In the most ancient of days, Gary Gygax, an early co designer of Dungeosn and dragons, created a list of recommended reading that complimented and elucidated the game; it was included in the 1st edition dungeon Masters Guide. Many of the books are obscure or forgotten, but these fine folk have set out to obtain, read and critique each of the books tot he east of their abilities. They have excellent chemistry and engage well across many topics, pointing out the what works and what doesn’t, exploring the histories behind these works and their authors and publishers, and relate it well to more modern takes on classic D

After giving the last three episodes a try, not sure why it is worth the time. As one guest put it, a bunch of books “with nothing to do with D & D”. It seems that I could better spend my time reading books and listening to discussions of content more akin to modern tastes. Why not do a modern take with the same premise? I gave it a whirl. It was just too TOXIC to deal with.

Super fun and informative. Love it.

Great show with an instantly compelling theme. It’s a pleasure to spend an hour or so with hosts who have charm, chemistry, and a love for the subject matter.

If you want to understand the origins of dungeons and dragons game from an analysis from two gents and guests from a PHD level but discussed in accessible terms - this is the best podcast and even better than any blog or video resource on this topic.

This is a great podcast due to excellent guests, consistent interesting takes on pulp literature, a sincere love of the source material, and good chemistry between the hosts. I don't consistently read along, but I find hearing about these books and the ways they have 1)inspired gaming and 2)aged is really fascinating.

I just discoverd this podcast and I am hooked! I had set out to read all of the books in Appendix N of the Dungeon Master's Guide and in doing so, stumbled across this podcast. Now, not only can I read the books, but I can listen to the hosts and guests discuss the books I have read. The best part of the podcast is when the hosts begin to discuss how the book influenced the creation of D&D. This podcast is an excellent combiation of two of my passions: Reading & D&D. So, if you like both, this is the podcast for you.

I took Katherine Shrieves Critical Hits Fantasy class at UMass Lowell and started listening to Jeff and Hoi for an assignment. They are very in-depth in their analysis of the novels they review and connect it with the D&D world. Although I am not too familiar with D&D I really appreciated their thorough and thoughtful analysis of the novels.

I love the hosts and I love the guests! This podcast is a great inspiration for my DCC sessions whether I’m Judging or playing.

I've dallied with the likes of The HP Lovecraft Literary Podcast, A Warning to the Curious, and Jay and Miles X-Plain the X-Men (all of which I recommend), but this is just wonderful. If you are interested in the roots of tabletop RPGs (especially D&D), or even simply interested in the history of mid-20th-century popular culture as reflected through mass market paperbacks and pulp magazines, there's a ton to enjoy. The hosts are great, they do their homework, and the guests are usually great. Really, it's brilliant.

Guys I’m so inspired by this, my DCC game is going to richer because of insights I have gained by listening to this, thank you!

Listening to these knowledgeable hosts is such an enjoyable experience! Insightful, thought-provoking and just plain fun! From the point of view of an old school gamer and lover of a good pulpy yarn, this is one of the best literary review podcasts available.

Great podcast covering some great pulp adventures that helped influence Dungeons & Dragons and some ways to use these stories in your own RPG sessions.

These guys have great insights into the books they are talking about. Lots of fun conversation for gamers and/or any fantasy reader. Wish I was in the East Coast because they seem like great people to hang out with.

If you are new to gaming, an experienced gamer, or just curious about gaming, you will find this podcast both entertaining and useful. It takes an in-depth look at the appendix N material that inspired Gary Gygax in making the world’s most popular role playing game. The hosts tackle the material with an eye on finding its influence on the game and how you can apply it to your own campaign. So, make sure your library card is up to date, and start browsing the used bookstores. Hopefully, you will find time to keep up with the reading.

I have enjoyed every episode. great commentary on the books and the discussion on the influence of the game design and game play is so helpful as a new DM. Highly recommended!

Intelligent, thoughtful discussion on Appendix N. Love it.

I don't know much about D&D but this pod cast is awsome. Really cool to learn about all these book that influenced such a powerful game. I would highly recommend it. And can't wait for the next episode!

This promises to be an excellent ongoing analysis of the literary roots of modern tabletop role-playing games. The hosts are clearly well-informed about the source material and the games themselves.

Interesting topic and such a well rounded perspective. I totally enjoyed listening to the repartee of the hosts. A good introduction to what they are doing and why. I look forward to further talks.

These guys obviously know what they're talking about. I'm looking forward to future episodes!