Why read Shared Fantasy?

Book cover of Shared Fantasy: Role-Playing Games as Social Worlds

Book description

This classic study still provides one of the most astute descriptions available of an often misunderstood subculture: that of fantasy role playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. Gary Alan Fine immerses himself in several different gaming systems, offering insightful details on the nature of the games and the patterns of…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Shared Fantasy as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Joseph Laycock

Author

This was the first sociological study of fantasy role-playing games. Fine was able to detect and articulate what is sociologically significant about these games.

The book takes dynamics that role-players just “get” and articulates them as sociological concepts. For example, he uses “frame theory” to explain how players verbally transition from the frame of the game mechanics and the story world of their characters.

He also explains how games like Dungeons and Dragons are “autotelic.” In other words, you do not “win” at and these games, the purpose is “engrossment” or being absorbed into the fantasy world.

Fine also did…

From Joseph's list on the history of fantasy role-playing games.