Where do orcs really come from? In this episode of the Asians Represent! podcast, Daniel and Drew sit down with Dr. Christopher LeCluyse, a professor of literature, media, and writing at Westminster University to discuss his new book, Race & Monstrosity in Dungeons & Dragons.

Chris' work traces how depictions of “monstrous races” in the game are rooted in more than 2,000 years of history and how these influences continue to shape how race functions in the game. From ancient Greek descriptions of headless monsters to J.R.R. Tolkien's hierarchy of fantasy beings, this episode maps a clear picture of how real-world racial stereotypes became embedded in the DNA of fantasy gaming.

In this episode, we cover:

How Tolkien and Gygax "inherited", rather than invented, racial frameworks

The parallel between the drow "evil black matriarchy" trope and the concurrent rise of the "welfare queen" stereotypes in American politics

How race and power are manifested in early AD&D rules

How 5th edition D&D's revised rules represent real progress, and where that work is still incomplete

Alternative design approaches that deconstruct essentialism and gives players narrative agency over their ancestry

Check out Race & Monstrosity in Dungeons & Dragons when it comes out next month - https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/race-and-monstrosity-in-dungeons-dragons/. If your local book store doesn't have it, ask them to order it!

Euphoria by PAVALON