Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 - One week to go!

A week today, at 10.30am, the doors will open on the world's first ever convention dedicated to Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks. Here's what's in store for those attending Fighting Fantasy Fest...

10.30am - Event opens – Registration begins

11.15am – Welcome

11.30am – Tin Man Games presentation, with the first look at the Caverns of the Snow Witch app, and a glimpse of what they have in store for The Warlock of Firetop Mountain.

12.00pm – The History of Fighting Fantasy (Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, with Philippa Dickinson)

1.00pm – Lunch – Why not join us for a pint of ale back at the Black Lobster Tavern?

2.00pm – The Art of Fighting Fantasy (The Fighting Fantasy artists, with Jonathan Green) 

3.00pm – Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks and YOUARE THE HERO mass signing

4.00pm – Fighting Fantasy Costume Competition, followed by the Fighting Fantasy Auction (with auctioneer Ian Livingstone) 

5.00pm – Your adventure ends here… Event closes

A host of other activities will be taking place throughout the day... 

• Arion Games will be running a number of Advanced Fighting Fantasy gaming sessions throughout the day.
• Inkle Studios will be running a Swindlestones tournament – simply visit the Inkle Studios table to take part. 
• You will be able to have your fantasy-themed portrait taken by Legend Photography. 
• Award-winning film-maker Martin Gooch, who has written the script for the Deathtrap Dungeon movie, will be in attendance.
• Sean Riley, the man behind Turn to 400, the fantastic Fighting Fantasy documentary, will be along with his video camera, hoping to interview fans about FF and FFF.
• See the Fighting Fantasy Exhibition, and meet the Fighting Fantasy artists.
• Peruse the markets of Port Blacksand and share fond memories of FF with other seasoned adventurers over a flagon of Cloud Ale (or something similar) at the Black Lobster Tavern?

It's not too late to buy a ticket for Fighting Fantasy Fest. Get yours today!

Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 - All Rolled Up

Among the traders attending Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 is All Rolled Up. All Rolled Up produce unique accessories for gamers, called ARUs.

"ARU offers an innovative, flexible and all-in-one solution for bringing your gaming to the table. A game roll that combines pocket, pen tidy and dice bag into a single accessory - so that when you're All Rolled Up you're ready to game. But, it's not just for gamers... All Rolled Up can carry dice, eraser, index cards, sticky notes, beads, writing gear, drawing kit, board game components, trading cards, wargame miniatures, stationery, make-up and more."

All Rolled Up have produced a number of special ARUs especially for Fighting Fantasy Fest, featuring some classic FF cover art and Martin McKenna's cover painting for YOU ARE THE HERO.

To see more pictures, click this link. To buy your ticket to Fighting Fantasy Fest, click here.

YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks - is here!

So yesterday, this happened...

If you're wondering, that's what half a tonne of books looks like. (I'm not kidding - it's actually slightly more than half a tonne!)

YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks - in print at last!

It's big.

In case you were wondering how big, here's YOU ARE THE HERO next to the 25th anniversary edition of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain.

In other news, Tin Man Games' app version of Steve Jackson's Appointment with F.E.A.R. was released on the 32nd anniversary of the publication of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain.

The official book launch of YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks is taking place at FIGHTING FANTASY FEST 2014, the world's first convention dedicated to Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks. You can find out more details, and buy your ticket, here.

YOU ARE THE HERO - Making the News!

YOU ARE THE HERO, along with Fighting Fantasy Fest, has hit the big time - the book has been mentioned on the BBC News magazine website.



People have been contacting me all day, asking if I've seen the piece. If you've not seen it yet, you can do so by clicking this link. And if you've not bought your ticket for Fighting Fantasy Fest yet, where YOU ARE THE HERO will be launching, you can do so here.

YOU ARE THE HERO on sale in the bustling markets of Port Blacksand

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wander the markets of the infamous City of Thieves, whilst being jostled by Troll Guards, wary of pickpockets as you peruse the unusual wares on offer? Well you can experience something like it (minus the guards and the pickpockets) at Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014.

There are a number of traders coming along to tempt you with their fine wares, so best make sure there are plenty of gold pieces in your backpack on the day. Among the traders are:

• Otherworld Miniatures - who have produced the highly collectible Zagor miniature that will be in every attendee's goodie bag.
• Leisure Games - purveyors of only the finest board games.
• Snowbooks - publishers of YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks
• FightingFantasy.com - Jamie Fry will have FF gamebooks both old and new for sale on his stand.
• Arion Games - publishers of Advanced Fighting Fantasy Second Edition.
• All Rolled Up - suppliers of gamebook gaming accessories, who will have some very special, bespoke items for sale.
• Scriptarium - French publishers of Advanced Fighting Fantasy.
• Legend Photography - who will take your FF-themed portrait, props included.

You will also be able to chat to Martin Gooch about his plans to turn Deathtrap Dungeon into a live action movie, as well as the Tin Man himself, Neil Rennison, about Tin Man Games' plans for future FF apps, not to mention Inkle Studios about their Steve Jackson's Sorcery! apps.

