Dangerous games: what the moral panic over role-playing games says about play, religion, and imagined worlds

Preface: "You worship gods from books!"

Introduction: Fantasy and reality

Part I. The history of the panic

1. The birth of fantasy role-playing games

2. Dungeons & dragons as religious phenomenon

3. Pathways into madness: 1979-1982

4. Satanic panic: 1982-1991

5. A world of darkness: 1991-2001

Part II. Interpreting the panic

6. How role-playing games create meaning

7. How the imagination became dangerous

8. Rival fantasies

Conclusion: Walking between worlds.

Cover; Contents; Preface. "You Worship Gods from Books!"; Introduction. Fantasy and Reality; PART I. THE HISTORY OF THE PANIC; 1. The Birth of Fantasy Role-Playing Games; 2. Dungeons & Dragons as Religious Phenomenon; 3. Pathways into Madness: 1979-1982; 4. Satanic Panic: 1982-1991; 5. A World of Darkness: 1991-2001; PART II. INTERPRETING THE PANIC; 6. How Role-Playing Games Create Meaning; 7. How the Imagination Became Dangerous; 8. Rival Fantasies; Conclusion. Walking between Worlds.