Lone Wolf Books – The Interactive Fiction Game
Joe Dever Updates His Role Playing Series
In 1984 an interactive fiction game was released that would eventually develop a world-wide fan base. This fan base included 30 countries and 18 different languages. It is reported that over 9 million copies have been sold world wide. Three of the books from the Lone Wolf series even went on to win gamebook of the year.
History of the Lone Wolf Book Series
Joe Dever, the mastermind behind the Lone Wolf Books, was a fan of fantasy fiction growing up. When he visited the United States in the 1970s he learned about a game called Dungeons and Dragons. This role playing game inspired him to create his own fantasy fiction role playing world. The world was called Magnamund. From 1975 to 1983 he worked on his fantasy role playing world that would become the center for his own Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Campaign.
Eventually he went on to publish the gamebooks in a game series not linked to Dungeons and Dragons. From the very first title “Flight from the Dark” the series captured the imagination and excitement that role playing gamers loved. Through an (at the time) innovated battle system and character creation system players were allowed to truly become apart of the story.
The Lone Wolf books would cease publication around 1998. Sadly, the majority of the books released in the U.S. were poor in comparison to the originals released in the U.K. In 2007 Mongoose Publishing began republishing the books. In addition to republishing the original books, Joe Dever has expanded the books to included new sub story lines to follow.
Mongoose Publishing will also be releasing the final four books of the Lone Wolf series which have never previously been released.
The Lone Wolf Series Major Plot Lines
While every book in the Lone Wolf rpg includes many sub plots that a person can involve the main character in, the following represents the main plot line that is occurring.
Kai Series: The Kai Lords (think Jedi Masters) and their students have been wiped out in a surprise attack from the Dark Lords. One surviving student named Silent Wolf becomes Lone Wolf and makes an attempt to rally the armies of Sommerlund and her ally, Durenor, against the attackers. Lone Wolf travels to meet the King and his adventures continue from there.
Magnakai Series: Lone Wolf, now seeking to become a Kai Master, is striving to perfect himself in mind, body, and soul. Once a Kai Master he can start training a new group of Kai Lords. As he seeks out the knowledge to do this he must also contend with another war outbreak from the Dark Lords. Ultimately he will have to enter the capital of the Dark Lords to bring about their destruction.
Grand Master Series: This series continues the story of Lone Wolf, now the Grandmaster of the Kai Lords. Recent retraining of the Kai Lords has begun. Lone Wolf must continue to perfect and master abilities that are far above and beyond what others are capable of performing. Additionally, he must contend with direct attacks against him.
New Order Series: This series introduces a new main character. A player no longer plays Lone Wolf, rather a student of Lone Wolf. The setting of these books explores the parts of Magnamund that has previously been unexplored.
Other Lone Wolf Products
In addition to the Lone Wolf gamebooks, there are several other products available which use the Lone Wolf Game premise and setting.
- Kstria Gameworks, though rumored to have closed its doors, maintains the licenses to the Lone Wolf Video Game which they currently plan to release in 2010.
- Projectaon.org has all the books available in a down load format which Joe Dever has authorized as a millennium gift to its fans. Thus almost all Lone Wolf books online can be enjoyed.
- There was a novel Eclipse of the Kai, which was abridged as an audio book.
- In 2010 upgrades versions of the Lone Wolf Novels are expected to be published by Dark Quest Books.
- A live action movie is rumored. Even though there are few references to it, according to the IMDB it is in production with a release date of 2012. Supposedly, according to a blogger at deviantArt.com, the budget is in the 30-35 million dollar range.
Other References
"Lone Wolf:Celebrate a decade of award-winning excellence" (PDF). Project Aon. 1994-01-01.
"20 Years of “Lone Wolf”: The Author Joe Dever at Lucca Games". Project Aon. 2005-10-11.
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