The Fighting Fantasy Collection Audit

(NB: Welcome to the new Ludicrously Niche schedule… he said, to both the regular readers. Now the Doctor Who reviews are finished, plan is for a new article every weekend for as long as I can keep it up.)

The 25^th May, 2017 was a stupendous moment for my adventure gamebook collecting, for it was the day I found the only Fighting Fantasy book I’d never read (or, at least, the only book in the main series), number #56 Knights of Doom, in my local second-hand bookshop for the princely sum of 50p. Which was at least £30 less than any online seller was asking for it. (To boot, they also had an original copy of the final book in the original series, Curse of the Mummy, which I only owned as its Wizard Books reprint.)

Now I own every FF gamebook, I thought I’d audit my collection, and in doing so provide a blog post that was literally of interest to me and me alone.

A bit of historical context wouldn’t go amiss here. The first seven books, when published, looked like this:

After book #7, a new house style was introduced with the ‘green header’ design:

This lasted until book #24, when the ‘dragon logo’ was introduced:

The text inside the dragon logo was originally embossed in foil, but later reprints weren’t, and I believe some of the very final books never had foil versions at all.

Right, let’s get on with the list, which covers everything FF and FF-related (not totally separate series such as Lone Wolf… rest assured I’ve got loads of those too). Most of the books are slightly battered but still perfectly fine; where ‘condition’ is noted, they’re either significantly better or worse than that. This collection was acquired over 15 years of looking in second-hand bookshops across the country, car boot sales, yard sales, gaming shops, one I found in a summer house I was renting, one in a scrapstore and one case where I broke down and bought the book online. (Can you guess which one it was?) The autographs were (mostly) acquired in person, at dozens of literary events such as the Cheltenham Festival over the years.

Last updated September 2022

ORIGINAL SERIES

1. The Warlock of Firetop Mountain: Dragon header cover (no foil), reprint circa 1993. Also owned as Wizard Books 25^th Anniversary reprint (2007), signed by Steve Jackson & Ian Livingstone.

2. The Citadel of Chaos: Original cover, 1984 reprinting, signed by Livingstone.

3. The Forest of Doom: Original cover, 1983 reprinting, signed by Jackson, Livingstone and illustrator Malcolm Barter.

4. Starship Traveller: Original cover, first printing, signed by Jackson & Livingstone.

5. City of Thieves: Green header cover, 1985 reprinting, signed by Jackson & Livingstone. Very poor condition.

6. Deathtrap Dungeon: Green header cover, 1984 reprinting. Mint condition. Also owned as video game tie-in edition.

7. Island of the Lizard King: Original cover, first printing, signed by Livingstone.

8. Scorpion Swamp: Green header cover, first printing. Signed by Livingstone.

9. Caverns of the Snow Witch: Green header cover, 1986 reprinting. Mint condition.

10. House of Hell: Green header cover, first printing, signed by Livingstone.

11. Talisman of Death: Green header cover, first printing, signed by Livingstone.

12. Space Assassin: Dragon header cover (no foil), reprint probably circa 1993, signed by Jackson & Livingstone.

13. Freeway Fighter: Dragon header cover (no foil), reprint from 1990 or later, signed by Livingstone.

14. Temple of Terror: Green header cover, first printing.

15. The Rings of Kether: Green header cover, first printing.

16. Seas of Blood: Green header cover, first printing, signed by Livingstone.

17. Appointment with F.E.A.R.: Dragon header cover (with foil), 1987 reprinting, signed by Livingstone. Page missing from rules.

18. Rebel Planet: Green header cover, 1986 reprint. Signed by Livingstone.

19. Demons of the Deep: Dragon header cover (no foil), reprint circa 1992. Signed by Jackson & Livingstone.

20. Sword of the Samurai: Dragon header cover (no foil), reprint circa 1993. Signed by Livingstone and co-author Jamie Thomson.

21. Trial of Champions: Dragon header cover (foil), reprint circa 1990. Mint condition.

22. Robot Commando: Dragon header cover (foil), 1987 reprinting, signed by Livingstone. Some fire damage to first page.

23. Masks of Mayhem: Dragon header cover (foil), reprint circa 1988, signed by Livingstone.

24. Creature of Havoc: Dragon header cover (foil), 1987 reprinting, signed by Jackson and illustrator Alan Langford. Mint condition.

