Do you read non-RPG fantasy novels?

[Zappo]

The vast majority of fantasy novels that are based on RPGs are utter drek. Of the stuff I read, which includes lots of Dragonlance, a bit of FR and Athas and some White Wolf, only the original Dragonlance "Dragons of..." and "Twins" trilogies were any good. It's not that the idea of making a novel on an RPG setting is bad. But the authors tend to be.

Mind ya, the vast majority of fantasy novels in general are utter drek, but the proportion is a lot worse among RPG-based books.

 

[JamesDJarvis]

I enjoy reading Science-fiction a lot more then fantasy but i pretty much enjoy fantasy gaming more then sci-fi gaming.

 

[Sejs]

More non-RPG fantasy than RPG fantasy, myself.

In my experience, most fantasy novels that are based on an RPG (rather than the other way around, natch) aren't really all that good. When I was ten, I could read Spellfire and think it was pretty cool. Now that I'm older and better read, I pick up the same book, read a bit, and start wondering to myself "... why am I bothering with this crap?"

 

[der_kluge]

You don't have an option for me - I don't read any kind of novel.

The only book I'm reading right now is: Cost Management, a Strategic Emphasis; 3rd edition.

I love the plot development in the 17th chapter. Riveting.

 

[RichGreen]

Hi,

I read an Eberron novel recently, but have pretty much given up on RPG fiction. I much prefer the well-written, imaginative fiction of Guy Gavriel Kay, George R R Martin, Jude Fisher, Robin Hobb, Fiona McIntosh, Terry Pratchett etc.

Cheers


Richard

 

[Shemeska]

Both.

Non RPG related novels tend to be like fine wines. RPG novels tend to be like a case of Colt .45: cheap but after you read a couple you tend to enjoy yourself.

That said, being an RPG designer does not make you necessarily a good author. Some RPG designers (Monte Cook for instance) have written some novels which I've found to be pretty darn good (Glass Prison was very cool). But some RPG designers (not naming names) should be banned for life from ever attempting to write a novel ever again for the sake of humanity under threat of Voodoo and Gypsy curses. Seriously, some people can design rules and PrCs but they cannot write a story to save their life and their friends should dissuade them from ever ever making the attempt again.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

The only book I'm reading right now is: Cost Management, a Strategic Emphasis; 3rd edition.

I love the plot development in the 17th chapter. Riveting.

Bah. Cost Management was better in the original 1974 edition. All others are a pale imitation.

 

[diaglo]

Bah. Cost Management was better in the original 1974 edition. All others are a pale imitation.

although in a pinch if you can find the old handscrawled xeroxed copies they too are rather good.

 

[Ranes]

You don't have an option for me either. I don't read fantasy novels at all. I read Tolkien and Moorcock in my teens and one or two others in my twenties. But I won't waste any more time on them. The only fantasy I enjoy is in a game. The rest of it is a crime against trees (and wit, usually). And I'm talking about the better stuff here, the pulp that isn't spun off an rpg licence.

Thanks. I always feel better after getting that off my chest.

 

[HellHound]

Simple. Are you a reader of fantasy books that are non-RPG related?

For the record, I count all Wizards and White Wolf productions as RPG related. The same way, authors that have RPG versions of their work, such as HP Lovecraft and Michael Moorcock are RPG related.

Hmm.

I don't count Moorcock as RPG-related, but that has to do with the fact that I've been reading Moorcock since the mid-70's. Ditto for H.P.L.

Honestly, I've read two actual RPG-related novels in my life (as in honest-to-goodness D&D, Shadowrun, etc novels), and will probably never do so again.

I read novels because I love to read, and I've learned that I really dislike RPG-related fiction. Now, fiction that then has RPGs based on it is different... if you include that, a lot of novels I have read are "now" counted as RPG related fiction according to your initial descriptor

- Eternal Champion by Michael Moorcock
- Discworld by Terry Pratchett
- Thieves World by various authors
- When Gravity Fails by George Alec Effinger
- Black Company by Glen Cook
- Everything H.P.Lovecraft ever wrote
- Hardwired by Walter Jon Williams
- Shannara by Terry Brooks
- Various Arthurian legend books

So I guess I've read a LOT of RPG-related novels that were not RPG-related at the time.