So don't delay. There are barely two weeks to go. Buy your ticket today.

YOU ARE THE HERO reviewed in SFX 252

The October issue of SFX Magazine came out today* and although YOU ARE THE HERO isn't officially published for another 18 days, it has been reviewed inside.

* I'm not sure why, since it's still August.

Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 - The Schedule!

Here at is at last, what you've all been waiting for, the schedule for Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014, taking place on Sunday 7 September at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Ealing, West London.

~ ~ ~

10.30am – The event opens and Registration begins.

11.15am – Welcome to the event you've all been waiting for...

11.30am – Tin Man Games presentation - A very special preview of some of Tin Man Games' forthcoming FF apps.

12.00pm – The History of Fighting Fantasy - A talk by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, with Philippa Dickinson, their editor on the original FF gamebook, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain.

1.00pm – Lunch - Join us for a flagon of Cloud Ale at the Black Lobster Tavern.

2.00pm – The Art of Fighting Fantasy - The Fighting Fantasy artists, in conversation with Jonathan Green.

3.00pm – Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks and YOU ARE THE HERO mass signing.

4.00pm – Fighting Fantasy Costume Competition, followed by the Fighting Fantasy Auction (with auctioneer Ian Livingstone).

5.00pm – Your adventure ends here… The event closes.

~ ~ ~

During the day you will also be able to enjoy Advanced Fighting Fantasy gaming sessions, courtesy of Arion Games, take part in a Swindlestones tournament, with Inkle Studios, and have your fantasy-themed portrait taken by Legend Photography.

Traders who will be there on the day include Otherworld Miniatures, board games specialists Leisure Games, FightingFantasy.com, French AFF publishers Scriptarium, purveyors of gaming accessories All Rolled Up, Pure Evil Miniatures, and Snowbooks, publishers of YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks (which will also be launching on the day).

If you've not bought your ticket yet, you can do so here.

Good news! Tickets for Fighting Fantasy Fest will remain on sale until the end of August!

A number of people have let me know that they would still like to attend Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014, but are unable to commit a month before the event actually takes place. As a result, I have taken the decision to commit to making the maximum number of goodie bags and leaving tickets on sale until the end of the month.

So, if you've not bought your ticket yet, you have until 11:59pm on Sunday 31 August 2014 to do so. If you have bought your ticket, please also continue to plug the event and tell all your friends to buy their tickets too. If you are unable to attend, please let everyone else know about Fighting Fantasy Fest anyway.

Thank you.

Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 - Grab your ticket today!

Today is the last day to buy your ticket for Fighting Fantasy Fest and secure your exclusive goodie bag, including goodies to the value of £50!

The 'Adventurer's Backpack' contains...

• A Fighting Fantasy gamebook
• A Pax Britannia novel
• A download code for a Tin Man Games app
• A limited edition poster
• A commemorative convention programme
• And a 32mm miniature of Zagor the Warlock, especially sculpted for this event by Paul Muller and cast by Otherworld Miniatures

Don't delay, buy your ticket today!

Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 - Hitting the Headlines!

Well, the geek press anyway.

YOU ARE THE HERO and FIGHTING FANTASY FEST both get a mention in the latest issues of SFX and SciFiNow magazines.

In SFX, FFF 2014 appears in the 'Event Horizon' part of the mag*, while SciFiNow features a full interview and six-page article with Messrs Jackson and Livingstone**.

Ian Livingstone on Blood of the Zombies, Fighting Fantasy Fest, and Karen Gillan. Obviously.

Perhaps you've stumbled across this very blog because of the aforementioned magazines. Well, have no fear, tickets for FIGHTING FANTASY FEST are still on sale here, and you will soon be able to pre-order your very own copy of YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks (all 270 pages of it!), which now has an official publication date of Sunday 7 September - the same day as FIGHTING FANTASY FEST!

YOU ARE THE HERO in big, bold letters. Cool. 

Curse of the Mummy features one of the ten nastiest deaths in Fighting Fantasy, apparently. 

* Although the piece was written by the work experience girl and features one glaring inaccuracy.

** And Curse of the Mummy even gets a mention!

Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 featuring the official launch of YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks

There are now just 3 days left in which you can purchase your ticket for Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014, which is attracting guests from all over the UK and beyond.

The event will feature the official book launch of YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks, which in turn features the artwork of numerous famous Fighting Fantasy artists. The softback edition of YOU ARE THE HERO will be out in September, and the first place it will be available is Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014.

Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 - 1 month to go!

There is just 1 month to go until  FIGHTING FANTASY FEST 2014 takes place at the DoubleTree Hilton in Ealing, West London, and 4 days left to buy your tickets.

For those attending we have all of the following on offer:

6 Fighting Fantasy artists - including Russ Nicholson, John Blanche, Chris Achilleos, Malcolm Barter, Tony Hough and Leo Hartas.

