{"product_id":"of-dice-and-men-9781668050101","title":"Of Dice and Men","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003eUpdated with new chapters and an introduction for the 50th Anniversary of Dungeons \u0026amp; Dragons, the \u003c\/b\u003efascinating and authoritative history of Dungeons \u0026amp; Dragons that \"tracks D\u0026amp;D's turbulent rise, fall, and survival, from its heyday in the 1980s...to the 21st century\" (\u003ci\u003eThe Wall Street Journal\u003c\/i\u003e), by award-winning journalist David M. Ewalt.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eEven if you've never played Dungeons \u0026amp; 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 \u0026amp; 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\u0026amp;D player. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eOf Dice and Men, \u003c\/i\u003eDavid Ewalt\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003edescribes the development of Dungeons \u0026amp; 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\u0026amp;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, \u003ci\u003eOf Dice and Men\u003c\/i\u003e sheds light on America's most popular form of collaborative entertainment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDavid M. Ewalt is an award-winning journalist, author and speaker and an authority on the intersection of games and technology. He is the author of the books \u003ci\u003eDefying Reality: The Inside Story of the Virtual Reality Revolution \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eOf Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons \u0026amp; Dragons and The People Who Play It. \u003c\/i\u003eHe previously worked as the Editor in Chief of \u003ci\u003eGizmodo\u003c\/i\u003e and wrote for\u003ci\u003e The Wall Street Journal, Reuters \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eForbes.\u003c\/i\u003e Find out more at DavidMEwalt.com. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eJoe Manganiello holds a BFA in acting from The Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. He won critical and popular praise for his role as werewolf Alcide Herveaux on HBO's hit series \u003ci\u003eTrue Blood\u003c\/i\u003e. Joe has appeared in films such as \u003ci\u003eMagic Mike\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eWhat to Expect When You're Expecting\u003c\/i\u003e, and played Flash Thompson in the Spiderman film series. He went toe-to-toe with his childhood hero and \u003ci\u003eEvolution\u003c\/i\u003e foreword author Arnold Schwarzenegger in David Ayer's film \u003ci\u003eSabotage\u003c\/i\u003e. He can be seen in the highly anticipated \u003ci\u003eMagic Mike XXL\u003c\/i\u003e and starring in Ryan Murphy's \u003ci\u003eScream Queens\u003c\/i\u003e on FOX.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Scribner Book Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50612200440082,"sku":"9781668050101","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_829922ff-c92a-4fa1-accb-a324b1b7774d.jpg?v=1732371106","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/of-dice-and-men-9781668050101","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}