FF5: City of Thieves

Here we enter classic Fighting Fantasy; City of Thieves. The fifth book in the successful Fighting Fantasy gamebook series, this time its written entirely by Ian Livingstone. It is set in the most popular medieval-style gamebook setting of Allansia, and introduces us to the fantastic setting of Port Blacksand

Book Description: Terror stalks the night as Zanbar Bone and his bloodthirsty Moon Dogs hold the prosperous town of Silverton to ransom. YOU are an adventurer and the merchants of Silverton turn to you in their hour of need.

Your mission takes you along dark, twisting streets where thieves, vagabonds and creatures of the night lie in wait to trap the unwary traveller. Beyond lies the most fearsome adventure of them all – the tower stronghold of the infamous Zanbar Bone! Part-story part-game, this is a book with a difference - one in which you become the hero! A pencil and an eraser are all you need to make your journey. YOU decide which route to take, which creatures to fight and which dangers to risk.

The City of Thieves was responsible for the introduction of Port Blacksand to the world of Allansia. This is where most of the book is set, and it develops the City as a place of evil & somewhere that you would not like to be on a dark night. This City was to become a very popular setting to be involved in a number of the later books that were to be released.

The actual plot in this book centres around Zanbar Bone. Bone is an undead lord who resides in his tower not far from Port Blacksand. His dreaded Moon Dogs and Spirit Stalkers, as well as a number of traps within the tower itself protect him from foolhardy adventurers like you.

Zanbar Bone can not be killed by normal means, and only a silver arrow and special compound will be enough to see him fall before your eyes.

You are called to the aid of Silverton, a town that Zanbar Bone has decided to cause turmoil in. He has demanded that he is delivered the daughter of Owen Carralif for his own pleasure, and he did not take the consequent refusal lightly. Zanbar Bone then sends his Moon Dogs to terrorise Silverton, and they enter the houses of the locals causing death and despair. Naturally, you accept the quest of dealing with the evil one, and are told to hunt out the wizard Nicodemus in Port Blacksand, as only he knows how Zanbar Bone can be killed.

So you spend a while walking through the streets of Port Blacksand collecting the usual array of items that need to be found to deal with Zanbar Bone is his tower. During your journey you'll come across many characters, including Lord Azzur and there are some fun moments from the likes of Sourbelly & Fatnose. Enemies you have to deal with might include thieves, robbers, goblins and even a giant centipede.

To destroy Zanbar Bone you will need to find numerous artefacts amongst the streets of the City of Thieves. Only after all these have been found, can you hope to destroy the one who wreaks fear into the very souls of Silverton, and save Owen Carralif's daughter from being handed over.

About the Author: Ian Livingstone

Cover:
Martin McKenna

Illustrations:
Iain McCaig

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