Closing an educational gap - Ian Livingstone et al.

[linflas]

Best writer ? Definitely not Ian ! But Jackson isn't as well. I prefer the duos Thomson/Smith and Morris/Johnson.

[Gambit37]

I found an interesting interview with Ian & Steve from 2007, when the 25th anniversary edition of WoFM came out. Quite a long read, but some interesting history in there:

http://www.sfx.co.uk/page/sfx?entry=ian ... ve_jackson

I also discovered yet ANOTHER reprinting of WoFM to be released with a new cover. Dunno what that's all about, it doesn't seem to be a Wizard book who were responsible for the reprints from 2003 onwards...?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Warlock-Firetop ... 848310757/

[oh_brother]

The FF ones I remember most are the ones that were different. Creature of Havoc - brilliant. Then some of the ones that had a very different feel to regular fantasy settings: Phantoms of Fear (you play an elf, and you can explore it in the dream world too), Crimson Tide (a bit dark, at least when I was about 10!).

Of the more regular ones I loved Crypt of the Sorcerer, read it many times. And also The Keep of the Lich Lord. Very interesting, not too difficult and you have some companions (including an elf, who reminded me of Syra...sigh). Midnight Rogue, Scorpion Swamp, Deathtrap Dungeon, so many classics...

I don't know how I never heard of Sorcery books before, I would have eaten them (not literally) as a kid if I had heard about them.

[Narjhan]

I don't know how I never heard of Sorcery books before, I would have eaten them (not literally) as a kid if I had heard about them.

Ohhhhhh that hurts. Damn man, I do feel sorry for you

[oh_brother]

Ohhhhhh that hurts. Damn man, I do feel sorry for you

That good, eh? Maybe I should look into them sometime. I don't know how I missed them, I had 30+ FF books, plus Dungeoneer and those background books. Shame though, even if I got them now it would not be the same as reading them when I was younger.

[beowuuf]

They have a nice world, the four story arc is goo,d the fact that choices in one book or hints carry through nicely to other books is great, but the best thing is they three letter spell codes that force you to learn the spells and use them intelligently. Pretty sweet!

[Narjhan]

Ohhhhhh that hurts. Damn man, I do feel sorry for you

That good, eh? Maybe I should look into them sometime. I don't know how I missed them, I had 30+ FF books, plus Dungeoneer and those background books. Shame though, even if I got them now it would not be the same as reading them when I was younger.

Of course the experience wont be the same but still, Im sure you're gonna enjoy them. And I second what Beo said: the way the story is developed is remarkable.

And believe it or not, but I do feel jealous about the fact that you're still havent read them and that you can still reap all the pleasures of discovering a new epic adventure ^^

[oh_brother]

And believe it or not, but I do feel jealous about the fact that you're still havent read them and that you can still reap all the pleasures of discovering a new epic adventure ^^

Actually I know how you feel, I felt the same when I heard Trantor had not read the FF books. I see Sorcery is going to be released by Wizard Books, must keep my eyes open.

[Gambit37]

Sorcery was already re-released by Wizard a few years ago. They are re-re-releasing all the FF and Sorcery again from this September!!!

If I had the time, I'd seriously contemplate writing BloodBane Rising as a series of six books and try and get a publisher. I always fancied doing a gamebook and it's been proved that you don't need to be a great writer to do it By the time I get around to it though, the market probably will have died again!

[Jan]

SIX books! Wow! It's really a lot of work! Anyhow, count me in as a beta-tester! As a geographer, I can also take a look at the maps and say something about them (erm) *scientifically* (cough).

[Sophia]

If I had the time, I'd seriously contemplate writing BloodBane Rising as a series of six books

Six? I don't want to be discouraging here, but, shouldn't you start with one? Seriously? I mean, even Tolkien wrote "The Hobbit" before he dove into LotR...

Keeping projects manageable is the surest way to actually finish them after all.

[Gambit37]

But I'm famous for having over ambitious plans that I never deliver on. I would hate to be inconsistent

If you recall, my original story was spread over six episodes. I kept diluting it to be workable in RTC, but every time I did that I got less and less happy with what was coming out. Moving to a series of gamebooks would give me the scope to do what I originally wanted.

And note I quantified myself by saying "If I had the time".... Your right though. Of course I'd start with one book. But hey, there's other stuff lying around on this old PC that needs finishing off too...

[Sophia]

And note I quantified myself by saying "If I had the time"....

I guess it depends on what you meant.

If you meant if you had the time to do any of it, sure, I understand. However, if you think you might have the time to write one book (but not six!) then I say... go for it. Don't be burdened by this overreaching thing that might never happen, or, at the very least, don't let it hold you back from doing something achievable. I understand you might feel like you're diluting your grand vision, and that can be no good if you feel like you're losing too much of what you wanted to do, but surely there's a way you can get to the core of it, and tell an interesting tale.

[linflas]

i 've just found "Fighting Fantazine", a new amateur magazine about FF. For interested people :
http://rapidshare.com/files/273975334/FF1.pdf

[Gambit37]

Pretty cool, thanks for the link

The new Fighting Fantasy site is online with a great new look and lots of info about the newly re-re-released books and the new branding. Personally I'm not a big fan over overbranded cover art like this, but I understand the need for it. I still think the full page illustrations by Iain McCaig of the first few books were the best format they ever had -- clean and simple

Anyway, new site is here:

http://www.fightingfantasy.com/index.ph ... &Itemid=46

[linflas]

I'm just coming back from "Le Monde du Jeu", a special event in Paris and i met that guy... Ok, it's a bit blurred but that's HIM !


I guess Beo must be jealous...

[beowuuf]

DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU TO HECK!

Did you at least name drop me to him?

[linflas]

errr.. nope sorry. i was so happy he signed the gamebook i've illustrated (the story is based on Chasm of Doom) !!!...
He's a very nice and reachable person... there will be a video interview very soon (half english/half french), not from me but from www.legrimoire.net i suppose.

[beowuuf]

L'sabres De Eshnar? (or however you say it)? COOL!

Had the chance to nip across to london last year to see him, but ended up not going

[linflas]

ahhhh... he talked about the videogame and the movie so he will come back in London later probably.
oh, i've uploaded the autograph :

[beowuuf]

DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU TO HECK!

[Gambit37]

His hair was a lot darker when I met him about 20 years ago!

But yeah... DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU TO HECK!

[linflas]

[Gambit37]

Is the video game still going ahead? I thought Ksatria went bust? Has he given the rights to someone else?

[linflas]

well, he hasn't been asked about this during the interview so i don't know sorry.

[Gambit37]

But you said he talked about the video game?

[beowuuf]

http://daziarn.proboards.com/index.cgi? ... thread=558

[Gambit37]

Cool

[linflas]

Joe Dever's interview at Le Monde du Jeu in Paris :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEpsQI_mN-I (1st of 4 vids)

[Trego]

...I prefer the duos Thomson/Smith and Morris/Johnson.

I have a 'Duel Master 4 Arena of Death' game book, by Mark Smith and Jamie Thomson. It was a 2 player role playing book that I use to play with my brother. Did anyone have any other 2 player game books?