Inspirational and Educational Reading
Inspiration for all of the
fantasy work I have done stems directly from the
love my father showed when
I was a tad, for he spent many hours telling
me stories he made up as
he went along, tales of cloaked old men -- who
could grant wishes, of magic
rings and enchanted swords, or wicked
sorcerors and dauntless
swordsmen.
Then too, countless hundreds
of comic books went down, and the long-gone EC
ones certainly had their effect. <EC
Archives>
Science fiction, fantasy,
and horror movies were a big influence.
In fact, all of us tend
to get ample helpings of fantasy when we are very young,
from fairy tales such as
those written by the Brothers Grimm and Andrew Long.
This often leads to reading
books of mythology, paging through
bestiaries, and consultation
of compilations of the myths of various lands
and peoples. Upon such a
base I built my interest in fantasy, being an avid
reader of all science fiction
and fantasy literature since 1950. The following
authors were of particular
inspiration to me. In some cases I cite
specific works, in others,
I simply recommend all their fantasy writing to
you. From such sources,
as well as iust about any other imaginative writing
or screenplay you will be
able to pluck kernels from which grow the fruits
of exciting campaigns. Good 
!
<NOTE: REMEMBER TO CHECK
MYTHUS FOR SPECIFIC EXAMPLES>
<this should be the correct
one: just 2b extra thorough, check the xx file ...>
<fini links>
<series: fini listings>
<image source: usu. Grognardia>
<
Gord the Rogue series
Dragonlance Chronicles
Dragonlance Legends
The Crystal Shard
Darkwalker on Moonshae
AD&D Adventure Gamebooks
>
GORD THE ROGUE
JASON THE RULESREADER wrote:
Gary,
I just found my SAGA OF OLD CITY, ARTIFACT OF EVIL books. Found them in storage after 10 years.......
Just wondering, does the
combat in those books follow the logic and flow of AD&D? It seems like
it does, almost reading like a combat example without the mechanics......
Just so.
I wroite those books to give readers dramatic examples of what an adventure world operating on the AD&D game principles ouuld be like.
Cheers,
Gary
<>
REFERENCES
<make
things easier for others: one of the ideas behind the html version>
<the idea is to be a little
more helpful to the audience, with the references, the key idea might be
'Omnibus'>
<Omnibus:
hoping to avoid the fragmented scavenger hunt that was the FR>
<Site:
if people want to learn about these authors, then make it easy for them>
<Movie:
hmm. not sure about the movies,
but not
everyone is going to have the time to track down the books, and read them
outside, on a beautiful sping day, in the park, or on the walk that didn't
require any gas $>
OMNIBUS: this would be the
most important one
SITE: main author's site
MOVIE: sorta missing the
point (quote), but i guess that these can inspire in a different way
(sometimes,
good to play a movie, before the game)
(starts
at 8 ... if you get there at 5, we're having dinner, and watching ...)
<contextually, between
the book, the comic book, and the movie ... if i had to go with one ...
it would probably be the RPG>
<i dk, mayb just me ...
i like the read the center book of an RPG ...>
<>
(Inspirational)
ART
The idea is to have at least
one image from each of the authors.
SITES
These
sites seem to give a good "zoom in" (imagination is infinite) to the Appendix
N ...
( is there something better
than wikipedia, out there ? )
Wilson & Alroy on High
Fantasy Novels
http://www.warr.org/Merritt.shtml
Brown, Fredric.
Carter, Lin. "World's End'' Series
de
Camp, L. Sprague. LEST DARKNESS FALL; FALLIBLE FIEND; et al.
<Moldvay:
The Fallible Fiend; The Goblin Tower, et al.>
Dunsany,
Lord.
<Moldvay:
Over the Hills and Far Away; Book of Wonder; The King of Elfland's Daughter,
et al.>
The name
for gnolls is from Dunsany, but nothing
else.
The Injudicious Prayers of
Pombo the Idolater
http://www.readbookonline.net/read/282/8431/
Quote:
Originally Posted by ColonelHardisson
A very good example would
be Lord Dunsany.
Indeed.
Also I believe it was MArgaret St. Claire who wrote The Secret People in which elves were very much like humans.
Of course, the early English folklore had elves akin to small humans, likely based on the Picts, and called stone arrowheads they found "elf bolts".
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by ColonelHardisson
Personally, I'd compare
him to Jack Vance and Lord Dunsany. Those are the only two that immediately
leap to mind. Ursula LeGuin...I don't see the resemblance.
Now you have my attention 
Cheerio,
Gary
dcas wrote:
...
Heinlein did write some good
stuff in his early days.
Yes indeed, as did another of my favorite authors, P.J. Farmer.
Cheers,
Gary
Alan, either works with
me. As another fan ot Farmer's "Created UIniverses" series, I used gates
generally, although Iggwilv is capable of transpirting herself to various
known locations without such aid.
Cheers,
Gary
Moorcock, Michael. STORMBRINGER;
STEALER OF SOULS; "Hawkmoon" Series (esp. the first three books)
Offutt, Andrew J., editor SWORDS AGAINST DARKNESS III.
Pratt, Fletcher, BLUE
STAR; et al.
<Moldvay:
The
Blue Star; The Well of the Unicorn>
Wellman, Manly Wade.
Williamson, Jack.
The most immediate influences*
upon AD&D were probably de Camp & Pratt,
REH,
Fritz
Leiber, Jack Vance, HPL, and
A.
Merritt; but all of the above
authors, as well as many
not listed, certainly helped to shape the form of the game. For this reason,
and for the hours of reading enjoyment, I heartily recommend the works
of these fine authors to you.
<*>,
add to list?
Quote:
Originally posted by
blackshirt5
This one might have been
asked before, if it was, just let me know: Who were the writers/what were
the books, that influenced D&D originally. I know that Tolkien, Moorcock,
and Vance were influences on you, but what about others?
And will you adopt me Gary?
I'm very clean, and easy to live with. I come with a complete set of 3rd
edition rules! 
Heh, Blackshirt5 
If you check the OAD&D
DMG, Appendix M IIRR, there is a long list of inspirational authors given.
JRRT's influence was more
in ther marketing of the D&D game than in it's creation and development.
A few other authors that were very key to my thinking: R.E. Howard, A. Merritt, De Camp & Pratt, Fritz Lieber, Fred Saberhagen, Stanley Weinbaum, R. Zelazny.
As for adopting a gamer,
I actually did that back in the TSR days, sorta... a lad from the southwest
came up to Lake Geneva looking for a job at TSR.
There was none, he was broke,
so I hired him to help at my place--it had horses, and he helped take care
of them.
He lived with us, played
in my campaign. Eventually he went back home.
He emailed me about a year
ago.
He is now an MD 
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally posted by
Enceladus
I've always felt that Tolkien's
world and style was a bit out of place with DnD, that is they didn't fit
well together. After reading much about your history I can see why this
is so.
Fritz Lieber is one of my
favorites, becuase he can paint a scene so well, the atmosphere and feel
of his style is very much how I percieve DND. Of all of the fantasy writers
that I like, his has the most DnD feel to it IMHO. Don't know if this has
been asked before but, out of all the sources that you've stated, how much
of his Lankhmar/Characters inspired you?
My real impetus was Howard's
"Conan," not surprisingly.
Fritz's novels and the De
Camp & Pratt books were also great influences as was Vance--my all-time
favorite author in the genre.
From 1950 through 1956 I
read about every book and magazine of F & SF published in the US, and
I bought used pulps so as to read back through the entire 1940 on era.
That's why I included so
extensive a reading list in the old DMG...I read and enjoyed, was inspired
by, a large number of authors.
