Of Dice and Men

HERE, THERE BE DRAGONS. Ancient red dragons with 527 hit points, +44 to attack, and a 20d10 breath weapon, to be specific. In the world of fantasy role-playing, those numbers describe a winged serpent with immense strength and the ability to spit fire. There are few beasts more powerfulâÈ'just like there are few games more important than Dungeons & Dragons. Even if youâÈçve never played Dungeons & Dragons, you probably know someone who has: the game has had a profound influence on our culture. Released in 1974âÈ'decades before the Internet and social mediaâÈ'Dungeons & Dragons inspired one of the original nerd subcultures, and is still revered by millions of fans around the world. 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 recounts the development of Dungeons & Dragons from the gameâÈçs roots 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 gameâÈçs origins (a history largely unknown even to hardcore players) and examines D&DâÈçs profound impact, Ewalt weaves laser-sharp subculture analysis with his own present-day gaming experiences. An enticing blend of history, journalism, narrative, and memoir, Of Dice and Men sheds light on AmericaâÈçs most popular (and widely misunderstood) form of collaborative entertainment.