NEWS & EVENTS
August 4, 2017: Publishers Weekly - Book Deals: Week of August 7, 2017
Ten Speed’s Emily Timberlake took world rights to Dungeons & Dragons: A Visual History. Agent Jacques de Spoelberch at JdeS Associates, who brokered the agreement, said the book is the first to explore the 40-plus-year history of the fantasy game. It will offer “a visual archive of one of the most iconic and pervasive gaming franchises in the world,” de Spoelberch explained. The authors, who are consulting with D&D creator Wizards of the Coast, include biographer Michael Witwer, filmmaker Kyle Newman, games historian Jon Peterson, and actor Sam Witwer. The book is due in fall 2018. (read article here)
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July 25, 2017: Gen Con - Gen Con 50 Retrospective Panels & Featured Presenter
As part of the Gen Con 50 celebration, there will be over a dozen curated panels covering the history of Gen Con! Michael Witwer will moderate a panel on the open game license and d20 system. Come hear d20 architect, Ryan Dancey, discuss d20 with d20 publishers, Eric Mona, Monte Cook, John Nephew, and John Zinser. (read the panel descriptions here)
June 28, 2017: Fictional Frontiers - Episode 415 With Michael Witwer
Fictional Frontiers is a half-hour journey through the comic/novel, film, and television universes. Chatting with industry leaders, host Sohaib Awan (a voting member of the Broadcast Television Journalists Association) delves into the nuances and backstories of today’s seminal projects in pop culture entertainment. (listen to the podcast here)
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June 19, 2017: New Books Network - Michael Witwer - Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons
Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons and Dragons (Bloomsbury, 2015) by Michael Witwer is an exceptional biography of the co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons, E. Gary Gygax. Witwer presents an honest, meticulously researched historical account of his subject’s life, while at the same time offering a compelling narrative for his readers. (listen to the podcast here)
May 25, 2017: Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog - 6 Non-Authors Who Helped Make SFF What It Is Today
Whether or not you have ever personally rolled a saving throw to see if the poison needle in that mysterious chest will kill you or not, role-playing games (RPGs) have shaped the imaginations of generations of writers. (read complete blog here)
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May 19, 2017: The Old Man Club - D&D Fans Check Out Our Interview With Michael Witwer, Author Of Empire of Imagination
As a longtime gamer, I thought I knew that history pretty well. When I sat down with Michael Witwer’s Empire of Imagination, I honestly didn’t expect to read much I didn’t already know. To my great joy, however, I was very wrong. (read complete interview here)
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May 11, 2017: Rolling Stone - Dungeons & Dragons: New Graphic Novel Exposes Heart of Geek Game Culture
Kushner and Shadmi's book isn't the only biography of Gygax to emerge in recent years, either: Michael Witwer’s Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons was published in 2015. One could argue that the existence of multiple books focusing on Gygax’s life and the shifting fortunes of his creation are yet another sign of the depth to which Dungeons & Dragons has become embedded in pop culture. (read complete article here)
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April 27, 2017: Anchorage Press - A Pilgrim’s Tale: Chasing Down the Roots of D&D
Over a year ago, I came across Michael Witwer’s “Empire of Imagination,” a brief, engaging biography of Gygax. While I hadn’t played D&D in over 20 years since graduating from high school, I remembered his name on those old tomes and realized I knew nothing about him. His turned out to be an engaging and quintessentially American rags-to-riches success story whether you care about the game or not. (read complete article here)
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March 20, 2017: Dead Games Society - Michael Witwer, Let's Talk - DGS Episode #41
With Garycon IX just days away, who better to have on the show then Michael Witwer, author of the new Gary Gygax biography, Empire of Imagination! I sit down with Michael for a special one on one interview and discuss what went into making what has turned out to be a singularly extraordinary history on the father of Dungeons and Dragons. (listen to the podcast here)
March 9, 2017: Outright Geekery - Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons and Dragons – Review and Interview
Michael Witwer has put a tremendous effort in creating this book, one can only imagine the countless hours of research that have gone into this. . . If you are an avid player or merely a beginner, I must say do pick up this book. You will not be disappointed. It will enrich your game play that much more when you know the history behind it. (read complete Fabienne Payet review here or check out her interview with Michael Witwer here)
