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).
Bonus Episode - Heart of Ice
It’s bonus episode time again! This time we’re playing through Dave Morris’s seminal Heart of Ice, often touted as the very finest adventure gamebook of all time. It’s the 24th century and Earth has gone very strange indeed as a quixotic computer messes with the climate and the human race clings to an increasingly precarious existence. It as has art by Russ Nicholson which always makes me happy. These bonus episodes, which are free to everyone, are only made possible by the generosity of my patrons. If you’d like to contribute to the running of this podcast, as well as getting a few freebies, then you can do so at patreon.com/hjdoom.
Episode 23 - Masks of Mayhem
This episode was recorded in a haze of painkillers and sciatic pain but edited in a much clearer frame of mind thanks to having spinal surgery last week. Hopefully this means that something approaching normal service may now be resumed for the rest of the year. We’re playing through Masks of Mayhem this episode, which was written by Robin Waterfield, the author of Rebel Planet and illustrated by the great Russ Nicholson. It marks a welcome return to the classic style of Fighting Fantasy books that the series popularity was built on. There’s a quest to be done and a journey to be taken and many deadly encounters along the way. There’s also an update on patron rewards which were completed shortly before I recorded this episode. I hope you enjoy it.
Episode 22 - Robot Commando
We’re back of familiar ground after two bonus episodes with Fighting Fantasy book 22, Robot Commando. Aside from having the single greatest elevator pitch in the history of Fighting Fantasy (“What would you do if you were a rancher on a distant planet using robots to herd vicious dinosaurs?”) Robot Commando sees a welcome return to the series for the American Steve Jackson, these days most famous as the designer of Munchkin. Will this be as innovative as his two previous books, Scorpion Swamp and Demons of the Deep? Listen along to find out. Robot Commando was published in 1987 by Puffin Books. It was illustrated by Gary Mayes with awesome cover art by David Martin.
You can support my work by going to www.patreon.com/hjdoom and pledging as little as a single UK pound.
Extra Bonus Episode - Lone Eons
This episode is a very special bonus episode in which HJDoom plays through the opening of Lone Eons, the solo play rules for the Lost Eons RPG by David Blandy. This solarpunk game imagines a future society 8000 years in the future. I recently had the opportunity to help develop a supplement for Lost Eons called Land of Iron, a system agnostic setting created by residents of Northamptonshire in collaboration with David Blandy and NN Contemporary Art. You can download a copy of Land of Iron here: https://nn.librarystack.org/lost-eons-land-of-iron/
Normal service will be resumed next week. I’ll be recording a new episde and releasing it before the end of the month. This is merely a bonus on top of a bonus.
Bonus Episode - Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland
Curiouser and curiouser, it’s bonus episode time again! This time, and with kind permission of the author, we’re taking a look at a 2015 gamebook by Jonathan Green and Kev Crossly based on some of the finest children’s literature of all time. Join your host HJDoom for a strange tour round Alice’s Nightmare in Wonderland. This is a steam punk riff on the Lewis Carroll classic and makes for one of the most unique bonus gamebook’s we’ve so far covered. Green has written a selection of other titles based on classic works of fiction, all of which can be found in the usual book places if you look hard enough.
This episode is made possible because people support me on patreon.com. If you want to be like them and receive a copy of my gamebook House of the Unquiet Dead you can do so by going to patreon.com/hjdoom and pledging as little as a single English pound.
Episode 21 - Trial of Champions
It’s a massive episode to start off 2022 as HJDoom takes on the new and improved Deathtrap Dungeon in 1986’s Trial of Champions. This book also sees the welcome return of Ian Livingstone to the franchise, having not penned a gamebook since Temple of Terror. Baron Sukumvit’s eviller sibling Carnuss is determined to find a worthy challenger to beat his brother’s monstrous creation no matter how many people he has to kill along the way. To even get the chance to face the dungeon you must first face the Arena of Death. Will our hero triumph? Just how long is he prepared to talk about the minutiae of gamebook design? Find out by listening along.