Cheers,
Gary
Mr. Awesome wrote:
I was looking at the suggested
reading list in the old DM's Guide, and was wondering... Are there any
books -- and I'm sure there must be! -- that you would add to the list
that have come out since? Or even that you've just discovered since.
There are not many, no.
I would now add:
Prachette's Disk World series
Cooks "Black Company" ditto
Wolfe's The Knight
and The Wizard
That's about it from the
top of my head.
Most contemporary fantasy
is IMO the flacid sort, not good old Swords & Sorcery full of action
and adventure.
Cheerio,
Gary
nombient wrote:
Excellent additions, all
of those. Have you read any of Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen?
It has elements that remind me of Cook's Black Company series, with nary
a flaccid moment to be found.
Your comment on the state of contemporary fantasy is sad, but all too true...
Thanks.
I have not seen Steven Erikson's
Malazan
Book of the Fallen, but I'll look for it when I am seeking new fantasy
reading material.
Of late I have been into
historical novels, alternate histories, and murder mysteries more than
fantasy yarns...
and I do want to read again
soon Vance's "Planet of Adventure: quatrology yet another time
Cheers,
Gary
Tis true, most these days
is limp and lacking. Truly there has been no impotent work of fantasy rising
to occasion.
But i am pretty sure that
the contemporary fantasy tales are generally approved by animal rights
activists, homeopathic healers, and readers of Victorian romances 
Gary
clore wrote:
Quote:
A pity Ms. Rowling doesn't
know the correct names for various magical practitioners...
although the fortune she
has made using misnomers pretty well belies the necessity for such knowledge
Specifics, please. Personally
I'm pretty impressed with her knowledge of the traditional lore.
To be exact, a witch is
properly one that serves evil, and a male witch is a warlock, not a wizard.
There is ample evidence
that during the middle ages there was indeed a cult of Satanists calling
themselves witches that sought to do malign works in service of the Devil.
This sort of confusion extends elsewhere to the term sorcerer, that belonging properly to one that calls up demons to perform services for him.
Ms. Rowlings "knowledge"
seems to come from recent make-believe about Druidical practices and "the
Old Religion,"
neither of which have a
modicum of actual historical evidence upon which to base their claims/
Cheers,
Gary
Elfdart wrote:
Colonel, a while back on
another board I recommended a couple of books (the Sharpe series and The
Year 1000). Did you ever get a chance to read them?
Hi Elfdart,
As a matter of fact I read
several of the Sharpe's novels when they were first publiched--the late
80s or early 90s?
However, your mention of
them was sufficient for me to recall how much I enjoyed them, as did the
BBC series on Richard Sharpe, so I bought thge whole series,
read and enjoyed the lot
last year.
This year I have read the
"Archer" triology by Cornwell.
I have not picked up The
Year 1000 however.
Thanks for reminding me
Currently I am reading Wolfe's
The
Knight, and when I finish it I'll read The Wizard.
At half way through the
former novel I can recommend it highly.
Cheers,
Gary
Cheers,
Gary
<>
REFERENCES
<make
things easier for others: one of the ideas behind the html version>
<the idea is to be a little
more helpful to the audience, with the references, the key idea might be
'Omnibus'>
<Omnibus:
hoping to avoid the fragmented scavenger hunt that was the FR>
<Site:
if people want to learn about these authors, then make it easy for them>
<Movie:
hmm. not sure about the movies,
but not
everyone is going to have the time to track down the books, and read them
outside, on a beautiful sping day, in the park, or on the walk that didn't
require any gas $>
OMNIBUS: this would be the
most important one
SITE: main author's site
MOVIE: sorta missing the
point (quote), but i guess that these can inspire in a different way
(sometimes,
good to play a movie, before the game)
(starts
at 8 ... if you get there at 5, we're having dinner, and watching ...)
ANDERSON
MOV:
High Crusade
SITE:
BURROUGHS
OMNIBUS:
MOV:
SITE:
Mars Omnibus (search for
Venus & Pellucidar)
http://www.mobipocket.com/en/eBooks/eBookDetails.asp?Language=EN&BookID=11877
.mov?
http://www.craphound.com/images/jcofmarc.jpg
DE CAMP & PRATT:
OMNIBUS:
SITE:
MOV:
Omnibus edition of the Harold Shea ...
LEIBER
OMNIBUS:
SITE:
MOV:
There is a comic book version
of ...
VANCE:
OMNIBUS:
et
al. could be interpreted as a 'best of' .... hopefully, from the author's
point of view .... if there is still time, maybe interview them about this
...
SITE:
http://www.jackvance.com
MOVIE:
RPG:
http://www.dyingearth.com/
The Jack Vance Treasury ...
http://www.sfbc.com/doc/sfc/GlobalData/GlobalImages/BookJacketsLarge/109510B_lg.jpg
<contextually, between
the book, the comic book, and the movie ... if i had to go with one ...
it would probably be the RPG>
<i dk, mayb just me ...
i like the read the center book of an RPG ...>
ZELAZNY
The Chronicles of Amber
: would this b the omnibus?
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/c0/c3953.jpg
The Illustrated Roger Zelazny
http://i2.iofferphoto.com/img/item/470/293/61/zelazny_r_eng_illustrated.jpg
Audiobook, out there somewhere ...
The Amber Dictionary Page
http://www.stwing.upenn.edu/~avm/Amber.shtml
<>
(Inspirational)
ART
The idea is to have at least
one image from each of the authors.
ANDERSON \ cavalier
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n0/n2284.jpg
http://members.cox.net/sjrohde2/images/books_a/anderson_three_avong1127.jpg
http://www.dkennedy.org/images/ThreeHeartsAndThreeLions.jpg
Theoretically, this could
get used for mounted combat
http://www.cafardcosmique.com/IMG/arton547.jpg
ANDERSON \ battlesystem
The High
Crusade : Ares 16
http://spaceship.brainiac.com/SPI/high-crusade.jpg
CD?
http://www.freecovers.net
Battlesystem:
This is based on a scene from the High Crusade
http://www.sharrock.org.uk/Images/Hottbap2004Images/HOTTBAP2004_B4_005.JPG
http://www.sharrock.org.uk/Articles/Armies/HighCrusade.html
The High
Crusade (movie, loosely based on the book)
http://www.scifi-movies.com/images/c/croisesdelespace1994film/affiche.jpg
The Broken
Sword
http://www.skwishmi.com/images/baf/01a.jpg
ANDERSON \ thor
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n0/n2310.jpg
BELLAIRS \ casting from spellbooks
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/87/The_Face_in_the_Frost_-_John_Bellairs.png
BURROUGHS \ MARS
http://www.tarzan.org/art/ffddpm.jpg
http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/wp-content/2008/02/01_princess_schoonover.jpg
http://www.illusiontv.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/fightingman1.jpg
http://www.unsv.com/voanews/specialenglish/images/mars_illustration.jpg
http://www.simplyaudiobooks.co.uk/images/covers/large/0786132779_DIG.jpg
BURROUGHS \ VENUS
out of scope
http://michaelmay.us/08blog/0327_carsonvenus.jpg
giant lizard?
http://www.pandora.ca/pictures5/955935.jpg
frazetta pirates of venus
BURROUGHS \ PELLUCIDAR
http://mindlandgraphics.com/big/Pellucidar.jpg
sabre-tooth tiger
http://www.pandora.ca/pictures37/460740.jpg
what kind of a dino is that?
http://bp1.blogger.com/_oPFYKWPC49I/R7OJ-wyRedI/AAAAAAAAAFU/g8elN67CILQ/s1600-h/Pellucidar.jpg
DE CAMP
find a larger image
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51R4um5RW7L._SL500_SS130_.jpg
LEIBER
is that the frost snake?
