D&D General Appendix EN - What one book/series inspires your D&D?
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Lord Mhoram
Hero
Not suprisingly this was the series I came to mention.
Lord Mhoram
Hero
A lot of the ones I would post have been covered, but one to add.
Belgariad/Mallorean by David and Leigh Eddings. Had a huge influence on me to be able to run series events in game, but keep the tone somewhat light, rather than descent into grimdark.
Belgariad/Mallorean by David and Leigh Eddings. Had a huge influence on me to be able to run series events in game, but keep the tone somewhat light, rather than descent into grimdark.
Lord Mhoram
Hero
The wife who is not a member wanted me to add Lord Dunsany - specifically King of Elfland's Daughter. So while I posted twice, it was actually 2 people.
Voadam
Legend
A friend of mine used that as part of the basis for his AD&D campaign. It was fantastic. I enjoyed reading the series afterwards too.
Stormonu
Legend
I haven't seen anyone mention it, so I'll add Beowulf. It reads like an ancient version of Gaston's song from Beauty and the Beast - a sort of one-man-upmanship as he does more and more outrageous acts, ending with a one-man fight with a dragon.
My favorite "conversion" of this old book is perhaps The Thirteenth Warrior, which is like seeing the story behind how this tale came to be and "what really happened".
My favorite "conversion" of this old book is perhaps The Thirteenth Warrior, which is like seeing the story behind how this tale came to be and "what really happened".
I'm glad others mentioned Black Company and Earthsea.
A third series I like a lot - that has some spectacular short stories that go with it - is also by Glen Cook. The Dread Empire. The writing at the beginning (the first book was in 1979, five years before Black Company) and ending (in 2012, the original manuscript was stolen and so he rewrote it and put in other stuff he was planning) catches me a bit at first, but then I get in the flow. I like how it presents an overarching world with a mix of sword and sorcery and something more like high fantasy, and lets you see a lot of characters. The scale of conflicts the characters deal with definitely keeps increasing. As far as influencing my D&D, there might be more in here that does than in the Black Company books.
I'm kind of curious how the ten short stories in An Empire Unacquainted with Defeat read to someone who hasn't read the series itself. The set of pirate stories don't particularly depend on knowing anything, and a few of the others seem like they have enough introduction with them. One of the stories collected in it was the first fiction he published under his own name back in 1971.
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On a semi-unrelated note, I also love his sci-fi work set in the Star Fishers universe. One of the great short stories set there ("In the Wind" from 1975) gave us part of the Plain of Fear in the Black Company.
A third series I like a lot - that has some spectacular short stories that go with it - is also by Glen Cook. The Dread Empire. The writing at the beginning (the first book was in 1979, five years before Black Company) and ending (in 2012, the original manuscript was stolen and so he rewrote it and put in other stuff he was planning) catches me a bit at first, but then I get in the flow. I like how it presents an overarching world with a mix of sword and sorcery and something more like high fantasy, and lets you see a lot of characters. The scale of conflicts the characters deal with definitely keeps increasing. As far as influencing my D&D, there might be more in here that does than in the Black Company books.
I'm kind of curious how the ten short stories in An Empire Unacquainted with Defeat read to someone who hasn't read the series itself. The set of pirate stories don't particularly depend on knowing anything, and a few of the others seem like they have enough introduction with them. One of the stories collected in it was the first fiction he published under his own name back in 1971.
---
On a semi-unrelated note, I also love his sci-fi work set in the Star Fishers universe. One of the great short stories set there ("In the Wind" from 1975) gave us part of the Plain of Fear in the Black Company.
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Yora
Legend
I go with a movie: The Empire Strikes Back.
It's a great example of exciting and dramatic adventures by characters who are really just blindly stumbling forward, without any great quest that comes to a neatly wrapped up resolution.
And it's just full of a range of wonderful fantastical places where the many varied encounters happen.
It's a great example of exciting and dramatic adventures by characters who are really just blindly stumbling forward, without any great quest that comes to a neatly wrapped up resolution.
And it's just full of a range of wonderful fantastical places where the many varied encounters happen.
Would be a great addition to the thread D&D General - Appendix EN+ :. What movies, books, and comics inspire your for D&D? too.
GreyLord
Legend
Not clear on what was meant by the Hobbit: Ring cycle in it.
So, I'll be more clear.
The Works of J.R.R. Tolkien which inlcludes, not just the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but all the works edited by his son and heirs which include the Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, the Lost Tales, Beren and Lutien, The Children of Hurin..etc.
Forgotten Realms and D&D novels.
Endless Quest and other gamebooks.
So, I'll be more clear.
The Works of J.R.R. Tolkien which inlcludes, not just the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but all the works edited by his son and heirs which include the Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, the Lost Tales, Beren and Lutien, The Children of Hurin..etc.
Forgotten Realms and D&D novels.
Endless Quest and other gamebooks.
At the time of the original list I think just the Hobbit and LotR we're out. (Silmarillion in 1977). The rest are a welcome addition to my mind.
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Vaalingrade
Legend
Cheating to say all of Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere.
Xenophon223
Villager
I've been looking for a reason to join and start posting, this seems like an excellent opportunity. I agree with everyone endorsing the Black Company books they are excellent and present a realistic idea of what fantasy warfare would be like.
In a similar vein, I'd add the books of the First Law Universe by Joe Abercrombie. The original trilogy is excellent, but the stand alone novel Best Served Cold is just ripe for stealing from for an adventure. His books subvert all the tropes and have some of the most memorable characters in modern fantasy. They are great for NPC inspiration.
In a similar vein, I'd add the books of the First Law Universe by Joe Abercrombie. The original trilogy is excellent, but the stand alone novel Best Served Cold is just ripe for stealing from for an adventure. His books subvert all the tropes and have some of the most memorable characters in modern fantasy. They are great for NPC inspiration.
Speaking of which
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Welcome to the boards!
I've read some of Abercrombie's short stories and have been meaning to check out some of his full length things. Would you start with "Best Served Cold"?
Xenophon223
Villager
Thank you very much!
No, "Best Served Cold" has some excellent callbacks to the First Law trilogy that will have a lot less impact if you start there. I'd start with the first book in the series, "The Blade Itself." It is excellent as are the next two books in the trilogy. The characters in it are some of the best crafted characters in all of fantasy IMO.
Ralif Redhammer
Legend
The Thieves World anthologies and Robert Asprin's Myth series are both intrinsically tied in my head with D&D, because I discovered all three at roughly the same time. From Thieves World I get a love of fantasy cities (and a bit of grit) whereas from the Myth series, a touch of humor, extraplanar travelling, and rollicking adventure.
Yes that is a great list in the OP.
The Sanctuary series of short stories. The general amorality and general shenanigans of the characters--don't call them heroes--is a perfect fit.
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