Book Review: Slaying the Dragon by Ben Riggs

Slaying the Dragon: A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons by Ben Riggs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads program in exchange of an honest review.

TSR just appear to be three letters, but it was the company founded to publish Dungeons & Dragons which launched the role-playing game genre and would impact fantasy throughout pop culture. Slaying the Dragon: A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons by Ben Riggs tells the story of a small company in a little Wisconsin city that changed pop culture.

Riggs account of the company that literally invented a game genre, not only covers the beginnings of the rise of geekdom into the pop culture zeitgeist but also the creative individuals a part of the company that created fascinating new worlds to play in or as time went on to delve into through fantasy novels both augmented by amazing art. In addition to interviewing scores of former employees and executives of TSR, Riggs delved into internal sales numbers, contracts, lawsuits, and other related financial details to full detail the health of the company over its lifetime while relating the information in easily readable prose. Although he tried to get her first-hand account, Riggs had to examine the role of Lorraine Williams—who came in to save the company but ultimately whose decisions resulted in its death a decade later—through the eyes of others each with their agendas and or grievances.

Slaying the Dragon records the history of a company that created and dominated its own industry until it collapsed trying to grow its customer base and broaden its portfolio. Ben Riggs does an excellent job in revealing the individuals that ran, sustained, brought it down, and ultimately though that saved its legacy.

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