Taunton fantasy author’s ‘unreal’ collaboration with hero

BBC Jonathan Green. He is pictured in a radio studio, sat at a desk with a mic. Jonathan has short light hair and facial hair. He is wearing glasses and a red t-shirt. He is looking at the camera and smiling.

A fantasy author has said it has been “unreal” to write a book with his childhood hero.

Jonathan Green, from Taunton, Somerset, has written more than 70 gamebooks, which are interactive tales that lead to a variety of endings.

Mr Green has now released a book with Sir Ian Livingstone CBE – who, along with Steve Jackson, co-founded the original series of role-playing gamebooks, Fighting Fantasy.

“He was my hero, and now I’ve written a book with him,” Mr Green said.

Mr Green’s passion was ignited by the Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, which were first released in the 1980s when he was 10-years-old.

Sir Ian and Mr Jackson wrote the books, which include popular titles like Deathtrap Dungeon Scorpion Swamp and The Wizard of Firetop Mountain.

“When I was 10-years-old, I wasn’t particularly sporty or anything like that, but the fact that I could take on this persona in a book, wield a sword and fight a dragon and win was amazingly empowering,” Mr Green told BBC Radio Somerset.

The Magic Realms The Art of Fighting Fantasy book stood up on a desk. It is a blue book with big, black letters.

After being inspired by their creations, Mr Green contacted Puffin publications to enquire about how to make a career for himself in the industry.

Marc Gascoigne, consultant editor of the Fighting Fantasy series, responded with tips, but noted that his chances of publication were “very slim”.

However, two years later, Mr Green was commissioned to write his first book for the series.

“I started writing as a child, but I never stopped,” he said.

Mr Green and Sir Ian have co-written a book entitled Magic Realms: The Art of Fighting Fantasy.

The huge “coffee table style book” features original artwork, as well as interviews and unseen material from the team behind the series.

‘Big kids’

Describing the genre, he said they are “books that you play or games that you read”.

“You don’t read from cover to cover – you turn back and forward between pages,” he said.

Due to the nature of the books, readers can design their own outcomes based on what choices they make as the story progresses.

An event is being held in London later to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the series.

About 500 fans are expected to attend, where they will have the opportunity to meet creators, collect autographs and buy merchandise.

“We’re big kids at heart,” Mr Green said.