OF DICE AND MEN:
The Story of Dungeons & Dragons
and The People Who Play It
The Lord of the Rings meets Moneyball in this unique and authoritative book on Dungeons & Dragons —from the game's origins through its rise to cultural prominence, and its ripple effect on popular culture today.
Even if you've never played Dungeons & Dragons, you probably know someone who has (whether or not they're willing to admit it). Released in 1974 —decades before video games and the Internet took over the gaming world— Dungeons & Dragons became one of the original nerd subcultures, and is still revered by over thirty million fans today. Now journalist David M. Ewalt explores the rich history of the game, revealing the magic that enlivened his youth, and has since re-entered his adult life in a whole new way.
From its roots on the battlefields of ancient Europe, through the hysteria that linked it to satanic rituals and teen suicides, and to its apotheosis as father of the modern video game industry, Of Dice and Men recounts the development of a game played by some of most fascinating people in the world. Chronicling the surprising history of D&D's origins (one largely unknown even to hardcore players) while examining the game's profound impact, Ewalt weaves laser-sharp cultural analysis with his own present-day gaming experiences.
An enticing blend of history, journalism, narrative and memoir, Of Dice and Men sheds light on America's most popular (and widely misunderstood) form of collaborative entertainment.
PRAISE FOR OF DICE AND MEN
"An engaging book that fuses history and memoir. [Ewalt] tracks D&D's turbulent rise, fall and survival, from its heyday in the 1980s... to the 21st century." —THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
"A wonderful, energetic and personal history of Dungeons & Dragons... Ewalt is a great writer, and has the magazine-feature-writer's gift of weaving together the personal story and the wider tale, with lots of smooth transitions between the subjects and fascinating interludes." —CORY DOCTOROW, BoingBoing.net
"A fascinating history of D&D written by an author who authentically loves the game. Whether you know what d20 means or not, you will love this book!" —FELICIA DAY, actress, producer, creator of The Guild and Geek & Sundry
"It's almost impossible to explain how Dungeons & Dragons works, and harder still to explain how it feels. This book comes as close as any I've ever read." —CHUCK KLOSTERMAN, author of Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs and I Wear the Black Hat
"David Ewalt's wit, insight and infectious love of D&D make him the perfect guide to the most significant game of the twentieth century. The book is a joy to read." —TIM HARFORD, author of The Undercover Economist
"David Ewalt writes about the world of fantasy role-playing junkies with intelligence, dexterity, and even wisdom. (I am unable to speak to his strength, constitution, or charisma.)" —KEN JENNINGS, author of Maphead and Because I Said So!
"Dungeons & Dragons has been a huge part of my life. The book sheds light on the world of [D&D co-creator] Gary Gygax, and it also lets the reader into the mind of somebody questioning how cool this game is." —VIN DIESEL, actor, producer, star of the Fast & Furious franchise.
"David Ewalt offers a genial history of Dungeons and Dragons and its impact on his own geek life... A highly readable account of a game that seized the imagination of a generation and maintains its grip three decades later." —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"The best book I've read since the Monster Manual." —DAVID X. COHEN, executive producer of Futurama
"Long before I made my mark in software, I was a pretty good Dungeon Master, and D&D has played a significant part in my life. In addition to covering much of the deep history of the game that I never knew, Of Dice and Men brought back tons of fond memories, and damned if it didn’t make me pull some dusty old rulebooks off the shelf at home." —JOHN CARMACK, co-founder of Id Software
"The author's devotion to the game does much to illuminate role-playing’s enduring power on mortal men and women." —KIRKUS
"A fascinating window into the storied history of fantasy pen and paper gaming. A must-read for anyone curious about the genre." —DR. RAY MUZYKA, co-founder of BioWare
"Even audiences normally indifferent to D&D’s charms will find Ewalt's overview witty and absorbing, and the game's devotees will discover much here to revel in and quibble with." —BOOKLIST
"The core of Ewalt's story is his experience of role-playing games. He explains it about as well as anyone could, short of experiencing it yourself." —SEATTLE TIMES