The mists curl, the marsh bubbles . . . and an eBay relic drags itself into the light. This week, we plunge into Monsters of the Marsh - a 1985 UK fantasy gamebook I somehow never knew existed. It’s the first volume of The Legends of Skyfall, written by David Tant and brought to life with a wildly dynamic Esteban Maroto cover and delightfully old-school interior art by Duncan Smith. I haven’t adventured through its pages yet, but flipping through the world-building, the coin-toss combat system, and the wonderfully grim illustrations already feels like rediscovering a lost cousin of Fighting Fantasy.
Come explore this swamp-soaked treasure with us, Adventurer.
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This Week’s Rediscovered Realms Theme Song:
This week’s track sloshes straight out of the Dunmarsh, where Lizardmen lurk in the reeds and fate hangs on the flip of a single muddy coin. “Flip a Coin in the Lizardmen Swamp” is a whimsical bayou-folk ditty - banjo twang with a storyteller who talks his way out of trouble one coin toss at a time. Step lightly, Adventurer… the water’s rising, and the Lizardmen are feeling lucky.
It’s always fun to discover “new” fantasy books from the past that you never knew existed. At least for me.
That’s why I was so excited to find this 1985 UK gem on eBay a month or two back. With 400 passages and the claim of “logic and intelligence rewarded” I figured it was worth giving it a go.
I also figured I might not get around to reading it for a while, so why not share some of its coolest bits with you now.
Starting with that amazing cover!
I’ve kept it on my desk for the past several weeks and every time I glance over, it draws me in with appreciation for how dynamic and dangerous Maroto illustrated this laggle of Lizard Men (“laggle” is the scientific term for a group of Lizard Men, in case you didn’t know…)
Esteban Maroto (Cover Artist) — Mini Bio
Spanish comics legend Esteban Maroto needs no introduction to fans of fantasy art. Known for his dynamic compositions, striking anatomy, and atmospheric textures, Maroto made his mark in iconic series like Red Sonja, Vampirella, and Conan. His covers often feel like a single frozen moment before violence erupts—and Monsters of the Marsh is no exception. The lunging Lizardmen, the swirling water, the weapons cutting through the scene… it’s pure, distilled Maroto: dramatic, kinetic, and impossible to ignore on a shelf.
2. The World → “Skyfall: A Planet of Peril & Promise”
I’m not usually into sci-fi much anymore, but sometimes there are those special fantasy blends that somehow work (Gamma World, Shannara, and Weird World to name a few that come to mind).
This particular book, as you’ll see, smacks strongly more of fantasy than sci-fi once we get past the background info. If nothing else, the magic, monsters, and weapons should convince you.
David Tant (Author) — Mini Bio
3. The Game System → “Heads, Tails, and Heroism”
I didn’t photograph the entire gaming system, but enough to give a flavor of how it works.
4. The Story → “A Father Lost, A Fate Beckoning”
Your next piece of fantasy fun is calling.
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5. The Art → “Inky Marshes”
To me, it’s not considered a gamebook unless it has some badass artwork for its key passages. Fortunately, Duncan Smith delivered! Here are some of his illustrations I liked the most in Monsters of the Marsh:
Duncan Smith (Interior Artist) — Mini Bio
Duncan Smith brought the world of Skyfall to life with lively, slightly gritty black-and-white illustrations that feel right at home beside other 1980s gamebook greats. His work is reminiscent of the charmingly dangerous art in Fighting Fantasy - in fact he did the interior artwork for Fighting Fantasy’s “Scorpion Swamp” and the “Fighting Fantasy: The Introductory Role Playing Game”! Smith’s interior pieces give Monsters of the Marsh its personality. His art invites you deeper into Delta’s swamps, and makes each encounter feel like it has its own story.
(I don’t know about you, but I find this Sphinx illustration purely terrifying every time I look at it!)
And that’s the end of our tour. Please watch your step (and keep an eye out for gators) as you exit the swamp boat to your left.
So whether the Lizardmen snatch you in the reeds or you out-think them with a lucky flip of the coin, Monsters of the Marsh appears to capture that classic gamebook thrill - danger rising with every turn of the page. Rediscovering The Legends of Skyfall today feels like peering into an alternate evolutionary timeline of British fantasy gaming, one where dice never rolled and coins decided destinies.
Until next time, tread lightly, Marsh-Walking Adventurer . . . or the swamp may swallow you whole.
Have you ever come across The Legends of Skyfall gamebooks before?
Have you ever played a gamebook that didn’t use dice?
Do you like your gamebooks to feel more sci-fi, more fantasy, or a strange and wonderful blend of both?
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Flip a Coin in the Lizardmen Swamp [Verse 1] Well I wandered through the Dunmarsh, boots sinkin’ as I go, When a pair of lurkin’ Lizardmen popped up from down below. They hissed, “We smell a traveler—fresh and full of fright!” I said, “Hold on now, gentlemen… let’s try to make this right.” [Chorus] Let’s flip a coin for my life, now— Heads I go free, tails I pay the price. When the Lizardmen grin and the water starts to rise… They say: “Flip a coin for your life, boy— Hope the swamp feels nice, boy!” [Verse 2] They dragged me through the cattails, where lyin’ gators grin, One said, “We’ll cook him slow,” the other said, “Let’s eat him thin.” I pulled out my lucky copper, held it toward the sky— Said, “Let’s give ol’ Fate a crack at it, before you make me fry!” [Chorus] Let’s flip a coin for my life, now— Heads I go free, tails I pay the price. When the Lizardmen grin and the water starts to rise… They say: “Flip a coin for your life, boy— Hope the swamp feels nice, boy!” [Bridge (spoken/sung)] Oh Lord, I hope I’m lucky, makin’ bargains in the bog, But a coin toss beats a sword swing when you’re half-blind in the fog. And if that copper hits the mud? Well son, that’s just my fate— The swamp don’t do no refunds, and it sure don’t let you wait… [Verse 3] I flipped it through the moonlight—up it soared and spun, I wished for all the fortune the swamp could spare that the right side would be won. It landed on a lily pad, Fate’s verdict obscured and low The Lizardmen leaned forward… and hissed, “Hmph. Guess you get to go” [Final Chorus] Let’s flip a coin for my life, now— Heads I go free, tails I pay the price. When the Lizardmen grin and the water starts to rise… They say: “Flip a coin for your life, boy— Now git, and git along, boy!” Git along boy! . . .
Greetings J.Q, I hope you’re well.
Your posts appears on my feed quite a lot, there enjoyable to read, thank you.
You may enjoy what I share, a philosophic and modern look at obscured histories and ideology’s.
Here’s my latest:
https://open.substack.com/pub/jordannuttall/p/secrets-and-remedies-from-the-renaissance?r=4f55i2&utm_medium=ios
Wow that’s a really cool book! The art is fantastic. I love sci fi and fantasy equally, so I’m always happy when I find either type of book.