The Box of Delights

Forty-one years ago today, at 5:00pm on 21st November 1984, the BBC dramatisation of John Masefield's The Box of Delights was first broadcast. I was one of those eager children who tuned in to watch and was hooked from the moment I heard Victor Hely-Hutchinson's orchestral arrangement of The First Nowell, taken from the third movement of his Carol Symphony, which formed the series' theme music.

40 years later, the child star of the TV show provided me with a cover quote for The Box of Delights - The Roleplaying Game.

"As a lifelong roleplayer I was genuinely interested to read an RPG based on The Box of Delights. I was pleased to find that Jon Green has done an excellent job of capturing the spirit of the piece in a tight, narrative framework that emphasizes storytelling and keeps the mechanics simple enough to be enjoyed by any age. I may run it for my own kids."

Devin Stanfield, Kay Harker in the 1984 BBC Television adaptation of The Box of Delights.

The Box of Delights – The Roleplaying Game is a rules-lite RPG for 2-6 Players, plus a Gamesmaster, inspired by John Masefield's Christmas classic.

Designed to be picked up and played with minimal preparation, it nonetheless includes a well-developed character creation system, as well as rules for combat and magic.

Illustrated throughout by Tony Hough, it is ideal for a festive gaming session with an established group, or as an alternative to the family games usually played at Christmastime.

Time and Tide and Buttered Eggs wait for no man. So, grab your dice and playing cards, and prepare for adventure, for the Wolves are Running!

Gamebook Friday: YOU ARE THE HERO available now from DriveThruRPG

YOU ARE THE HERO: An Interactive History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks has been out for over a year, but now you can download the hyperlinked PDF from DriveThruRPG. Click on the cover below to find out more.

You Are The Hero Bundle of Holding Quick Deal Offer

Live now is the YOU ARE THE HERO Bundle of Holding.

For a limited time, this YOU ARE THE HERO Quick Deal presents the 40th anniversary edition of YOU ARE THE HERO plus seven interactive ACE Gamebooks, and the Heorot RPG.

Part history, part celebration, YOU ARE THE HERO chronicles four decades of the Fighting Fantasy phenomenon, written by Yours Truly (author of eight Fighting Fantasy gamebooks), this revised, updated, and lavishly illustrated tome will appeal to anyone who ever whiled away a washed-out summer holiday with only two dice and a pencil for company.

The YOU ARE THE HERO Quick Deal is live until 11:00pm PST on Tuesday 4th March 2025.

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

YOU ARE THE HERO: An Interactive History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks is published today by Snowbooks, featuring brand new cover art by none other than 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 the book from cover to cover, or you can read it as a gamebook. Those blue boxes you can see in the sample spread above give you the option of turning to different sections (there are 400 in total) that are in some way related to the paragraphs you have just read.

If you have read the book already, please consider posting a review here.

Gamebook Friday: Gamebook News Round-up

Earlier this week I was the guest of The Geek Pride Podcast, where I got to talk about all things gamebooks, but Moon Knight: Age of Anubis in particular. If you were unable to tune in at the time, you can watch it now below.

In other gamebook-related news YOU ARE THE HERO - An Interactive History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks is now with the proofreader, before going to layout in the next couple of weeks.

And lastly, Sir Ian Livingstone and I are in the process of putting the finishing touches to Magic Realms: The Art of Fighting Fantasy. If you haven't pledged your support to this project, you still can here.

Gamebook Friday: Your Last Chance to Late Pledge!

If you would like to place a Late Pledge to the YOU ARE THE HERO 40th anniversary edition Kickstarter, or upgrade your pledge, today is your last chance to do so. Either visit the Late Pledge page here, or drop me a line at info@jonathangreenauthor.com.

In other news, MAGIC REALMS: The Art of Fighting Fantasy is now 85% funded through Unbound Books.

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.

Gamebook Friday: International Gamebook Day 2022

It's been a while coming, but here, just in time for International Gamebook Day 2022 on Saturday 27th August. 

Thanks to Olly Mc for organising the interviews, to Julian Sparrow for his special Twitch stream, and to James Spearing for arranging the virtual Beer-o. You can even purchase your official International Gamebook merchandise here. Enjoy, everyone!

Your last chance to preorder your FFF4 T-shirts and badges!

There are less than six weeks to go before the doors open on Fighting Fantasy Fest 4, on Saturday 3 September 2022.

Many people will be collecting their Fighting Fantasy 40th anniversary T-shirts* and badges on the day. If you have yet to preorder yours, you have until 12:00pm on Friday 29 July 2022 to do just that!

Mock-up images of the 40th anniversary T-shirts and badges.

(Artwork not final.)

The front of the T-shirt features Zagor the Warlock, by Russ Nicholson, and the Fighting Fantasy logo, while on the back are listed all the solo FF adventure gamebooks that have been published over the last 40 years - 77 in total! The badge will be an enamel pin badge.

Whether you have ordered your tickets for Fighting Fantasy Fest 4 or not, you can order your T-shirts and badges by clicking on the 'Tickets' button on the Eventbrite page and scrolling down to the Add-ons section.

But remember, you only have until 12:00pm on Friday 29 July to do so - so don't delay!

* If you have already ordered a T-shirt, you will have received an email explaining how to specify the size you require.

Fighting Fantasy Fest 4 - Tickets on sale now!

 Tickets are on sale now for Fighting Fantasy Fest 4, and are strictly limited to 400* in total.

The Convention of Firetop Mountain is returning to the University of West London, three years since FFF3, on Saturday 3rd September 2022, to celebrate 40 years of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain and the Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks series co-created by Steve Jackson and Sir Ian Livingstone.

Everyone who purchases an adult ticket will receive:

• A uniquely numbered 40th anniversary ticket (strictly limited to 400 in total)
• A souvenier programme and autograph book
• A pair of Fighting Fantasy dice
• Access to the event, including the Traders' Hall and Artists' Alley, and all signing opportunities
• Access to all talks and panels
• Access to a special screening of Martin Gooch's new film Argh and the Quest for the Golden Dragon Skull, featuring Sir Ian Livingstone!

Attendees may also pre-order an exclusive Fighting Fantasy 40th anniversary T-shirt and enamel pin badge, ready for collection at the event.

There are also a limited number of Young Adult and Children tickets. (Please note that anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult ticket holder.)

Steve Jackson and Sir Ian Livingstone will be attending as Guests of Honour, and other guests include authors Rhianna Pratchett, Jamie Thomson, Peter Darvill-Evans, and Jonathan Green, artists John Sibbick, Malcolm Barter, Tony Hough, Mel Grant, and Rob Ball, and original commissioning editor Geraldine Cooke.

Fighting Fantasy Fest 4 is likely to be a very popular event and entry is by pre-paid ticket only*.

If you've been before, you will know what to expect and will doubtless be keen to attend again. If you've not been before, then this is the year to attend your first Fighting Fantasy convention!

So, don't delay and make sure you secure your place at Fighting Fantasy Fest 4 now!

* Tickets are limited to 400 adult tickets, plus 50 Young Adult tickets, and 50 Children tickets.