Now Ralph's been taking a bit of interest in Kickstarter Projects of late and after the success of the indie film The Fitzroy's campaign here's a look at 'You Are The Hero' a 'coffee table' book celebrating 30 years of Fighting Fantasy, the publishing phenomenon created by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone.
NEW REWARDS ADDED!
Includes CHRISTMAS, QUICKSILVER and BLOOBONES
2012 marks the 30th anniversary of the publication of the first FIGHTING FANTASY gamebook, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone.
They didn’t realise it at the time, but Steve and Ian had kick-started a role-playing games phenomenon. YOU ARE THE HERO will tell the story of that phenomenon.....read on.....
My name is Jonathan Green and I am a freelance writer with more than 40 books to my name. Among them are seven Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, including the critically acclaimed Howl of the Werewolf and Night of the Necromancer.
I remember picking up one of the very first copies of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain when it was published in 1982. Here was a book in which YOU, the reader, were the hero. You chose the course of the adventure, deciding which paths to take, which traps to risk, and which monsters to fight. I had never read anything like it before, and so began a life-long love affair with Fighting Fantasy gamebooks.
Earlier this year I wrote a piece about the history of Fighting Fantasy for SFX magazine. But the more I researched the story behind the creation of the world’s premier gamebook series, the more story I realised there was still to tell. To do the subject justice I needed to write a book – and so the idea that was to become YOU ARE THE HERO was born.
YOU ARE THE HERO will tell the story of Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, from the early days of Games Workshop right up to the present day, and beyond. I have already interviewed the creators of the Fighting Fantasyseries – Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone – who are both keen to have their story told. In fact, Steve Jackson once said to me, "You are the perfect person to write this book."
I would like to point out at this point that this is MY project and Steve and Ian are NOT sharing in any of the profits from YOU ARE THE HERO. They are merely co-operating - and their co-operation is greatly appreciated.
I have also interviewed many other people who’ve been involved with Fighting Fantasy over the years. These include authors and editors – such as Dave Morris, Robin Waterfield and Marc Gascoigne – the artists – people like Russ Nicholson, Martin McKenna, John Sibbick and Leo Hartas – and fans of the series, such as New York Times bestselling author Graham McNeill, founder of Tin Man Games Neil Rennison, and author, actor and comedian Charlie Higson.
I want YOU ARE THE HERO to be something special, a book worthy of commemorating such an extraordinary achievement and the impact Fighting Fantasy gamebooks have had on the world. I want it to look like the kind of artefact you might hope to find in the Warlock’s own treasure hoard.
As a result the first print run of YOU ARE THE HERO will be a limited edition. The book will feature brand new, specially-commissioned cover art by Martin McKenna, as well as original artwork from the series, and a foreword written by Steve and Ian themselves.
Not only will YOU ARE THE HERO tell the amazing story of how Fighting Fantasy gamebooks changed the world, it will also cover everything from spin-off novels and puzzle books, to foreign editions, board games and video games. It will even delve into such areas as the gamebooks that never were, the myths and legends surrounding the series, and how Ian Livingstone’s newest gamebook – Blood of the Zombies – almost never happened.
Thanks to Kickstarter we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a book about the history of Fighting Fantasy. But now it’s up to YOU!
The more you pledge, the more impressive this book will be – with more artwork, higher spec production values and more content. I would love this first limited edition to be a hardback, and with your help it could be. But without your support YOU ARE THE HERO can never happen.
If you have any interest whatsoever in the British games industry, adventure gamebooks or fantasy fiction, then this book is for you.
Check out the rewards in the sidebar and pledge your support today! We already have a number of stretch goals worked out and some fantastic rewards are waiting to be unlocked, if the initial target of £15,000 is achieved. So once you've pledged your support, LIKE our Facebook page, and then go tell all your friends.
Only YOU can make this book happen, because, thanks to Kickstarter, YOU ARE THE HERO!
* * * * * * * * * BREAKING NEWS! * * * * * * * * *
YOU ARE THE HERO has entered into a cross-promotion with Arcana Agency: The Thief of Memories Deluxe Gamebook. Find out more here.
RISKS AND CHALLENGESLearn about accountability on Kickstarter
The greatest risk of all is that this project won't get funded, which means, quite simply that we will have missed out on this unique opportunity to tell the story of Fighting Fantasy on the occasion of its 30th anniversary.
Many of the original Fighting Fantasy artists have kindly agreed to have their work featured in YOU ARE THE HERO - including Russ Nicholson, Iain McCaig, Martin McKenna, Tony Hough, Mel Grant, Les Edwards, Ian Miller and Rodney Matthews. These people are professionals and, quite rightly, we need to pay them for the right to use their art in the book. And just imagine a book about the history of Fighting Fantasy that didn't feature their artwork... I know, neither can I!
I have a publisher already on board, and I have plenty more interviews lined up, but without your support YOU ARE THE HERO will not happen. So pledge your support today. Your reward will be our heartfelt thanks and (if you pledge enough) a beautiful artefact of a book will be yours.
Treat yourself, or a loved one, this Christmas and receive this unique gift in time for Christmas 2013!
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Jonathan Green
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- Website: JonathanGreenAuthor.com
