The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Fighting Fantasy series |
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 The original cover design of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain by Peter Andrew Jones, taken from the 25th Anniversary Edition |
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 The Wizard cover of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain illustrated by Martin McKenna |
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| Outline | |
| Location: | Allansia, Titan |
| References: | 400 |
| Publication details | |
| Author(s): | Steve Jackson & Ian Livingstone |
| Illustrator: | Russ Nicholson |
| Puffin | |
| Cover illustrator: | Peter Andrew Jones |
| Year of release: | 1982 |
| Number | 1 |
| ISBN: | ISBN 0140315381 |
| Wizard | |
| Cover illustrator: | Martin McKenna |
| Year of release: | 2002 |
| Number | 1 |
| ISBN: | ISBN 1-84046-387-2 |
| List of FF books | |
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain is a single-player roleplaying gamebook written by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, illustrated by Russ Nicholson and originally published in 1982. It forms part of Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone's Fighting Fantasy series. It is the first in the series in both the Puffin (ISBN 0140315381) and Wizard (ISBN 1-84046-387-2) series.
Contents |
[edit] Story
Deep in the caverns beneath Firetop Mountain lies an untold wealth of treasure, guarded by a powerful Warlock - or so the rumour goes. Several adventurers like yourself have set off for Firetop Mountain in search of the Warlock's hoard. None have ever returned. Do you dare follow them?
Your quest is to find the Warlock's treasure, hidden deep within a dungeon populated with a multitude of terrifying monsters. You will need courage, determination and a fair amount of luck if you are to survive all the traps and battles, and reach your goal - the innermost chambers of the Warlock's domain.
As with the majority of the Fighting Fantasy books which were to follow, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain is set in the fictional world of Titan. The action takes place in the land of Allansia, where the player must enter the caverns beneath Firetop Mountain in order to slay the wizard Zagor and claim his treasure.
The player must collect keys whilst exploring the dungeon in order to open the treasure chest at the end of the adventure, making it likely that the player will have to explore the book several times to complete it successfully. Like many of the early Fighting Fantasy books it is recommended in the rules that the player make a map.
This book set the format for many of the Fighting Fantasy gamebooks which were to come and the goal of slaying a wizard or warlord characterised many entries in the series.
[edit] Sequels and other references
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain was followed by two sequels. Return to Firetop Mountain was published in 1992 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Fighting Fantasy. In the next sequel Legend of Zagor the player, as one of four characters, must defeat Zagor to defend the land of Amarillia.
A series of novels based on Zagor, The Zagor Chronicles, were written by Ian Livingstone and Carl Sargent. Zagor and Firetop Mountain also appear in The Trolltooth Wars by Steve Jackson. The location of the correct keys to Zagor's chest are also revealed in the novel. The gamebook itself also makes an appearance in the gamebook Appointment with F.E.A.R.
A video game based on the book was released in 1984 and a boardgame by the same name based on the book was published two years later by Games Workshop.
A fantasy metal band have made an EP loosely based around "The Warlock of Firetop Mountain". Isle of Avalon's Concept EP is based around The Legend of Zagor.
[edit] 25th Anniversary
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the book, Wizard are releasing a new edition which will use the original wrap-around cover and will contain extra material. The book will be published in hardback and will use a printed laminated jacket instead of a dust cover. It will be released on Aug. 2nd and will be priced £8.99.
The extra material includes a history of the Fighting Fantasy series and core rules, interviews with Steve and Ian on the genesis of the series, interviews with artists Peter Andrew Jones and Russ Nicholson on the creative process of the book, famous fan's writings on the impact "Fighting Fantasy" had on them when growing up in the early 80s, original adventure sheets, editorial comments, combat system notes and solution and maps showing the 'One True Way' through the book. Archive material of early reviews and press coverage on what became an international phenomenon will also be included.
[edit] Cover
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain had a very iconic cover. This was created by Peter Andrew Jones. Peter also designed the cover of the book, which was considered unusual at the time. The title on the cover was placed in the middle, causing consternation with the publishers as most books had the title printed at the top so that they could be read easily on the 'step' shelves found in bookshops. Later, Puffin used a different cover image for the book, although it was very similar to the original. Wizard used the original cover design as the basis for the new cover when they reprinted the book, although they wished for the new art to look somewhat more modern. The new cover art was created by Martin McKenna.
