Updated with new chapters and an introduction for the 50th Anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons, the fascinating and authoritative history of Dungeons & Dragons that \”tracks D&D’s turbulent rise, fall, and survival, from its heyday in the 1980s…to the 21st century\” (The Wall Street Journal), by award-winning journalist David M. Ewalt.
Even if you’ve never played Dungeons & Dragons, you probably know someone who has: the game has had a profound influence on our culture, and 2014 marks the intriguing role-playing phenomenon’s 40th anniversary. Released decades before the Internet and social media, Dungeons & Dragons inspired one of the original nerd subcultures and is still revered by more than 30 million fans. Now, the authoritative history and magic of the game are revealed by an award-winning journalist and lifelong D&D player.
In Of Dice and Men, David Ewalt describes the development of Dungeons & Dragons from the game’s origins on the battlefields of ancient Europe through the hysteria that linked it to satanic rituals and teen suicides to its apotheosis as father of the modern video-game industry. As he chronicles the surprising history of the game’s origins (a history largely unknown even to hardcore players) and examines D&D’s lasting impact, Ewalt weaves laser-sharp subculture analysis with his own present-day gaming experiences, \”writing about the world of fantasy role-playing junkies with intelligence, dexterity, and even wisdom\” (Ken Jennings). An enticing blend of history, journalism, narrative, and memoir, Of Dice and Men sheds light on America’s most popular form of collaborative entertainment.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
Imprint: Scribner US/S&S
Publication date: 11/04/2024
Of Dice and Men
By David M Ewalt
Review by Mida (currently playing an Artificer and running a game on the sly)
Let’s file this under books that pleasantly surprised me! A perplexing blend of memoir, history of gaming, and handbook for D&D, Of Dice and Men contains multitudes.
While it may seem niche from the beginning, Ewalt does a splendid job of making the more complex (read: nerdy) concepts accessible and easy to understand. He manages to keep things pretty beginner friendly, with footnotes, citations of the relevant chapters in the core rulebooks and definitions of certain bits of jargon, so readers with every level of experience are able to enjoy this book. Combining experience from his own D&D and other TTRPG campaigns –as well as a concise history of gaming – and stories from players and creators, we are able to get a wonderfully detailed overview of this bizarre hobby.
Despite having played D&D for about 5 years, I never took the time to learn much about the origins of the hobby. But after reading this book, I’ve been left with a greater appreciation for the creative minds that brought one of my favourite pastimes into the world. When my journey alongside them came to a close, I was left feeling strangely emotional.
Seasoned players will be able to gain a deeper love for D&D from reading this book. This is D&D’s backstory. Even those who have never played will feel inspired to rattle some dice, dream up a character and enlist their friends to try something new.
You can listen to Mida’s review from RDU below
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