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A middle aged man plays every single Fighting Fantasy book in order.
118 Episodes
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It’s bonus episode time again and we’re playing Dave Morris’s unique take on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This is a digital gamebook (played on iOS) which always make for an interesting departure from the classic formula. How will Morris’s take on a classic stand up to the original? Listen along to find out.
Ian Livingstone is back! Eye of the Dragon written in 2005 is the first new Fighting Fantasy book since 1995 and Livingstone’s first book since 1992. We’re in proper old school mode for this extended dungeon crawl which has the added bonus of Martin McKenna’s always exceptional artwork. Will it be able to recapture the magic of the series for a new generation? Listen along to find out.The review portion of the episode starts at 46m22s.
It’s another thrilling bonus episode of the podcast and this time out we’re meddling in space and time as we take on the role of special time agent Falcon in Mechanon, the second book in the science fiction gamebook series by Mark Smith and Jamie Thomson with art by Nic Weeks and Geoff Senior. Can this be the entry to show me exactly how you write a good science fiction gamebook? Listen along to find out.
We’ve reached the end of another journey as we play and critically examine The Crown of Kings, book four in the Sorcery series by Steve Jackson with art by the wonderful John Blanche. It’s been an epic quest but now only the fortress of Mampang and its vile archmage stand between us and ultimate success. How does the adventure go? Listen along to find out.
We’re playing something a little different this episode and we take a look at Deathtrap Dungeon 3, a fan written sequel to Deathtrap Dungeon and Trial of Champions. Those are some pretty big shoes to fill and with multiple authors there’s a lot that could go wrong. How does it land? Listen along to find out. Deathtrap Dungeon 3 was written by Ken Beuden, Daniel Flander, Jared Milne, Brett Schofield, and Andrew Wright and the book was suggested by patron Kim Jenson.
The third book of the Sorcery series is in some ways a retread of the first book in that the mission is simply to cross a wilderness. This time however there’s a problem, seven problems in fact, in the shape of seven magic snakes that are carrying news of the mission to the evil arch-mage of Mampang. How does our gallant hero fare in the Baklands and the dark forest of Snatta? Listen along to find out.
1This bonus episode we’re doing something a little different with Margaret Killjoy’s interactive novel What Lies Beneath the Clock Tower, a steampunk infused tale of underground kingdoms, goblins, gnomes, and bloody revolution. It’s a chance to see the breadth of stories you can tell using adventure gamebooks and a welcome chance to talk about anarchist politics and the problems of violence which is pretty cool for a fun book about a hapless drunk.
Having survived a walking holiday in the Shamutanti Hills we now get to enjoy a citybreak in Kharé, a cityport known for having the most violent and paranoid locals anywhere in the known world. All that needs to happen is to walk from one side of the city to the other. What could possibly go wrong? Listen along to find out.
We’re on the old school track this episode as we tackle two classic Choose Your Own Adventure books from the mid 1980s, Prisoner of the Ant People by R. A. Montgomery, and Outlaws of Sherwood Forest by Ellen Kushner. But which will be better, the one that sounds like a 50s B-movie or the one that sounds like a 30s swashbuckler? Listen along to find out.
We’re taking a break from the mainline Fighting Fantasy books to work through the Sorcery series by Steve Jackson which are Fighting Fantasy books in all but name honestly. We’re starting at the beginning with The Shamutanti Hills. With a fancy new magic system and art by legendary UK illustrator and artist John Blanche this has all the ingredients to be a classic but will it land? Listen along to find out.
It’s a bittersweet bonus episode as we bid a fond farewell to the Way of the Tiger series of ninja themed gamebooks. The final volume Redeemer is by David Walters, Mark Smith, and Jamie Thomson with art by a variety of different talents. Can this series bow out strong with a book more than twenty five years in the making? Listen along to find out. Also I’ve relaunched my other podcast Popular Antiquarian. That’s exciting. You can also find it over on https://www.hauntedphonograph.com/popular-antiquarian/
We’ve made it to the end of the original run of Fighting Fantasy books but are we ending on a high note? With Jonathan Green and Martin McKenna involved the talent is certainly there for a classic but you’ll have to listen along to find out whether they manage to land this final outing.
In a change from the advertised episode we’re playing the penultimate Way of the Tiger gamebook (actually the last one to be released during the original run in the 80s). Our tireless hero has tried their hand at diplomacy, statecraft, and commanding armies in the field. What’s left? Why only a descent into the fabled Rift, also known as The Bowels of Orb. How will our fearless hero do? Listen along to find out.
We’re on the penultimate book from the first run of Fighting Fantasy novels and it’s also writer Keith Martin’s swan song after eight books. Revenge of the Vampire is a direct sequel to the excellent Vault of the Vampire and sees Martin re-united with artist Martin McKenna. It’s a great creative pairing but is Revenge of the Vampire on the same level as Vault of the Vampire? Listen along to find out.
The Bloodsword series is a set of gamebooks which take place in the world of Dragon Warriors, the classic roleplaying game written by Dave Morris and Oliver Johnson. It’s great that they are available again but do they bring anything fresh to the table? The first book, Battlepits of Krarth, tips its hat to Deathtrap Dungeon and has art by the great Russ Nicholson (who seems to have been a regular feature on the podcast lately). There’s no less than four different characters to play and a whole host of additional combat rules. Listen along to find out if more is more in this instance.
We’ve reached book 57 and Magehunter by Paul Mason with art by Russ Nicholson and cover art by Ian Miller. This one has a reputation for being quite the Chinese puzzle box of a gamebook but is that reputation justified? Also will we hunt a mage? Yes. Yes we will. Good job Magehunter on a fully accurate title.
We’re back playing Way of the Tiger again. Having dabbled in ruling a city in the previous book we now get to take on military command as our old foe Honoric is back and he’s brought 15,000 close friends with him. Can our hero manage to put together a force to oppose his angry nemesis? Listen along to find out.Also my new book Mutiny Most Merited is out! You can get a copy by supporting me on patreon over at patreon.com/hjdoom. There’s a bunch of other stuff for all patrons as well, a positive treasure trove of gaming stuff and gamebooks.
Book 56 of the Fighting Fantasy series is the sophomore effort from Jonathan Green, Knights of Doom, with art by Tony Hough. Green’s first book was the very enjoyable Spellbreaker but can he manage to escape the curse of the difficult second album? Listen along to find out.
It’s bonus episode time again and we’re entering the terrifying world of the Cthulhu Mythos with Graham Plowman’s The House on Sentinel Hill. Released in 2022 this hefty 585 section adventure gamebook features all manner of monstrous creatures and sanity draining revelations. Art is by Matthew Dewhurst.
It’s the last podcast of 2024 and we’re looking at Deathmoor by Robin Waterfield with art by Russ Nicholson and cover art by Terry Oakes. I try not to get into meta-commentary on my own work but this episode is genuinely one of my favourites that I’ve recorded in recent months. I had a ton of fun with this one and I hope that you will too. Merry Christmas to those who celebrate and Happy Holidays to those that don’t.
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