Gamebook Friday: Blood of the Zombies launch at Forbidden Planet

Blood of the Zombies – 30 Years of Fighting Fantasy

In 1982, Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson wrote The Warlock of Firetop Mountain and changed the publishing landscape. It was the first interactive gamebook in the Fighting Fantasy series that went on the sell over 17 million copies worldwide.

This August, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the legendary series, Wizard Books (the children’s book imprint of Independent Alliance publisher Icon Books) is publishing a brand new title written by Ian – Blood of the Zombies.

‘I’ve really enjoyed writing Blood of the Zombies having been inspired by Fighting Fantasy fans everywhere. It is very gratifying to meet so many people who grew up reading The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, remembering it so fondly. I hope that today’s 10 year old, or the 10 year old of the 1980s, will consider my new book a worthy addition to the series – assuming they survive the zombies!’ said Ian Livingstone.

Ian will be signing exclusive copies of his new zombie-slaying adventure at Forbidden Planet London Megastore, Shaftesbury Avenue on 4 August 2012, 3-4pm.

‘We’re delighted to be hosting the launch for Blood of the Zombies and welcoming Ian back to Forbidden Planet,’ says Danie Ware, who runs social media and marketing at the iconic store.

• Ian Livingstone OBE is, with Steve Jackson, the originator of the Fighting Fantasy gamebook series. He co-founded Games Workshop in 1975, launching Dungeons & Dragons in Europe and subsequently its retail chain and White Dwarf magazine. 
• Ian has become a major figure in the world of computer games and is Life President of Eidos, the company behind Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. As the government’s skills and games champion, he sits on many boards including trade body UKIE, industry charity GamesAid, Creative Skillset games council, BAFTA games committee, the Creative Industries Council and is an advisor to the British Council.
• He recently co-authored the NextGen report for the British government, urging changes in education policy to assist the UK games and digital creative industries. He was listed as the 16th most influential person in the UK’s digital economy in Wired magazine’s Wired 100 list for 2012. Twitter @ian_livingstone