The Land of Eem RPG springs out of a series of graphic novels, collectively known as Rickety Stitch and the Gelatinous Goo. Rickety is a skeletal bard who is trying to find out who he used to be; his only clue is a song that is stuck in his head (though its meaning is unclear to him). Goo is his loyal pal, an intelligent though non-verbal slime. As of this writing, I’ve only read the first, The Road to Epoli. Rickety is sort of hapless and gets by mostly on his essential good nature. He’s not a very good bard and he’s part of some larger legacy involving the spooky Gloom King that I am sure will unfold in the later volumes (The Middle-Route Run and The Battle of the Bards thus far). If a GM has any doubts about how to mix light-hearted adventure while maintains a sense of darkness and danger, the Rickety Stitch comics are the perfect primer.

The graphic novels are where Eem came from, but the Dungeoneer Academy books for young readers are where the world is going. Literally! Last year’s crowdfunding campaign converts the setting, the Underlands, into game terms, and also includes a beginner box set for younger players. I’ve read two of the three novels to my son and they crystallized his initial, instinctive interest in the box and gave it a sense of structure. I think these are the first real fantasy books he’s experienced? At any rate, if you’ve got a kid who is interested in this sort of thing, the Dungeoneer Academy books will expand their horizons with fun, mostly light-hearted adventures (that include some positive messages about friendship and teamwork, as an added bonus).