Dungeons & Dragons Encyclopedia announced by Penguin Random House

Penguin Random House is publishing a Dungeons & Dragons Encyclopedia. The new 320-page book was written by Matt Forbeck, Michael Witwer, Jon Peterson, Kalysta Harmon, and Jessica Lee Patterson and will be released on October 20, 2026. The book will contain information on more than a half-dozen different campaign settings, including the Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Spelljammer, Ravenloft, and Greyhawk, along with information on monsters, locations, heroes and villains, and iconic items.

Penguin Random House has published licensed Dungeons & Dragons books for years and also has a robust line of guide/encyclopedia books covering various licensed properties. For the Dungeons & Dragons Encyclopedia, Penguin brought in several experts. Forbeck is a longtime game designer who worked for TSR and Wizards of the Coast on various book projects. Witwer has written multiple D&D books for Penguin, including multiple art guides and also wrote a biography of Gary Gygax. Peterson is considered one of the foremost historians of Dungeons & Dragons and has written several books on the game Patterson is an art historian that has collaborated with Peterson on an art exhibition of D&D.

The Dungeons & Dragons Encyclopedia will retail for $60.

 

[Reynard]

Well, I know what is going on the Christmas list. I have a soft spot for these sort of Encyclopedias and probably have a half dozen covering different IPs.

 

[Liongo]

I have been in this hobby for just over a year and am thoroughly enjoying learning D&D lore. Because of that, I will likely pick this up.

 

[timbannock]

more than a half-dozen different campaign settings,

I love nerdy encyclopedias, but this quote makes it sound like it's going to be missing a lot more than it I'd hope for. Hopefully it's a Volume 1 of...?

 

[sevenbastard]

The book will contain information on more than a half-dozen different campaign settings, including the Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Spelljammer, Ravenloft, and Greyhawk

How is this diffrent than the World's and Realms book.

Still if it has good art im sure I will pick it up.

 

[Jeremy E Grenemyer]

Time to sock away my B&N gift cards.

 

[aco175]

Is this that secret book coming out, I cannot seem to recall the placeholder name.

 

[Echohawk]

Is this that secret book coming out, I cannot seem to recall the placeholder name.

No. "GOLLY" seems to be a WotC product while the Encyclopedia is a 3rd party product we've known about since March.

 

[Superchunk77]

Meh. I'll stick to my Art and Arcana.

 

[Planescape]

In love with that art where can I see the whole piece?