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j8/darkmattr/swords.jpg
MERRIT
http://www.sherlockiana.net/antikvariatet/kataloger/dwellers%20in%20the%20mirage.jpg
PRATT
blue star
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f7/The_Blue_Star.jpg
VANCE
http://www.jackvance.com/vance/covers/english/jpg/eyes.jpg
http://www.jackvance.com/vance/covers/english/jpg/a26h.jpg
ZELAZNY
an amazing image for many
reasons ...
among them, contextually,
it is (subtly) pushing the envelope ... what is fantasy ...
something beyond the industry
definition ...
(silver key)(yek revlis)
http://i1.iofferphoto.com/img/item/402/131/06/Amber_front_large.png
<art, in it's highest, and lowest, and, therefore, most central form ... something that cannot be seen ... something that cannot be touched ...>
amazing image, just not too
sure where it would go ...
http://www.stwing.upenn.edu/~avm/cover.gif
http://www.gibsonbooks.com/shop_image/product/46162.jpg
http://www.gibsonbooks.com/shop_image/product/46161.jpg
SITES
These
sites seem to give a good "zoom in" (imagination is infinite) to the Appendix
N ...
( is there something better
than wikipedia, out there ? )
Wilson & Alroy on High
Fantasy Novels
http://www.warr.org/Merritt.shtml
APPENDIX N.H : CONAN
HOWARD
OMNIBUS:
COMIC:
Dark
Horse
SITE:
ageofconan.com
SITE:
conan.com
MOV:
there is a series of 12 books:
1) Conan,
2) Conan of Cimmeria,
3) Conan the Freebooter,
4) Conan the Wanderer,
5) Conan the Adventurer
6) Conan the Buccaneer
7) Conan the Warrior
8) Conan the Usurper
9) Conan the Conqueror
10) Conan the Avenger
11) Conan of Aquilonia
12) Conan of the Isles
these are the ones that i
would choose, because:
a) they
incl. all of REH's Conan stories
b) they
tell the 'whole story' of Conan's life, from beginning to end
c) they
were compiled/finished by de Camp & Carter, who both have an entry
in Appendix N
Inspiration: Remorhaz,
Frost
Giant (D344.15)
Howard, R. E. "Conan" Series [Conan Role-Playing Game, GURPS Conan, Conan the Roleplaying Game]
1. <The Lance/Ace editions come as the most highly recommended for fans of 1e>
2. "Dark Horse Comics began
their comic adaptation of the Conan saga in 2003 ... This series is an
interpretation of the original Conan material by Robert E. Howard with
no connection whatsoever to the earlier Marvel
comics or any Conan story not written or envisioned by Howard supplemented
by wholly original material." - wikipedia
<"Dark
Horse Comics is currently publishing compilations of the 1970s Marvel Comics
Conan the Barbarian series and Savage Sword of Conan series in graphic-novel
format.">
<next
to the Lance/Ace editions, these might have the most relevance to fans
of 1E. highly recommended, best read outside.>
Conan: The Role-Playing Game is a great supplemental source for CB1 & CB2.
Here are the 32 regions of
Hyborea (33 begins at Vilayet Sea):
Vanaheim [V]
Asgard [A] (Betrayer
of Asgard)
Hyperborea [H]
Pictish Wilderness [PW]
(Across
the Thunder River)
Cimmeria
[C]
Border Kingdom [BK]
Aquilonia
[AQ] (Heretics
of Tarantia)
Nemedia
Brythunia
Zingara
Ophir
Corinthia
Zamora
Argos
Koth
Khoraja
Khaurun
Shem
[SH]
Zuagir Desert
Stygia
[ST]
Kush
Darfar
Keshan
Xuthol
Black
Kingdoms (Tales
of the Black Kingdoms)
Punt
Zembabwei
Drujistan
Iranistan
Turan
Hyrkania
Xapur [?]
Vilayet Sea (Reavers of the Vilayet)
For all of the above, the idea would be to find one story (in whatever medium, although a visual one might be the best), that is among the best, and that represents the distinctiveness of that locale the most.
[general idea: make a complete bibliography, and have one webpage for each of the regions of Hyboria. place each of the stories on the appropriate webpage]
<link to CB1 and CB2>
Thanks, Predavolk.
I read the 12-volume Ace
when I was around 12 or so,
so it wasn't exactly with
a discerning eye!
I've noted (quote and link
to this thread) the titles of the Del Rey books in my expanded Appendix
N,
that's I'm piecing together.
So, guys, if you want the best stuff - ignore that 12 volume set, and scroll down to Predavolk's stuff.
I've also noted those two sites (again, another quote and link to the thread on that expanded Appendix N).
Thanks again,
Prespos
PS. The community 'Battles
of Hyboria' thread idea sounds great.
If that comes together,
then one could probably derive patrols for RPG encounter tables from it,
as well.
"
REHupa.com is THE place
for all things Howardian, and http://www.barbariankeep.com/
predavolk.
You want either the Del Rey
series of Conan (The Coming of Conan, The Bloody Sword of Conan, and The
Conquering Crown of Conan), or the slightly less-pretty Chronicles of Conan
(all in one volume). Those are your pure Howard, and they're pure dynamite.
-
predavolk."
Stormcrow,
I am prone to concur with your take on conan. He is not a moral sort of a guy, ut rather self-seeking with a streak of honesty and gallantry.
Gary
Combat_Kyle wrote:
Ahh, gotta love alignment
related arguments. I like Conan, and I don't think Robert E. Howard had
the alignment system in mind when he wrote the stories.
All that matters with Conan
is that he is a bad ass protagonist with a big sword!
Heh...
Author's intent does not
preclude gamers' analysis of their fictitional characters' moral and ethical
bent according to the OAD&D alignments.
That so many can be accurately
assessed in such manner is indicative of the scope of the system.
Cheers,
Gary
APPENDIX N.H ELRIC
Overview: Elric saga
http://www.swordandsorcery.org/elric-saga.htm
http://students.uat.edu/natcox/Stormbringer1.jpg
Inspirational Reading:
<trim down to re-make original list, as is : the one above is my notepad>
Anderson, Poul. THREE HEARTS AND THREE LIONS; THE HIGH CRUSADE; THE BROKEN SWORD
Bellairs, John. THE FACE
IN THE FROST
Brackett, Leigh.
<notes:
Eric
John Stark,
Leigh
Brackett Solar System>
Brown, Fredric.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. "Pellucidar" Series; Mars Series; Venus Series
Bradbury is the finest author of imaginative short stories IMO, and if any other authors dismiss his work it is our of green-eyed jealousy i should think.
ERB's work is indeed juvenile but a lot of fun to read. Most of the stories are surely pot poilers with formula plots, but I enjoyed them, and there was a good deal of creative imagination behind the tales.
i do wonder why they had Ray write an intro when his heart wasn't in it. there muist be several name authors who could have done an enthusiastic piece. - GG
Carter, Lin. "World's End'' Series
*de
Camp, L. Sprague. LEST DARKNESS FALL; FALLIBLE FIEND; etal.
*
de Camp & Pratt. "Harold Shea" Series; CARNELIAN CUBE
Derleth, August.
The Dweller
in Darkness. (CTHUGA) <link>
The Thing
That Walked On The Wind (ITHAQUA) <link>
Dunsany, Lord.
Farmer, P. J. "The World
of the Tiers" Series; etal.