January 17, 2017: The Oakland Press - ‘Empires of Imagination,’ Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Dystopic Car Chases
If you are a fan of role-playing games, and curious about how they came to be, I would certainly point you to this book. (read complete review here)
November 1, 2016: The Federal Office for Magical Creatures - Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons
The life story of Gary Gygax, godfather of all fantasy adventure games, has been told only in bits and pieces. Michael Witwer has written a dynamic, dramatized biography of Gygax from his childhood in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin to his untimely death in 2008. (see coverage here)
October 28, 2016: Now Very Bad - Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons
Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons is a fantastic biography of Dungeons & Dragons creator Gary Gygax. Written by author Michael Witwer as part of a masters’ thesis it nevertheless does not read at all like an academic work. (read Michael Ford Feeney's complete review here)
October 21, 2016: The Mad Cleric - Learning from Gary Gygax
I’ve been on a real history/biography kick lately, thanks to the Broadway musical, Hamilton (man, you’re really getting a grasp of how geeky I am today). I finished off 1776 by David McCullough a couple of weeks ago and then in only two weeks’ time (really rare for me), I finished an amazing biography of Gary Gygax by Michael Witwer, called Empire of Imagination. (read Jason Wood's complete reviews here and here)
October 19, 2016: Signalfire Studios - Close to Home … An Autobiographical Review of Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons
There is no such thing as an unbiased review, but in this instance my prejudices go beyond the norm. I love Michael Witwer’s biography of the late Gary Gygax, but I’m also connected to the material far more than the average reader—perhaps even more than my fellow D&D nerds or even my peers in the hobby games industry (read Jamie Chambers' complete review here)
September 26, 2016: Dungeons & Dragons and 80’s Satanic Panic - Michael Speaks at the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library for Banned Books Week
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Join us and day sponsors Gen Con for a trip back to the ’80’s as we explore with author and historian Michael Witwer the controversy caused by legendary tabletop game Dungeons and Dragons. Books aren’t the only things that face scrutiny and often censorship; stop by and learn about Dungeons and Dragons and its history. (see webpage here)
August 1, 2016: WASD20 - Three Great Books About D&D
In this episode Nate Vanderzee shares his thoughts on David Ewalt's Of Dice and Men, Michael Witwer's Empire of Imagination, and Jon Peterson's Playing at the World. (watch the video here)
July 18, 2016: Carabas - August 2016 Book Highlights
Here’s our round-up of fantastic and fantastical reading for August. We take in adult SFF and other Fiction, creative and socially minded Non-Fiction, Children’s and YA and Graphic Novels. Whether you’re a general or genre reader or a bookshop looking to make sure your customers aren’t missing out we try to balance an inclusion of the biggest titles with slipstream / crossover hits and those hidden gems for all concerned. (see the Carabas book picks, which include Empire of Imagination, here)
June 12 - July 5, 2016: 'Matt Chat' Episodes 344 - 347 - Michael Witwer on Gary Gygax and the Origins of D&D
Mike Witwer wrote Empire of Imagination, an awesome biography of Gary Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragon. Enjoy behind-the-scenes stories of the creation of the book as well as some unique insights into the man and the game he helped create. Watch the episodes: 344, 345, 346, and 347
June 6, 2016: TechnoRetro Dads - Eponymous Space Camp and Plot-Literal Soundtracks
JediShua and shazbazzar welcome back SuperFriend Michael Witwer to explore some of the most glaring examples of plot-literal theme songs as performed by bands like Huey Lewis and the News,Queen, Cheap Trick, and Survivor. Why don’t we still hear these today? (listen to the podcast here)
May 13, 2016: Rebel Force Radio - Jimmy Mac and Michael Witwer
Jimmy Mac has an exclusive report from the Save The Lucas Museum rally in Chicago. (listen to the podcast here)
May 6, 2016: TheForce.net - Campaign To Save The Lucas Museum
Up until recently, it looked likely that the Lucas Museum would be built in Chicago, but with the threat of a lawsuit from an organisation called Friends of the Parks, things are now in the balance. Efforts to keep the Museum in Chicago have involved a downtown rally and our friend Jimmy McInerney and Michael Witwer appearing on WGN Radio to get the word out. (see theforce.net pointer piece here)
May 4, 2016: WGN Radio - Jimmy Mac and Michael Witwer: A rally for the Lucas Museum
Bill and Wendy are joined by Jimmy Mac, host ofRebel Force Radio podcast, and writer and author Michael Witwer. They talk about the rally for the Lucas museum happening today. (listen to the interview here)
