tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post4808670767412176071..comments2024-03-27T21:18:33.034+00:00Comments on Fabled Lands: Joe Dever (1956-2016)Dave Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-53268585427928356252023-02-12T00:36:57.810+00:002023-02-12T00:36:57.810+00:00Joe Dever was a wonderful creator of worlds. Lone...Joe Dever was a wonderful creator of worlds. Lone Wolf, at the beginning, was an incredibly engaging adventure. Even the saga of "Cal Phoenix" was creative gold. But he was an even better man. I joined his FB group around 2012 or 2013 and he would always send me a happy birthday notice.<br /><br />Hopefully he ascended into the Land of the Sun. Bosk of Port Karhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05382836168231297724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-9467954503630031882016-12-05T23:24:31.069+00:002016-12-05T23:24:31.069+00:00I certainly do not know for sure whether the two o...I certainly do not know for sure whether the two of them jointly created the series or was Gary Chalk "just" the illustrator. However, his drawings, as I first saw them as a teenager, have greatly contributed to the overall gritty, dark, medieval atmosphere of the series. And the maps! I really loved them... I have several of the books in polish translation - re-printed from the Mongoose edition, if I remember well - with illustrations by somebody else... they just don't feel the same.<br />Anyway, what sad news... Joe Dever was one of my two favourite gamebook authors, the one whose books I turned to when I wanted something that felt like a real RPG... RIP.mikohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02798274750327471161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-50316091208382782892016-12-04T17:24:52.389+00:002016-12-04T17:24:52.389+00:00I'm advised by Richard S Hetley that it's ...I'm advised by Richard S Hetley that it's quite contentious to say, as I did above, that Joe Dever and Gary Chalk jointly came up with Lone Wolf. So I'd better add that I have no inside knowledge, I just assume that's the case because it's how the books were credited (see the first cover above) and marketed when they originally came out. As for who actually devised what, you'd have to ask Mr Chalk as he's the only person now who knows for sure.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-20407516483624830692016-12-03T23:39:40.779+00:002016-12-03T23:39:40.779+00:00R.I.P. Joe Dever, thanks for your magnificent cont...R.I.P. Joe Dever, thanks for your magnificent contribution to the gamebook world...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10503221106229200461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-54241849359217234602016-12-02T21:48:17.069+00:002016-12-02T21:48:17.069+00:00Such sad news. I loved Lone Wolf and some of his o...Such sad news. I loved Lone Wolf and some of his other creations and found his writing and the worlds he created was amazingly vivid and evocative. RIP Joe Dever and thanks for creating work which fuelled some fantastic times and memories with my brother in our youth.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14830595587507590611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-71327740357241604832016-12-02T21:19:34.253+00:002016-12-02T21:19:34.253+00:00That's very sad to hear. It's surreal with...That's very sad to hear. It's surreal with all the atrocities happening in the world, which we become somewhat immunized to, that news like this comes as such a body blow. Partly lost childhood memories, partly an awareness of mortality I suppose? Lone Wolf wasn't my favourite gamebook series in truth, nevertheless it's still there on my shelf after all these years and I was looking forward to completing the collection with books 29 to 32. Books 1 to 6 were very good. I brought Caverns of Kalte around the same time or even on the same shopping trip as The Eye Of The Dragon, Usurper and some early FF. I especially liked his Freeway Warrior series (obvious Mad Max influence/overtones). I also remember a very funny review of one of his Combat Heroes books in Warlock, with Derek the Troll playing one of the characters! Anyway, happy memories. Thanks Joe. RIP.<br /> Andy Fletcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735277481108984596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-17695332832144077402016-12-02T21:10:33.374+00:002016-12-02T21:10:33.374+00:00That's a surprise, and a most unwelcome one. V...That's a surprise, and a most unwelcome one. Very sad news. Him and his work were a huge part of my childhood, so he'll always be a legend in my eyes.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16820212330098297211noreply@blogger.com