The Maker
of Universes (1965), The Gates of Creation (1966), A Private Cosmos (1968),
Behind the Walls of Terra (1970), The Lavalite World (1977) and More Than
Fire (1993).
Fox, Gardner. "Kothar" Series; "Kyrik" Series; et of.
HYPERBOREA, NORTH WIND ADVENTURES.
Greg Ellis wrote:
Thanks Gary! It makes
a lot of sense when you put it that way.
Thank you Greg 
Actually, conan always trook the jewels and a vouptous female as treasures gained from some ahrrowing adventure. Of course the latter always made off with the former, so the poor dumb savage had to go off and fight another batch of vile evil opponents.
- Gary Gygax
<vile: perhaps, -1 M for the named villains in CB1 and CB2>
Lanier, Sterling. HIEROS JOURNEY
Leiber, Fritz. "Fafhrd & Gray Mouser" Series; et al.
Lovecraft, H. P.
<H.P.
Lovecraft Omnibux, vol. I : At the Mountains of Madness>
<H.P.
Lovecraft Omnibux, vol. II : Dagon and Other Macabre Tales >
<H.P.
Lovecraft Omnibux, vol. III : The Haunter of the Dark>
<The above 3, published by Grafton, should contain everything that he
wrote that was published><check>
<H.P.
Lovecraft : A Biography, by L. Sprague de Camp, Barnes & Noble Books
- being written by LSDC, this one may be of interest>
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"
Weinbaum, Stanley.
Wellman, Manly Wade.
Williamson, Jack.
Zelazny, Roger. JACK OF SHADOWS; "Amber" Series; et of.
The most immediate influences**
upon AD&D were probably de Camp & Pratt, REH, Fritz Leiber,
Jack Vance, HPL, and A. Merritt; but all of the above
authors, as well as many
not listed, certainly helped to shape the form of the game. For this reason,
and for the hours of reading enjoyment, I heartily recommend the works
of these fine authors to you.
<*>, added to list?
Howdy Predavolk,
As with many things, naming a favorite isn't my bag. I must say, though, that I enjoyed the full length novel about Conan, and "Red Nails" is an outstanding tale of chilling adventure action that I would love to be able to emulate in an RPG module.
JRRT's "rings Trilogy" was too slow paced for me, although I did enjoy The Hobbit.
High on the list of other
influences for my FPR game design are:
Jack Vance, de Camp &
Pratt, Fritz Leiber, Saberhagen, Merritt, and Moorcock. So many excellent
old fantasy yarns...
Cheers,
Gary
Driver wrote:
Gary,
Another "just curious" question. If you were going to assign an AD&D alignment to Cugel the Clever from Jack Vance's "Dying Earth" stories, what would it be? He doesn't seem to *actively* seek to promote evil, or any other ethos for that matter, but then again he's a git, and does some pretty nasty stuff in the stories.
I'd put him as Chaotic Neutral, but I'm curious how you'd rate him.
Cugel is Chaotic evil--note
the small e there. He isn't demonic, but he is malign, never seeking to
do good for anyone but himself, never hesitating to sacrifice anyone in
search of his self interest.
Quote:
(I've just read the "Dying
Earth" stories for the first time in years, and had forgotten how much
I like Vance. Now it's off to the library for "Planet of Adventure" and
"Demon Princes."
I've just picked up new
copies of the five novels about the "Demon Princes" and the sequel to Ports
of Call, so I expect to be reading and enjoying Vance's work a good bit
this summer. Planet of Adventure is my favorite work of his, if i actually
have one..
Quote:
I also just got a copy of
"Princess of Mars" with a Ray Bradbury introduction. I like a lot of Bradbury's
work, but felt the introduction was bush-league, as he damns Burroughs
with faint praise, suggesting that some part of one's adult brain needs
to be shut off to enjoy the Mars novels. Since Bradbury is often dismissed
as a fluff-writer by hard sci-fi buffs, I found this sad and amusing, and
wondered why they didn't get an introduction writer who was still capable
of enjoying Burroughs without eyebrow arched.
There was also more bio about Bradbury on the back cover than about Burroughs. :(
Anyway, that's just a side rant, since I know you enjoy both Bradbury and Burroughs.)
Have a great weekend!
Bradbury is the finest author
of imaginative short stories IMO, and if any other authors dismiss his
work it is our of green-eyed jealousy i should think.
ERB's work is indeed juvenile but a lot of fun to read. Most of the stories are surely pot poilers with formula plots, but I enjoyed them, and there was a good deal of creative imagination behind the tales.
i do wonder why they had Ray write an intro when his heart wasn't in it. there muist be several name authors who could have done an enthusiastic piece.
DMPrata wrote:
Gary, I made an observation
today that may be insightful, or may be just plain stupid, depending on
your response! :lol: I'm well aware of your position as to the minimal
impact of Tolkien's works on your writing. In the published World of Greyhawk
setting, though, is it possible that Queen Yolande of Celene and Count
Hazendel of Sunndi were in some way inspired by Lady Galadriel of Lothlórien
and Lord Elrond Half-elven of Rivendell?
Not by any stretch of the
imagination is there any such inspiration.
Quote:
Please forgive the long
post. I'm really not one of those Tolkien crackpots you adore so much :wink:
. I'm mostly just trying to get a handle on these two NPC's, as they figure
prominently in my own Greyhawk campaign. If, indeed, the "Creator" modelled
them after the Tolkien characters, then I would have a wealth of background
flavor for them at my fingertips, and could develop them thusly. As always,
your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
The NPCs are as they are prensnted in the text, no more, no less. Certainly individual DMs can alter and augment the information as desired, for that was the express purpose for the work as presented.
Gary
JASON THE RULESREADER wrote:
Gary,
I just found my SAGA OF OLD CITY, ARTIFACT OF EVIL books. Found them in storage after 10 years.......
Just wondering, does the
combat in those books follow the logic and flow of AD&D? It seems like
it does, almost reading like a combat example without the mechanics......
Just so.
I wroite those books to give readers dramatic examples of what an adventure world operating on the AD&D game principles ouuld be like.
Cheers,
Gary
Scarecrow wrote:
Hi, Gary:
I've looked through Amazon and a few other places, but I've had trouble finding good books on monsters & mythological creatures. Do you have any suggestions on new or not-long-out-of-print reference works on monsters?
Also, I'm curious about the mythological/etymological origin or inspiration behind some monsters: aerial servants, Type V demons, gnolls (Lord Dunsany?), ixitxachitl, jackalweres, morkoths, and umber hulks.
Thanks for creating a hobby
that's provided so much fun to so many people (not to mention intellectual
stimulation; my knowledge of Latin abbreviations first came from the DMG!).
Hi Scarecrow,
That's some laundry list, and I fear I must beg off answering specificaly:
It has been a long time since I did research for new monsters, so I'd have to go through the linrary in the basement to get a biblipgraphy together, and that just anin't in the cards these days. Check the bibliographies in the OAD&D DMG and in the Dangerous Journeys Mythus books.
Most of those monsters you
are curious about I made up off the top of my head.
The name for gnolls is from
Dunsany, but nothing else.
The ixitxachitl is a creation
of Steve Marsh.
The morkoth isn't mine,
so I can't comment.
And of course thanks for
the kind words
Ciao,
Gary
<Hi Scarecrow: Magickal, Mythical Beasts, by D.J. Conway, is a good reference, off the top of my wizard's hat - Prespos>
predavolk wrote:
When we can agree!
