Happy Birthday, Steve Jackson!*

Steve Jackson was born in Manchester, in 1951, but his family moved to Canada when he was four years old. However, they returned to the UK when he was 11 and he joined Altrincham Grammar School for Boys. And it was here that he met fellow pupil Ian Livingstone.

In the years since then he not only co-founded Games Workshop and co-created the legendary Fighting Fantasy gamebook series, he was also one of the co-founders of Lionhead Studios, and went on to become Professor of Games Design at Brunel University.

Happy Birthday, Steve, and may your STAMINA never fail!

* For yesterday.

Steve Beales' Galleykeep

The worlds of Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone's Fighting Fantasy gamebooks have inspired readers, writers and artists ever since The Warlock of Firetop Mountain was first published in 1982.

One of those so inspired is amateur model-maker and miniature painter Steve Beales. You can see many examples of his Fighting Fantasy-themed models on his blog Somewhere the Tea's Getting Cold. For his most recent conversion he took inspiration from Steve Jackson's FF novel The Trolltooth Wars, not to mention his seminal gamebook, Creature of Havoc.

Zharradan Marr's aerial fortress, the Galleykeep.

The Galleykeep was Zharradan Marr's ultimate fighting machine: a majestic sky-galleon with billowing black sails which caught the wind and drew the vessel smoothly through the air. As a spectacle, its magnificence was unsurpassed. Those on the ground who saw the Galleykeep pass above believed they were watching the gods themselves sail past. As a transport vessel it could carry a thousand troops or as much cargo as passed through the Trolltooth Pass overland in ten weeks.

From The Trolltooth Wars, by Steve Jackson.

You can find out how Steve went about converting his model here, on his blog. And you can still buy PJ Montgomery and Gavin Mitchell's graphic novel adaptation of Steve Jackson's The Trolltooth Wars here.

Your Christmas Shopping sorted, courtesy of Fighting Fantasy!

There are only 9 shopping days left until Christmas, and you're wondering either...
(a) What do I get the gamebook fan in my life?
or...
(b) What shall I buy for myself for somebody else to give me for Christmas?

Well, have no fear, all your Christmas shopping solutions are here!

How about the graphic novel collection of Ian Livingstone's FREEWAY FIGHTER, written by Andi Ewington, with art by Simon Coleby, colours by Len O'Grady, and letters by Jim Campbell, available now from Titan Comics?


And if graphic novels are your thing, don't forget that Steve Jackson's The Trolltooth Wars, by PJ Montgomery and Gavin Mitchell, is also available now.

Perhaps you like your adventures more auditory. If so, then check out FoxYason's Fighting Fantasy audio drama, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain: The Hero's Quest.

But if you like your FF adventures old school, then you should definitely check out Scholastic Books' new editions of various classic FF gamebooks, along with Ian Livingstone's newest title, The Port of Peril.

For the gamebook buffs and art lovers out there, there are currently two volumes in Jonathan Green's YOU ARE THE HERO series.

And there are the new licensed Fighting Fantasy ARUs from All Rolled Up!

But probably the ultimate gift for any FF fan, is the new book coming from Unbound, DICE MEN: Games Workshop 1975 to 1985, written by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone with Jamie Thomson, about the early history of Games Workshop, without which there wouldn't have been any Fighting Fantasy gamebooks!

Rewards include signed, limited editions hardbacks, reproductions of Games Workshop’s newsletter Owl and Weasel No.1 signed by Ian and Steve, signed gamebooks, and even lunch with the authors. So don't delay, pledge today, for that ultimate Christmas gift!

Steve Jackson's The Trolltooth Wars graphic novel is here!

It's the news that many fans having been waiting to hear, ever since the original Kickstarter for the project funded back in 2015...

Steve Jackson's The Trolltooth Wars graphic novel, written by PJ Montgomery with art by Gavin Mitchell, is in print and available for pre-order now! To secure your copy, simply follow this link.

"Goblins! Goblins!... We are attacked! Take guard... Ambush!"

When Balthus Dire's hill goblins raid a caravan transporting a mystical herb to Zharradan Marr, they set into motion a chain of events that plunge Allansia into a vicious war between the two evil sorcerers.

With their powers and forces being well-matched, the war escalates, and the kingdom of Salamonis comes under threat. A champion is needed to turn the war to Salamonis' advantage and prevent the bloodshed.

The warrior Chadda Darkmane is selected for the mission, and must travel across Allansia seeking unlikely allies, as unseen forces plot against him. Can Darkmane bring an end to the war, or will chaos rule over Allansia?

Steve Jackson's The Trolltooth Wars is a fantastic read, with some amazing art, and no Fighting Fantasy fan's collection would be complete without a copy.

On top of that, if you retweet this tweet by Gavin Mitchell before 3:00pm on Sunday 11th June, you could be in with the chance of winning a Fighting Fantasy enamel badge.

Look out, look out, there are Ganjees about!

Fans eagerly awaiting the arrival of Steve Jackson's The Trolltooth Wars graphic novel, adapted by PJ Montgomery with art by Gavin Mitchell, will be excited to know that all of the artwork is now finished and publication of the book itself cannot be far away.

Here is a sample splash page from the book, featuring everyone's favourite esoteric spirits, the Ganjees!

To read the latest update on The Trolltooth Wars Kickstarter, follow this link.

PJ and Gavin are hoping to be able to attend Fighting Fantasy Fest 2, on Saturday 2nd September, where they will be showing off their graphic novel, along with pages of art from the book.