w_earle_wheeler
First Post
Both the 1st edition Dungeon Master's Guide and the Moldvay Basic Set included lists of inspirational texts and suggested reading.
As Dungeons & Dragons grew hugely in popularity, players and game masters were less likely to be as familiar with Jack Vance as they were with the animated Lord of the Rings films.
I began playing D&D at the age of 8, and while I read The Hobbit at age 13, I didn't read LOTR trilogy until the tender age of 28. That's twenty years of fantasy gaming in ignorance.
Since then I've been trying to catch-up as best as I can, reading Jack Vance, Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft and Michael Moorecock.
I would like to share the inspirational works behind D&D with my players, most of whom only know about Cthulhu from second-hand geek jokes, and Conan from the movie.
However, a huge syllabus of novels for them to read would really be impractical. I am trying to compile, instead, a list of iconic short stories and novellas.
I am considering Fritz Leiber's "Ill Met in Lankhmar." It's around 80 pages, but it is a pretty compelling and quick read. The first chapter to Vance's "Dying Earth" is a great introduction to the roots of Vancian magic.
I find that the current Dark Horse run of the Conan comic is true enough to Howard's stories to earn a place on the list, and I'm not averse to including inspirational graphic stories or adaptions of inspirational stories on the list.
Any suggestions or thoughts?
As Dungeons & Dragons grew hugely in popularity, players and game masters were less likely to be as familiar with Jack Vance as they were with the animated Lord of the Rings films.
I began playing D&D at the age of 8, and while I read The Hobbit at age 13, I didn't read LOTR trilogy until the tender age of 28. That's twenty years of fantasy gaming in ignorance.
Since then I've been trying to catch-up as best as I can, reading Jack Vance, Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft and Michael Moorecock.
I would like to share the inspirational works behind D&D with my players, most of whom only know about Cthulhu from second-hand geek jokes, and Conan from the movie.
However, a huge syllabus of novels for them to read would really be impractical. I am trying to compile, instead, a list of iconic short stories and novellas.
I am considering Fritz Leiber's "Ill Met in Lankhmar." It's around 80 pages, but it is a pretty compelling and quick read. The first chapter to Vance's "Dying Earth" is a great introduction to the roots of Vancian magic.
I find that the current Dark Horse run of the Conan comic is true enough to Howard's stories to earn a place on the list, and I'm not averse to including inspirational graphic stories or adaptions of inspirational stories on the list.
Any suggestions or thoughts?
