Fighting Fantasy Fest

7 September 2014,

It’s been 32 years since The Warlock Of Firetop Mountain turned Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson into superstar authors, and an entire generation into gamebook obsessives. That generation got together to celebrate its unfailing SKILL, LUCK and STAMINA in September for the first ever convention dedicated to Fighting Fantasy. Organised by author Jonathan Green, it gathered writers, editors and artists from across the years for panels and autograph sessions.

The crowd cheered Livingstone and Jackson in the main hall and the pair talked wittily about the founding of Games Workshop and their 1982 book deal, shared curios like an absurdly mangafied Japanese cover for Deathtrap Dungeon, and promised a new story starring Zagor the Warlock for the 40th anniversary in 2022. There was a surprise appearance by Geraldine Cooke, the original commissioning editor, while Tin Man, the games company turning Fighting Fantasy into apps, presented their new digital version of Appointment With FEAR. The event also saw the launch of Green’s lavish hardback history of the phenomenon, You Are The Hero.

The event proved there’s still a lot of love after more than three decades for a series which introduced many to the delights of both fantasy storytelling and role- playing games. http:// bit. ly/ FightNF

Ealing David Bradley dug out his battle axe and a six- sided die to celebrate the legendary series of gamebooks