Playing at the World, 2E, Volume 1

“Peterson proves an able guide … carefully selecting which individuals and publications to highlight, building toward a taxonomy of role-playing games and their core elements… . A highly readable history of ideas.”
—The Washington Post

“The most striking thing about this readable history is the way in which Peterson brings to life the culture of hobbyist clubs that birthed the roleplaying game… . If you’re interested in the ways in which hobbyist culture can have a lasting impact on the world … Playing at the World is essential.”
—Fortean Times

“[Peterson] is our dungeon master, guiding us through history with the precision of a veteran player who knows every rule and secret of the game… . This book is a critical hit.”
—Stuff Stoners Like

“A very readable and engaging history of the origins of D&D, and the further years of research Peterson has done on this subject clearly shows… . Few [academic histories] are as exciting as this one.”
—Stuart Ellis-Gorman, author of The Medieval Crossbow: A Weapon Fit to Kill a King

“Jon Peterson has dug wider and deeper into the secret history of D&D and unearthed more arcana than anyone out there. Fascinating reading not just to fans of the game but to anyone who wants to understand how a cultural phenomenon can be born in a basement, crawl up into the light, and conquer the world.”
—D. B. Weiss, cocreator of Game of Thrones and 3 Body Problem

“I’m a bit embarrassed thinking of how many times I’ve talked about the history of D&D, thinking I knew the story—I realize how little I knew. Playing at the World applies a higher standard of research than any other work on the history of role-playing games I’ve seen. Check out this awesome book!”
—Peter Adkison, GenCon Chairperson of the Board; Founder and CEO of Wizards of the Coast, 1993–2001

“The most carefully researched, loving, and impeccably documented history of Dungeons & Dragons we are surely ever going to see … a simultaneously immersive and authoritative book our world would be a dimmer place without.”
—Matthew Kirschenbaum, Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland; coeditor of Zones of Control: Perspectives on Wargaming

Jon Peterson is a New York Times-bestselling author and Hugo Award finalist. He is the author of The Elusive Shift and Game Wizards and the coauthor of Dungeons & Dragons- Art & Arcana, Lore & Legends, and Heroes’ Feast- The Official Dungeons & Dragons Cookbook, as well its sequel Flavors of the Multiverse.

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