Dr. Simon
2012-02-20, 08:39 AM
The original (First Edition) Dungeon Master Guide had a slew of appendices full of useful things like random smells and reputed magical properties of gemstones. Appendix N, titled "Inspirational and Educational Reading) was a sort of bibliography citing works that had influenced D&D. I repeat it below (capitals are Gary Gygax's, used to highlight works of a particularly strong influence).
Anderson, Poul. THREE HEARTS AND THREE LIONS; THE HIGH CRUSADE; BROKEN SWORD
Bellairs, John. THE FACE IN THE FROST
Brackett, Leigh.
Brown, Fredric.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. "Pellucidar" Series; Mars Series; Venus Series
Carter, Lin. "World's End'' Series
de Camp, L. Sprague. LEST DARKNESS FALL; FALLIBLE FIEND; et al.
de Camp & Pratt. "Harold Shea" Series; CARNELIAN CUBE
Derleth, August.
Dunsany, Lord.
Farmer, P. J. "The World of the Tiers" Series; etal.
Fox, Gardner. "Kothar" Series; "Kyrik" Series; et of.
Howard, R. E. "Conan" Series
Lanier, Sterling. HIEROS JOURNEY
Leiber, Fritz. "Fafhrd &Gray Mouser" Series; et of.
Lovecraft, H. P.
Merritt, A. CREEP, SHADOW, CREEP; MOON POOL; DWELLERS IN THE MIRAGE; et al..
Moorcock, Michael. STORMBRINGER; STEALER OF SOULS; "Hawkmoon" Series (esp. the first three books)
Norton, Andre.
Offutt, Andrew J., editor SWORDS AGAINST DARKNESS Ill.
Pratt, Fletcher, BLUE STAR; et al.
Saberhagen, Fred. CHANGELING EARTH; et al.
St. Clair, Margaret. THE SHADOW PEOPLE; SIGN OF THE LABRYS
Tolkien, J. R. R. THE HOBBIT; "Ring Trilogy"
Vance, Jack. THE EYES OF THE OVERWORLD; THE DYING EARTH; et al.
Weinbaum, Stanley.
Wellman, Manly Wade.
Williamson, Jack.
Zelazny, Roger. JACK OF SHADOWS; "Amber" Series; et of.
Who's read what off that list, and what did you think? We can probably ignore Tolkien, he gets enough discussion by himself.
Upon revisiting this I was suprised how much pulp there is in there. Vance and Leiber are both highly enjoyable, and it's interesting how much RE Howard influenced the game - the creature known as the remorhaz features in a Conan story although its abilities are more akin to the creature later added to the game as the frsot worm; not to mention the acid-spitting giant slug. Earlier adventures do play a lot more like these short stories compared to Dragonlance and later which err on the side of "epic quest". Others on that list I've read - Lovecraft; Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter in the form of Conan stories and Zelazny (Amber series). Somehow I've never gotten around to Moorcock. And then there are some on there I've never heard of; Stanley Weinbaum? Margaret St Clair?
Anderson, Poul. THREE HEARTS AND THREE LIONS; THE HIGH CRUSADE; BROKEN SWORD
Bellairs, John. THE FACE IN THE FROST
Brackett, Leigh.
Brown, Fredric.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. "Pellucidar" Series; Mars Series; Venus Series
Carter, Lin. "World's End'' Series
de Camp, L. Sprague. LEST DARKNESS FALL; FALLIBLE FIEND; et al.
de Camp & Pratt. "Harold Shea" Series; CARNELIAN CUBE
Derleth, August.
Dunsany, Lord.
Farmer, P. J. "The World of the Tiers" Series; etal.
Fox, Gardner. "Kothar" Series; "Kyrik" Series; et of.
Howard, R. E. "Conan" Series
Lanier, Sterling. HIEROS JOURNEY
Leiber, Fritz. "Fafhrd &Gray Mouser" Series; et of.
Lovecraft, H. P.
Merritt, A. CREEP, SHADOW, CREEP; MOON POOL; DWELLERS IN THE MIRAGE; et al..
Moorcock, Michael. STORMBRINGER; STEALER OF SOULS; "Hawkmoon" Series (esp. the first three books)
Norton, Andre.
Offutt, Andrew J., editor SWORDS AGAINST DARKNESS Ill.
Pratt, Fletcher, BLUE STAR; et al.
Saberhagen, Fred. CHANGELING EARTH; et al.
St. Clair, Margaret. THE SHADOW PEOPLE; SIGN OF THE LABRYS
Tolkien, J. R. R. THE HOBBIT; "Ring Trilogy"
Vance, Jack. THE EYES OF THE OVERWORLD; THE DYING EARTH; et al.
Weinbaum, Stanley.
Wellman, Manly Wade.
Williamson, Jack.
Zelazny, Roger. JACK OF SHADOWS; "Amber" Series; et of.
Who's read what off that list, and what did you think? We can probably ignore Tolkien, he gets enough discussion by himself.
Upon revisiting this I was suprised how much pulp there is in there. Vance and Leiber are both highly enjoyable, and it's interesting how much RE Howard influenced the game - the creature known as the remorhaz features in a Conan story although its abilities are more akin to the creature later added to the game as the frsot worm; not to mention the acid-spitting giant slug. Earlier adventures do play a lot more like these short stories compared to Dragonlance and later which err on the side of "epic quest". Others on that list I've read - Lovecraft; Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter in the form of Conan stories and Zelazny (Amber series). Somehow I've never gotten around to Moorcock. And then there are some on there I've never heard of; Stanley Weinbaum? Margaret St Clair?