April 9, 2016: RetroZap - Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons
Mike Witwer, the Last Gen-Xer, recounts the birth of modern gaming in his biography of Dungeons & Dragons creator Gary Gygax. (see Shazbazzar's complete review here)
March 9, 2016: Geek Watch One - Issue 43: Empire of D&D Podcast
We’re joined this week by author Michael Witwer to talk about his book Empire of Imagination covering the life of Gary Gygax, creator of Dungeons & Dragons. (listen to podcast here)
March 8, 2016: Advanced Designers & Dragons - A Look at Empire of Imagination
Empire of Imagination touches upon Gygax's personal life in a way that none of the previous history books have. This shows up in part in the first two sections, which reveal considerable information about Gygax's life before D&D It's the most comprehensive look at Gygax's early life that I know of. (see Shannon Appelcline's complete review here)
March 5, 2016: Under Siege - Weekend R&R: Empire of Imagination
Much of what I read I have known for years but seldom have I read the account told in such an engaging way. (see complete review here)
March 2, 2016: Michael J. Tresca Patreon - Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons
Despite the focus on Gygax, Witwer's book makes it clear that D&D was truly a group effort. Gygax was to role-playing games what Stan Lee is to comic books: an elder statesman who is part-spokesman/part-raconteur for the hobby he loves so dearly. It's a fitting tribute to a complicated legacy. (see Michael Tresca's complete review here)
February 29, 2016: ICv2 - Rolling for Initiative - 'Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons'
With Gary Con, the annual convention in Lake Geneva Wisconsin that honors the memory of E. Gary Gygax and serves as a reunion for many of the employees of TSR during the 1970s and 1980s, taking place this coming weekend, I finally pulled my copy of Michael Witwer's Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragonsfrom the stack, and regretted not having done so earlier as Empire of Imaginationproved a fascinating read, completed in a single sitting. (see complete review here)
February 8, 2016: The Christian Science Monitor - 'Empire of Imagination' is the first full biography of 'Dungeons & Dragons' creator Gary Gygax
The ironic reality is that Gary Gygax was, in many ways, the embodiment of American virtue, despite his professedly unintentional foray into fantasy gaming. (see complete article here)
February 8, 2016: The UConn Daily Campus - Dungeons and Dragons takes it up a notch with website advances
“In a weird sort of way, the game has become cool, in a geeky sort of way,” said Michael Witwer, author of the Gary Gygax biography and history of the game, “Empire of Imagination,” in a November interview. “If geeky just means being unashamedly enthusiastic about things, which it is, then its cool to be geeky,” he said. (see complete article here)
February 3, 2016: Platypus Gaming - Book Review: Empire of Imagination
Unless you know absolutely nothing regarding tabletop games or Dungeons & Dragons, it would be news to you that Gary Gygax was the man responsible. Empire of Imagination is the tale of how a very smart and smart alecky kid, grew up to be the “father of role-playing games.”The book is very well written, well researched, and hard to put down. (see complete review here)
February 1, 2016: Expertise Dice - The Empire of Imagination (Review)
If you have a love for RPGs and would like to know their creator better, I recommend the book whole-heartedly. (see complete review here)
January 27, 2016: Night Horse Publishing - Empire of Imagination Review
I've loved Dungeons and Dragons and role playing games for thirty years now and reading the book was a necessary treat. (see complete review here)
January 21, 2016: SFGate - Literary Guide
Michael Witwer, Chris Taylor “Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons” and “How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise.” 7 p.m. Books Inc., 1491 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 525-7777. www.booksinc.net. (see page here)
December 31, 2015: Alive at Five - KYNT AM 1450 Interview with Michael Witwer
Alive at Five host David Leonard interviews Michael Witwer author of: Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons who discusses the life of the creator of one of the most influential role-playing games ever. (listen to the interview here)
December 24, 2015: The Chauncey DeVega Show - A Conversation with Michael Witwer about Gary Gygax and the History of the Role-playing Game Known as "Dungeons and Dragons"
In this wonderful conversation Michael Witwer and Chauncey talk about the history of pen and paper and dice role-playing games in the United States, the history of Dungeons and Dragons, share some great stories about its primary inventor Gary Gygax, laugh about how the U.S. military infiltrated Gygax's role-playing group, and explore the legacy of Dungeons and Dragons as one of the great influences on a whole generation of Hollywood filmmakers, video game creators, and authors. (read the summary and listen to the podcast here)
