Summer Heat is upon us (above the Equator), so it’s time for our 2nd quarterly giveaway contest of handpicked treasures from the Rediscovered Realms Vault - and we’re going HUGE! (I’ve also picked a couple fine baubles to place on the alter as a thank you to our free subscribers.)
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This Week’s Rediscovered Realms Theme Song:
For the brave who never break their stride. - "Heroic March" is an epic orchestral anthem for bold hearts and unstoppable journeys. With triumphant brass and driving strings, this track charges forward like a champion returning from war … or a hero just beginning.
| Genre: Epic Orchestral | Instrumental |
“Heroic March”
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The Haul
Summertime is always a fun time to get to reading and exploring. So get ready - this giveaway’s selections are broad & bold while blending the nostalgic with the new!
The Haul:
Only ever released in the UK, this vintage Dungeons & Dragons Annual 1986, featuring our favorite cartoon heroes in exclusive stories is REALLY hard to come by these days. (very good condition)
Want to see inside? Rediscovered Realms explored this and the 1987 D&D Annuals in this newsletter edition:
The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook by Alan Lee (brand new)
“Alan Lee, the Oscar-winning conceptual designer for the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, discusses his approach to depicting Tolkien’s imaginary world. The book presents more than 150 of Lee’s celebrated illustrations to show how his imagery for both the illustrated Lord of the Rings and the films progressed from concept to finished art. In addition, the book contains 20 full-color plates and numerous examples of the conceptual art produced for Peter Jackson’s film adaptation.”
A Middle Earth Traveller Sketchbook by John Howe (brand new)
“A Middle-earth Traveler presents a walking tour of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, visiting not only places central to his stories, but also those just over the hill or beyond the horizon. Events from Tolkien’s books are explored—battles of the different ages that are almost legend by the time of The Lord of the Rings; lost kingdoms and ancient myths, as well as those places only hinted at: kingdoms of the far North and lands beyond the seas.”
“Sketches that have an ‘on-the-spot’ feel to them are interwoven with the artist’s observations gleaned from Tolkien’s books and recollections of his time spent in Middle-earth while working alongside Peter Jackson on the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies. Combining concept work produced for films, existing Middle-earth art, and many new paintings and sketches exclusive to this book, A Middle-earth Traveler will take the reader on a unique and unforgettable journey across Tolkien’s magical landscape.”
The Hobbit Sketchbook by Alan Lee (brand new)
“Since The Hobbit was first published in 1937, generations of readers have fallen under its spell. That magic was reignited sixty years later when Alan Lee was commissioned to produce a special illustrated edition, and his delicate pencil drawings and beautiful watercolor paintings have become for many the definitive vision of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth.
In this sumptuous, large-format hardback, Alan Lee reveals in pictures and in words how he created these images, which would prove so powerful, matching perfectly with Tolkien’s own vision, that they would eventually define the look of Peter Jackson’s film adaptations and earn Alan a coveted Academy Award.”
Brodryk wanted me to let you know that he has moved these sketchbooks to the top of the shelves above his other awesome LOTR merch over at the Rediscovered Realms Amazon shoppe:
(As an AmazonAssociate I earn from qualifying purchases)
Shrink-wrapped Barbarians: From Conan to He-Man - ONLY AVAILABLE from Pulse Video from France (English text) (brand new)
This 256-page hardcover “contains everything you need to explore Conansploitation from top to bottom. This cinematic genre, also known as Sword & Sorcery, born out of after the success of John Milius’ Conan the Barbarian, takes Heroic Fantasy as its backdrop, but above all throws vengeful and muscular heroes into the mix. They’re often mute colossuses with a taste for personal justice, that they – more often than not delivered with a sword! Conan, Dar, Yor, Ator, Kane and the other barbarians of the ’80s and ’90s are the core of our new book, Barbarians, from Conan to He-Man.”
FUN FACT!: The Barbarians cover is from the French theatrical poster for Tonino Ricci’s Thor il Conquistatore (1983) and the artist hasn’t been identified!
