This classic study still provides one of the most acute descriptions available of an often misunderstood subculture: that of fantasy role playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. Gary Alan Fine immerses himself in several different gaming systems, offering insightful details on the nature of the games and the patterns of interaction among players—as well as their reasons for playing.
Rob was an ordinary college sophomore when a pitch-back portal opened up on campus and tried to kidnap his best friend. An act of heroism resulted in him being taken instead, and he was rewarded for his efforts by being transported to another world with nothing but a sword and the clothes on his back. On the first day, he almost died. On the second day, he almost died. On the third, he began to notice a worrying trend. And almost died Whether he encounters wolves, cliffs, dungeons, monsters, or diseases, every day is a struggle to survive. The one advantage he has is his newfound ability to gain Levels and Stats, making himself stronger in order to survive the hostile lands that he was unceremoniously dumped into. He'll have to gain knowledge of the innerworkings of the world and its magic - progressing both his strength and his knowledge - in order to stay alive long enough to get revenge on whoever kidnapped him away from everything he knew and loved. Overcoming the wilds is just the first step in his journey; the locals aren't fond of humans, and discovering the dark past behind this new world's history of war and strife changes everything. As far as isekai adventures go, Rob drew the short straw in many ways, but it'll take more than danger at every corner to keep him down. He'll carve out a place in this world with his bare hands if necessary. He'll survive, and then he'll thrive. Whether anyone wants him to or not. -- An Outcast On Another World puts a great focus on story and characterization, making it perfect for fans of traditional fantasy stories, while still including plenty of skills, stats, classes, and progression for LitRPG-lovers to enjoy. The LitRPG elements are incorporated into the main story to construct a cohesive world that's easy to immerse yourself in. Rob's progression is weak to strong, and victories aren't handed to him on a silver platter. No matter how powerful he gets, mid-combat ingenuity is essential to achieving victory. An Outcast In Another World has dark elements to its narrative, but I've included appropriate humor as a balance, and many readers have told me that some parts made them burst out laughing while other parts tugged at their heartstrings. I truly believe that I've constructed a memorable fantasy RPG story that all types can love, and that you'll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Fantasy! The very word conjures images of escape from reality, from the mundaneness of ordinary daily life. Fantasy Worlds combines a look at the psychology and power of fantasy with profiles of a dozen groups of individuals exploring different types of fantasy. While some play with fantasy as an occasional release, others turn fantasy into an ongoing lifestyle that adds spice to their everyday routines. The groups featured include those with members who enjoy role-playing and other games, participate in fantasy parties, travel into past and future eras, explore offbeat adventures, and experiment with erotic fantasy games. It concludes with a discussion of how many individuals use fantasy for personal growth on their own or in role-playing groups. Besides illustrating some popular fantasies, the book shows how we all need some fantasy in our lives; how we are all fantasy seekers.
Engaging Theories in Family Communication: Multiple Perspectives covers uncharted territory in its field, as it is the first book on the market to deal exclusively with family communication theory. In this volume, editors Dawn O. Braithwaite and Leslie A. Baxter bring together a group of contributors that represent a veritable Who's Who in the family communication field. These scholars examine both classic and cutting-edge theories to guide family communication research in the coming years.
What stands out about racism is its ability to withstand efforts to legislate or educate it away. In The Racist Fantasy, Todd McGowan argues that its persistence is due to a massive unconscious investment in a fundamental racist fantasy. As long as this fantasy continues to underlie contemporary society, McGowan claims, racism will remain with us, no matter how strenuously we struggle to eliminate it. The racist fantasy, a fantasy in which the racial other is a figure who blocks the enjoyment of the racist, is a shared social structure. No one individual invented it, and no one individual is responsible for its perpetuation. While no one is guilty for the emergence of the racist fantasy, people are nonetheless responsible for keeping it alive and thus responsible for fighting against it. The Racist Fantasy examines how this fantasy provides the psychic basis for the racism that appears so conspicuously throughout modern history. The racist fantasy informs everything from lynching and police shootings to Hollywood blockbusters and musical tastes. This fantasy takes root under capitalism as a way of explaining the failures and disappointments that result from the relationship to the commodity. The struggle against racism involves dislodging the fantasy structure and to change the capitalist relations that require it. This is the project of this book.
