It’s a bittersweet episode of Fantastic Fights as we bid farewell to the science fiction strand of the series with book 33 Sky Lord by Martin Allen with illustrations by Tim Sell and cover art by Les Edwards. Will this be the book to break the curse that seemingly hangs over science fiction in the Fighting Fantasy canon or will it go out the same way that it came in? Listen along with HJDoom to find out.
Bonus Episode - Peril From the Stars
It’s another bonus episode brought to you by the generosity of my backers over on www.patreon.com/hjdoom. This episode we’re taking a look at one of the most resilient toy lines of the 1980s, the ever popular Transformers. These robotic sneaks were a big part of my childhood but how well will they adapt into the format of the adventure gamebook? Peril From the Stars was written by gaming legend Dave Morris with illustrations by the dependable Bob Harvey and published by Corgi books in 1985.
Episode 32 - Slaves of the Abyss
It’s our first proper episode of 2023 and HJDoom is tackling book 32 in the Fighting Fantasy series which is Slaves of the Abyss by Paul Mason and Steve Williams with illustrations by Bob Harvey and cover art by Terry Oakes. Things start off with some fairly hackneyed kingdom in peril stuff but things rapidly get quite a bit stranger as the book progresses. Featuring a time mechanic and an extremely aggravating cameo from the Riddling Reaver that we happily avoid in the playthrough portion this book certainly has an uneven tone but is it any good? Listen along to find out.
If you’d like to support my nonsense financially you can do so by going to www.patreon.com/hjdoom and, along with my undying gratitude, you can score yourself some sweet gamebooks and RPGs what I done wrote.
Bonus Episode - Tunnels of Fear
We’re kicking off 2023 with a bonus episode featuring Tunnels of Fear by Stephen Thraves with art by Terry Oakes. This was one of two fantasy gamebooks published by Hodder and Stoughton in the early 90s (along with a whole host of licensed gamebooks featuring characters like Asterix, The Famous Five, and Biggles). It originally came with a whole bunch of cardboard and plastic peripherals and a special pair of dice. My copy lacks one peripheral and both dice. Will this affect the success of this mission into a haunted mine? Yes. Yes it will.
Also this month saw the release of a brand new zine called Sites Unzine featuring an experimental RPG by HJDoom. My lovely patrons at www.patreon.com/hjdoom have already had a copy of this game but if you’d like to support independent creators then you can take a look at issue one here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/420480/SITES-UNZINE-ISSUE-1
Episode 31 - Battleblade Warrior
Well, here we are at the end of 2023 and there’s just time for one more episode of Fantastic Fights featuring Battleblade Warrior by Marc Gascoigne with art by Alan Langford. A city under siege from the evil lizardmen empire and a desperate race against time to find a magic weapon that can end the war. Battleblade Warrior features battlefields, jungles, mountains, and of course lots and lots of lizards. Sadly the quest falls to one HJDoom to complete and as regular listeners will know that’s rarely likely to end in triumph. Please note that I was recovering from a seasonal cold when I recorded this and that my voice is not normally quite that husky.
This episode also features some new patrons and a small, but hopefully exciting update to the schedule in 2023. If you’d like to get some sweet bonus material and support the making of this podcast you can do so by going to www.patreon.com/hjdoom.
Bonus Episode - Escape from Castle Ravenloft
It’s almost Christmas and what could be more festive than trying to escape from a vampire’s castle? In this bonus episode we see the return of the Endless Quest series, the Dungeons and Dragons spin off product intended to act as an introduction to the franchise for younger readers. The last one we covered was very poor indeed but Dungeons and Dragons has changed a lot since the mid 80s and maybe, just maybe Wizards of the Coast can rectify the mistakes made by the earlier series. Listen along to find out!
These bonus epiosdes are only possible because of the support I receive on patreon. I’m grateful to all my patrons, this wouldn’t happen without them. If you’d like to tip me a quid or so a month you can do so at www.patreon.com/hjdoom.