December 8, 2015: Talks at Google - Michael Witwer: “Empire of Imagination”
Michael Witwer visited Google’s office in Kirkland, WA on November 17, 2015 to discuss his book “Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons”. (watch the talk here)
December 4, 2015: NewsTalk - Michael Witwer on the Moncrieff Show
Michael Witwer discusses his new book “Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons” on this national Irish broadcast. (listen to the interview in this segment)
November 23, 2015: TechnoRetro Dads Podcast - Empire of Imagination 2
It’s nearly Thanksgiving, and the last Gen-Xer is…back! SuperFriend and author Michael Witwer joins shazbazzar and JediShua to discuss his recent release, Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons. (listen to podcast here)
November 20, 2015: Slate - What Happened at Slate This Week?
If you’ve read some of my past writing, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I’m an unapologetic nerd. As I mentioned in an article a few weeks ago, I played Dungeons and Dragons as a kid (and I still do), so I loved Michael Witwer's article on the influence of Gary Gygax, the game’s creator. Adapted from Witwer’s well-researchedbiography of Gygax, it proposes that D&D shaped more than the ways we play, informing the very structure of modern life. (see complete article here)
November 18, 2015: Willamette Weekly - Geeked Up - Gary Gygax and the Rise of Dungeons & Dragons
In Empire of Imagination, Michael Witwer chronicles the tumultuous life of Gary Gygax, whose tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragonsinspired nationwide moral panic and paved the way for the transformation of nerdery from an obscure backwater to a major tributary of the mainstream. (see complete article here)
November 16, 2015: Slate - The Gygax Effect
Dungeons & Dragons changed the world, but in ways far more abstract than video games and computer technologies. Although it is debatable whether D&D ever became a thoroughly mainstream activity, as a 1983 New York Times article had speculated, referring to it as “the great game of the 1980s,” D&D and its role-playing game derivatives are beloved by a relatively small but dedicated group of individuals, affectionately (and proudly) known as geeks. (see Michael Witwer article here)
November 15, 2015: Fat Goblin Games - Classics November Returns!- Empire of Imagination
All in all, Empires of Imagination is, so far, the most complete portrayal of Gary Gygax the man done to date. I find Gary’s life to be most interesting when it’s wrapped up with the struggles of TSR and would like to see further research into the 1974-1985 time period. (see complete review here)
November 12, 2015: National Review / Ricochet - The Bookmonger with John J. Miller: Ep. 52: The Birth of Dungeons & Dragons
On the pop-culture Richter scale, Gary Gygax deserves a place alongside Walt Disney and Steve Jobs, says Michael Witwer, author of Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons and Dragons. In other words, Gygax was a 12th-level genius. (see article and listen to the interview here)
November 12, 2015: Natural 20 - Empire of Imagination - A Review
If you’re remotely interested about the history of D&D, Gary Gygax or the hobby of roleplaying, this is a great read. (see complete review here)
October 29, 2015: Boing Boing - New biography of Dungeons and Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax
Michael Witwer's Empire of Imagination is a new biography of Dungeons and Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax that not only tells the tale of this marvelous wizard but also explores the profound impact D&D had on popular culture, gaming, and geek culture. NPR spoke with Witwer for All Things Considered. (see complete article here)
October 28, 2015: Geeks and Geeklets - Novels for Nerds Presents: Empire of Imagination Review
If you are interested in the back story of the game, of the foundation of a hobby so many of us share, pick this book up. Witwer’s dedication to telling the truth, even when it paints the “Patron Saint of RPGs” in a less-than-spectacular light makes the book amazingly entertaining and informative. I tore through this one in less than a day. (see complete review here)
October 27, 2015: NPR All Things Considered - After 40 Years, Dungeons & Dragons Still Brings Players To The Table
If you play today's massively multiplayer online role-playing games — World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy, for example — you have a 1970s tabletop game to thank, says author Michael Witwer. (see article and listen to Michael's NPR interview with Ari Shapiro here)
October 26, 2015: Boston Globe - Celebrated authors gather at Boston Book Festival
Michael Witwer (left) and Chris Taylor took part in a “Star Wars” panel discussion Saturday at the Boston Book Festival. (see complete Boston Globe article here)
October 23, 2015: Blastr - The Geekender, October 23-25: Gary Gygax bio, The Final Girls, Back In Time, and more!