The long-awaited second edition of Communication and Group Decision Making advances a unique perspective on group decisionmaking, complementing approaches taken in management, psychology, and sociology. Group communication processes are extremely important, yet they have proven to be elusive and difficult to understand, and the type of theory necessary to make sense of the processes differs from those commonly found in the social sciences. This exceptional book gathers together and discusses a number of strong theoretical frameworks that have developed over the past 15 years. Providing important empirical evidence, the authors take stock of recent developments in group communication research. The essays are distinctive, both in their explicit focus on communication processes and in their location in a unique intellectual tradition.
Welcome to the captivating world of "Sexual Secrets," a comprehensive collection of books that delves into the complex and fascinating aspects of human sexuality. This series explores the depths of sexology, offering a rich tapestry of knowledge that covers the foundations of human sexuality and the desire to explore various intimate experiences. Introduction to Sexology: Embark on a journey of self-discovery and understanding by unveiling the foundational principles of sexology. This introductory book sets the stage for the entire collection, laying the groundwork for an exploration of the science of human sexuality. From physiological aspects to psychological dimensions, dive into the complexities that make each individual's intimate experience unique. Sex Therapy: A Comprehensive Guide: Navigate the intricate landscape of sex therapy with a comprehensive guide designed to tackle a range of challenges and enhance intimate connections. This book provides valuable insights into therapeutic approaches that empower individuals and couples to overcome obstacles, fostering healthier and more fulfilling relationships. Libido: The Promise of Pleasure: Delight in the exploration of libido, the driving force behind human desire. This book examines the multifaceted nature of libido, revealing its secrets and potential. Discover how understanding and embracing libido can lead to a more fulfilling and satisfying intimate life. Clitoris – An Introduction: Begin an enlightening exploration of a central and often misunderstood aspect of female anatomy: the clitoris. This book offers a thorough introduction, celebrating the clitoris as a key player in female pleasure. Gain a deeper understanding of its anatomy, function, and significance in the intricate tapestry of human sexuality. Erotic Intelligence: Embark on a personal journey to uncover the secrets of erotic intelligence for a more knowledgeable and intimate sexual life. The Ultimate Guide to Orgasm: Unveiling the Science, Myths, and Secrets of Human Pleasure: Discover the science, dispel the myths, and unveil the secrets surrounding one of the most sought-after and elusive aspects of human pleasure: the orgasm. This book delves deep into the physiological and psychological mechanisms that contribute to this transcendent experience, offering a holistic perspective on the pursuit of pleasure. The BDSM Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Kinks, Fetishes, and Power Dynamics: Enter the world of kinks, fetishes, and power dynamics with a thorough guide to BDSM. This final book in the collection explores the diverse and consensual exploration of power dynamics, providing insights, safety guidelines, and a celebration of the rich tapestry of human desires
Many child-care professionals work therapeutically with both parent and child and are increasingly focusing on the role of parents, yet there is very little information and guidance to help professionals in this work. Saralea E. Chazan's introduction to the simultaneous treatment of parent and child brings together theoretical background and suggestions for practice in an accessible and comprehensive format. Taking the reader through the theory of simultaneous treatment and the psychological processes underlying it she draws on three in-depth case studies of children she has worked with. She shows how effective treatment of parent and child by the same therapist either in combined or separate sessions can bring about significant therapeutic effects in a child's development and sense of self. This useful book will be a welcome resource for social workers, child psychiatrists, family therapists and other professionals working with children.
This edited volume is an inquiry into the representation of intimate relationships in a diverse array of media including cinema, arts, literature, picture books, advertising and popular music. It examines artistic portrayal of intimate relationships as a subversion of the boundaries between the representable and the non-representable, the real and the surreal, the visceral and the ideal, the embodied and the abstracted, the configured and transfigured. The essays focus on artistic mediation of intimacy in diverse relationships, including heterosexual, same-sex, familial, sibling' , political, and sadomasochistic. The collection offers new interdisciplinary and multicultural perspectives on current trends in the study of popular representations of intimacy; representations that affect and formulate people's most personal inspirations, desires, angsts, dreams and nightmares in an increasingly alienated, industrialized world.
This title addresses the issues, practice wisdom and problems in conducting focus groups. Written by an interdisciplinary group of scholars, it covers the basic principles of when and how to use focus groups, the applicability of focus group interviews to survey research and other methods, general issues in the use of focus groups, the specific problems of focus groups with different populations or settings and an agenda for future development of the method.