Quote:
Maybe even Then
Quote:
On the topic of authors,
I think we all can generally agree on the greats (as mostly cited in the
DMG). But have you read anything more recent (1990+) that really caught
your imagination? I'm sure you've been asked this question but can't find
an answer in the hundreds of pages of your posts! What do you think of
Harry Potter? Have you read Jim's recent book?
I think Glen Cook writes
good swords & sorcery, and I enjoy Prachett's "Ring World" yarns. Most
of the other contempory fantasy fiction is not to my taste.
Cheers,
Gary
John Stark wrote:
Gary,
The fantasy authors from whom you drew inspiration for AD&D are well known, but I was wondering if you could comment on non-fictional sources that served to inspire you "back in the day."
Books on mythology? Historical works? Military history (I'm guessing the Osprey line may have been one of these)? Primary sources like Beowulf and the like? Could you give some bibliographical tips on good non-fiction works that greatly inspired you?
Also, to what effect did the Judeo/Christian Scriptures influence the game? To me, many clerical spells and paladin abilities are likely to have been drawn from the Bible, but that is only speculation on my part. The Old Testament in particular seems a rich source of inspiration for ancient world-type camaigns.
Thanks for any information
you care to share.
When I was writing the D&D
game the Osprey books wre not at all up to professional historical standards.
I read dozens of military
history books, including the works of CWC Oman and Stone's Glossary
of the Construction, Decoration, and Use of Arms and Armor,
as well as DelBrucks Numbers
in History and all manner of volumes dealing with medieval life, castellation,
and weapons and armor such as that written by Burton, Book of the Sword.
I demure from going down
to my basement library and making a list of all the pertainent history
and mythology books used as resource material by me, so i hope that suffices
I did not use anything from the Bible, as I consider that quite beyond the pale.
Cheers,
Gary
Moloch wrote:
The stresses of life had
me down recently; I found it most comforting to curl up with an old favorite;
Pratt and DeCamp's "Compleat Enchanter" stories, which I believe is on
your "suggested reads" list in the back of the AD&D DMG. It had been
at least 20 years since I read them, so it was fun to revisit these tales.
I'm now on a hunt for some of the old Poul Anderson classics I read so
long ago. Good fantasy that doesn't take itself too seriously and seeks
to entertain the reader is refreshing. It's taken a long time, but I'm
finally getting around thanking you for that reccomendation, Colonel! So
thanks!
Forgive me if it's been
asked before, but have you read any of the Pratchett 'Discworld' novels?
The author certainly seems to have read the old pulp sword & sorcery
yarns and makes frequent references to Lieber. Some people find the stories
too silly; I have enjoyed them a great deal. Of the few I have read so
far, 'Guards, Guards!' is my favorite.
As always, good health,
colonel!
Yes indeed!
The Incomplete Enchanter,
Castle
of Iron, The Green Magician, Wall of Serpents are favorites
of mine for sure.
Very influential in the
creation of the D&D game.
Also enjoyed Three Hearts
& Three Lions and High Crusade by Anderson.
Frankly, the "Diskworld"
series is one of the very few contemporary fantasy works that I find enjoyable.
I have added a set of high
potency magic items to the Lejendary Adventure game sumilar to "Luggage."
Gary
So true. Lots of enjoyable
reading in that list of books. I only wish there were more of that sort
being written these days.
Cheers,
Gary
Gary
Originally posted by johnsemlak
1. What are your favorite
fantasy movies? And would you like to see a film based on a popular D&D
module/adventure?
Right to the chase here!
1. My favorite fantasy films
are the Harry Potter one and the LotR movie, in that order. There are a
lot of movies that I feel have a great fantasy theme, even though they
are not in that genre. For example, KING KONG and THE DEEP. Anyway, now
that we have two exceptionally well done and profitable fantasy major motion
pictures, more such films can be expected, and I don't man only more Harry
Potter ones and the other two Rings films.
Quote:
Originally posted by
darth
One of the ways that DnD
influenced my life positively was the books that I read because of it.
Of course, I had already read LOTR and C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia,
but it was at Gary's suggestion that I read Fritz Lieber, Jack Vance, and
Michael Moorcock. Other RPGs have gotten me to read HP Lovecraft and his
circle, including the great Robert Howard.
Hey now! Look at my recommended
reading list in the old DMG again, amigo. Both Howard and Lovecraft are
named there and were actually major influences on my creation of the game.
Quote:
Originally posted by
darth
One of my great interests
right now is the development of fantasy as we know the genre today. Certainly,
EGG has been one of the more influential names in the landscape. Many of
the assumptions we make about a fantasy world come from him and from DnD.
Two questions, then, for the good sir:
What other books and authors
might you suggest? I'd love to hear of ones that influenced you, or ones
you think anyone might benefit by reading.
The aforementioned appendix
in the OAD&D DMG has a pretty exhaustive list of those books I felt
were influential and interesting--Merritt, Saberhagen, St, Clair, and Weinbaum
for example. Also, if you happen to get a look at the MYTHUS game book,
look for the recommended reading lists therein.
Quote:
Originally posted by
johnsemlak
Gary,
You said you might answer a few last final questions. Here we go.
1. Sorry, but this very small thing has nagged me for years...
In Appendix N (inspirational reading) of the 1e DMG, you write:
"The most immediate influences
upon AD&D were probably de Camp &
Pratt, REH [Howard], Fritz
Leiber, Jack Vance, HPL [Lovecraft], and A. Merritt."
In listing the primary authors that influenced the AD&D game, you left out J.R.R. Tolkien (you put him in a much larger list of sources of fantasy but did not include him among the 'most immediate influences'). As many people (erroneously) consider D&D to be a rather close copy of Tolkien's world, leaving out Tolkien seems conspicuous.
Is there any particular reason
you didn't single out Tolkien as one of the major influences on AD&D?
Happy to be of service.
I omitted JRRT's work as a primary one because it didn't inspire me in regards to gaming, to create the material in A/D&D that made it what it is at its core. While I enjoyed THE HOBBIT, the trilogy was not an exciting read for me.
The listed authors and works
were what moved me to want to design a game that allowed participants to
have exciting fantasy adventures. The "influences" from JRRT's work that
I included in the game were mainly there to interest others in playing
it, not what caused me to want to create it
Re: What's the record for a thread?
the first Lord of the Rings
movie Was very good indeed. I was bored in the opening--too long for my
tasts, and I disliked the flute music and chanting when the elves were
around. That seemed inappropriate to me. I liked all the rest, and the
orcs wer great, especially the chief of the bunch. My wife picked the movie
up on CD, so I've seen it after the big screen outing, and my son Alex
has watched it about a half-dozen times now.
I've seen the "Harry Potter" film twice also. With the LotR movie, that makes the two best fantasy films done to date. I too am looking forward to seeing "Two Towers" as well the next "Henry Potter" flick.
Cheers,
Gary
Ah well, as a fan of REH's
work since I was about 10 years old, I'll have to see the next "Conan"
film even though I'll likely really not like it. I told Arthur Lieberman
and Mimu Shapiro both that they needed an axpert consultant on the "Conan"
written by Howard, and Art then wanted me to design a weapon for "King
Kull" to use and suggest a storyline for that flick...for free :rolleyes:
Anyway, I like Arnie in many films, but not as Conan. Tough luck for me.
Re: Movies
Quote:
Originally posted by Caedrel
If you get around to seeing the extended version on DVD, let us know what you think - apparently it's got better character development but not onerously so. If you found the opening slow, I wonder if you'll find the extended version slower?
