Best books for DnD

[Manzanita]

I’m wrapping up a couple campaigns now and thinking about the future of my DMing. I was hoping some people could recommend the books that have given them the most inspiration for DnD. I’ll list some of mine for starters.

•Tolkien. Need I say more?
•Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crighton. Can easily be converted into a DnD module
•History of the Crusades. Religious conflict and large army combat provide good backdrop to a campaign.
•Biographies of Alexander the Great and Julius Ceaser. These guys rocked. Led armies into formerly uncharted territory. Provides examples of empires and emporers.

 

[Turanil]

-- Various stories of Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser (by Fritz Leiber). Archetypal D&D adventurer's adventures. However, not the kind of heroic stuff you are mentioning.

-- David Covenant the Unbeliever's Chronicles (by Stephen Donaldson). Epic novels easily adaptable to D&D.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

David Covenant the Unbeliever's Chronicles (by Stephen Donaldson). Epic novels easily adaptable to D&D.

Cool! Is he any relation to Thomas Covenant?

 

[TheLostSoul]

Thomas Harlan's The Oath of Empire series and Ian Irvine's Well of Echoes series have inspired me greatly. The first has made me do alot of alternate/mythological history scenarios, while the latter is a great example of a gritty and deadly setting. I am still wondering if I should not run something in that world...

Edgar Allan Poe, H.G. Wells and Howard Phillip Lovecraft have also inspired me greatly. I usually run games, heavily based on horror and mystery, so these are great for inspiration.

Koontz and Steven King have also been occasionally used for inspiration, but I am not very fond of their writings. There are tidbits in what I have read from them, that I have either used or drawn inspiration from, but it is rare.

Aaron Stainthoroe (My Dying Bride) and Dani Filth (Cradle of Filth) have also greatly inspired me. Although they are singers, their lyrics are great inspiration, depending on your mood. Generally, I find that music often inspires me.

Inspiration also comes from archaeological and historical texts. There are huge amounts of wonderous things to be found in our (pre)history. It also helps, though, that I am studying archaeology, I suppose.

 

[Mark]

Cool! Is he any relation to Thomas Covenant?

Puh-lease...


Lots of folks have drawn inspiration from the Shanarra series, or Thieves World, as well as the many books by David Eddings.

 

[Turjan]

Jack Vance, especially the "Planet of Adventure" or "Durdane" series. Of course, "The Dying Earth" is nice to know, too !

 

[Krieg]

The Deed of Paksennarion series byElizabeth Moon:
Sheepfarmer's Daughter.
Divided Allegiance.
Oath of Gold.
(BTW Paks is the best literary represetation of Paladin you will find.)

The Earthsea books by Ursula K. Le Guin:
A Wizard of Earthsea
The Tombs of Atuan
The Farthest Shore

The Sword Dancer saga by Jennifer Roberson:
Sword-Dancer
Sword-Singer
Sword-Maker
Sword-Breaker
Sword-Born
Sword-Sworn

The Riftwar Saga by Raymond Feist:
Magician
Silverthon
A Darkness at Sethanon

The Sun Sword quintology by Michelle (Saragara) West:
The Broken Crown
The Uncrowned King
The Shining Court
Sea of Sorrows
The Riven Shield
Sun Sword

 

[TheBadElf]

For me, the biggest influence would be the Black Company series by Glen Cook. Needless to say, I was very happy with the great adaptation Green Ronin did for D20.

Others would be the original Conan stories by Robert E. Howard, the Fafhrd and Mouser stories mentioned above, and a huge number of books about King Arthur and Robin Hood by an equally huge number of authors.

 

[SpringPlum]

Mary Stewart's Crystal Cave series.

And I definately second Raymond E. Feist. Although I prefer the Empire Trilogy and Serpent War Trilogy.

 

[Wombat]

I love Guy Gavriel Kay for background ideas and plot bunnies.

And a host of books on the Middle Ages left over from my college days...