25. Beneath Nightmare Castle: Dragon header cover (foil), first printing, signed by author Peter Darvill-Evans. Excellent condition.

26. Crypt of the Sorcerer: Dragon header cover (foil), first printing. Excellent condition.

27. Star Strider: Dragon header cover (foil), reprint circa 1989, signed by Livingstone.

28. Phantoms of Fear: Dragon header cover (foil), first printing, signed by Jackson & Livingstone.

29. Midnight Rogue: Dragon header cover (foil), 1988 reprinting, signed by Jackson.

30. Chasms of Malice: Dragon header cover (foil), reprint circa 1990, signed by Livingstone.

31. Battleblade Warrior: Dragon header cover (foil), reprint circa 1990, signed by Livingstone and author Marc Gascoigne. Very good condition.

32. Slaves of the Abyss: Dragon header cover (foil), first printing, signed by Livingstone. Ex-library copy.

33. Sky Lord: Dragon header cover (foil), first printing, signed by Livingstone. Good condition.

34. Stealer of Souls: Dragon header cover (foil), first printing.

35. Daggers of Darkness: Dragon header cover (foil), reprint circa 1989, signed by Livingstone.

36. Armies of Death: Dragon header cover (no foil), reprint circa 1991, signed by Livingstone.

37. Portal of Evil: Dragon header cover (no foil), reprint circa 1994, signed by Livingstone and author Peter Darvill-Evans. (Possible misprint – no illustration on title page?)

38. Vault of the Vampire: Dragon header cover (no foil), reprint circa 1992, signed by Livingstone. Small tear on cover.

39. Fangs of Fury: Dragon header cover (foil with misprint, pictured), reprint circa 1990. Mint condition.

40. Dead of Night: Dragon header cover (foil), reprint circa 1990, signed by Livingstone. Slight damage to spine & back.

41. Master of Chaos: Dragon header cover (foil), first printing. Excellent condition.

42. Black Vein Prophecy: Dragon header cover (foil), first printing, signed by author Paul Mason. Excellent condition.

43. The Keep of the Lich-Lord: Dragon header cover (no foil), either first printing or very early reprint, signed by Livingstone and co-author Jamie Thomson.

44. Legend of the Shadow Warriors: Dragon header cover (no foil), reprint circa 1992. Excellent condition.

45. Spectral Stalkers: Dragon header cover (foil), first printing. Excellent condition.

46. Tower of Destruction: Dragon header cover (no foil), first printing, signed by Livingstone and illustrator Peter Knifton.

47. The Crimson Tide: Dragon header cover (no foil), reprint circa 1992, signed by Livingstone and author Paul Mason.

48. Moonrunner: Dragon header cover (no foil), reprint circa 1994. Near-mint condition.

49. Siege of Sardath: Dragon header cover (no foil), reprint circa 1995, signed by author Keith P. Phillips and illustrator Peter Knifton. Near-mint condition.

50. Return to Firetop Mountain: Wizard Books reprint (2003 ‘Special Limited Edition’), signed by Livingstone.

51. Island of the Undead: Dragon header cover (no foil), first printing.

52. Night Dragon: Dragon header cover (no foil), reprint from 1995 or later, signed by illustrator Tony Hough. Near-mint condition.

53. Spellbreaker: Wizard Books reprint (2007 ‘Special Limited Edition’), signed by Livingstone.

54. Legend of Zagor: Dragon header cover (no foil), first printing. Slight damage to spine.

55. Deathmoor: Dragon header cover (no foil), uncertain printing. Very first page missing.

56. Knights of Doom: Dragon header cover (no foil), first printing, signed by author Jonathan Green and illustrator Tony Hough.

57. Magehunter: Dragon header cover (no foil), first printing, signed by author Paul Mason. Mint condition.

58. Revenge of the Vampire: Dragon header cover (no foil), either first printing or first reprint. Excellent condition.

59. Curse of the Mummy: Dragon header cover (no foil), uncertain printing (were there any reprints of this?), signed by author Jonathan Green. Very good condition.

(NB: Would be interested in replacing the two I currently own as Wizard Books reprints – Return to Firetop Mountain and Spellbreaker – with Puffin originals.)

