Spectral Stalkers (book)

Fighting Fantasy Gamebook
Outline
Location:	Khul and Space
References:	400
Publication Details
Author(s):	Peter Darvill-Evans
Illustrator(s):	Tony Hough
Puffin
Cover illustrator:	Ian Miller
First published:	July 25 1991
Number	45
ISBN:	ISBN 0-14-034366-0
Previous Book:	Legend of the Shadow Warriors
Next Book:	Tower of Destruction
Wizard (Series 1)
Wizard (Series 2)
Scholastic

For other uses of Spectral Stalkers, see Spectral Stalkers (disambiguation)

Spectral Stalkers is a single-player role-playing gamebook written by Peter Darvill-Evans, illustrated by Tony Hough and originally published in 1991 by Puffin Books. It forms part of Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone's Fighting Fantasy series. It is the 45th in the series in the original Puffin series (ISBN 0-14-034366-0). There are currently no announced plans to republish this book as part of the Scholastic series.

Background

“	Hunted across Time and Space! The Aleph is a prize beyond all measure, a mysterious globe from another dimension which can be used to harness all the forces of the Universe - and it has been entrusted to YOU for safekeeping. YOU must use its unearthly powers to transport you through the many Spheres of the Multiverse and return it to its rightful owner. But beware - the nightmarish Spectral Stalkers also want the Aleph, and they are on your trail! Part story, part game, this is a book in which YOU become the hero! Two dice, a pencil and an eraser are all you need. YOU decide which routes to take, which dangers to risk and which foes to fight.	”
—Spectral Stalkers - Back Cover ("Dragon" Edition)

The book begins on the usual Fighting Fantasy setting of Titan, but actually involves the player travelling to a variety of different settings. These settings include other fantasy worlds and even futuristic science-fiction locations.

Adventuring Among the Spheres

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

Unique Rules

This adventure features a trail score that begins at 0. This is a measure of the trail the player leaves behind them as they travel that the Spectral Stalkers follow. At various points the player is required to Test Your Trail Score which is a 3d6 roll. If the rolled amount is equal to or greater than the trail score the player remains undetected.

Equipment List

• Sword
• Backpack
• 2 Provisions

In the course of the "Background" section the player is told they are carrying 8 Gold Pieces. A few entries into the book, the player also gains possession of the Aleph.

Cover and Illustrations

Main article: Spectral Stalkers (illustrations)

Covers

The original cover of the book was designed and illustrated by Ian Miller.

Spectral Stalkers Cover Variants

1991	1993
Dragon ver.III	Dragon ver.IV
£3.991	£3.992
NOTES Price of 1st Impression Price of 2nd Impression

Illustrations

The interior illustrations were by Tony Hough. There were 29 full page illustrations and 6 minor repeated illustrations scattered throughout the text. The paragraphs with a full page illustration were: 1, 6, 11, 21, 36, 51, 66, 96, 105, 115, 126, 135, 145, 156, 171, 186, 216, 246, 261, 276, 291, 306, 321, 336, 351, 366, 376, 386 and 396. Additionally, (81) is illustrated by two diagrams and (168) by a smaller picture, all presumably by Tony Hough also.

The colour map of the maze on the inside front cover was by Leo Hartas.

Main Characters

YOU: Hero of Spectral Stalkers

• Baratcha - Vaskind Queen
• Barogkaz
• Burud
• Cerod - Minstrel
• Drawenna
• Felice - Catwoman
• Frampa - Lord of the Citadel
• Globus - Archmage
• Grondel - Elf
• Marvip the Magician/The Conjuror - Vampire
• Mayrek the Potter/Hermit
• Metron the Mapmaker
• Necromon
• Semeion Cryptoglyphos
• Syzuk the Devastator
• Wayland

Locations

• Khul
• Macrocosmos
• Neuberg
• River Gibelvatter
• The Crystal Garden
• The Eternal Garden
• The Library in Limbo
• The Seven Courtyards
• Titan
• Vitreous Citadel
• The Ghostly Visitors
• Ziggurat World

Encounters

• Barogkaz
• Black Shadow
• Feliti
• Goblins
• Humans - Innkeeper
• Logic Dog
• Mantir
• Necromon
• Ophidian
• Ranganathans
• Sandsnake
• Silica Serpent
• Skeletal Warrior
• Spectral Stalker
• Syzuk
• Vampire
• Vaskind
• Were-Cat
• Wood Elves

Further Notes

• Interestingly, the "Puffin" logo on the spine which usually faces right on Fighting Fantasy books, faces left on some editions of this book.
• This book is partially a Space-based book and its central theme is the hunt for the Aleph.
• The Aleph appears to be based on the Jorge Luis Borges short story "The Aleph", which describes a point in space that contains all other spaces at once. Interestingly, the term "Aleph" has appeared before. In a previous Space-based book, The Rings of Kether, the planet Kether is in the Aleph Cygni system. (Aleph is a Hebrew letter, equivalent to the Greek Alpha.)
• The robot illustrated for (96) appears to be based on Robbie the Robot from the film Forbidden Planet.
• The humanoid illustrated for (145) likewise appears to be based on Davros from Doctor Who (Darvill-Evans at the time of writing Spectral Stalkers was the Editor of the Doctor Who range of original fiction).

Errors

• At (250), Semeion states that as an object beyond any physical laws, the Aleph would have no trouble at all passing through Globus' Prism of Power, whereas most other forces would be deflected. However, at (268), (338) and (396) the Aleph is clearly shown to meet physical resistance as it touches the Prism.
• (285) should link to (206) instead of (153).
• (317) should link to (206) instead of (153).
• In the text entry on (259), "images" should presumably read "mages".

Dedication

none

External Links

• Character Sheet - Retrieved 2019-10-26
• Maze Map (Inside Front Cover) - Retrieved 2019-10-26
• Fighting Fantasy at Gamebooks.org - Retrieved 2019-10-26
• Spectral Stalkers at Gamebooks.org - Retrieved 2019-10-26
• Spectral Stalkers at the Internet Archive record of the old Fightingfantasy.com - Retrieved 2019-10-26