Fighting Fantasy #666

In the past, particularly at the height of its fame during the 1980s, Fighting Fantasy garnered criticism from certain religious groups (particularly in the US) who claimed it, and other RPGs like it, promoted satanism and witchcraft.

This is a topic that is covered in YOU ARE THE HERO, but if anyone was still harbouring any suspicions in that area, check out what Joe Kelly spotted on the YOU ARE THE HERO Facebook page this morning!

Edward Crosby and Gary Ward

Anyone who's ever read Ian Livingstone's Caverns of the Snow Witch has surely marvelled at Edward Crosby's and Gary Ward's woodcut-style artwork. But how did they actually produce the images?

Well, you'll have to wait until YOU ARE THE HERO is published to find out, but in the mean time, here are some roughs of those original illustrations that Gary Ward sent through to me today. Enjoy.

Check out Eddy's online portfolio here.

YOU ARE THE HERO at the Sci-Fi Weekender

Over a week ago now, I was in North Wales for the Sci-Fi Weekender 5. I was there really with my Steampunk hat on, but over the course of the weekend a number of people came up to me and introduced themselves as backers of YOU ARE THE HERO (which was nice).

It also just so happened that a couple of the people I interviewed for the book were there - namely film-maker Martin Gooch and Seas of Blood cover artist Rodney Matthews. (You can find out more about the Weekender here.)

 Martin Gooch, Archimedes the Steampunk Parrot, and Jonathan Green at the Sci-Fi Weekender 5.

 Seas of Blood cover artist Rodney Matthews.

In other news, the final manuscript of the book has come in at 98,625 words, although Ian Livingstone is still keen it should hit the 100,000 mark... which might just happen once all the photo tags are in...

Another important message for the YOU ARE THE HERO Kickstarter backers

After posting the list of backers that will be appearing in the back of YOU ARE THE HERO at the end of February I had only eight people get in touch with amendments/omissions that needed to be sorted out. Today I am posting an updated list, and giving you another chance to check that everything's in order. If it isn't, please let me know via email at info@jonathangreenauthor.com by this Friday 14 March 2014.

In other news, those legends Mr Steve Jackson and Mr Ian Livingstone (who started all this in the first place) have both re-read the manuscript and given their feedback, and the proof-reader is two-thirds of the way through.

Heading your way in 2014.

An important message for the YOU ARE THE HERO Kickstarter backers

It's almost the end of another month and it's time for another YOU ARE THE HERO update.

First and foremost, if you were one of the wonderful people who backed the YOU ARE THE HERO Kickstarter (even if you were a little late to the party) please check the attached image carefully. (You will also find it uploaded to the YOU ARE THE HERO Facebook page.)

This is the list of people who backed the project at the CYCLOPS level or above, thereby earning the right to have their names appear in the back of the book as a thank you for their support. I would appreciate it if you could check that the dedication you requested appears on the list and, secondly, that everything is spelt correctly*. (Remember, if you pledged at the TROLL level or below, your name will not be on this list.)

If everything is fine, you do not need to do anything. If you think you have found an error, please let me know a.s.a.p. by emailing me at info@jonathangreenauthor.com. Do not reply to this post or post on the Facebook page; I will need a direct email, or your notification may get missed.

You have until 6.00pm GMT on Friday 7 March 2014 to inform me of any corrections that need to be made. After that, the text will be passed on to the publisher and it will be too late to make any changes.

Thank you for your assistance with this.

In other news, what I'm hoping will prove to be the final draft of the manuscript is being sent off to proof-readers today, as well as Messrs Jackson and Livingstone. Images are being collated for the book and I hope that the laying out of this magnum opus will begin very soon.

It's getting there, slowly, but it's getting there, and I thank you once again for your patience.

* I spotted one mistake this morning, caused by someone mistyping their name in the Rewards survey, so please do check extra carefully as this could have happened to you too.

Beyond the Pit

This arrived in the post today...

That's right - it's Arion Games' Kickstarter-funded Advanced Fighting Fantasy bestiary Beyond the Pit, featuring Terry Oakes' stunning airbrushed artwork on the cover.

Echoing the original edition of Out of the Pit (first published in 1985), Graham Bottley and Andrew Wright have created a very professional and appealing, not to mention useful, book of FF bestial lore that will sit very comfortably alongside the rest of any Fighting Fantasy fan's collection.

I've had great fun this evening flicking through the book, being reminded of adventures of yesteryear (as well as thinking which monsters it might be nice to bring back some time), and enjoying the artwork of masters such as Tony Hough, Brian Williams and Martin McKenna all over again. What's particularly pleasing is to see that one of my creations has made it into the book - namely the Giant Chameleon - as well as elements of world-building from some of my gamebooks, notably Curse of the Mummy.

Special mention must go to Steve Luxton's updated maps of Titan that appear in the book too. As Andrew Wright notes in his introduction, the Fighting Fantasy World has grown a very great deal since Out of the Pit was first published.

A few formatting and layout problems aside, Beyond the Pit is a worthy addition to the FF library and is a great purchase. Roll on Out of the Pit Volume 3!

YOU ARE THE HERO - One Year On

Exactly one year ago today, at 3.00pm GMT, YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks funded via Kickstarter.

At the time, I thought that the book would be finished, printed and in the faithful backers' hands by now. Unfortunately no plan survives contact with the enemy intact, as they say, and YOU ARE THE HERO was no different. What was planned as a 30,000 word book had swelled (at the last count) to 92,311 words, and it looks like it's going to get a little longer still before it finally sees print. However, I can assure you that its getting there, at long last.

In not entirely unrelated news, yesterday I met up with Ian Livingstone to go through his and Steve Jackson's comments on the manuscript. And very encouraging and helpful they were too, you'll be pleased to hear...