NEW WIZARD ADVENTURES

60. Eye of the Dragon: Wizard Books original (2005 ‘Special Limited Edition’), signed by Livingstone.

61. Bloodbones: Wizard Books original (2006 ‘Special Limited Edition’), signed by Livingstone.

62. Howl of the Werewolf: Wizard Books original (2007 ‘Special Limited Edition’), signed by Jackson.

63. Stormslayer: Wizard Books ‘Series 2’ original, signed by Jackson.

64. Night of the Necromancer: Wizard books ‘Series 2’ original.

65. Blood of the Zombies: Wizard original.

NEW SCHOLASTIC ADVENTURES
66. The Port of Peril: Limited edition deluxe hardback edition (individually numbered 71 of 500), signed by Livingstone and cover illustrator Iain McCaig.
67. The Gates of Doom: Scholastic original.
68. Assassins of Allansia: Scholastic original.
69. Crystal of Storms: Scholastic original with signed bookplate by author Rhianna Pratchett

70. Secrets of Salamonis: Scholastic original signed by Jackson

71. Shadow of the Giants: Scholastic original signed by Livingstone

STEVE JACKSON’S SORCERY!

1. The Shamutanti Hills: 1985 reprinting (orange header)

2. Khare – Cityport of Traps: First printing

3. The Seven Serpents: Orange header cover, first printing. Signed by Jackson.

4. The Crown of Kings: Orange header cover, probably first printing. Signed by Jackson.

SP. The Sorcery Spellbook: First printing, signed by Jackson.

NB: I originally had a first printing of The Shamutanti Hills, but it was in very poor condition and ultimately fell apart, requiring the replacement. I purchased the first printing in the slipcase with The Sorcery Spellbook it was originally sold in, and still own the slipcase.

CLASH OF THE PRINCES

Both The Warrior’s Way and The Warlock’s Way; think they’re 1986 original printings, but can’t be certain. Both signed by Jackson. Rather bizarrely, these were both acquired separately, several years apart, so I don’t have the slipcase they were originally sold in.

THE 10^TH ANNIVERSARY YEARBOOK

Likely first printing, slight tear to cover.

ADVANCED FIGHTING FANTASY/THE INTRODUCTORY ROLE-PLAYING GAME

Fighting Fantasy: The Introductory Role-Playing Game: 1984 reprint with original cover, signed by Jackson. Poor condition.
The Riddling Reaver: 1987 reprint with green header cover. Mint condition, were it not for the fact that the previous owner apparently felt the need to tear out the last three pages (last one is still there, loose inside the book, other two missing completely; all the missing pages are 'also available' promos).

1. Out of the Pit: 1989 ‘small version’ reprint. Signed by Jackson and editor Marc Gascoigne.

2. Titan: The Fighting Fantasy World: 1989 ‘small version’ reprint, signed by Jackson and Gascoigne.

3. Dungeoneer: Uncertain printing, signed by Livingstone. Very poor condition.

4. Blacksand: First printing or very early reprint, with foil. Near-mint condition.

(NB: I don’t own a copy of Allansia, so do get in touch if you’ve got a reasonably-priced copy)

DICING WITH DRAGONS

First printing, signed by Livingstone. Great condition, considering.

FIGHTING FANTASY NOVELS

Have the first two (The Trolltooth Wars and Demonstealer); both unknown printings, may be first. Demonstealer’s signed by Jackson & Livingstone. Don’t own Shadowmaster or any of the Zagor Chronicles. Also own The Trolltooth Wars graphic novel.

THE ADVENTURES OF GOLDHAWK

Only own #2 The Demon Spider. Not sure of the printing; may be first, but I don’t much care.

FANTASY QUESTBOOKS / PUZZLEQUEST

1. The Tasks of Tantalon: Unknown printing, possibly first.

2. Casket of Souls: Possibly first printing (still has competition information), not certain.

THE FIGHTING FANTASY POSTER BOOK
1990 edition, stamped with 'Commercial copy - not for sale' on the first page. Otherwise in remarkably good condition given it was found in a scrapstore.

YOU ARE THE HERO
Own both volumes of Jonathan Green's history of the series in paperback. Volume 2 is signed by contributor and forthcoming FF author Charlie Higson.