The man who is responsible for who I am today, whose works have graced my book collection ever since I was young--has passed away. I cannot begin to express the sadness I feel at this. I got my first AD&D books when I turned 11, and I can still remember the feel and smell of those big hardcovers; they were filled with magic and mystery, they made me want to discover ancient worlds and have terrific adventures--they dared me to fantasize. I had thousands of hours of fun playing in the sandbox he gave me, and I met some of my best friends because of his creation. Many years later AD&D would put me on the ultimate path leading to where I am now (a creator and producer of games). In many ways we owe a debt to Gary--for the worlds he chose to share with us, for creating a hobby that stimulated millions of gamers to embrace their dreams and fantasies, helping them to express themselves creatively and socially . Truly, with my mother having passed away several years ago, and now the Dungeon Master himself--the source of me has been erased. My heart goes out to his loved ones. The world is a lesser place without Gary in it.
