Journal
The Journal comes with Ultima IX. It is 60 pages long. In-game, Hawkwind is the author of the book. In real-life, Tonda Mueller has written the book.
Description[edit]
There is also an in-game version as well, doubling as the in-game menu, but with simplified content. Of note is that the book contains only very little original illustrations, most are from previous games. It was noted often how the book contradicts much of the established lore of the series, especially in the history section, and contains many inaccuracies. Additionally, that the Time Lord wrote the book directly for the Avatar creates a case of fridge logic over why the Avatar is told many things the hero should already know after visiting Britannia repeatedly.
Book Content[edit]
The following topics are part of the book:
- Foreword
- The Virtues
- History of Britannia
- Travelling guide
- The fighting arts
- Weapons and armour
- Bestiary
- Cosmology
- Music
- Runescript
- Sea travel
Other Editions[edit]
The cover of the Journal and Spellbook in the Dragon Edition was made of synthetic leather. Also, the ankh on the cover is different between the US and European versions of the book. For the Japanese edition of the game, the book was translated into Japanese, but content-wise stays the same. The cover tries to look like brittle leather with a different texture then the other releases. Also, a hardcover version of the book was released in the Japanese Premium Edition.
Alternate Covers[edit]
Dragon Edition cover
Japanese cover
Hardcover book in the Japanese Premium Edition
Trivia[edit]
- The Journal contains a large number of inaccuracies, misstatements and a few mistakes with most located in the History section. The worst inaccuracy is in the virtue section where Justice is stated as being combination of Truth and Courage.
- The ankh on the cover is from the cover of the book A Safe Passage Through Britannia, which is even more noticeable in the European version of the book.
Gallery[edit]
The Jounral in-game
The bestiary in-game
External Links[edit]
- Journal (PDF)
- Ultima IX nitpicks in the Journal
- Journal (PDF) – high quality
- Journal (PDF) – Dragon Edition
| Ultima Game Manuals | |
|---|---|
| Age of Darkness | Akalabeth (manual) ☥ Ultima I (Playbook, manual) ☥ Ultima II (manual) ☥ Ultima III (play guide, cleric guide, wizard guide) |
| Age of Enlightenment | Ultima IV (History of Britannia, Mystic Wisdom) ☥ Ultima V (Book of Lore, journal) ☥ Ultima VI (Compendium) |
| Age of Armageddon | Ultima VII (Fellowship, Isle of Fire) ☥ Ultima VII Part Two (Serpent Pillars, Silver Seed) ☥ Ultima VIII (Chronicle) ☥ Ultima IX (Spellbook, journal) |
| Underworld | Underworld (Memoirs) ☥ Underworld II (Safe Passage) |
| Worlds of Ultima | Savage Empire (Ultimate Adventures) ☥ Martian Dreams (Red Planet, Time Travel) |
| Compilations | Ultima Trilogy I (Trilogy manual) ☥ Ultima Trilogy II (The Age of Virtue) ☥ Ultima Collection (Ultima Atlas) |
| Other | Shroud of the Avatar (Adventurer's Manual) |