Another difficult set to get a hold of is this version of the Fighting Fantasy Boxed Set from 2002, including The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, The Citadel of Chaos, Deathtrap Dungeon, and Creature of Havoc (fantastic shape)
Here are some Fighting-Fantasy related Rediscovered Realms newsletters you may have missed:
Straight from Lake Geneva - Ground zero for Dungeons & Dragons, comes this 2025 Gary Con hat, only available for purchase for attendees at the conference. (brand new)
Flying Buffalo (Tunnels & Trolls) made a short-lived series of Sorcerer’s Apprentice Magazines - this one is from the Summer of 1981 (excellent condition)
“Can These Bones Live?” - a tale of John the Balladeer by Manly Wade Wellman
“The Monsters of the Cthulhu Mythos”
“Adapting Arduin Characters to Tunnels & Trolls” by Ken St. Andre, and more!
Take a rare peek inside the very 1st Sorcerer’s Apprentice Magazine from the Rediscovered Realms cache:
And finally, a fun foil-stamped lined dragon journal where you can keep track of all that you’ve read and explored this Summer!
→ → → TOTAL VALUE: $400 ← ← ←
HOW TO WIN?
Now that you’ve glimpsed the awesomeness that can become your possession, you want to know how you can win, right?
Every member of THE 300 and the ELITE ADVENTURER paid subscriber tiers (as of 6/30/2025) will get an automatic entry!
If paid members want to cash-in any of their ELECTRUM or MYTHRIL EXTRA CHANCE TICKETS, email me with how many you would like to use.
Andy H. proudly displaying his winnings from the 1st Epic Fantasy Loot Giveaway of 2025!
Being a member of THE 300 has its privileges.
I also have a couple special giveaways I’m doing for FREE EXPLORERS (Free subscribers) that we’ll talk about in a bit.
Before we do, I’ve got other giveaway winners to announce.
DriveThruRPG DRAGON’S DRAW
Members of THE 300 also get 7 automatic entries for $10 DriveThruRPG Gift Certificates - there’s not one in June, but the next one is coming up in July!
But for ELITE ADVENTURER members, they get put into another pool: the DINSTINGUISHED DriveThruRPG DRAGON’S DRAW - where there is a drawing for a $20 Gift Certificate, every, single, month!
And guess what?
There is only 1 member at this level.
I only recently realized we had someone sign up for this tier last month!
So, the winner of the DINSTINGUISHED DriveThruRPG DRAGON’S DRAW for May of 2025 is . . .
➡️ Rick O. !!! ⬅️
🧙♂️ Congratulations, Rick! I’ll reach out to verify which email you would like to use to receive your $20 prize.
And for this month’s drawing . . .
We’ll wait until June 30th, but imagine this . . .
If by June 30th, Rick is still the only ELITE ADVENTURER member, you’re going to see an announcement similar to this . . .
“And the winner of DINSTINGUISHED DriveThruRPG DRAGON’S DRAW for June of 2025 is . . .”
➡️ Rick O. !!! ⬅️
^ This has not happened yet, Rick, so don’t get your hopes up, pal.
(If no one else signs up as an ELITE ADVENTURER, guess who’s going to win next month’s gift certificate? And the next? All the way through December!)
Now that I see Rick is a member of our ELITE ADVENTURER tier, he will also get mailed to his door:
A yearly set of our “REDISCOVERED REALMS PREMIUM ADVENTURE BOOKMARKS”. This year’s set includes these 3:
Also, for signing-up this year, Rick will receive this exclusive launch bonus bookmark with ELITE ADVENTURER badging:
Elite Adventurer premium bookmark (front)
Elite Adventurer premium bookmark (back)
And if that’s not cool enough . . .
If no one else joins the ELITE ADVENTURER ranks, Rick will be [THE ONLY] member entered into an additional & exclusive “ELITE FANTASY LOOT” giveaway contest in December! (There is an EPIC FANTASY LOOT giveaway contest in December as well)
Some of the Treasures From The Rediscovered Realms Vault which are being selected from for the EPIC & ELITE FANTASY LOOT GIVEAWAYS this year
Am I taking a risk on this?
Absolutely.
In fact, I’m losing my tunic on it and was considering calling Rick to negotiate a different agreement.
But that’s just not the Adventurer’s Way.
I consider this like visiting the local Cleric’s temple and having faith that my contributions upon the alter to Imagination, Play, and Fun will result in blessings that as of now I cannot foresee.
So rest assured, Rick, I will keep my commitment to you until the coffers run dry (or the guards haul me away to debtor’s prison).
How Do I Become An ELITE ADVENTURER (and more importantly, prevent Rick from winning everything)?
