Writer and long-time role-player, Ben Riggs, joins me on the podcast today. We discuss Ben’s new book Slaying the Dragon: A Secret History of Dungeons and Dragons. We open the conversation by talking about Ben’s role-playing history. However, we quickly turn to his book about the history of Dungeons and Dragons. Ben fills us in on how DnD was created and how it became a household name in the early 80s. Then trouble creeps into fantasy land as the company switches hands. We move to the mid-90s when once again it seems like Dungeons and Dragons may die. Then the knight in shining armor appears in the form of Wizards of the Coast. The story is a rollercoaster and is sure to fascinate any fan of DnD and role-playing games in general.
Ben Riggs Books and Links
- Slaying the Dragon: A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons Hardcover
- Ben’s Twitter
- Ben’s Official Website
Ben Riggs Bio
BEN RIGGS is a writer, teacher, and podcaster. He traveled the world teaching in his 20s. During his journeys, he tutored a princess, saw both the Sahara and Mt. Fuji at dawn, and discovered his wife and fellow traveler, Tara. He has settled down in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he teaches English and history, and he and Tara have a son, Simon. Ben’s RPG podcast, Plot Points, has been running for the last decade, and his work has appeared on NPR and Geek & Sundry. Slaying the Dragon is his first book.