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Sky Lord

From Titannica

Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks
Outline
Location: Space
References: 400
Publication Details
Author(s): Martin Allen
Illustrator(s): Tim Sell
Puffin
Cover illustrator: Les Edwards
First published: June 9 1988
Number 33
ISBN: ISBN 0-14-032601-4
Previous Book: Slaves of the Abyss
Next Book: Stealer of Souls
Wizard (Series 1)
Cover illustrator: N/A
First published: N/A
Number N/A
ISBN: N/A
Previous Book: N/A
Next Book: N/A
Wizard (Series 2)
Cover illustrator: N/A
First published: N/A
Number N/A
ISBN: N/A
Previous Book: N/A
Next Book: N/A


Sky Lord is a single-player role-playing gamebook written by Martin Allen, illustrated by Tim Sell and originally published in 1988 by Puffin Books. It forms part of Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone's Fighting Fantasy series. It is the 33rd in the series in the original Puffin series (ISBN 0-14-032601-4). There are currently no announced plans to republish this book as part of the modern Wizard series.

Contents

[edit] Creation

[edit] About Your Star System/Mission Background

“ Fearful foes from the far future!

L'Bastin, genius geneticist and renegade steward of Vaax, king of the planet Ensulina, is poised to conquer the cosmos with an army of terrifying clones - dog-headed Prefectas, the perfect warriors! Only a solo mission can penetrate the defences of L'Bastin's fortress planet Aarok; only the best solar trooper can undertake such a mission. That agent is YOU - if you dare!

Two dice, a pencil and an eraser are all you need for this adventure. YOU decide which paths to take, which dangers to risk and which monsters to fight.[1] 		”

The player takes the role of Jang Mistral, a four-armed soldier from the planet Ensulina. His mission is to travel to Aarok, an artificial planet that has become a den of rogues and criminals, and capture a scientist named L'Bastin. The mission is doubly urgent because L'Bastin has reportedly created a species of Dog-headed humanoid called the Prefectas who are the ultimate warriors in the universe.

[edit] Your Abilities/Combat

The book in general follows the original rules set down in The Warlock of Firetop Mountain. (see Game System)

[edit] Unique Rules

  • Sky Lord features the stat of rating to determine the player's skill in piloting combat vehicles. It is a 1d6 roll where a 1, 2, or 3 means a rating of 3 and a roll of 4, 5, or 6 equals a rating of 4. The rating score is used to determine who fires first in such combat. If the player defeats an enemy whose rating was higher than their own, the player may add 1 point to their rating score at the end of the battle.
  • Uses Provision Tablets (restoring 4 stamina each) instead of regular Provisions.

[edit] Equipment List

[edit] Cover and Illustrations

Cover

The original cover of the book was designed and illustrated by Les Edwards.

Sky Lord through the years
1988 1989 1990 1993
Dragon Format Dragon No No. No. Spine Only No Bronze-Foil
£2.251 £3.502 £3.993
  1. Price of 1st Impression
  2. Price of 3rd~4th Impressions
  3. Price of 6th Impression. The diagrams are missing.

Illustrations

The interior illustrations were by Tim Sell. There were 29 full page illustrations and 6 minor repeated illustrations scattered throughout the text. The paragraphs with a full page illustration were: 1, 15, 29, 42, 56, 69, 89, 100, 114, 127, 140, 154, 167, 187, 204, 214, 222, 238, 249, 267, 282, 293, 309, 322, 335, 351, 365, 375, and 393.

The inside front cover featured two diagrams for use during the course of the book, the artist of which is currently unknown.

Some of the later reprintings of Sky Lord saw the diagrams go missing. Oddly readers found that this did not pose a significant impediment to their progress in the book.

[edit] Intertextual References

[edit] Other Media

[edit] Main Characters

YOU: Jang Mistral

[edit] Locations

[edit] Encounters

[edit] Further Notes

  • Sky Lord is the last, to date, gamebook to use a science fiction setting.
  • Interestingly, where on the contents page the title of the game is listed for where to find the first paragraph, here it simply says "Countdown ...".
  • On the later Puffin sans-foil prints Spectral Stalkers is listed as "Special Stalkers".

[edit] Errors

[edit] Dedication

Thanks to
Keith, Richard, Andrew, Gail, Cugel, Mum and Dad

[edit] See Also

[edit] Reviews

[edit] External Links

[edit] References

  1. ↑ Sky Lord - Back Cover ("Golden Dragon" Edition)
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