It has been revealed that Charlie Higson is writing a new gamebook in the bestselling Fighting Fantasy series for April 2018 The Gates of Death. Along with the co-creators of Fighting Fantasy, Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, Charlie shared the news with excited fans of the books at Fighting Fantasy Fest at the University of West London.
This year saw the the 35th anniversary of the series’ first publication and publisher Scholastic UK started reissuing Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone’s classic series of adventure gamebooks, along with a new gamebook by lan Livingstone, The Port of Peril.
Charlie Higson’s Fighting Fantasy adventure will be set in the iconic Fighting Fantasy world – while bringing his own brand of fiendish, pacy plotting and spine-chilling monsters into play. His book will publish in April 2018 alongside five more classic backlist titles from Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone. These will be: Creature of Havoc, Deathtrap Dungeon, Appointment with F.E.A.R, Island of the Lizard King, and Sorcery!.
The deal for world rights was struck between Lauren Fortune, Editorial Director at Scholastic UK and Alexandra Cann Representation on behalf of Charlie Higson and Philippa Milnes-Smith at Lucas Alexander Whitley on behalf of Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone. Fighting Fantasy is a trademark owned by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone and used with permission.
Charlie Higson says:
“I’ve always been a huge fan of fantasy and gaming so when I first came across the Fighting Fantasy books back in the day I just had to check them out. Even though I was probably a little older than the average reader I thought they were great fun. In fact I thought they were genius. So it’s a huge honour now to be asked to write an adventure of my own and help introduce these amazing books to a new generation of readers.”
Fighting Fantasy co-creators Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone said:
“We are extremely proud of the world of Fighting Fantasy that we created 35 years ago, and which endures so well today. We’re very excited to see what the amazing imagination of bestselling author Charlie Higson will bring to the world. Charlie is a big fan of the series, and we know he will delight existing fans and his own readers with his first Fighting Fantasy book. We’re thrilled to have him on board!”
