Yes – it’s the ur-text of (Advanced) Dungeons and Dragons, the iconic cover of the Player’s Handbook for the first edition of the game, featuring its classic art stealing the stones from the eyes of a demonic idol (by artist D.A. Trampier), as featured in the book profile in the Forgotten Realms Wiki

(3) DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (1974 – PRESENT)

Although I do have a special mention entry for an actual Encyclopedia of Fantasy, Dungeons & Dragons remains the best de facto encyclopedic treatment of fantasy themes and tropes- which is not surprising for something that strives to systematically codify the genre of fantasy for obsessive-compulsive rules-lawyering geeks to play as a game.

Hence it was the third special mention entry for my Top 10 Fantasy Books, but what people may forget is its popularity as a game among children or teenagers – something of which the TV Series Stranger Things reminded us. Accordingly, it earns the third special mention entry here.

RATING: 5 STARS*****
(S-TIER: GOD TIER)