Dare YOU face the orcs? 80s game books Fighting Fantasy return

The role-playing adventure books sold 20m copies in the 80s, before being eclipsed by video games. Now they’re back with a new story by Charlie Higson, can they captivate the web generation?Ian Livingstone calls it the “five-fingered bookmark”: that grip known to children of the 80s and 90s. You’d insert a finger into various sections of your Fighting Fantasy adventure game book in order to be able to return if, say, your choice to drink the “sparkling red liquid” and turn to section 98 turned out to be a bad one, or if attacking the Mirror Demon “from another dimensional plane” proved fatal.“You used to see it on public transport everywhere,” says Livingstone, who with Steve Jackson dreamed up Fighting Fantasy back in the early 80s. “It’s like peeking around the corner. You can’t call it cheating – it’s taking a sneak peek.”We were so into interactivity, because it’s empowering, rather than passive reading, which is a linear experienceThe Evangelical Alliance warned that by interacting with demons you’re bound to be possessed by the devil Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #video games #charlie higson #public transport #early 80s #sneak peek

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Dare YOU face the orcs? 80s game books Fighting Fantasy return'


Explore These Totally Rad ’80s and ’90s Kids Book Series

Wander down memory lane and get nostalgic with these 80s-90s kids book series you read cover to cover in your youth. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-07-24 13:10:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #memory lane #book series


Political Books: PEN America’s Suzanne Nossel ‘Dares To Speak’

From the leadership of PEN America, a HarperCollins release enters the summer's fray of free-speech debates amid charges of 'cancel culture.' The post Political Books: PEN America’s Suzanne Nossel ‘Dares To Speak’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-07-22 17:45:57 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #political books #pen america #cancel culture #harpercollins


His Book Is a Bestseller, But John Bolton's Legal Fight Continues

John Bolton's book 'The Room Where It Happened' is a bestseller, but the author's legal fight against the government is not over. In a July 16 motion, the former U.S. National Security Adviser, who still faces an effort to seize his royalties, has asked a federal court in Washington, D.C., to... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-07-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #john bolton #legal fight #federal court


A rising tide of returning book-buyers lifts all boats

After 12 long weeks, bookshops re-opened in England last week—and the book-buying public unquestionably chose bookshops. The UK lockdown from 23rd March closed bricks-and-mortar shops across the country, with supermarkets the only physical outlets to buy a book and Amazon dominating online... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-25 17:57:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk lockdown #rising tide #nielsen bookscan


Sheltering: Emma Straub’s Book Feels Like a ‘Fantasy Novel’ Now

On this episode of Sheltering, bookstore owner and author Emma Straub speaks with Maris Kreizman about her new novel, All Adults Here. Straub talks about the support that’s poured in for her bookstore (Books Are Magic) and how best to support our local institutions right now. She also discusses... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-04-23 19:00:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #emma straub #bookstore owner #maris kreizman #bookstore


Children’s Books in China 2020: Reimagining Fantasy Titles

Chinese authors and publishers are trawling ancient texts, cultural heritage, and historical evidence for inspiration. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-04-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #chinese authors #cultural heritage


The Boys Return to Their Comic Book Roots

A new story will reveal more about the characters before the Amazon Prime TV superhero series returns this year. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-01-23 18:30:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #comic book


Weaver returns to Avon in three-book deal

Saga author Pam Weaver is returning from Pan Macmillan to HarperCollins imprint Avon in a three-novel deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-19 17:25:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #three-book deal #harpercollins #pan macmillan


Galley Beggar faces £40k black hole after The Book People enters administration

A Galley Beggar Press fundraiser has raised £20,000 within an hour of launching, as the indie faces a £40,000 "black hole" from The Book People’s administration status. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-17 20:00:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #black hole #book people


US publishers still fighting for exclusion from book tariffs

US publishers are still fighting to see books produced in China excluded from tariffs, even as a new tariff affecting books is expected to come into force on 15th December. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-26 14:22:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book tariffs #15th december


Up Your Reading Game With These Book Reading Accessories

You can make your reading experience *even better* with these great book reading accessories. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-11-15 11:38:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #great book #book reading


Entries open for the British Book Award for Export as prize returns for second year

The British Book Award for Export is open for entries as it returns for a second year, recognising publishers that excel in export sales.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-14 02:02:29 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #entries open #export sales #british book award


404 Ink lands Donnelly book on video games and mental health

Indie 404 Ink has landed a part-memoir, part-investigation of how video games can positively impact mental health from journalist Joe Donnelly. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-31 16:31:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #video games #mental health


7 Sci-fi and Fantasy Books to Curl Up With This Fall

These new science fiction and fantasy titles will be your perfect fall companions. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-10-04 10:36:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fantasy books #fantasy titles #science fiction


New Hunger Games book title and cover revealed by Scholastic

Scholastic has announced the next instalment in Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games series will be called The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-03 15:14:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #suzanne collins #scholastic #book title


Klaus Flugge Prize winner returns with 'powerful' new picture book

Klaus Flugge Prize winner Kate Milner's new picture book has been snapped up by indie Barrington Stoke.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-28 07:38:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #picture book


Titan Books nets Joan He's debut YA fantasy

Titan Books will publish Joan He’s YA debut, a Chinese-inspired fantasy novel about a princess whose father is murdered. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-22 02:49:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #titan books #ya debut


A New View of the Fey Things: On “The Big Book of Classic Fantasy”

HEROES CARRY SWORDS. Pale women with fine blonde hair are chosen for a special fate. Ugly sub-humans, often dark-skinned, offer diabolical bargains or, in an indistinguishable horde, hang out until the good guys stab them to death. Evildoers crave power, and the good reliably shrink from it.... Continue reading at Los Angeles Review of Books

[ Los Angeles Review of Books | 2019-08-10 12:30:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #classic fantasy #popular imagination #big book


Fantasy Island, Mountains, and More: Travel Books 2019–2020

Travel publishers are luring readers with the guidebook equivalent of clickbait headlines, promising the world’s best, most epic experiences—and delivering. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-07-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #travel publishers


Raymond Blanc returns to Headline in two-book deal

World-renowned chef Raymond Blanc is returning to Headline with a two-title deal, including a book dedicated to his orchard. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-25 10:59:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this |