I have been sitting on the book Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons by Michael Witwer for a little time now because I wanted a slowed-down weekend to take it in. But I have finally cracked it open, and the first few pages reveal an incredibly fascinating story about the D&D creator’s life. (see complete Blastr article here)
October 23, 2015: Biographile - Riddikulus! How Harry Potter Banished My Fear of the Blank Page
"Inspiration,” in a classical sense, is a luxury not usually afforded business writers, so putting together quality content is an exercise in focus, discipline, and perseverance – a grind, in other words. This had been my experience, anyway, after several years in marketing and proposal development, where writing fell neatly into the category of “work.” (see complete Michael Witwer article here)
October 23, 2015: Boston.com - Attention, book lovers: Here are 10 can’t-miss Boston Book Festival sessions
“Star Wars and D&D Flights of Fancy or Serious Business?”: Indulge your inner fantasy nerd at this event that features Michael Witwer, author of Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons, and Chris Taylor, author of How Star Wars Conquered the Universe. (see complete article here)
October 19, 2015: Journal & Topics Online - Book Launch Digs Into Story Behind Godfather Of Gaming
In 1974, a game was published that changed the course of history, exploding in popularity and opening up a whole litany of fantasy genres still expanding in the world today. It became the best-selling role-playing game of all time, boasting an elite class of followers. (see complete article here)
October 16, 2015: GeekDad - ‘Empire of Imagination’ – The Gary Gygax Biography
Witwer has just released Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons, and it successfully tackles the monumental job of following Gary from birth (July 27, 1938) to his taken-from-us-too-soon death (March 4, 2008) and beyond, examining his influence on geek culture and even non-geek culture. (see complete review here)
October 14, 2015: Barnes & Noble - 7 Books That Explore the History Of Science Fiction and Fantasy
Science Fiction has a long and varied history, but along with the fantastic adventures, the stories of the people who create the stories in the first place are also worth exploring.
