Caverns of the Snow Witch
Fighting Fantasy Gamebook #9
Written by Ian Livingstone who along with Steve Jackson started Fighting Fantasy and Games Workshop inter alia.
Puffin Books, second cover style (Ribbon Banner) printed 1985
This is an interactive game book where the reader assumes the role of a hero and must make decisions, fight monsters (using dice rolls) and puzzle their way through passages to reach the end.
Caverns of the Snow Witch never reached the hights of popularity compared to other books in the series, but is an important book in the FF canon. There is a metaplot concept that is not always accepted but may intrigue the collector or interested party who may wish to only look for certain books in the series:
While Jackson tended to work on different settings and concepts to expand the genre, Livingstone tended to deliver higher volume but stick to the core ruleset as established in the first book. While each book is self contained and they do not follow on, one can with a mild stretch link most of Livingstone's earlier books together. Thus: Warlock of Firetop Mountain ==> Forest of Doom ==> City of Thieves ===> Deathtrap Dungeon ==> Island of the Lizard King ==> Caverns of the Snow Witch ==> Temple of Terror and so forth.
The cover art is by Les Edwards with interior art by Gary Ward and Edward Crosby. Also note Caverns of the Snow Witch was originally published as a shortened version in Warlock Magazine (The Fighting Fantasy support magazine).
Quality wise this volume has seen better days. It has been played quite a bit, but with respect I think. Adventure sheet is clean. All pages present and bound. The pages have been well thumbed through but are clear of pencil marks etc. Cover shows the book has been used as indicated, with associated wear and creasing, including the spine. Rear cover has lost a small bit of its glossy outer layer at bottom of barcode. See picture.
Fighting Fantasy were probably the most popular gamebooks in the heyday of gamebooks era (1982 to about 1991). Quite collectible, fun to play and also useful to get children to read. Bargain start price if one compares to what other sellers are asking.
