First Novel by Creator of Popular Dungeons & Dragons Eberron Campaign Setting Introduces Fantasy Fiction Fans to a Magical New World

January 17, 2005 (Renton, Wash.) -- Publisher Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS), will release City of Towers, the first book in author Keith Baker's new fantasy fiction trilogy, on February 4th, 2005. City of Towers introduces readers to the world of Eberron, a sprawling fantasy realm fueled by magic-powered technology. Chosen from more than 11,000 submissions, Eberron was the winning entry in an open search by Wizards of the Coast to find an innovative campaign concept for the popular roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons.

City of Towers takes readers on an adventure through the world of Eberron, where magic is an accepted fact of life and deadly adventure lurks around every corner. A century of civil war has come to an end with the devastation of an ancient kingdom. As the last echoes of war begin to fade, four soldiers from the fallen nation must find a new home in a hostile world. A last hope leads them to Sharn, the fabled City of Towers. But Sharn is a place where dreams are broken, and as they struggle to survive these adventurers are drawn into a terrible mystery that will lead them from the highest towers to the darkest depths of the city.

"The response from players to the Eberron campaign setting has been extraordinary, so we're thrilled to be releasing the first novel set in this world," said Peter Archer, Associate Publisher for Wizards of the Coast Book Department. "This novel is a perfect introduction to the magical world Keith Baker has created, and sets the stage for the events that will take place in the following books. Fantasy fiction is more popular than ever and fans of the genre are sure to enjoy the adventure and mystery in City of Towers, as well as the diversity of its characters."

Keith Baker, a longtime Dungeons & Dragons fan, lives in Boulder, Colorado, and works as a game designer. For more information about City of Towers, scheduled author appearances, or other novels published by Wizards of the Coast, Inc., please visit the Wizards books website.