Actually, we have the DVD,
and I've watched it once, son Alex several times. I found it less tedious,
in fact in that I could get up, get a drink, have a smoke, when the material
on screen was not quite compelling to me
Quote:
Uh oh! I feel a "best movie
of all time" debate coming on - perhaps a sure way to generate some controversy
and get this thread closed
I liked the "Harry Potter
film a bit better, but not by much, so I have no dispute with those who
rate the first of the "Rings Trilogy" movies above it. We are looking forward
to seeing the second productions in both series soon now, in fact.
Quote:
My personal favourite would
be Ladyhawke from 1982 (I think). But that probably has more to do with
me than the movie, as I suspect most "personal favourites" are
That was done in the days
when I was out in the "Hollywood" area, and I read, still have, a pre-production
script.
I had great hopes for that
film, but im my judgement, they blew it somewhere. The original script
was a lot better that what was shot.
Quote:
Originally posted by
Sir Edgar
I know you have a list of
books that inspired your work at the back of the 1st edition DMG, but if
you were to recommend five books that MOST influenced you in the design
of D&D, what would they be? Basically, I'm looking for a few good books
to read that will help me get an understanding of your design philosophy.
Thank you.
I can't narrow it down to
five books, but five authors, maybe:
Jack Vance
Robert E. Howard
Fritz Lieber
de Camp & Pratt
A. Merritt
Honorable Mentions
Roger Zelazny
Michael Moorcock
Fred Saberhagen
L. Sprague de Camp
Stanley Weinbaum
Margaret St. Claire
Sorry, even being that "narrow" makes me feel uneasy. I read a LOT of fantasy and SF before I got to the penning of the D&D game <eek>
Cheers,
Gary
ERB
Merric,
Thanks for posting the forward to the D&D work. I had totally forgotten it.
I recalled Edgar Rice Burroughs
only after submitting my reply...,but I actually did remember his books.
As for the Barsoom and Venus yarns, don't neglect the stories based in
Pellucidar! Those hollow earth adventures, one with Tarzan included, were
just great! BTW, I read my first ERB novel at age 10, Cave Girl, and loved
it.
Quote:
Originally posted by
8XXX{0}====>
A question for you...
Have you read George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. If you have, what do you think of it?
Thanks,
Sword
Sorry, but I have not read
the book, so I am unable to comment.
As a rule of thumb if it
is anything like the work of Anthony, de Camp & Pratt, Farmer, Leiber,
Howard, Merritt, Moorcock, Saberhagen, or Vance I will likely enjoy it.
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally posted by
8XXX{0}====>
I think you would like the
series. Its better written than Wheel of Time, but since I havnt read anything
by the abovementioned authors, I cant really comment accuratly.
But thanks for answering
my question.
Its kind of intimidating
to be 17 and ask questions of The Man.
Just remember that I was
17 once myself My buddy Tom
Keogh's father was a freelance artist and inventor, a great fan of myster
and SF fiction.
I used to feel somewhat
intimidated speaking to him about the authors I liked, but I was such a
SF goob that I did it anyway.
Funny thing about Mr. Keogh
was that he had worked for Walt Disney and he looked a bit like him--made
it ever more intimidating
Cheers,
Gary
Howdy Plycon,
Glad you enjoyed the "Black Company." I found Glem Cook's writing to be the sort I enjoy. Unfortunately, I did not keep up with the series because of work--many books to read for research and much writing to do. In short, I never got very far in the series. Oh well, something more to put on my list of books to pick up and read... What I am waiting for most eagerly is Vance's "Sequal to Ports of Call."
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tav_Behemoth
I have the highest respect
for your bibilomania - after 20 years I continue to find new riches within
the DMG's Appendix N: Inspirational and Recommended Reading - and tracing
these literary antecedents serves to only further increase my admiration
for you as a connoiseur of fantasy and as a game designer.
Thanks as always!
Thank you very much, and
happy you are making good use of the list! Hope you also enjoy the more
recent work of Glen Cook and Terry Prachett. How I admire Terry's creation
"luggage" and the manner in which he describes it in his novels
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by francisca
Agreed, with Fritz Leiber
thrown in for good measure.
I avoided mentioning what
authors I'd add beynd the two giants in horror and swords $ sorcery.
I agree that Fritz is a
likely candidate, and Ray Bradbury and Jack Vance as well as Phil Farmer
are also on my short list.
What about Edgar Rice Burroughs?!
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray
Mouser
Gah! And no Fritz Leiber????
What gives?!
Gray Mouser
See above
I knew Fritz fairly well, and he was a fine fellow.
In truth he is not a important
to the shaping of the genres as were Howard and Lovecraft.
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeadlyUematsu
Game designing question
here, relevant to AD&D...
Say I wanted to emulate the 'child of destiny' archetype, would it be effective to have such a character start ridiculously weak, but grow quickly in power (shorter needs of experience) and abilities (class features)? On the opposite side, what about a 'veteran hero in decline', someone who is initially very powerful but nary develops in power or ability (greater needs of experience and fewer class features)? Are these viable (if not, effective) ways of going about this?
Seems to me those are character
development questions relevant to a novel, not to the design of a game...
In writing a novel, you need not worry about any "class", simply establish the matter in your background exposition and ongoing revealition of details of the environment, cast of characters, and through dialog mainly insight into their personality, morals, ethics, and motives. comments and character recollections are used in this and sketching out the past history of leading figures in the story.
Finally, the take you have the promising child and fading hero themes is well in hand.
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tav_Behemoth
Sounds good to me - you
will, no doubt, rise as a demilich if any of these fabulous artifacts are
disturbed
Heh...
Actually, I would be far
more disturbed if the books are not used for some good purpose--information,
reading enjoyment, whatever
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by TerraDave
Sidestepping the whole historical
author debate...there never was a Conan or a Grey Mouser or a roguish Vancian
mage either!
Obviously, but the autors
of those fictional characters do not pretend to any historical reality,
albeit their protagonists are indeed based on human archetypes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TerraDave
]Surely fiction is as much
or more a greater inspiration for fantastic role playing adventure as fact!
surely? How much insiration
from such sources have you put into print? If the answer is little or none,
perhaps you are talking out of your hat
Quote:
Originally Posted by TerraDave
Or, Good Sir, do you know
something I don't
How much time to you have?
Heh,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by TerraDave
Still, I am mildly surprised at your of advocacy for factual grounding...as impressed as I was with that list of fiction in the 1st edition DMG.
To cut to the chase, I am
an advocate or reading in general, and omnivoriously at that. I drew on
all manner of non-fictional sources when creating the A/D&D game, and
more than just history too. The recommended reading list was for inspiring
the DM in creating exciting adventure material, not for creating RPG system
material <paranoid> See the more extensive bibliography in the DJ Mythus
rules for that sort of reading list.
Glad you didn't take offense at my grouching about Authurian legens. It is most unpalatable to me, so I tend to become ascerbic <devious>
Cheers,
Gary
Well Fellows...
As I said earlier, discussion of the pros and cons of JRRT's work, their influence on the D&D game, are tedious, so I really won't carry on further discussion regarding the topic.
Some millions of roleplayers were quite satisfied by the presentation I made in A/D&D, no game since has managed to captivate so many fans, and I'll let it go at that.
I did not include Vance-inspired creatures in the A/D&D game because they didn't fit well with a quasi-medieval fantasy game, and although I found his work excellent, the potential audience for the RPG would not be particularly attracted by such inclusion. I let it go at having the whole of the spell-casting system be an inspiration from his writing.
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by gizmo33
I could have about a zillion
questions, all of the form: "Tell me everything you can remember about
your sources of inspiration
Those are in the main listed
in the OAD&D game's DMG and in the bibliography for the Mythus
game,
Quote:
Originally Posted by A'koss
...
...
