How did pulp fiction of the 1930s influence D&D? Plot Points takes a hard look at the question by reading "Return of the Sorcerer" by Clark Ashton Smith, and brings along a couple special guests for the journey. Prof. Jason Ray Carney is a fascinating professor of English at Christopher Newport University with an upcoming book, Weird Tales of Modernity. Clinton J. Boomer is a game designer, novelist, and raconteur. They get together with Ben to look at the influence pulp fiction, and one particular story, had on the development of D&D. 

Read "Return of the Sorcerer" here.  

Like Plot Points? Support it on Patreon at the $2 level, and you’ll get a sneak peek into Ben’s book about the sale of TSR to Wizards of the Coast! This chapter concerns TSR West, an effort by TSR to open an LA office devoted to producing comic books, an effort that failed rather impressively. It is the product of a dozen interviews with professionals from comics, gaming, and Hollywood, and as far as I can reckon, it is a tale entirely untold until now.  

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Audio courtesy of 50 Breaks!

Image is in the public domain.