Here are seven fascinating books that examine SF/F history. (see complete article here)
October 7, 2015: Biographile - The Odd and Expert Mind of D&D Creator Gary Gygax
Michael Witwer’s new book Empire of Imagination follows the turbulent life of Dungeons & Dragons creator Gary Gygax. It’s a fascinating life, covered comprehensively by Witwer, who shows how Gygax turned his participation in a small gaming community in the 1960s into something that would have a seismic effect on contemporary popular culture. (see complete article here)
October 7, 2015: Barnes & Noble - Wargames and Peace
Gygax’s brief foray into the Marines was either the root or a symptom of a lifelong obsession with wargaming. As Witwer has it, Gygax was motivated by the concept that “every man wants to be the hero of his own life.” (see complete article and review here)
October 6, 2015: Legion of Leia - Michael Witwer On ‘Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons and Dragons’
I recently got a chance to speak with Michael Witwer, author of Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons at the Chicago Wizard World Comic-Con. He gave us some info on the book, gaming, zombies and all sorts of other nerdy stuff. His book takes a look at the life of Gary Gygax, creator of Dungeons & Dragons and how he helped the gaming world grow through the early days. (see complete article here)
October 5, 2015: Inverse - How Dungeon and Dragons Creator Gary Gygax's Leveled-Up the Real World
Gary Gygax has touched your life, even if you don’t know who he is or you’ve never rolled a saving throw. Gygax created that role-playing game to rule them all, Dungeons and Dragons. Author Michael Witwer, whose biography on Gygax, “The Empire of Imagination“ hits shelves Tuesday, sees the legendary game designer’s influence not only in those dungeons and Game of Thrones dragons in our popular culture. (see complete article here)
October 5, 2015: Gamer Nation - What Defines a Legend: A Review of “Empire of Imagination” by Michael Witwer
As I returned home Monday, I was pleased as punch to find a package on my doorstep. Less than 24 hours later, I find myself inspired, motivated and overwhelmed at what a single man with drive and vision can accomplish. Empire of Imagination by Michael Witwer is the story of Gary Gygax and the birth of Dungeons & Dragons, but it is so much more than that. (see complete review here)
October 3, 2015: Wired Article / Geek's Guide to the Galaxy Podcast - The Media Still Owes Dungeons & Dragons an Apology
David Barr Kirtley hosts a podcast about Dungeons & Dragons with special guests David Ewalt, author Of Dice and Men, and Michael Witwer, author of Empire of Imagination. (see Wired article and download the podcast here)
October 2, 2015: Tech Times - Read How D&D Creator Made An Empire of Imagination In New Biography
For the first time ever, writer Michael Witwer, presents the biography of the so-called godfather of fantasy adventure games, in a dramatized novel based on Gygax's real life. The book, Empire of Imagination, will be released on Oct. 6, 2015 and will be published by Bloomsbury USA. (see Tech Times article here)
October 1, 2015: Empire of Imagination Named an Amazon Best Book of the Month!
Empire of Imagination has been named one of Amazon's Best Books of the Month! (see link here)
September 30, 2015: io9 - Read an Excerpt from the Biography of D&D Creator Gary Gygax, Empire of Imagination
He wasn’t a fighter, a thief, or even a wizard, but Gary Gygax was still a hero of nerd culture. As the creator of Dungeons & Dragons and the father of virtually all role-playing games, he had a defining influence on fantasy and entertainment, and his life has been chronicled in a new biography titledEmpire of Imagination. (see the full io9 article here)
September 29, 2015: That DnD Podcast - Special Episode! Interview with Michael Witwer
Michael Witwer wrote a book chronicling the life of the king of all nerds. We convinced him (with sufficiently high diplomacy checks) to come on the show and answer some questions with us. (download the podcast here)
September 26, 2015: Bookgasm Review - Empire of Imagination
You don’t need to roll a d20 to find out whether you should buy this book. If you even know what I meant when I wrote “d20,” the answer is yes. (see the full Bookgasm review here)
September 20, 2015: Farsight Blogger / RPG.net Review - Empire of Imagination
The 320-page hardback book, with a lavish Jeff Easley front cover that emulates the AD&D manual 'Unearthed Arcana', landed on my desk on Thursday. By Friday I had cleared my reading schedule to sit down and read. By Sunday morning I had finished the book. Gary Gygax went on a long, treacherous and challenging journey in both his personal and business life and, after reading Michael Witwer's book, I feel as though I've been on a part of that journey, too. (see the full RPG.net article here or the Farsight Blogger Article here)
August 10, 2015: Publishers Weekly Nonfiction Book Review - Empire of Imagination
