Ethan Gilsdorf, "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks"
b'Ethan Gilsdorf discussed some of the themes of his new book, Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms, a blend of travelogue, pop culture analysis, and memoir as forty-year-old former D&D addict Gilsdorf crisscrosses America, the world, and other worlds\\u2013from Boston to Wisconsin, France to New Zealand, and Planet Earth to the realm of Aggramar. He asks: Who are these gamers and fantasy fans? What explains the irresistible appeal of such \\u201cescapist\\u201d adventures? How do the players balance their escapist urges with the kingdom of adulthood?\\n\\nGilsdorf talked about the culture\\u2019s discomfort with the geek/nerd/gamer stereotype and looked at society\\u2019s ambivalent relationship with gaming and fantasy play, and the origins of that prejudice, as well as the author\\u2019s own past misgivings and final acceptance of his \\u201cgeek\\u201d'