There's an article on the BBC site about the emergence and development of the Fighting Fantasy books in the early 1980s. I particularly like the bit about the controversy: "My son is possessed and has started levitating!"
Much love for these books. I count myself lucky that my dad was transferred to Europe at the same time as these came out -- Firetop Mountain, Port Blacksand and Deathtrap Dungeon are as much a part of my early fantasy gaming experience as White Plume Mountain, the Free City of Greyhawk and the Tomb of Horrors are.
I have very fond memories about these books, especially considering they were the reason I became interested in role-playing games. They literally changed my life.