Jonathan Green's Blog, page 172

Thought for the Day

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."
~ Groucho Marx

Fighting Fantasy Fest - Be a part of Fighting Fantasy history!

FIGHTING FANTASY FEST 2014 is a unique event, the like of which has never been held before in the 32 year history of Fighting Fantasy. By attending you will become a part of that history - and possibly even a reference in the 40th anniversary edition of YOU ARE THE HERO ;-) - but you'll need to purchase your ticket.

There are three important things you should know about tickets for FIGHTING FANTASY FEST :
     1) They are only on sale for a limited time.
     2) There are only 300. No more will be released nearer the date of the event.
     3) You need to buy yours soon.

So if you're thinking of coming to FIGHTING FANTASY FEST , don't delay - buy your ticket today! Then you'll know what you're doing on Sunday 7 September, and be able to make plans accordingly, and there'll be no chance of you missing out on what it going to be a truly fantastic festival of fantasy writing and artwork.

Gamebook Friday: Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014

In case you haven't already heard, tickets for  FIGHTING FANTASY FEST 2014  - the first dedicated Fighting Fantasy convention - are on sale now. Guests of Honour Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone will be giving a talk about how Fighting Fantasy first came to be, and the event will also feature the official book launch of YOU ARE THE HERO.
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the support you have already shown YOU ARE THE HERO and to say that you should in no way feel obliged to support  FIGHTING FANTASY FEST  as well. That said, I know that many of you responded to my initial poll regarding the running of such an event saying that you would like to be part of this momentous occasion.Guest artists who have already confirmed include Russ Nicholson, Chris Achilleos and Tony Hough. We are also hoping to have some other very special guests attend on the day, but more on that later.And if that wasn't enough we also have the following planned for Sunday 7 September 2014:Arion Games will be running sessions of the Advanced Fighting Fantasy RPGTin Man Games and Inkle Studios will be talking about their app adaptations of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks and Steve Jackson's Sorcery! epicTrade standsBook signingsPanels and talksAn exhibition of rare Fighting Fantasy memorabiliaA Fighting Fantasy auctionIf you think this sounds like something you would like to be involved in, click this link and purchase your ticket today.

Fighting Fantasy 2014 - Official Press Release

For immediate release!
Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014The first dedicated Fighting Fantasy convention, with Special Guests of Honour Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, featuring the official launch of YOU ARE THE HERO – A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks by Jonathan Green.
Sunday 7 September 2014 will see the first dedicated Fighting Fantasy convention take place at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Ealing, West London. Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, co-creators of the publishing and gaming phenomenon that is Fighting Fantasy, will be Special Guests of Honour at the event, where they will be joined by legendary fantasy artists Russ Nicholson, Chris Achilleos and Tony Hough. A highlight of the day will be Steve and Ian’s own talk on the History of Fighting Fantasy.
Fighting Fantasy Fest will see the official launch of Jonathan Green’s YOU ARE THE HERO – A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks, along with an exhibition of rare FF memorabilia – including original artwork and other more obscure artefacts connected to the series – as well as trade stands, and an auction of Fighting Fantasy treasures. Arion Games will be running Advanced Fighting Fantasy role-playing game sessions during the day, while Tin Man Games and Inkle Studios will also be in attendance, talking about their digital versions of such classic gamebooks as Ian Livingstone’s The Forest of Doom and Steve Jackson’s Sorcery! epic.
Tickets for the event cost £50 each, and every attendee will receive an event-exclusive Adventurer’s Backpack containing various Fighting Fantasy Fest and YOU ARE THE HERO goodies.
“The success of the YOU ARE THE HERO Kickstarter project demonstrated that there is still an active community of Fighting Fantasy fans out in the world who would relish the chance to not only meet their heroes, but to get together and share their stories of battling the horrors of Deathtrap Dungeon or braving the perils of Kharé – Cityport of Traps,” says Jonathan Green, author of the History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks, “ideally whilst quaffing a flagon of ale in Port Blacksand’s infamous Black Lobster Tavern.” (The event will even feature a themed bar!)
Ian Livingstone, co-creator of Fighting Fantasy said, “It’s crazy really that it’s taken 32 years for a dedicated Fighting Fantasy event to take place!  But that’s going to make it all the more special. It will be brilliant to see old friends, artists, authors and fans again after all this time. I’m going to bring along some special Fighting Fantasy items that have never been seen in public before. It certainly will be a Return to Firetop Mountain! I can’t wait.”
Steve Jackson, who is famed for his Sorcery! series, said, “Amazing to think it’s almost 40 years since the first Games Day was held, at Seymour Hall and Baths in Central London. There was a great buzz at that event. Visitors – and organisers – felt they were attending a special occasion. I’m sure it will be the same kind of buzz at Fighting Fantasy Fest. FF celebrities will be there, dealers and memorabilia, game demos and a special auction of items from the Jackson and Livingstone personal archives. This will be an event not to be missed by FF readers. I’m really looking forward to it.”
For more information, or to arrange interviews with the organisers of Fighting Fantasy Fest, please email Jonathan Green at info@jonathangreenauthor.com.
@fightingfantasy @stevejacksonuk @ian_livingstone @jonathangreen @You_Are_TheHero #FightingFantasyFest2014
Sunday 7 September 2014 • The DoubleTree Hilton, Ealing, London, UKArtists • Panels • Book Signings • Games • Exhibition • Special Guests • Auction
www.FightingFantasy.com

