Gamebook Friday: YOU ARE THE HERO - An Interactive History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks...

... is coming to Kickstarter on Saturday 8th October 2022! If you haven't already, sign up here to be notified when the project goes live.

40 years ago, on 27th 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, I ran successful Kickstarter campaigns to publish YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks and YOU ARE THE HERO Part 2. I now want to publish and revised and updated edition to mark the 40th anniversary of the world's premier gamebook series - and this time it's going to be interactive!

YOU ARE THE HERO - An Interactive History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks is going to be available to backers of the new Kickstarter in four different formats; eBook, paperback, hardback, and deluxe hardback. The standard hardback edition will look like the previous hardbacks in the series, featuring a printed papercase. However, the deluxe hardback will be bound in faux red leather, in honour of the series' Ruby Anniversary, with the title and FF logo embossed in gold leaf, and will also include ribbon bookmarks. The book's final cover artwork will appear inside the book.

A mock-up of the limited edition, faux leather bound, deluxe hardback, featuring gold embossed detailing.

In other gamebook-related news, due to the need to reduce the amount of stuff I have following a house move across the country, I am selling off some of my author copies of the gamebooks and novels I have written over the years. I will, of course, sign the books for anyone who would like to buy them, and I am selling them through Ebay. To see exactly what I have on offer, click this link.

Gamebook Friday: Meet Jack-O'-Lantern

Today, Friday 23rd September, is the Autumn Equinox. Which means that before you know it, it will be Halloween. In anticipation of All Hallow's Eve, a new Playable Character is now available for 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas, who has a suitably spooky vibe. So, without further delay, meet Jack-O'-Lantern.

A hangover from the Halloween celebrations, Jack-O'-Lantern is a plastic night light that is still on duty in the sleeping child’s bedroom. Due to association with the season of mischief and monsters, he is a capricious sprite who can hinder as much as help, depending on his mischievous mood at the time. However, he also has a deep understanding of demons, knowing how best to counter the schemes of such malign entities.

The Jack-O'-Lantern supplement, which is illustrated by m'colleague Tony Hough, also includes a new Scene that introduces the character to your games of the 'TWAS RPG. You can download it here from DriveThruRPG.com.

Gamebook Friday: Dracula - Curse of the Vampire reviewed in Fighting Fantazine #17

After a hiatus of half a decade, Fighting Fantazine is back with Issue #17, which was actually published on 27th August 2022 - the 40th anniversary of the publication of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain.

It has much to recommend it, including a cover by m'colleague Tony Hough, an interview with Dave Morris and an epic adventure by Andrew Wright called Barbarian Warlord. However, when my print copy was delivered, I was surprised and delighted to find that the magazine includes a detailed review of Dracula - Curse of the Vampire, by Paul Partington.

You can pick up Dracula - Curse of the Vampire from Amazon, and in PDF form from DriveThruRPG. The PDF of RONIN 47 is now available on DriveThruRPG as well, if that's how you best like to consume your interactive fiction.

Tie-in Tuesday: Deadpool Does Shakespeare

The final part of the All Killer No Filler Deadpool Collection is now out and it is the last to feature additional content by Yours Truly.

I am something of a Shakespeare fan, so, when I was asked to contribute to this issue, I couldn't resist putting in as many of the Bard's own words as possible. Fortunately my editor went with the idea.

As it says in an editorial note on the last page, "In case you were wondering, there's 46 Shakespeare quotes in the feature. Did you spot them all?"

Talking of Deadpool, out soon from Aconyte Books is You Are (Not) Deadpool, and She-Hulk Goes to Murderworld, by Tim Dedopulos. These are the first Marvel Multiverse Missions gamebooks and you will notice I have a credit on the copyright page of each for providing 'techincal assistance'.

You Are (Not) Deadpool and She-Hulk Goes to Murderworld are released in the UK on 29th September 2022.

Gamebook Friday: ACE Gamebooks at Fighting Fantasy Fest 4

This Saturday, 3 September, ACE Gamebooks will be at Fighting Fantasy Fest 4 at the University of West London in Ealing.

So if you're going to be there you can pick up the latest ACE Gamebook, RONIN 47, and get it signed too.