Tag Archives: Mini-Reviews

RPGs

Mini-Review Sammi-Zowa Versus the Dueling Dragons

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by Ernest Gary Gygax Jr., Nerissa Monte, Simon Todd – illustrator

While geared as a children’s book, adults – especially gamers will enjoy the story. A short 77 pages with larger well-spaced text and plenty of illustrations make this a quick read.

The children of Gary Gygax have shared how much of a story teller he was, and he got that from his own father.

Ernie carries on the tradition with a story originally developed for his own grandchildren.

There is a co-writer, Nerissa Montie, not knowing her style or exact role, I am not sure of her hand in this.

The illustrations by Simon Todd are excellent and really help set the mood.

With a Japanese based setting, magic, and dragons it is a fun and interesting adventure.

While perhaps too long for toddler and pre-K, it is a good bedtime story, 
or an anytime story,  for ages 5 and up.

It makes for a good scenario for an introductory adventure to introduce children to RPG’s.

With a little tweaking, it is an interesting scenario for adults too.

RPGs

Mini Reviews vs. Reviews

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When I do a review, I indicate on my post if it is a mini-review, meaning I skimmed the material and highlighted what jumped out at me. When it just says review, it means I read the whole thing and took lots of notes.

I have a long list of things I have on my personal review list – all the Kickstarters I have backed. I also have a few things in the pipeline that include D&D 5e modules and resources.

A few month ago, I added a page on my review policy since I am being approached by more and more people to do reviews. Please see that link if you are interested in having me review your RPG product.

RPGs

Empire of Imagination – Mini Review

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I finally made the time this week and read Michael Witwer’s book, Empire of Imagination, a biography of Gary Gygax. You can read about his research [here or here] on the sanitorium that was not in the original hardback, but is detailed in the paperback.

I’m a fast reader and I made it through in two evenings. It is well written and flows

The narrative style makes it a non-traditional biography, but does help take the reader into the story of Gay Gygax’s life before and after D&D. There are lots of footnotes, photographs, and a bibliography of Gygax’s works.

For a quick and entertaining overview of Gary’s involvement with D&D and TSR, this book does the job. It reads like one wrote down all the stories from Gary’s life. The care and detail in research shines through.

Some of the jumps in the presentation from one chapter to the next seemed abrupt and not well explained. However, as I think about it, that is often how our own lives are when we realize that we have entered a new chapter. Even though we were there for he whole thing, we can still wonder, “How did I get here?”

I enjoyed the style, and like good things found myself wanting more. Now I know why this book took off when it came out. If you haven’t read it, I suggest adding it to your reading list. It is also available in audio book, if you prefer that sort of thing.