"Ben Riggs manages to walk the fine line between historical accuracy and fun about as well as anyone and SLAYING THE DRAGON is equal parts historical accuracy and entertainment. It was an essential read for me while directing and producing the Official D&D documentary but I’d recommend it to anyone regardless of the subject material. It’s a wild and fun ride through the turbulent history of one the most influential brands in our lifetime." — Joe Manganiello

"...a compelling adventure in itself" —The Washington Post

"Riggs weaves a tale of corporate intrigue, personal ego, and failed saving throws that will fascinate any fan of D&D. Whether you're a grognard, still clutching your red box rules and grumbling about THAC0, or a recent convert to the greatest game the world has ever played, you're going to love Slaying the Dragon!" —Tim Akers, author of Knight Watch

"Herein are the secrets and myths, the highs and lows, and hidden world of the magical realm of TSR and its creation: Dungeons & Dragons. An indispensable account about the legends and truth from the people that worked there. Highly recommended!" —Mike Mason, co-designer of Call of Cthulhu 7th edition

"Through in-depth interviews with the creators themselves, Ben has put together a deeply personal account of so many of the behind-the-scenes going-ons, the good and the bad, at TSR." —former TSR artist Brom

"When I was thirteen and sitting on the other side of the DM screen, using all my latent psionic talent to roll a 20 on that bugbear, I never thought I would ever want to read a book about the economic history of D&D . . . yet here we are. Riggs has written a fascinating and dishy account of the business hits and whistling misses of a band of dreamers, writers, artists, and geeks and the real-life, sometimes terrifying adventures that eventually destroyed the company behind arguably the most imaginative American game ever created, though it was never just that. A must-read for fighters, magic-users, and even bards—and everyone else, too." —Brad Ricca, Edgar-nominated author of Mrs. Sherlock Holmes and True Raiders

"Far from a fluff piece on a beloved hobby, this book goes behind the GM's screen to take a hard-nosed look at the people and circumstances that first gave rise to D&D, then nearly killed it—twice. Riggs takes you on a roller-coaster from boom to near bankruptcy, but never loses sight of the individuals involved, the good, the bad, and the geeky." —Marie Brennan, Hugo-Award nominated author of the Lady Trent Memoirs series

"A fascinating and colorful page-turner that explores the rich history of Dungeons & Dragons and it's role in the development of role-playing games. Ben Riggs's engrossing Slaying the Dragon takes us into the basements of Wisconsin and boardrooms of Los Angeles where the popular role-playing genre evolved—against impossible odds—from board games to virtual reality. And he does so by speaking with the geeks who inherited this Earth, putting their wild stories to paper for the first time. 900 XP to Riggs for his achievement!" —Sean O'Connell, managing director of CinemaBlend and author of Release the Snyder Cut and With Great Power

"With a trove of research and candid interviews, Riggs investigates the many missteps that would ultimately sour “years of stunning success” for the tabletop gaming giant...A compelling corporate saga mired in mythmaking." —Kirkus Reviews

"So here’s the thing. I’ve never played a game of Dungeons & Dragons in my life. And I’ve also already read Of Dice and Men, the D&D history that is the jumping-off point for this work, which promises to uncover some of the less-known dealings of Lake-Geneva-based TSR’s downfall. And yet I found Slaying the Dragon thoroughly enjoyable, partly because of the near-local setting, and partly because Riggs is a good storyteller who also highlights the corporate missteps in a way that I think will appeal to folks who read business narratives. And to think, Milwaukee finally has enough hotel rooms to keep GenCon, only 19 years too late." —Daniel Goldin, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee WI

"Meticulously researched and passionately written, Ben Riggs’ book Slaying the Dragon is essential reading for anyone intrigued by the absurdities of the gaming industry. This chronicle of errors answers longstanding questions about the rise and fall of roleplaying’s most famous game and provides an entertaining step-by-step guide for how NOT to run a corporation. Absolutely recommended!" — Satyros Phil Brucato, designer and core author of Mage: The Ascension, Powerchords: Music, Magic & Urban Fantasy, Mage: The Sorcerers Crusade, the Mage 20 series, and more

2022-03-15
A chronicle of the rise and fall of TSR, the company behind Dungeons & Dragons.

With a trove of research and candid interviews, Riggs investigates the many missteps that would ultimately sour “years of stunning success” for the tabletop gaming giant. This debut book follows the creation of D&D by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, the incorporation of TSR, and Gygax’s eventual ousting from the company in 1985 due to slippery shareholder politics. The new CEO, Lorraine Williams, was more of a businesswoman than a gamer. Amid declining sales of kits and rulebooks, Williams sought success elsewhere in the market, overseeing the production of breakout fantasy novels and ill-fated gimmicks like VHS–integrated board games. TSR failed to retain its staff and took for granted the artists and writers who contributed to its occasional victories. Eventually, a shifty distribution contract with Random House left a “pile of debt…[that] threatened to bury TSR,” which ultimately led to the company’s 1997 acquisition by rivals Wizards of the Coast. TSR’s story is inherently compelling, but Riggs ceaselessly attempts to conjure additional lore from the company’s history. He exalts Gygax, referring to him as “Saint Gary” numerous times, and descriptions of the old TSR offices repeat ad nauseam throughout the text as the author tries to transform the spaces into hallowed grounds. Like his description of Gygax’s prose, Riggs is often “labyrinthine and bombastic,” hailing many creators as geniuses and Einsteins of their field. Many sections are riddled with rhetorical questions and quickly answered. “Was this the end?” Riggs asks in an early chapter. This indirect, undercooked storytelling will frustrate many readers. Riggs is certainly a passionate raconteur, but one can easily imagine a better tale without the unnecessary embellishments. Jon Peterson’s Game Wizards and David Ewalt’s Of Dice and Men are good choices for veteran gamers, but it seems the definitive history of D&D has yet to be written.

A compelling corporate saga mired in mythmaking.