Role-playing game historian Ben Riggs unveils the secret history of Tsr- the company that unleashed imaginations with Dungeons Dragons, was driven into ruin by disastrous management decisions, and then saved by their bitterest rival. "Ben Riggs manages to walk the fine line between historical accuracy and fun about as well as anyone and Slaying The Dragon is equal parts historical accuracy and entertainment. It was an essential read for me while directing and producing the Official D D documentary but I'd recommend it to anyone regardless of the subject material. It's a wild and fun ride through the turbulent history of one the most influential brands in our lifetime." - Joe Manganiello Co-created by war game enthusiasts Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, the original Dungeons Dragons role-playing game released by Tsr Tactical Studies Rules in 1974 created a radical new medium- the role-playing game. For the next two decades, Tsr rocketed to success, producing multiple editions of D D, numerous settings for the game, magazines, video games, New York Times bestselling novels by Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman, and R. A. Salvatore, and even a Tv show But by 1997, a series of ruinous choices and failed projects brought Tsr to the edge of doom-only to be saved by their fiercest competitor, Wizards of the Coast, the company behind the collectible card game Magic.