FIGHTING FANTASY FEST around the Internet

Word is spreading about FIGHTING FANTASY FEST 2014.

It's cropped up here, at The Trollish Delver...

Here, at Farsight Blogger...

Over at the Wonky Spanner...

And here, at RPG.net...

And on Fantasy Faction...


Check out the links, buy a ticket, and tell all your friends to buy a ticket too. ;-)

Thought for the Day

Gamebook Friday: Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014

FIGHTING FANTASY FEST 2014The first dedicated Fighting Fantasy convention, with Guests of HonourSteve Jackson and Ian Livingstone
who will be giving a talk on the History of Fighting Fantasy.
Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 will also feature the official launch ofYOU ARE THE HERO – A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooksby Jonathan Greenas well as Fighting Fantasy Artists Russ Nicholson, Chris Achilleos and Tony Hough, Panels, Book Signings, Games, a Fighting Fantasy Exhibition, Special Guests, Trade Stands, and a Fighting Fantasy Auction.Tickets go on sale Saturday 31 May 2014 at 8.00am (BST)!
To find out more, click this link.

Frome Steampunk Extravaganza II

Just a quick reminder that I shall be attending the
Frome Steampunk Extravaganza this weekend, along with Archimedes the Steampunk Robot Parrot* and my various Pax Britannia books - not to mention my now legendary Steampunk Tombola and Book Lucky Dip!

You'll find me in the Cheese & Grain on both Saturday and Sunday, and I'll be giving a talk about my work, along with a reading from one of my books, on Sunday at 12.00pm.

If you're coming along for the weekend, do stop by and say "Hello!" I shall look forward to seeing you there.


* The original and still the best!

Steampunk Thursday: Lucy Saxon

Lucy Saxon is one to watch in the world of Steampunk fiction. At only 19 she has had her first novel Take Back the Skies published by Bloomsbury and is the featured author in this month's SFX Magazine.

Lucy Saxon signing at the Bloomsbury stand at the MCM Comic Expo in London.
Lucy wrote the first draft of the novel at age 16 and Steampunk was a massive influence on the work. Take Back the Skies features grand skyships, mechanical servant 'mechas' and other wondrous inventions.

Catherine Hunter is the daughter of a senior government official on the island of Anglya. She’s one of the privileged – she has luxurious clothes, plenty to eat, and is protected from the Collections which have ravaged families throughout the land. But Catherine longs to escape the confines of her life, before her dad can marry her off to a government brat and trap her forever. 

So Catherine becomes Cat, pretends to be a kid escaping the Collections, and stows away on the skyship Stormdancer. As they leave Anglya behind and brave the storms that fill the skies around the islands of Tellus, Cat’s world becomes more turbulent than she could ever have imagined, and dangerous secrets unravel her old life once and for all...

You can pick up a copy of the limited edition hardback here.

Jackson and Livingstone signing at the UK Games Expo this weekend

If you're not already heading to Frome for the town's Steampunk Extravaganza this coming weekend, then it's just possible that you might be heading to the UK Games Expo being held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole National Exhibition Centre instead.

Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson will be appearing at the Expo on Saturday 31 May, giving a talk from 2.00pm followed by book signings at 3.00pm in the Kings Suite. The Warlock will also be there selling books that you can conveniently then get signed on the spot. If you've not already purchased your ticket you can pick one up on the door on the day.

Of course, if you're not able to get up to Birmingham this weekend, there's always Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014, that's taking place in Ealing this September...

Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, and their Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks. (Don't know who that bloke is in the background standing next to Alessio Cavatore...)