Richard Sparks joins the show to explore the rich intersection between fantasy storytelling and modern gaming, offering insights drawn from his work as a fantasy author, comedy writer, and lifelong gamer. He shares how immersive game worlds—especially sprawling RPGs like Elder Scrolls Online—have influenced his approach to worldbuilding in the New Rock series, where layered histories and interactive-style environments bring his settings to life. Sparks explains how gaming has reshaped audience expectations, pushing writers to create worlds that feel explorable, dynamic, and alive.
The conversation dives into the roots of fantasy itself, tracing inspiration back to Old English hero epics and mythological traditions that continue to shape creature design and narrative tone today. Sparks discusses how these ancient archetypes found mo …