Episode 30 - Chasms of Malice
We’ve hit book 30 and this episode is very much a game of two halves. The playthrough of Chasms of Malice went very smoothly but the analysis of the book took me forever. Regardless, here it is, my playthrough and review of Luke Sharp’s Chasms of Malice. It was illustrated by the great Russ Nicholson with cover art by Les Edwards. It was released by Puffin Books in 1988.
If you enjoy my nonsense then please consider supporting me either by leaving a review on your podcast provider or, if you’ve cash to spare, by going to patreon.com/hjdoom. All patrons receive a whole parcel of gaming stuff including my brand new adventure game book Rats in the Cellar.
Episode 29 - Midnight Rogue
Midnight Rogue, book 29 in the Fighting Fantasy series, finally takes on the classic fantasy gaming archetype of the thief. Ever since Bilbo Baggins half-inched a fancy geegaw from under the nose of a psychotic dragon gamers have dreamed of purloining shiny things without legal consequence. An added bonus; this gamebook takes you back to Port Blacksand, one of the great fantasy city and the perfect backdrop for a spot of larceny. In this episode HJDoom plays through the 1987 gamebook by Graeme Davis with art by John Sibbick and offers some thoughts about what was good and what could have done with improvement.
You can support my nonsense here: www.patreon.com/hjdoom. Patrons get my heartfelt gratitude and a parcel of gaming stuff with a brand new gamebook just around the corner.
Episode 28 - Phantoms of Fear
This episode we’re playing Phantoms of Fear by Robin Waterfield with illustrations by the amazing Ian Miller. This is one of the more ambitious Fighting Fantasy books we’ve seen as you play an elf warrior shaman capable of existing in both the physical and dream worlds. An awful menace has arisen, as they do with astonishing frequency in Fighting Fantasy books, and it’s up to you to track through an increasingly surreal forest to enter the even more surreal lair of the demon prince Ishtra. Thrills, spills, and a lot of strange imagery await within the depths of Affen Forest. I had a lot of fun with this one.
If you’re enjoying this podcast why not leave a little review or rating on your podcast provider of choice. That would really help me out.
Bonus Episode - Falcon 1: The Renegade Lord
Note that the playthrough portion of this episode sounds like it was recorded in a tin bath. I’ve no idea what went wrong but if you want to skip it then the review portion of the podcast starts at 56:50.
The past isn’t what it used to be in this episode as we take a trip into the past as seen from the distant future. In 3033 time travel is a recent invention and five self-important LORDS OF TIME hold sway over the technology. The problem is that there appears to be no actual oversight and one of them has gone rogue. The only mechanism for dealing with that is a spot of murder and our valiant hero has been tasked with working out which bigwig has lost it and administering a spot of frontier justice. Falcon 1: The Renegade Lord was released in 1987 and was written by Jamie Thompson and Mark Smith, authors of several Fighting Fantasy books and the Way of the Tiger series.
Support this nonsense and receive various rewards at www.patreon.com/hjdoom
Episode 27 - Star Strider
Episode 27 of Fantastic Fights finds us back in science fiction territory with Star Strider. As a rogue tracer our hero is tasked with roguishly tracing a kidnapped politician on a future Earth that has become considerably weirder than our present day. Will the rogue tracer be able to dodge deadly androids and some brutally random dice based challenges and escape to save the galaxy from the wily Gromulans? Listen along to find out.
If you like this podcast why not leave a review or a rating on your podcast provider of choice? It really helps other people discover the podcast and that makes me feel less like I’m screaming gibberish in a vast empty room.
Bonus Episode - Sagas of the Demonspawn Book One: Fire*Wolf
It’s time for another bonus episode brought to you by the generosity of my patrons over at patreon.com/hjdoom. This time we’re playing Sagas of the Demonspawn Book One: Fire*Wolf written by the tireless JH Brennan. We’ve tangled with this creator before, he’s the author of the well regarded Grailquest series and a very, very odd riff on the story of Frankenstein. Where does this land in terms of his incredibly variable quality? Listen along with an increasingly confused HJDoom to find out.