However, if I wanted to run a game in Conan's Hyborian Age, Middle Earth, Mythological Greece, play one of Knights of the Round Table, Robin Hood, Three Musketeers, etc. or something in that vein, you probably wouldn't use D&D as a foundation.
Cheers!
A'koss.
With the exception of Conan's
setting, I agree. Even there one would have to scale back the magic, but
having armor is usual in REH's tales, save for Conan and a few other of
the lesser protagonists, and the Barbarian class covers that pretty handily.
I don't think it's the armor or the magic that's the main problem in translating the D&D game to such settings but rather the classes themselves and the combat system, for that was devised for balanced hack & slash favoring the PCs in the long term.
Cheers,
Gary
I read literally thousands
of SF, fantasy, folklore, and mythology books beginning in 1950.
BTW, I was age 12 when I
became a dedicated SF anf fantasy fan, reading a pulp zine or book about
every day 
Quote:
Originally Posted by grodog
Hi Gary---
I'm glad to see you back
on the boards, and in better health 
There have been several discussions recently here about the inspirational reading list from the DMG (Appendix N), at Appendix N: Inspirational and Educational Reading and 1e inspiration list, how much have you read? and What Would Your Campaign/Setting's Inspirational Reading List Be?. Here's the original list, for quick reference (using the DMG list plus the two authors/works that appeared in The Dragon but weren't in the DMG):
My question to you is, if you were writing D&D for the first time, now in 2007, how would your Appendix N listings differ from your original selections? Would you add some more contemporary authors (like Neil Gaiman, George R. R. Martin, Lucius Shepard, etc.)? Would you add more contemporary works of the listed authors (Zelazny's more-recent Amber books, Leiber's concluding F&GM books, etc.)? Would you remove some authors who may not inspire you today like they did in the early 1970s (Frederick Brown, Margaret St. Clair, John Bellairs, etc.)? Would you add non-literary media (comic books, films, television, music, etc.)? Would you add more non-fiction (history, mythology, etc.)?
On some level I'm asking what inspires you today, but I'm also curious about how your tastes have changed (if they have).
Thanks, as always, for sharing
your thoughts 
Howdy,
The fact is that I wouldn't
change the list much, other than to add a couple of novels such as Lanier's
second Hiero yarn, Piers Anthony's Split Infinity series, and the Disc
World books.
I would never add other
media forms to a reading list. If someone is interested in comic books
and.or graphic novels, they're on their own.
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blair
Goatsblood
Thanks Gary. I didn't figure
it to be anything complex...I just enjoy hearing about the origins of your
beasties.
I recently read 'The Face in the Abyss', and enjoyed coming across one of the possible inflluences for one of my favorite D&D monster.
All right!
Merritt was a marvelous fantasy author. Face in the Abyss rocks! If you haven't read Dwellers in the Mirage and Creep Shadow, Creep, be sure to,,,along with Moon Pool of course.
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by ColonelHardisson
Gary, I had mentioned your
list of "recommended reading" in the 1e DMG on the previous Q&A thread.
That list still gets discussed a lot, as it consists of a lot of the great
fantasy and scifi authors and books of the first half of the twentieth
century. I was wondering if you'd be inclined to share with us the books
you'd include on an updated list? I know I'd be very interested in seeing
what you thought were some of the most inspirational, in a D&D sense,
books that you've read since the original list was composed.
Howdy Colonel,
Short answer:
Frankly, I find very few new fantasy books in the general S&S vein worth reading. I do enjoy the "Diskworld" series, and Glen Cook's "Black Company" novels are appealing to me. Those are about all that spring to mind. The fiction I have been reading these days is mostly murder mystery (I loved the "Judge Dee" series), historical (such as Cornwell's various series), alternate history, and some re-reading of old fantasy & SF books.
Cheers,
Gary
Comments
Doing my part, and
a nod toward Diskworld, to boot.
yahoo! number 6
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray
Mouser
Colonel,
Interesting commenst about your having published sci-fi and horror stories. Can you share the titles of these tales as well as where/when they were published? I'm aware of your fantasy stories (apart from the Gord books, of course) but am not familiar with these other stories.
Gray Mouser
Here is the list of most
of my short fiction that was published as individual storues. Sadly, I
can not find the Fafhrd & Grat Mouser one that runs to about 30K words
as I recall :\
“Pay Tribute” (Science Fiction
short story in The Fleet anthology)
“Battle off Deadstar” (Science
Fiction short story in Fleet Breakthrough anthology)
“Celebration of Celene”
(Fantasy short story published in Michael Moorcock’s Elric, Tales of the
White Wolf anthology) White Wolf, Inc., 1994
“Duty” (Fantasy short story
in Excalibur, anthology) Warner Books, 1995
“Get on Board the D Train”
(Horror short story in Dante’s Disciples anthology) White Wolf, Inc., 1996
“Evening Odds” (Fantasy
short story with Gord the Rogue sharing Michael Moorcock’s Eternal Champions
universe) White Wolf, Inc., 1997
“Return of Gord” (with K.R.
Bourgoine), Dragon Magazine #344, 2006
“Swords of Eternity” (Fantasy
short story based on Fritz Leiber’s “Lankhmar” universe, featuring Sheelba,
Ningauble, Fafhrd, and the Gray Mouser—a tribute to Frits that is still
unpublished.)
Cheerio,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by Naidim
I've read most of the books
on your list in the PHB. My only questions are have you read the Chronicles
of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson? Can you recommend any other
stories that are as different from the standard fare (the stereotypical
stuff like the Belgariad bores me), but still S&S?
About all I can say I enjoy
of the contemporary famntasy/S&S writing is that of Glen Cook and Terry
Pratchett. Donaldson I gave up on after about 50 pages.
I am now reading the original REH Conan stories, and that's about it, save for going back now and again to re-read Vance, Merritt, Farmer, etc. My main fiction persuits lately have been alternate history, historical novels such as the Shapre's series, and mystery stories. O am also now at work putting together a detailed outline of a new Gord the Rogue adventure novel, one set in the time period when he was a young rebel in Greyhawk. If my co-author is motivated by my material, and we find an interested publisher--likely Troll Lord Games as they are reprinting the other seven gord books in hardbound editions--we should have it done by the end of this year.
Cheerio,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by dcas
I do not mean that Turin
is "painfully noble" or "pedantically distressed," only that he is a more
noble and manly character than the leprous rapist Thomas Covenant. Of course
Elric isn't "painfully noble," he's painfully ignoble. 
I beg your pardon, but I
do not find Elric painful in any respect...in the initial two books in
the series in any case. He is, as far as I am concerned, the ultimate model
for an anti-hero, much as is Zelazny's Shadow Jack.
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by ghul
Al Williamson was one of
my favorites. I had the pleasure of meeting him once, and he signed my
Weird Science-Fantasy comic from 1954 that he'd done the cover art for.
He was the artist for one of the interior stories as well, Wally Wood doing
one of the others. Stephen King often cites the old EC comics as his original
inspiration to become a writer, as well as films like Creature from the
Black Lagoon.
Yes indeed...
When my wretched half-sister took it upon herself to destroy a whopping great cardboard carton full of my comics and magazines (a Playboy #1 included in there) because she did nin want her two sons reading them, I would gladly have throttled that witch. they were in the attic of my grandparents' house, where I lived and she was temporarily dwelling while her husband established his optomertic practise.
Sorry to grumble over lost
comics, but it grates on me after a half-century 
Cheerio,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flexor
the Mighty!
Hey Gary have you read the
Black Company series? If so did you like it?
