Barbara G. Young
Encyclopedia
Barbara G. Young is an editor who has worked on several game products and articles for the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
from TSR
. She was an assistant editor on Dragon
and Dungeon
magazines from 1987 to 1995.
on July 3. She attended Northeastern Illinois University
. Young had a double major in English and linguistics, reflecting her interests in turning thought into language and the possibilities of communication with other life forms (either on Earth or elsewhere), as well as science-fiction and fantasy literature, and creative writing.
on one of the first word processors. Her interest in science fiction and fantasy led to her involvement in the role-playing game
industry, specifically TSR, Inc. “By way of fandom, I was introduced to the Dungeons & Dragons
game, and I kibbitzed quite a few games before getting involved myself.” Young answered an advertisement in the Chicago Tribune
for a game editor at TSR. Young worked for TSR in that capacity from September 1984 to 1985, then worked on a local newspaper while editing game modules for TSR as a freelancer. In January 1987, Young began working in TSR's magazine department as the assistant editor for Dungeon Adventures
. Dragon
magazine won the 1989 Origins Award for "Best Professional Adventure Gaming Magazine of 1989" while she was the editor.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
from TSR
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
. She was an assistant editor on Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
and Dungeon
Dungeon (magazine)
Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
magazines from 1987 to 1995.
Early life and education
Barbara Young was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
on July 3. She attended Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University is a public state university located in Chicago, Illinois. The main campus is located in the community area of North Park with three additional campuses in the metropolitan area. Tracing its founding to 1867, it was first established as a separate branch of a...
. Young had a double major in English and linguistics, reflecting her interests in turning thought into language and the possibilities of communication with other life forms (either on Earth or elsewhere), as well as science-fiction and fantasy literature, and creative writing.
Career
Young took several secretarial positions in sequence before working at IBMIBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
on one of the first word processors. Her interest in science fiction and fantasy led to her involvement in the role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
industry, specifically TSR, Inc. “By way of fandom, I was introduced to the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
game, and I kibbitzed quite a few games before getting involved myself.” Young answered an advertisement in the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
for a game editor at TSR. Young worked for TSR in that capacity from September 1984 to 1985, then worked on a local newspaper while editing game modules for TSR as a freelancer. In January 1987, Young began working in TSR's magazine department as the assistant editor for Dungeon Adventures
Dungeon (magazine)
Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
. Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
magazine won the 1989 Origins Award for "Best Professional Adventure Gaming Magazine of 1989" while she was the editor.