Episode 24 - Creature of Havoc (Part Two)
HJDoom is back with the second part of Creature of Havoc, the seminal Fighting Fantasy book by Steve Jackdon. Our bumbling and monstrous hero has successfully traversed the dungeons of Zharradan Marr and made its way out into the big wide world. What happens next? Listen in to find out. There’s also a mildly exciting announcement of a new patreon reward, and the even more mildly exciting announcement that I have a new EP out. It’s 4 tracks of dungeon synth recorded on a digital version of a cheap 1980s Casio synth. It’s free to download and you can find it at https://malesperi.bandcamp.com/album/where-graves-are-empty
Episode 24 - Creature of Havoc (Part One)
Creature of Havoc looms large in the canon of Fighting Fantasy gamebooks. It’s often considered as the single best book in the whole run. Join HJDoom as he plays through the opening half and tries to keep a clear head in the face of a book throwing all manner of different things into the mix. The more observant among you will also have noticed that this is labelled part 1. That’s because this is a book so expansive that only a second episode can possibly contain the awesome totality of this tome. I’ll be aiming to record the second episode sooner rather than later but I’m also in the middle of deadline hell there may be some delay. Regardless Steve Jackson has delivered something truly special with this one and Alan Langford’s clean art makes a fantastic contrast to the obtuseness of the text.
If you’d like to support my nonsense you can do so by going to patreon.com/hjdoom and pledging as little as a thin English pound (or local equivalent).
Episode 19 - Demons of the Deep
Things take a soggy turn as HJDoom bravely dives into an undersea Fighting Fantasy book written by the American rather than the British Steve Jackson. His last book for Fighting Fantasy was more interesting than good so can he manage to nail the tone on his sophomore outing? Listen in to find out. Demons of the Deep was published in 1986 by Puffin Books with internal art by Bob Harvey and a cover illustration by Les Edwards. I also provide an update on the adventure game book I’m writing which will be sent out to my patrons at Christmas. You can join their ranks by going to www.patreon.com/hjdoom and pledging as little as 1 English pound.
Episode 17 - Appointment with F.E.A.R.
New ground broken yet again in the Fighting Fantasy series as we don our very silliest clothes and commit a variety of crimes against people and property with the enthusiastic support of the local police department. HJDoom plays through this classic Fighting Fantasy book with a distinct lack of enthusiasm for the basic premise. Will he succeed despite his disdain for superheros as a cultural phenomenon? Listen along to find out. There’s also some exciting patron news about a forthcoming project.
Episode 16 - Seas of Blood
Hot on the heels of our last bonus episode comes this playthrough of the pirate themed adventure gamebook Seas of Blood by Andrew Chapman. Join HJDoom for a desperate race against the clock and also another pirate as we rob and pillage our way round the Inland Sea. Ships will fight ships! Ships will fight monsters! Excitement and adventure of all kinds will be had! With plenty of new systems to chew on there’s a lot going on in this adventure gamebook but will our less than intrepid hero by crowned King of the Pirates? Listen along to find out.
Bonus Episode - The Curse of Frankenstein
It’s another bonus episode featuring the work of JH Brennan, author of the Grailquest book we covered in our last bonus episode. This time he’s taking on gothic horror in the form of an ambitious adventure gamebook that you can play either as Baron Frankenstein or his monstrous creation. There’s big ideas everywhere in this one but can he manage to stick the landing and maintain an appropriately gothic tone? Find out by listening! Special thanks to a new patron, Saul Alexander. You can be like him by going to patreon.com/hjdoom and pledging as little as a single english pound.
Episode 13 - Freeway Fighter
Episode 13 sees another attempt to create a science fiction Fighting Fantasy book that isn’t rubbish. This time it’s all gone a bit Mad Max as Ian Livingstone takes us on a gritty journey into a post-apocalyptic landscape where the collapse of civilisation has failed to impact on private car ownership. Gaffa tape some nerf guns to your Lexus because it’s time to take on some weirdly dressed thugs in a Volvo in Freeway Fighter.
Episode 6 - Bonus Deathtrap Dungeon Run
It’s bonus episode time as I reveal my first, far less successful playthrough of Deathtrap Dungeon. I feel like there might be other very difficult gamebooks later where I end up doing the same thing. Regardless I hope you enjoy this little look into a world of abject failure.