I have read a couple of
these novels, and I enjoyed them...something I can not say about most contemporary
fantasy books. I also enjoy the Diskworld series.
Cheerio,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by ColonelHardisson
That's nice to hear. The
Knight and The Wizard are some of the finest fantasy books I've read in
years. Wolfe's style is often demanding on his reader, but is ultimately
rewarding.
So far I am in agreement,
sir 
That said, I have already recommended those two works to someone asking about any additions to my old DMG inspirational reading list.
Cheerio,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by mattcolville
Gary-
Not sure if anyone's asked this before, but if there were a canonical Gygaxian campaign, and you wanted to communicate the tone and style of play to a newbie, what movies would you have them watch as reference?
Your question is one that
has not been posed previously...and it is a tough one to answer.
From my POV there are virtually
no fantasy motion pictures that would depict anything close to a campaign
that I Game Mastered.
Not even those dreadful
"Conan" flicks have any merit in regards Sowrds & Sorcery theming.
So...
The spirit of the adventuring
I attempt to provide is conveyed The Deep and the hoped for excitement
in The Naked Prey.
Another good picture for
capturing the spirit of a fantasy adventure is surely Big Trouble in
Little China.
Party cooperation is pretty well conveyed in the second D&D movie, that work being a good deal better than the abominable first one.
The sense of lurking fear might be captured in the original The Thing, or in the old B&W movie She.
Exotic world setting and outdoor adventuring are well done in the Rongs trology motion pictures, and for a different take on that subject the original King Kong.
For general fantastic adventure and combat many of the Chinese martial arts films convey such images well, as they contain many elements of the FRPG game form--heroic protagonists questing, facing challenges, defeating powerful antagonists, overcoming personal fears, etc.
I hope that covers it. Come on back if you have any additional questions.
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by mattcolville
It's a good answer.
It's interesting that your first response is the Conan movie(s). I presume that's because, over the years, people with affection for the movie ask you what you thought of it, expecting the answer to be positive. Certainly there's a lot to be disappointed in.
I've noticed you say, and the evidence bears out, that you like some SF thrown in with your Fantasy. Would a "Gygaxian" fantasy movie be Swords & Sorcery, or more genre-bending stuff? I remember Krull had not only a group of adventurers, but some SF elements kinda casually tossed in.
The 13th Warrior often tops lists on message board forums of "best fantasy movie." That always struck me as a very low-fantasy (indeed, strictly speaking, no-fantasy) gaming-movie. I know it's John Zinzer at AEG's favorite movie for precisely that reason.
Do you ever watch a movie and find yourself inspired to include elements from it in one of your adventures?
Happy that you were satisfied,
as I was not quite that myself but couldn';t think of more examples off
hand...
Conan is not a brown-eyes, brown-haired fellow with an Austrian accent, and he does not run away from a bozo with a wooden circus mallet
A pure S&S film would be fine with me, but yes, a fantasy with some advanced technology included is great fun--Hiero's Journey, The Broken Lands, the Black Flame by Lanier, Saberhagen, and Weinbaum respectively are favorites of mine...made so from my old days of devouring pulp zines.
13th Warrior could have been 12th Warrior if I had been directing it, but the underground-dwelling bear-slayer troglodytes were pretty much thge stuff of fantasy, no?
Of late I find my inspiration more from historical sources than from motion picture or TV fiction sources, although I surely enjoy the latter.
Cheerio,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gentlegamer
I think that in many ways,
the sci-fi/fantasy dichotomy is a false one. Many of the most influential
stories in the "fantasy" genre have a healthy dose of "sci-fi" in them
as well. In fact, it is this quality that serves as the primary difference
between that genre that began in the 20th century that separated it from
the "fairy tales" that preceded it.
I think Gary's preference,
like mine, isn't necessarily for "sword and sorcery" but for "pulp adventure"
and the "well wrought tale" genre. This view is comfortable with running
a pseudo-medieval campaign setting that has crashed space ships, side treks
to Barsoom, guargantuan carnivorous apes, and cowboys. 
Actually, REH's and Leiber's
tales are amongst my very favorites, and they are pure pure S&S. OTOH,
I enjoy fairy tales and fantasy yarns with some technology/scoience fantasy
included, as noted above.
So yes, my taste in fantasy
is surely eclecticm and includes MArgater St. Claire's The Secret People
Cheerio,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesM
Gary,
Your writing style is very unique and I miss reading such marvelously grandiloquent prose in D&D products. I'm curious: how did you develop your style? It reminds me a bit of Jack Vance's authorial voice. Were you influenced by any particular authors or is it simply the way you've always written?
Thanks!
Heh...
I can't say exactly how my writing style evolved, but it came to fruition, as it were, back in the heyday of TSR and hasn't changed much since then. I have read so many works of fiction and fact written by all manner of different authors it is impossible for me to know what comes from where.
As a matter of fact I very much admire the writing of Jack Vance, read his work with a mixture of delight and ency, but I can not hold a candle to him.
If you take a lok at the installments of the Gnome Cache in the early numbers of Dragon magazine you will see how badly I was writing then, and how my style developed thereafter...although not a few critics observe that my writing is no better, just different
Cheerio,
Gary
<edit/move>
Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesM
I'll see if I can find them,
although I suspect most are out of print. It's damnably hard to find older
fantasy authors nowadays.
Try www.bookfinder.com
Quote:
Originally Posted by loseth
Colonel,
I used to assume that D&D was based on Tolkien, but doing a study of typical themes and elements in Howard’s Conan stories, I quickly realised that I had been mistaken, and that (1e) D&D was, in fact, far more Hyborea than Middle Earth. So, I'm dying to know: If you had to rank the degree of influence the following four authors had on you when you designed AD&D, would this ranking be accurate?
1. Howard
2. Leiber
3. Vance
4. Lovecraft
And part 2: Is that list of 4 missing any very significant influence(s)? Are any of those authors not deserving of the title 'very significant influence on D&D?'
Thanks,
loseth
It is hard to rank such
infuence, but I'll take a stab at it...and add authors as well. Some on
the list below are virtually tied as I consider them:
Howard
De Camp & Pratt
Vance
Leiber
Moorcock
Merritt
Lovecraft
Saberhagen
Poul Amderson
Tolkien
...and a score of others 
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by T.
Foster
Michael Moorcock has climbed
a bit since your list in the AD&D DMG (which included Merritt and Lovecraft
but not Moorcock on the list of "most immediate influences"), and I'm also
a bit surprised to see Fred Saberhagen so high on the list (above other
"usual suspects" like Burroughs, Farmer, and Fox). I've read Saberhagen's
"Empire of the East" series (on the basis of your recommendation in the
aforementioned DMG list) but nothing else -- are there any other titles
by him that you particularly recommend?
The first two Elric stories
were very influential in the development of the D&D game. Saberhagen
is listed for his "Empire of the East" that I very much liked. None other
of his novels struck me in this regard. Anyway, the series Saberhagen called
to mind Stanley Weinbau''s The BLack Flame. That is not to deny
Farmer, Fox, and Burrough had considerable influence. As I noted, another
score of authors belong on the list.
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by ColonelHardisson
Hi Gary -
I've been remiss in checking in on this thread lately, so I may have missed it if you told how you liked Gene Wolfe's "The Knight." Did you like it enough to read "The Wizard"? If so, did you enjoy the story as a whole?
Hi Colonel 
I went through The Knight with verve. Then I started in The Wizard and found it slower going. I am only about half way through the book, reading some original Conan as well as a Planet Stories Moorcock novel from Paizo instead of finishing it. I am having trouble relating to the "good" frost giants...
Cheerio,
Gary
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