Fighting Fantasy gamebooks were the precursor to role-playing games for many children in the 1980s. Written by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone they were interactive adventure books written in a style which gave the player a choice of what to do after each paragraph. The player would then turn to the page/paragraph number indicated for the particular action. Dice were used for the combat system and to determine the outcome of certain events.
The first Fighting Fantasy book, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain was published in 1982. The series quickly grew, reaching 25 titles around 1986. There were several imitators, including the non-violent Choose your own adventure books.
The series grew to more than fifty titles written by a variety of different authors until it was finally cancelled as sales failed to satisfy in the high street bookstores.
In 2002 the line was re-issued by its original owners Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone. The initial releases (including Warlock of Firetop Mountain) consisted of books that the pair had originally written themselves.
