New: Principles of Fantasy
Fantasy frequently gets described through its imagery. Castles rise above wooded hills, and wizards guard dangerous knowledge. Lost cities wait beneath forests or deserts, waiting for someone willing to uncover them. Those images appear so often that they seem to define the genre. Dear reader, this may come as a surprise, but they don’t.
What makes fantasy actually work is greater than the presence of dragons or magic systems. The genre runs on a deeper structure. Characters move through worlds shaped by ancient history and hidden power. The story begins when those forces break into the present, and someone discovers something forgotten. They encounter a power they don’t fully understand, or step into a conflict whose roots stretch far beyond their own lifetime. That moment of disruption is what gives fantasy its momentum.
Principles of Fantasy examines the patterns behind that structure. Instead of focusing on monsters, spells, or maps, things you already have within the system of your choice, the book looks at the deeper forces shaping the genre. Explore the role of history in fantasy worlds, and the way hidden power disrupts the ordinary balance of society. Discover the journeys that transform ordinary people into exceptional heroes, after they’ve encountered those strange forces.
The result is a practical guide for roleplaying game designers and gamemasters who want their settings and campaigns to feel coherent. Fantasy worlds gain strength when the past remains visible in the landscape, and power carries consequences. The choices characters make should continue to echo outward through the setting.
To mark the release of the book, a companion essay is now available on Substack: “Why Fantasy Works.” The article explores the same central idea from the book in a shorter form, explaining why fantasy stories work and how their structure translates to the gaming table.
Readers interested in the underlying design of the genre can start with the essay, then continue into the full book.
Now Available in PDF and epub: Principles of Fantasy.
Print and Kindle: Available from Amazon March 17, 2026.
Read the companion article: “Why Fantasy Works” on Substack.
