Robert J. Harris and Paul Bonner – Creators of the worlds we play in
9 March 2026
This year, the Board Games, Wargames and Card Games Zone will become a place of unique meetings. Anyone who is even slightly familiar with the world of pen and paper games has heard of “Magic: The Gathering” or “Talisman”. The creators who contributed to the creation of these titles and have shaped the world of fantasy over the past decades are set to visit Pyrkon. We are proud to present two esteemed characters, whose achievements are known to practically every fan of games and fantasy!
Robert J. Harris – creator of the game “Talisman”
Robert J. Harris was born in Dundee, Scotland – a city that was once famous for jute, jam and journalism, and today is known for the historic ship Discovery and… meat pies. As a child, he created comics, games and short stories, to the clear detriment of his social skills.
At a time when fantasy meant mainly “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien and the works of William Morris or Lord Dunsany, young Harris absorbed heroic fantasy with a greed worthy of the future creator of a cult game. His fascination with myths, adventure and great stories was soon to find its outlet in designing his own worlds – first on paper, then on the board.
He chose to study at the University of St Andrews – partly because of the university’s reputation and partly because it was quite close to home. Studying Latin and Greek, he developed not only great learning, but also – as he jokes – the ability to talk to several people at once and pronounce most of the names from “War and Peace”. As the first student in two decades, he wrote Latin poetry as part of (the equivalent of what we know as*) a dissertation.
Although he tried his hand at academic career for some time, his life turned towards artistic creation. He worked as a bartender, starred in a musical political comedy, traveled around the USA, and finally – between changing kegs and caring for his son – designed a game that went down in history.
Thus, “Talisman” was born, published by Games Workshop (also known as “Magia i Miecz” in Poland) – one of the most recognizable fantasy board games in the world. A game in which heroes travel through a magical land, gain power and fight for the Crown of Command, it remains the first real adventure at the board for many to this day.
Not just games
At the same time, Harris developed a writing career. He made his debut with the novel “Leonardo and the Death Machine”, published by HarperCollins, which became a bestseller in Italy. Later came more books – historical, adventure and fantasy, including youth series and a cooperation with the acclaimed author Jane Yolen.
In addition, Robert shared a secret with us: the letter “J” in his pseudonym means nothing. In fact, he does not have a middle name or initial. He inserted the “J” only in an attempt to distinguish himself from Robert Harris, the author of “Fatherland” and “Enigma”. “I am sure that he also welcomes the fact that any mistakes between us are avoided at all costs.”
When he is not writing, he plays other roles: an actor, ocassionally a game designer and – as he says – a man who can play two songs on a harmonica. One of them is “Oh Susanna”. He did not share the other title with us.
He will appear at Pyrkon with his wife, the writer Deborah Turner Harris.
Paul Bonner – Illustrator of Mutant Chronicles, Magic: The Gathering and other games
Paul Bonner is one of the most distinctive fantasy artists of recent decades. His illustrations have shaped the imagination of fans of games, books, and story systems around the world for years – and his style is instantly recognizable.
In Poland, he is known primarily for his illustrations for games set in the “Mutant Chronicles” universe, where his dynamic, expressive works perfectly reflected the dark, post-industrial atmosphere of this world. For many Polish fans, it was his vision that became the visual symbol of this brand.
Bonner studied for four years in the field of illustration at Harrow, developing a workshop that soon became his trademark.
Artistic achievements
At the beginning of his career, he illustrated the covers for the series of gamebooks entitled “The Lone Wolf”, and then started working with the largest companies in the fantasy and gaming industry. His portfolio includes projects implemented for Games Workshop, FASA Corporation, Riotminds and Rackham.
He illustrated cards for “Magic: The Gathering” (including the “Eventide” expansion), created covers for RPG rulebooks, including Dungeons & Dragons (“Die Vecna Die!”, “Into the Dragon’s Lair”), as well as works set in the “Warhammer 40,000” universe.
His work is distinguished not only by its panache, but also by its approach to the characters. Even the most brutal beings – like orcs – in his interpretation gain character, emotions, and sometimes a subtle note of humor. Although he often depicts battle scenes, he rarely uses literality or blood to make a statement; instead, he builds tension through gesture, composition, and color. Interestingly, there are almost no elves in his works – but other classic fantasy races appear regularly.
His oeuvre has been presented many times in the prestigious “Spectrum” annuals, and in 2005 he received the silver Spectrum Award in the book category for “Cadwallon Goblin”. In 2008, an album entitled “Out of the Forests” was released, and Titan Books published a monograph “Out of the Forests: The Art of Paul Bonner”, devoted to his work.
Agnieszka Muczke
W dzień social media manager i organizatorka eventów fanowskich, w nocy cosplayerka. Cosplayem zajmuje się od 2016 roku i na koncie ma ponad 100 różnych cosplay'i oraz niewiele mniej sesji zdjęciowych. Jej ulubioną częścią każdego projektu jest pozowanie przed kamerą i tworzenie kontentu, który w następstwie udostępnia na swoich Social Mediach. Tutaj pisze i dzieli się swoją wiedzą na temat gier, mangi i anime.