On Puget Sound
First Post
One obscure one that should be on the list: Barry Hughart's Bridge of Birds, a detective story/ heroic quest set in a mythic version of 6th century China.
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Modern Appendix N
- Thread starter Alaxk Knight of Galt
- Start date
JoeGKushner
Adventurer
Appendix N
Latest go around for me has been James Enge that another blogger turned me onto. Good stuff.
In terms of 'Modern' thought? The influence and abilities of older material should be kept close in terms of the roots of the genre. I find Paizo's Planet stories do an excellent job of providing a lot of the classic materials, and Del has recently reprinted vast swathes of the Robert E. Howard libraries.
When you start looking at modern fiction, there's a lot of 'pop will eat itself' going on. Drizzt may not be to everyone's taste, but he's a New York Times best seller. Other books in the actual setting of FR varty tremendously but there are several that are at least 'popcorn' worthy. I haven't gotten to the Pathfinder novels yet, but Elaine Cunningham's previous books have been enjoyable so I don't see why her new one wouldn't be.
Latest go around for me has been James Enge that another blogger turned me onto. Good stuff.
In terms of 'Modern' thought? The influence and abilities of older material should be kept close in terms of the roots of the genre. I find Paizo's Planet stories do an excellent job of providing a lot of the classic materials, and Del has recently reprinted vast swathes of the Robert E. Howard libraries.
When you start looking at modern fiction, there's a lot of 'pop will eat itself' going on. Drizzt may not be to everyone's taste, but he's a New York Times best seller. Other books in the actual setting of FR varty tremendously but there are several that are at least 'popcorn' worthy. I haven't gotten to the Pathfinder novels yet, but Elaine Cunningham's previous books have been enjoyable so I don't see why her new one wouldn't be.
BryonD
Hero
A lot of the original Appendix N was older stuff at that time. I think it has a lot more to do with "what defines the current concepts" than "what was published in the last few years".
delericho
Legend
Modern or not, the list really needs to retain "Conan", "Elric", "Lankhmar", "Cthulhu" and "Lord of the Rings". And one of the early forms of the game should probably be listed too, whether that's the 1st Edition core rules, OD&D, or something else.
The only D&D novels I would put on the list would be the "Icewind Dale" and "Dark Elf" trilogies by R.A. Salvatore (only!), and the "Dragonlance Chronicles" by Weis & Hickman.
Other books and authors I would say should be there are:
Terry Pratchett's "Discworld" series
J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series
everything by Neil Gaiman
Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy
Bernard Cornwell's "King Arthur" trilogy ("The Winter King", "The Enemy of God" and "Excalibur")
any one of David Gemmell's series (I would recommend his "Troy" trilogy)
Glen Cook's "Black Company" series
"Wheel of Time" and "A Song of Ice and Fire" should both be there too, but I disqualify them because neither appears to have lived up to it's initial promise, and neither is yet complete.
(Plus, frankly, I'm really disenchanted with the sprawling fantasy epic in general. If a story requires more words than "War and Peace" to tell, I have to wonder if it's worth the effort.)
Oh, and it's neither modern nor fantasy, but "The Three Musketeers" should be on the list, too.
The only D&D novels I would put on the list would be the "Icewind Dale" and "Dark Elf" trilogies by R.A. Salvatore (only!), and the "Dragonlance Chronicles" by Weis & Hickman.
Other books and authors I would say should be there are:
Terry Pratchett's "Discworld" series
J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series
everything by Neil Gaiman
Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy
Bernard Cornwell's "King Arthur" trilogy ("The Winter King", "The Enemy of God" and "Excalibur")
any one of David Gemmell's series (I would recommend his "Troy" trilogy)
Glen Cook's "Black Company" series
"Wheel of Time" and "A Song of Ice and Fire" should both be there too, but I disqualify them because neither appears to have lived up to it's initial promise, and neither is yet complete.
(Plus, frankly, I'm really disenchanted with the sprawling fantasy epic in general. If a story requires more words than "War and Peace" to tell, I have to wonder if it's worth the effort.)
Oh, and it's neither modern nor fantasy, but "The Three Musketeers" should be on the list, too.
Alaxk Knight of Galt
First Post
What elements of these novels would you use to craft a system? Would you snag wands, wizarding schools, and predefined spells from Harry Potter? Would you take the mercanary company and non-divine medic (Croaker) from Black Company?
Mark CMG
Creative Mountain Games
I figured anything published since the first list was fair game. I'd imagine it is hard to include any first novels published in the last couple/few years because an "Appendix N" implies it has the makings of a genre classic by an author whose body of work will last.
GMforPowergamers
Legend
I think the two harries ( potter and Dresden )
Then all of Brian lumly necroscope
I also feel that anima needs to be on this list along with books
Then all of Brian lumly necroscope
I also feel that anima needs to be on this list along with books
Man, the less my players read, the more things I can safely steal from 
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