This review is for the POD softcover edition of the book: print quality is excellent! TPO is one of the few 3rd party books for 2e AD&D which TSR did not attack. Written by Peter Adkison, when he was the President of WotC, with help from others, copyright 1992, 1995 (WotC bought TSR in 1997). It codifies how to build out a pantheon of deities, for RPG's (others are named on the back cover, beyond 2e AD&D). It discusses how deities gain power from their base of worshippers. It is really helpful in giving the DM ideas on how to manage their pantheon of deities in a meaningful way, for their Priest players. The Specialty Priest (SP), which debuted in the 2e PHB, was barely mentioned. It would not be further fleshed out until later rulebooks were published. Even with the later rulebook expansions on the concepts of the SP, it felt, to me, as though TSR was afraid to really explore the SP concept because it might have made all other character classes seem unworthy of being played. Too bad, really. In a fantasy game, the gods are real, and most DM's I've played with, just do not understand what a fantastic role playing, storytelling tool the deities can be within their games! There is so much potential for driving stories with PC interaction, and PC's driving the storyline once the DM gives them a nudge to do so. This book can open those venues and ideas for both the DM, and their players. If you want assistance in building out your fantasy pantheon of deities, in learning how you can employ your fantasy gods into the storylines of your games, this is the book for you. Otherwise, don't bother with it. Cheers!