The History of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and the Rise of Japanese RPGs in the West
As a kid in the ’90s, I fought goblins and demons. Raised rebellions, traveled through time, and rode a whale into space. I became the Dragonmaster and the Hero of Light. Didn’t we all?
“Aidan Moher has literally written the book on Japanese role-playing games.” – ComicBook.com
Press start and discover the fascinating history of JRPGs.
The Japanese roleplaying game is a special genre that includes some of the most creative, influential, and beloved video games and series of all time. In Fight, Magic, Items, Aidan Moher guides you through the origin and evolution of the genre, beginning with the two games that started it all: Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. Moher weaves in firsthand interviews and behind-the-scenes tales into a unique and entertaining tribute to a genre and games that inspired an industry and continues to capture the imagination of generations of fans including:
On sale: October 4th, 2022
Length: 320 Pages
Publisher: Running Press
ISBN-13: 9780762479641
Genre: Video Games / Popular Culture / History
Cover Artist: Sara Alfageeh
Informative, personal, and fascinating, this book earns its place among deep dives into video-game history.
Even if you don’t know an Esper from an Esuna, Fight, Magic, Items is a compelling tale of pioneering creatives betting their careers on their imagination.
This book is my life in an alternative history. [It] talks about the kind of experiences that I’ve tried to recapture despite never having most of them originally.
Strong research that’s fun to read, alongside moving anecdotes and nostalgia? Take my money.
Aidan Moher has managed to pull at nearly every nostalgic heartstring … A must read!
A a well researched and well reported dive into the popular emergence of the JRPG genre and would make a welcome addition to any gamer’s bookshelf.
Fight, Magic, Items: The History of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and the Rise of Japanese RPGs in the West is available at your favourite local bookstore and the online stores below:
Aidan Moher (he/him) is a Hugo award-winning writer and editor who has written about almost every niche facet of geek culture you can think of from Terry Brooks to Dungeons & Dragons. And whether he’s penning wildly read essays on Lunar: Silver Star Story, the undeniable lasting power of Chrono Trigger (the best RPG ever made), or the forgotten history of Magic: the Gathering, he manages to infuse deep, personal, endearing hooks into every story he tells. He’s written for outlets like Wired, Kotaku, Electronic Gaming Monthly, Uncanny Magazine, Fanbyte, Tor.com, and more.
Fight, Magic, Items: The History of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and the Rise of Japanese RPGs in the West is published by Running Press.
For business-related queries, please contact Eric Smith of P.S. Literary Agency. For all other queries, you can reach Aidan via his website.
