Slaying the Dragon - A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons by Ben Riggs
There are now plenty of histories about the hobby of roleplaying games, particularly the highs and lows of TSR and Dungeons & Dragons. Numerous essays and films have explored the lives of co-founders Dave Arneson and E. Gary Gygax, so another “secret history” of the early years of roleplaying might seem unnecessary. That said, this is a good one: well-written, with many excellent interviews from eyewitnesses and key participants.
I do feel this book carries a certain bias. While other histories of D&D often focus on the dynamic tension between Arneson and Gygax, this one seems to downplay Arneson’s role and instead centers on Gygax and his legacy.
The book covers the history of Dungeons & Dragons from its birth around 1974 through to the release of the 3rd Edition around 2000, including the pivotal acquisition of TSR by Wizards of the Coast (WOTC) - the company behind Magic: The Gathering - who went on to produce the 3rd Edition of the game.
This was a great read, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the history of the roleplaying hobby.
Find Slaying the Dragon: A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons by Ben Riggs.
Peter
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