E. Gary Gygax, the creator of Dungeons and Dragons, died today.

I picked up my first Dungeons and Dragons game in 1981, aged eleven, and my world became full of dragons and elves and swords and axes plus one. Because of this game, I published my first paying article at the age of 15 in Imagine magazine.

Because of this game, I met my first husband while we were both dressed as MUs. (You know what those are.) And because of this game, I became a fantasy author. Not professional level, no, not that: but it was because of D&D that I ever went that route at all.

I don’t play now, but I know this: if I ever won the lottery, one of the first things I’ve buy is everything ever created for D&D 3rd Edition.

You will be missed by generations of imaginative, creative geeks.

So long, and thanks for all the funny-shaped dice.

E. Gary Gygax — July 27, 1938 – March 4, 2008.