What are Shane’s first thoughts and reactions to an advance copy of Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana: A Visual History? Hint: he may squee (okay, he actually squees at one point and he’s a big manly man not known for his squeeing). Make sure to watch the parts with the special edition boxed book and ephemera set!

Many thanks to the authors (Michael Witwer, Jon Peterson, Sam Witwer, Kyle Newman) and Penguin Random House for the chance to behold this spectular geeky D&D goodness in advance.

The marketing copy:

An illustrated guide to the history and evolution of the beloved role-playing game told through the paintings, sketches, illustrations, and visual ephemera behind its creation, growth, and continued popularity.

From one of the most iconic game brands in the world, this official DUNGEONS & DRAGONS illustrated history provides an unprecedented look at the visual evolution of the brand, showing its continued influence on the worlds of pop culture and fantasy. Inside the book, you’ll find more than seven hundred pieces of artwork—from each edition of the core role-playing books, supplements, and adventures; as well as Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance novels; decades of Dragon and Dungeon magazines; and classic advertisements and merchandise; plus never-before-seen sketches, large-format canvases, rare photographs, one-of-a-kind drafts, and more from the now-famous designers and artists associated with DUNGEONS & DRAGONS. The superstar author team gained unparalleled access to the archives of Wizards of the Coast and the personal collections of top collectors, as well as the designers and illustrators who created the distinctive characters, concepts, and visuals that have defined fantasy art and gameplay for generations. This is the most comprehensive collection of D&D imagery ever assembled, making this the ultimate collectible for the game’s millions of fans around the world.