I’m so glad you asked (though I feel like it’s a little mean to edge-in on Rick’s glory like that).
THE PRICE - once we reach 100 ELITE ADVENTURER members it will be raised to $300/yr. But if you want to lock-in the best price forever (like Rick did), you can subscribe now for only $150/yr.
A NEW BONUS - I recently started creating some Adventure Music albums (“Tales of Adventure: Volume I” is out, with another album almost ready - and at least 3 more to come throughout the year). These retail for $6.99/each, but as an ELITE ADVENTURER, they will ALL be included for FREE.
(Rick - I’ll generate a discount code for you so you can get Tales of Adventure: Volume I for free)
CAN I UPGRADE? - For current members of THE 300 paid tier, you can upgrade (or should I say “level up”) at any time and can start partaking of the enhanced benefits.
Oh, and in case you didn’t see it in THE 300 email I sent a couple weeks ago, members of THE 300 also get A NEW BONUS! You now get a perpetual discount on ALL the Adventure Music albums I release. $6.99 → $3.99! (I already sent your discount code for “Tales of Adventure: Volume I”)
WHAT IF I WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE 300 INSTEAD?
THE PRICE - Once we reach 300 members, the price will increase to $60/yr, but you can get in on our EPIC FANTASY LOOT Giveaways & lock-in for life the best price I will ever offer for only $30/year!
A HUGE “hooah!” and “thank you” to our existing members of THE 300! Without your stalwart support, I would have perished a long time ago (or at least wouldn’t have had an excuse to avoid my massively expanding honey-do list!) But seriously, thank you. 💪
🧙♂️ Both, aspiring ELITE ADVENTURERS and THE 300 can sign-up/upgrade with this button:
Past giveaway winner (and member of THE 300) showing off his loot, Dr. Dave Daverio. (I’m so relieved the dog made it safely to him in the D&D lunchbox!)
Now let’s see what I’ve got for our loyal FREE EXPLORERS . . .
Your next piece of fantasy fun is calling.
Remember to check out the Rediscovered Realms Amazon Storefront for the most epic gift-giving ideas for those important adventurers in your life (including yourself 🗡)
(As an Amazon1Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION (and some heartfelt words)
First, let me thank you for being a valued member of our Rediscovered Realms community!
It’s an honor and a privilege for me to create something every week that others genuinely seem interested in - especially in a world where “attention” is such a valuable commodity, and “free time” is so limited in our busy lives.
Sure, there are several folks that unsubscribe every week (which I’ve given up on trying to understand. I’ve been creating the same type of content for 120+ newsletters - so if you liked it enough to sign up . . .) - but there are those that remain as citizens of our Realms, and for that I am honored.
When I started this journey 2 1/2 years ago, it was with a deep-seated hope that I would find other like-minded adventurous souls out there. (It was also with a hope that I could make a couple million dollars and quit my day job, but that’s another story. 😁)
We can disagree on what makes the best fantasy books, games, movies, etc. but deep down, we all share the same spirit of adventure which excites us, inspires us & propels us to look beyond the mundane and reach for something more. Something magical.
For souls like us, Fantasy makes the world a better place, and without it, would be unbearable.
Thank you for sharing this journey with me.
For your Summer reading pleasure, I’ve got 2 copies of a classic gamebook I’m giving away to 2 lucky FREE EXPLORER adventurers (must be free subscribers to Rediscovered Realms).
The Forest of Doom Fighting Fantasy gamebook!
“Are YOU brave enough to face the foes and fiends of this nightmare forest…?”
Find out by commenting on ANY Rediscovered Realms newsletter edition by 6/30/2025!
Two winners will be drawn. I’ll even pay for shipping (up to $10).
Good luck!
BTW: The Forest of Doom was one of my favorite books as a kid and one of my gateways to fantasy. Here’s an early Rediscovered Realms edition where I reminisced & revisited:
Spread Adventure Awesomeness! Don’t just Stare - SHARE! If you know other Adventurers who would enjoy this newsletter, please share it with them directly or on social media.
nice prize pack for the summer solstice, never really read any of the fighting fantasys, that Garycon hat is the shit, the middle earth sketchbooks look great too
Great prize pack and agree with Heavy I'm loving the GaryCon hat.
nice prize pack for the summer solstice, never really read any of the fighting fantasys, that Garycon hat is the shit, the middle earth sketchbooks look great too