Fantastic Fights is only possible thanks to the generous souls who support me on patreon. Everyone who supports me gets a copy of my own adventure gamebook, House of the Unquiet Dead, as well as whatever other gaming nonsense I end up writing in 2022. Pledge as little as one UK pound here: www.patreon.com/hjdoom
Episode 20 - Sword of the Samurai
What looks like medieval Japan, sounds like medieval Japan, but technically isn’t medieval Japan? Sword of the Samurai, that’s what. Set on the mythical land of Hachiman which just so happens to be functionally identical to Japan this Fighting Fantasy book has you set out to find a magic sword on behalf of the Shogu##n. There are many pitfalls along the way so why not have a listen to enjoy a few of them?
There’s also an update on my very own adventure gamebook which is now complete. It’ll be going out to my patrons at Christmas. You can join that august assembly by going to www.patreon.com/hjdoom and pledging as little as a single English pound or local equivalent to support this podcast.
Sword of the Samurai was written by Mark Smith and Jamie Thomson with illustrations by Alan Langford. It was released i n 1986 by Puffin Books and the cover art was by Peter Andew Jones.
Bonus Episode - Flight From the Dark
This episode is very excting for me as I delve into a series that I don't know as well as I would like, the Lone Wolf series by Joe Dever and Gary Chalk. Literally several people have asked me when I'll get around to covering these books and, for them, the wait is over. If you like what you hear then consider supporting the podcast at www.patreon.com/hjdoom. All my patrons will be receiving an adventure gamebook at Christmas penned by my own fair hand.
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 18 - Rebel Planet
Rebel Planet by Robin Waterfield is another attempt to tackle a science fiction setting. That's not been something with a storied history in Fighting Fantasy but perhaps a fresh pen will lead to a better outcome than previous attempts. It's got all the pieces, an evil alien empire, a desperate race against time, spy stuff, laser swords, and more but can the author assemble them into a satisfying jigsaw? Rebel Planet was published by Puffin books in 1985 with illustrations by Gary Mayes and cover art by Alan Craddock. If you're enjoying my nonsense and want an adventure gamebook penned by my own fair hand then you can do so by going to patreon.com/hjdoom and pledging as little as a single English pound.
Bonus Episode - Steeleye And the Lost Magic
It’s bonus episode time again as HJDoom tries an adventure gamebook where finding the correct solution could have won you a holiday to a Disney theme park. Steeleye and the Lost Magic is weird combination of choose your own adventure and crossword puzzle as you fumble around a surreally fantastic world in search of the clues that will unlock the secrets of the magic which can save a mystical valley. Will our intrepid hero manage to solve puzzles aimed at the under 12s or will this be yet another humiliation for a grown who is already spending his free time embarassing himself in public? This episode was made possible by my generous supporters at patreon.com/hjdoom.
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 15 - The Rings of Kether
Worry abounds as episode 15 takes us into space, the natural home of terrible Fighting Fantasy books. Worse still this book is by Andrew Chapman who penned the surreally awful Space Assassin. Will this be the book that proves Fighting Fantasy in space can work? The answer is basically yes! But don’t just read this, listen to the episde too or I’ve wasted even more of my life than usual.
Episode 14 - Temple of Terror
Join HJDoom for a playthrough of Fighting Fantasy book 14 and take a journey across desert sands to the mysterious abandoned city of Vatos. Sandworms! Nomads! Undead Assassins! Temple of Terror has it all and almost all of them want to kill you. Will our dauntless hero take a brief citybreak in Port Blacksand on the way? Find out by listening.
Bonus Episode - Grail Quest 2: Den of Dragons
Another bonus episode is here! What joy. This time we’re taking a turn through Den of Dragons, the second book in the Grail Quest sequence by prolific UK author JH Brennan. A deadly Brass Dragon is menacing Avalon and King Arthur has told Merlin to tell you to embark on a dangerous quest to destroy the fell beast. Armed with a talking sword (actually pretty quiet) and a whole bunch of spells we’ll be taking on the role of Pip, the pleasingly gender neutral protagonist, and trying our best not to be get killed immediately on leaving home. If you’d like to help fund more bonus episodes then you can do so by going to patreon.com/hjdoom and pledging as little as a single 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.