In September 1977, The Dragon magazine unleashed its ninth issue, featuring a striking cover illustration that perfectly captured the blend of science fiction and fantasy that defined the era’s tabletop gaming scene. The cover art by Bill Hannan depicts a stern-faced figure in sleek sci-fi attire, clutching a mysterious technological device against a backdrop of ethereal moons and swirling pink clouds.
The issue bursts with compelling content, opening with “Dragon Rumbles,” where editor Tim Kask recounts the excitement and challenges of Origins ’77. Despite power failures and a threatening heatwave, the convention proved gaming’s growing cultural momentum, with every dealer showcasing new releases in Wagner College’s “microwave gym.”
Gary Gygax himself contributes a fascinating exploration of character alignments in D&D campaigns, explaining how players navigate the complex social dynamics between good and evil characters. His insights reveal how alignment isn’t just about moral choices, but creates rich opportunities for intrigue, alliance-building, and dramatic tension in any campaign.
The issue’s centerpiece is the conclusion of H.O. Fischer’s “The Finzer Family” – a spellbinding tale of modern magic that follows Grandfather Lucius’s misadventures after he attempts to acquire Aladdin’s lamp through a magical window. The story masterfully weaves humor and excitement as Lucius finds himself transformed into a jinni slave, complete with horns and fangs, serving a clever but dangerous young Aladdin.
For miniature enthusiasts, the “From the Fantasy Forge” section showcases the latest figures, including Tom Loback’s dynamic character sculpts and Archive Miniatures’ expanding fantasy line. The detailed photographs and reviews provide a window into the evolving art of gaming miniatures.
The magazine introduces two new comic features that would become reader favorites – Dave Trampier’s “Wormy” brings a fresh perspective to fantasy gaming with its distinctive art style and wit, while “Floating in Timeless Space” adds a surreal touch to TD’s growing comics section.
This issue also offers practical gaming content like Jim Ward’s “Tombs & Crypts,” providing dungeon masters with innovative random generation tables for creating compelling treasure hoards and burial chambers. M.A.R. Barker continues his “Seal of the Imperium” column, delving deep into the intricacies of his Empire of the Petal Throne setting.
For fans of Wild West gaming, Brian Blume’s continuation of “The Fastest Guns That Never Lived” brings legendary movie cowboys like William S. Hart and Tom Mix into TSR’s Boot Hill rules. The detailed statistics and special abilities allow players to recreate silver screen showdowns at their gaming tables.
At 32 pages, The Dragon #9 exemplifies the magazine’s evolution from its humble beginnings into an essential resource for the growing gaming community. The blend of practical gaming content, imaginative fiction, industry news, and visual art creates an issue that remains captivating decades later. This was The Dragon hitting its stride, providing fuel for countless adventures while documenting the rapid expansion of the hobby gaming world.
