have a passion for collecting Fighting Fantasy memorabilia.

The book will be on sale on the Snowbooks stand, opposite Fighting Fantasy Fest 2 reception, while the new editions of the FF books will be on sale at the Scholastic Books stand, which is also where Steve Jackson, Ian Livingstone, Iain McCaig and new cover artist Robert Ball will be signing during the day.

There are still tickets available, and since entry is by ticket only, make sure you grab yours today!

Thursday, 28 July 2016

Fighting Fantasy Colouring Books are here!

The fans asked for them, so here they are - available as from today from Snowbooks, are the first four Official Fighting Fantasy Colouring Books!

You may have noticed the adult colouring book craze has been gaining momentum over recent months, but you have never seen a set of colouring books like these before.

A4 format, they feature the black and white line art from the FF gamebooks The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, The Forest of Doom, Deathtrap Dungeon and City of Thieves, by the fantasy art legends Russ Nicholson, Malcolm Barter and Iain McCaig. The Warlock of Firetop Mountain also features the cover art of Martin McKenna.

The books are available to buy from here in the UK, and from here in the US.

Remember to spread the word via all the social media channels you have available to you, and may your colouring pencils never be blunt!

Tuesday, 19 July 2016

YOU are the Colourist!

Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone present

Fighting Fantasy Colouring Books

Fighting Fantasy gamebooks have sold over 17 million books worldwide, in over 30 languages. YOU were the hero in stories such as Deathtrap Dungeon, The Forest of Doom, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, and City of Thieves, fighting monsters and foes with a pencil, two dice and an eraser. And now –

YOU ARE THE COLOURIST!

Bring your favourite wizards, monsters and fantastic settings to life, colouring the original emotive illustrations by artists Iain McCaig, Malcolm Barter and Russ Nicholson.

About the authors

Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone co-founded iconic games company Games Workshop in 1975, launching Dungeons & Dragons and Warhammer in Europe. They co-authored The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, which was published in 1982, and went on to write over 20 titles in the best-selling Fighting Fantasy gamebook series. Ian became Executive Chairman of Eidos in 1995 where he launched global video games franchises including Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Hitman. Steve became a Director of Lionhead, the award-winning video games studio best known for developing Fable.

About the illustrators

Russ Nicholson is an illustrator of Fantasy, well known for his contribution to the Fighting Fantasy series, including the first such book, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain. He has also produced illustrations for Games Workshop publications, including White Dwarf Magazine, and more recently has worked with Le Grimoire, Scriptarium, and Tin Man Games, amongst others.

Malcolm Barter studied Illustration & Design at Ipswich School of Art. He has freelanced in Publishing, Editorial & Advertising, notably illustrating Ian Livingstone’s classic Fighting Fantasy gamebook The Forest of Doom. His recent work has included more Fighting Fantasy, having been tracked down and lured back by French publishers in 2013.

Iain McCaig is an award-winning artist and one of the most sought-after conceptual designers working in the entertainment industry today. His work includes the landmark designs for Queen Amidala and Darth Maul, for Lucasfilm, as well as several Fighting Fantasy covers, and the internal illustrations for the seminal City of Thieves and the bestselling Deathtrap Dungeon.

Martin McKenna has illustrated covers and internal illustrations for twenty-two of the Fighting Fantasy series from Puffin Books/Wizard Books. He also produces concept and production art for computer games, and film and television productions, which have included the BAFTA-nominated The Magician of Samarkand for the BBC and Gulliver's Travels for 20th Century Fox.