I owe a great deal to Peter Hunt and Nicholas Tucker, who both kindly read drafts of this book as it emerged and gave wise advice, strategic feedback and encouragement as needed. The book is much richer for their contributions; any errors are mine alone. My husband, Peter Reynolds, also read the manuscript as it evolved and bore the brunt of my excitements and anxieties. He also made it possible for me to leave the everyday world behind for some concentrated writing weeks. These were times of great quiet and pleasure and I would not have had them without him. The Faculty of Humanities and School of English at the Newcastle University gave me a period of leave to write this book, and my colleagues there were immensely supportive throughout. Matthew Grenby in particular was uncomplaining about the extra work my absence created for him–and a wonderful host while I was between homes as well. Mark Vasey-Saunders was generous with his time and knowledge of the world of role playing games. Without Kate Chedgzoy and Linda Anderson’s determination to create a place for children’s literature in the School of English, there would have been no book. My mother, Bobbie Griffith, and Mary Nyman, from the Westbrook Library in Connecticut, were tireless unpaid research assistants. David Rudd read, commented on and carefully corrected the final manuscript.