Logo for Fight, Magic, Items: The History of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and the Rise of Japanese RPGs in the West. Includes a stylized rendition of the title words.

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

About The Book

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:

  • Chrono Trigger,
  • Phantasy Star,
  • Earthbound,
  • Pokémon,
  • Kingdom Hearts,
  • NieR,
  • Fire Emblem,
  • Persona,
  • Tales of…,
  • Suikoden,
  • Lunar,
  • and more.

Read an exclusive preview on io9

Details

On sale: October 4th, 2022
Length: 320 Pages
Publisher: Running Press
ISBN-13: 9780762479641
Genre: Video Games / Popular Culture / History
Cover Artist: Sara Alfageeh

What They’re Saying

Fight, Magic, Items belongs on any bookshelf dedicated to the history of video games.

Jamie Lovett
-Editor at ComicBook.com

This was an extremely informative book, and I enjoyed it tremendously.

Katheryn Haskell
-Goodreads

Fight, Magic, Items isn’t just a history of some of the greats, but a celebration of an incredible sub-genre that has influenced people the world over.

Joe DelFranco
-Nerds of a Feater

A wondrous in-depth look at the history of Japanese role playing games.

-Engadget

This book is such a fun read, and worth the time for any gamer.

Sarah G.
-NetGalley

It’s a love letter, a personal history, and a focused dive into the history of JRPGs all in one and it’s a hell of a book.

Joe Sherry
-Hugo Award-winning editor of Nerds of a Feather

About the Author

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.

Portrait of Aidan Moher, author of Fight, Magic, Items: The History of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and the rise of Japanese RPGs in the west. A smiling man in his late thirties with short brown hair and a dark grey sweater.

Featured Work

Press

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.