Dungeons and Dragons Art and Arcana: A Visual History (2018)
Written by: Michael Witwer, Kyle Newman, Jon Peterson, and Sam Witwer
Genre: Gaming Nonfiction
Pages: 448 (Hardback)
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Why I Chose It: I have fallen head over heels for Dungeons and Dragons over the past year. This gorgeous book is filled with the history of the game that is making a permenant home in my heart and I couldn’t wait to learn everything.
The premise:
From one of the most iconic game brands in the world, this official DUNGEONS & DRAGONS illustrated history provides an unprecedented look at the visual evolution of the brand, showing its continued influence on the worlds of pop culture and fantasy. Inside the book, you’ll find more than seven hundred pieces of artwork—from each edition of the core role-playing books, supplements, and adventures; as well as Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance novels; decades of Dragon and Dungeon magazines; and classic advertisements and merchandise; plus never-before-seen sketches, large-format canvases, rare photographs, one-of-a-kind drafts, and more from the now-famous designers and artists associated with DUNGEONS & DRAGONS.
The superstar author team gained unparalleled access to the archives of Wizards of the Coast and the personal collections of top collectors, as well as the designers and illustrators who created the distinctive characters, concepts, and visuals that have defined fantasy art and gameplay for generations. This is the most comprehensive collection of D&D imagery ever assembled, making this the ultimate collectible for the game’s millions of fans around the world.
No Spoilers Below
Discussion:
Usually I am not the sort to go for large coffee table style books, but Art and Arcana has forced me to change my tune. With a comprehensive history of the origins behind the tabletop behemoth, Dungeons and Dragons, this book gives a gorgeous look at a company that changed an industry.
I was late into Dungeons and Dragons, not arriving until the 4th edition of the rules and slowly finding my footing over the years. I knew nothing about the company behind the game, where this idea of tabletop gaming had come from, or what version had been before the one I started playing.
Dungeons and Dragons is one of the most popular tabletop roleplaying games today. With millions playing around the world, the game continues to grow in popularity. It’s easy to get caught up in looking just at where DnD has ended up, rather than where it came from. That’s why I really loved Art and Arcana.
What this book does is break down the 30-year history of a company that has found its footing in the digital age despite origins well before computers really took hold. I had no idea of the start of the company as TSR and of the incredible passion and dedication it took to put together just the first printing of such a monumental task.
Highlighting the entire book is an incredible collection of artwork from the entirety of its existence in Dungeons and Dragons. Watching the evolution of the art, of the creatures, and of the worlds created really gives the journey a truly beautiful and compelling read.
In Conclusion: While I generally don’t have coffee table books, Art and Arcana, will have a place in my home. I’ve already had several friends ask to borrow the book and I can’t wait to share the incredible history of a company that has changed my life.
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