Have fantasy novels gotten "better" since D&D?

[The Hound]

I'd say no. They haven't gotten better, just more numerous - and we can thank D&D for a large part of that, thanks to it's popularity in the 1980s, which happens to coincide with the time that fantasy really took off.

 

[2WS-Steve]

I don't know from novels, but I do think D&D has had a positive impact on television.

We have a number of terrific shows on now where I suspect the writers have benefited from the training in the episodic, serial narrative that RPGs gives.

 

[MerricB]

I don't know from novels, but I do think D&D has had a positive impact on television.

We have a number of terrific shows on now where I suspect the writers have benefited from the training in the episodic, serial narrative that RPGs gives.

No. I suspect they've benefited from JMS and Babylon 5, and possibly Chris Claremont's original run on X-men.

D&D is remarkably bad at creating ongoing storylines. The discipline isn't there, and it is *certainly* not on show in most pre-3e adventures.

Cheers!

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Now, in the last 5-10 years, fantasy has *finally* recovered some of its verve and variety. Writers like Martin, Neil Gaiman and Sussanah Clarke (Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell) have pushed the genre again, and obviously the Harry Potter series have blown the doors off in terms of sales.

Good list. And other than Martin, none of those folks are gamers, and other than perhaps A Song of Ice & Fire bears even a passing resemblance to a standard D&D game, although I think all of them are incredibly inspirational for DMs for that very reason.

 

[William drake]

Our group started in on this topic last night. It seems that fantasy novels have gotten a lot better since 1974. Is it because of D&D or just sheer luck for the rest of us?

jh

Maybe, but I'm not sure it was just D&D. I would say more offten then naught, D&D is connected to alot of the pulp that the gamers read. If D&D is effecting good books, its because its authors are seeing what NOT to do based on the old boreing same old same old.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Depends. There are many die-hards out there would would scoff that a series like Sword of Truth, Wheel of Time or even Michael Moorcock's latest Elric Works (Son of the White Wolf, Revenge of the Rose, etc...) could hold a candle to the original material.

In my opinion, we simply have a wider selection of materials and because a lot of the writers are in the 'now', the language is easier to read. People generaly have an easier time reading George R. R. Martin than they would the Worm Orobous.

There's also the matter of things in print. Clark Ashton Smith, Liber, Howard, C. L. Moore, and others periodically go out of print. Hard to compare X and Y if X is not readily available.

The genre is also more assured of itself. A lot of the older works were more stepped in traditional myths and shared 'history' so to speak while newer authors have no problems coming in with tons of details to flesh out their series.

In terms of actual D&D books, no. Most of them, are at best, popcorn reading and are inconsistent with the rules and material set forth in the game. As they should be since the game has undergone several revisions.

 

[RFisher]

In general, I try to avoid treating art as a competition.

When I am tempted to, I'm tempted to say that any influence D&D has had on literature has been to the detriment of literature.

But I can't deny having enjoyed some books with some strong D&D influence.

Let's call it a draw.

 

[Garnfellow]

I think the rise of MFA programs in the US probably has much more to do with any increase in quality than any other factor. Even fairly untalented writers now have ready access to sound (if bland) advice, plenty of reviewers, and good editors. An MFA program won't make a total hack into a great author, but it will usually provide a certain basic level of craftsmanship.

 

[hong]

What makes you say that? What novels, pre- and post-1974, were you thinking of?

LotR (1974) is the one true fantasy novel. All other novels are just poor imitations of the real thing.

 

[thedungeondelver]

SILENCE!

No. Fantasy novels haven't gotten quantifiably better since the introduction of D&D. If anything, the quality has dipped in my opinion. We're inundated with Fanthorpesque litanies spanning multiple novels filled with cookie-cutter plots and hackneyd cliches. If anything we have the blame to lay at the feet of D&D in many ways - the DRAGONLANCE and FORGOTTEN REALMS novels said "Hey - it's okay to write absolute crap! The kids'll eat it up! Just make sure you're cranking out a good six novels a year and you're golden."