In this entertaining biography, Witwer follows the life and accomplishments of Gary Gygax, called here the “King of the Nerds” for his creation of the long-enduring Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) role-playing game...a fascinating examination of the birth and growing pains of the gaming industry and of Gygax’s lasting influence on pop culture. (see the full Publishers Weekly Review here)
August 6, 2015: Booklist Review - Empire of Imagination
In the world of gaming, Gary Gygax (1938–2008) is a legend—and for good reason...For fans of role-playing games, and D&D specifically, the book is required reading. (see the full Booklist Review here)
June 27, 2015: The Twenty Sided Biography! A Two-Gun Pixie Book Review
An amazing cover by famed fantasy artist and D&D alum Jeff Easley does a perfect job setting the tone of the book. In this case one most certainly can judge a book by its cove​​r.​​​​ (see the full Two-Gun Pixie Review here)
Publisher's Weekly Fall 2015 Adult Announcements: Anticipating the Stars of Fall
For PW's fall roundup this year, our editors have considered thousands of books being published between Aug. 1, 2015, and Jan. 31, 2016, and selected the best of the best. The listings are divided into 16 major categories, each with 50 titles that we predict will garner serious attention, along with our top 10 picks. (Empire of Imagination appears in the Memoirs & Biographies section - see the full Publisher's Weekly Article here)
June 25, 2015: Greyhawk Grognard Review - Empire of Imagination
Witwer's style is light and easy to read. I found his accounts of events compelling, and actively looked forward to picking the book up again each time. (see the full Greyhawk Grognard Review here)
June 15, 2015: Library Journal Review - Empire of Imagination
A business-proposal writer by day, Witwer's first book is a nimble, greatly dramatized biography of Gary Gygax (1938–2008) who created the legendary fantasy roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) in 1974. (see the full Library Journal Review here)
May 26, 2015: Kirkus Review - Empire of Imagination
A gaming enthusiast pays homage to Gary Gygax (1938-2008), the creator of the swords-and-sorcery role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. (see the full Kirkus Review here)
May 13, 2015: Dungeon Master Magazine: Interview with Michael Witwer, Author of Empire of Imagination
Michael Witwer has announced an upcoming biography (due in October) of the late Gary Gygax, co creator of Dungeons & Dragons, creator of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, co founder of TSR Inc and much more: Empire of Imagination. Such news have been met with much interest from gamers and collectors. (see the full Dungeon Master Magazine Article here)
April 21, 2015: The RPGnet Interview: Michael Witwer, Empire of Imagination
A talk with the author of an upcoming Gary Gygax biography. (see the full RPG.net Article here) - Also available from Jedi News here
April 11, 2015: Farsight Blogger Interview - Michael Witwer
It is my great pleasure to welcome to Farsight Blogger Michael Witwer, author of the upcoming Gary Gygax biography 'Empire of Imagination', due out on October 6th 2015. (see the full Farsight Blogger Article here)
April 9, 2015: Legion of Lea - Michael Witwer on His Gary Gygax Biography
Having played Dungeons & Dragons for years, I was thrilled to hear that a new book about (and the only biography of) its creator Gary Gygax is on the way. Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons was written by Michael Witwer and will drop on October 6. (see the full Legion of Lea Article here)
April 7, 2015: Dungeon Master Magazine - A Biography of Gary Gygax Announced for October
After a long wait it seems that a biography [of the] father of Dungeons & Dragons along [with] David Arneson and creator of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons will be out on October, 2015. Released by Bloomsbury in the United States (no word at the moment about possible British editions of foreign language translations) and written by Michael Witwer. (see the full Dungeon Master Magazine Article here)
April 6, 2015: Role-Playing with the Last Gen-Xer TechnoRetro Dads Podcast
The Dads sit down with SuperFriend Michael Witwer to talk about his upcoming book, Empire of Imagination, a chronicle of the life of Gary Gygax as the man who would revolutionize gaming through his creation, Dungeons and Dragons. Discover the events and influences in this “emperor” of imagination’s life as Michael unearths the history of the game as well as the man who made it. (download the TechnoRetro Dads podcast here)
March 28, 2015: Empire of Imagination - Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons
I've just been made aware of an upcoming book, Empire of Imagination, all about one of the father's of Dungeons and Dragons, Gary Gygax . . . It's due out October of this year, so make sure it's on your to-buy list. (see the full Farsight Blogger Article here)
Publisher's Weekly Book Deals: Week of August 4, 2014
Bloomsbury’s Rob Galloway, in his first acquisition, picked up world rights to Michael Witwer’s Empire of Imagination: The Legend of Gary Gygax, a biography of the co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons. (see the full Publisher's Weekly Article here)