3 Fighting Fantasy authors - Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, co-creators of the Fighting Fantasy series, and Jonathan Green, author of seven FF gamebooks.

An extremely collectible goodie bag, including a Fighting Fantasy gamebook, a poster, a novel, a Tin Man Games download app code, and a ZAGOR THE WARLOCK miniature, only available to those FF fans attending FIGHTING FANTASY FEST and based on this piece of artwork by Russ Nicholson!

A talk on the early days of Fighting Fantasy by Steve and Ian, with special guest Philippa Dickinson, the editor who first worked on The Warlock of Firetop Mountain.

Arion Games running Advanced Fighting Fantasy sessions throughout the day.

Tin Man Games talking about and demonstrating their latest FF apps.

Inkle Studios talking about their Sorcery! apps.

Various others traders, offering books for sale, wargaming miniatures, dice and gaming equipment, and more!

The official book launch of YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks, written by Jonathan Green and supported by hundreds of FF fans through the Kickstarter crowd-funding website.

An exhibition of never-before-seen and highly-collectible items from FF's history.

An auction of rare Fighting Fantasy memorabilia from the vaults of the Warlocks of Firetop Mountain themselves.

And if all that wasn't enough you'll be able to have a drink with the creators of Fighting Fantasy at the Black Lobster Tavern, from Port Blacksand, City of Thieves, themed bar!

If you've not bought your ticket yet you can do so here. Please tell all your friends via social media and any other means at your disposal (such as telephone, email, carrier pigeon, smoke signals, sorcery...) and we'll look forward to seeing you in September!

Two dice, a pencil and an eraser are all you need

Look what arrived today...

Hope you like the colour. ;-)

Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 - Featuring Legend Photography

There are now just 6 days left in which you can buy tickets for Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014...

One of a guest traders at the event will be Legend Photography, who specialise in fantastical photographic portraits. The company will be bringing various props with them on the day, so if you've always wondered what you'd look like as a contestant about to enter Deathtrap Dungeon, or an Analander heading into Kakhabad, wonder no longer. Just come along on the day and let your imagination run wild.

You may, of course, want to come in costume for the day. This is absolutely fine and, indeed, welcomed. There has been so much interest in dressing up as a Fighting Fantasy adventurer, or one of your favourite villains from the books, that we've introduced a brand new event to the schedule for the day.

Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 is going to feature a costume competition, voted for by those attending, and with the prize of a framed, signed Blood of the Zombies poster on offer.

So what are you waiting for? Purchase your ticket for Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 and start preparing your Zagor costume today!

Attend Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 and appear in a Fighting Fantasy gamebook app!

There's now just 1 week left to purchase your ticket for Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014...

One of the guests attending Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 will be Neil Rennison, the Tin Man's flesh avatar from Tin Man Games.

As well as very generously donating a free download code for everyone attending FFF 2014, Tin Man Games are giving YOU the chance to appear in a future Fighting Fantasy gamebook app.

Everyone attending Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 will be entered into a prize draw, and those lucky people who have their names drawn out of the hat will appear as characters in a forthcoming FF app.

Imagine that - being immortalised in one of your favourite FF gamebooks and becoming a part of Fighting Fantasy history yourself!

So don't delay, buy your ticket today!

Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 - Featuring Russ Nicholson

There are just 8 days left to buy your ticket for Fighting Fantasy Fest. One of the headline guests at the event is the man who first established the look of the Fighting Fantasy world, Russ Nicholson.

His interweaving pen and ink illustrations have adorned FF gamebooks since 1982 and Russ even has a brand new piece of artwork in YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks which is launching at Fighting Fantasy Fest (and where the softback edition will be on sale for the first time).

His work for FF includes the gamebooks The Citadel of Chaos, Masks of Mayhem, Magehunter and Deathmoor. He also illustrated Steve Jackson's novel The Trolltooth Wars, Ian Livingstone's Adventures of Goldhawk, and both the AFF books Blacksand! and Allansia.

So head over to the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Ealing, West London, on Sunday 7 September, and get your copy of YOU ARE THE HERO signed by Russ himself!

Fighting Fantasy Fest and other forthcoming events

I shall be attending various different events over the next month or so.

On Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August, I shall be appearing as part of the Steampunk strand at the Nine Worlds Geekfest in London.

On Friday 15 August, I shall be appearing on a couple of panels at Loncon3, the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention, which is also being held in London (funnily enough).

And then on Sunday 7 September I shall be appearing at, signing books at, launching YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks, and generally running Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014, the world's first dedicated Fighting Fantasy convention. You can buy your tickets for the event here.

Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 featuring YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks

There are now just 9 days left in which you can purchase your ticket for Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014, which is attracting guests from all over the world*.

The event will feature the official book launch of YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks, which in turn features the artwork of numerous famous Fighting Fantasy artists. The softback edition of YOU ARE THE HERO will be out in September, and the first place it will be available is Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014.


* And Southampton.