Re: an event for Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks

egilsdorf — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:40:30 GMT

oh too bad -- but please do come to another event in the Boston area. or swing by booth #221. send me your email address so i can add you to my mailing list, if you like....

Re: an event for Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks

tehana — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:34:18 GMT

I won't get a chance to fit this into my schedule but it looks intersting and I'll probably catch one of your events up on the North Shore or NH :)

Looks like good stuff, nice to see another New Englader headed down as well.

an event for Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks

egilsdorf — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:51:23 GMT

Hi --

I'm a late addtion to the Gen Con program, but wanted to introduce myself. I'm a Boston-based gamer and writer for the New York Times and Boston Globe with a new book that's coming out September 1 from Globe Pequot/The Lyons Press. Called "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms," the narrative non-fiction book is (what I hope is) a humorous, lively, and provocative blend of travelogue, pop culture analysis, and memoir.

And I'm kicking off my nationwide book tour at Gen Con.

At Gen Con, I'll be at the Troll Lord Games booth (# 221) meeting folks and selling and signing books. I'll also be giving two readings followed by two booksignings immediately following:

Reading schedule:
Friday 8/14, 3-4pm, location: Marriott Phoenix
& Sat 8/15 4-5pm, location: Marriott Phoenix

Book Signing schedule:
Friday 8/14, 4-5pm, location: Author’s Avenue
& Saturday 8/15, 5-6pm, location: Author’s Avenue

"Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks" plumbs, explains and celebrates fantasy and gaming subcultures like Lord of the Rings, World of Warcraft, Harry Potter, the Society for Creative Anachronism, LARPS, and D&D.On a quest that begins in my own geeky teenage past and ends in our online gaming future, I ask gaming and fantasy geeks how they balance their so-called "escapist" urges with the kingdom of adulthood, crisscrossing America, the world, and other worlds—from Boston to Wisconsin, New Zealand to France, and Planet Earth to the realm of Aggramar. I also spend time in the book debunking popular stereotypes about gamers and geeks.

Here's what some folks have to say:

"a breathless adventure/quest/memoir " –Andrei Codrescu, NPR commentator and author ofThe Posthuman Dada Guide

"Witty, downright funny, poignant, honest and ... well, wistful....Reading Ethan Gilsdorf's tale conjured my own Dungeons & Dragons and fantasy experiences, vividly, right down to finding some of my old character sheets in a 3-ring binder a decade and more after I had stopped using them." –R.A. Salvatore, New York Times bestselling author of forty novels, including The Dark Elf Trilogy, Paths of Darkness, The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, and The Cleric Quintet and lead storyteller, 38 Studios game company

"A fun, quirky and fresh perspective for those wanting to know more about the amazing world of gaming." –David Brin, winner of the Nebula, Hugo, and Locus Awards, and author of The Postman, Kiln People and The Transparent Society

"An orcs-and-all journey through geekdom, told with affection for every elf, wizard and Dungeon Master it meets along the way. —Melissa Anelli, author of Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon  

"This is a delightful book—more fun than being a Dungeon Master to a group of high-level mages and thieves." —A.J. Jacobs, New York Times bestselling author of The Know-It-All and The Year of Living Biblically

"Gilsdorf takes a Kerouac meets Cliffs Notes approach and gives us On the Road for the Star Wars generation."–Juan Carlos and Victor Piñeiro Escoriaza, creators of the award-winning documentary Second Skin

If you drop by booth #221 you can get info to register for The Great Geek Giveaway --- a trove of cool prizes and merchandise, including the new Dungeon Master's Guide 2 (http://tiny.cc/p7u7K ), a set of original paperbacks in TSR's "Endless Quest" (Choose Your Own Adventure) book series, a DVD of the gamer documentary "Second Skin" (http://www.secondskinfilm.com/) now hitting theaters, music from Harry and the Potters (http://harryandthepotters.com/), a signed copy of my book, and other goodies.

You can read more about my book "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks" here: http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.com/

Drop by Troll Lord Games booth # 221 and let's chat. I look forward to meeting you!

Ethan Gilsdorf

Ethan Gilsdorf
ethan@ethangilsdorf.com
http://www.ethangilsdorf.com
http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.com
617-718-7007

My book "FANTASY FREAKS AND GAMING GEEKS: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms" will be published September 1, 2009, by The Lyons Press/Globe Pequot Press.

* NEW INTRODUCTORY VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0knQcSAaws

* Join the Facebook Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks Fan page! http://www.facebook.com/fantasyfreaksbook

* Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ethanfreak *

* All-new website here: http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.com/ *

Event Info - 09

Re: an event for Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks

Re: an event for Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks

an event for Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks