Pathfinder 1E Paizo to Publish Howard, Moorcock, Gygax and (?)

[Erik Mona]

By now I hope you've heard the news. Paizo is launching a new line of fiction trade paperbacks called Planet Stories.

We've announced plans to publish a new classic fantasy book every month from August to the forseeable future. Already in line are Michael Moorcock's "Kane of Old Mars" series, seminal work from C.L. Moore and Henry Kuttner, Robert E. Howard's planetary romance Almuric, and novels featuring Leigh Brackett's fascinating swordsman Eric John Stark.

Stories like these formed the basis for Dungeons & Dragons and the RPG hobby we all share and love. Over the last year and a half I've been working day and night to find the right authors and books for our line. I've based my decisions on what sort of fiction I like, and what sort of books are important pillars of the genre that have languished out of print, ideally for more than 20 or 30 years.

But I'm curious what classic fantasy and science fiction authors you like. Which near-forgotten stories and novels you've always adored, and which deserves a larger (or even any) modern audience.

What do you like to read? What do you think we should publish?

--Erik Mona
Publisher
Paizo Publishing, LLC

 

[Steel_Wind]

The biggies to me are the ones which have probably more to do with D&D (certainly D&D thieves & rogues) than any single other literary inspiration: Fitz Leiber's Fafrhd and the Gray Mouser series.

It bothers me that this series has slipped off the radar of today's gamer. It bothers me a lot. I've never understood why Ill Met in Lankhmar was never turned into a movie. It seemed a natural for the big screen.

I had heard these were to come back in print via Dark Horse - but if so, it's taking a bloody long time. Maybe Dark Horse has has second thoughts? I'm sure you've considered those anyway - but you asked...

The original published versions of Lovecraft are cheap (read, free) to reprint as well. And here I'm all about the packaging. This was something I had in the early 80s in a bunch of tiny thing books. Seems worthwhile to put it all in one single solid fat book or maybe - two.

There are some novels by Paul Edwin Zimmer - the first Dark Border novels, from the early 80s that are somewhat adult in nature but really extremely worthy candidates and very much out of print. The two of note are The Lost Prince and King Chondo's Ride. Zimmer passed in the 90s - but his sister, Marion Zimmer Bradley ,would know what's up with those. They were published by Ace and then later Berkley if I have it right. They have been out of print for 20 years or so Erik. Amazing stuff and very underrated. If nothing else - read them if you get a chance. (The other two novels set in the Dark Border world are less than inspiring though.)

In fact - I'd go so far as to say the the setting of the Dark Border would make an *ideal* campaign world. (And I'm sure many homebrews did just that with it, back in the day.)

I almost hesitate to mention it - but I might dare to also suggest the earliest 6 or 8 Gor novels. Putting aside the whole pseudo-BDSM subculture that has grown around them over the years since, there did have a cachet and feel all their own. I think they've been out of print quite a while. Daw was the publisher I believe.

Last up -the late Brian Daley's Doomfarers of Coramonde and Starfollowers of Coramonde. Published by Del Rey in 1979-80 and long out of print. I loved these books as a kid. Very underrated stuff. The first book opens with a squad of US army draftees in an APC - plucked out of Vietnam and drafted to fight a dragon. Awesome stuff. I loved it.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The biggies to me are the ones which have probably more to do with D&D (certainly D&D thieves & rogues) than any single other literary inspiration: Fitz Leiber's Fafrhd and the Gray Mouser series.

Good lord, yes. Everyone seems to have trouble keeping these in print -- blink and you miss them, every time.

For more modern fare, I'd bring Tim Powers' back catalog into print. If there's a D&D gamer alive who can finish On Stranger Tides or The Drawing of the Dark without wanting to use those plots (and all the great throwaway bits Powers tosses in) into a game, I'll be amazed.

 

[Mark Hope]

Last up -the late Brian Daley's Doomfarers of Coramonde and Starfollowers of Coramonde. Published by Del Rey in 1979-80 and long out of print. I loved these books as a kid. Very underrated stuff. The first book opens with a squad of US army draftees in an APC - plucked out of Vietnam and drafted to fight a dragon. Awesome stuff. I loved it.

Ditto to these! Awesome books with some great characters and locations. Do these and the Lankhmar books if you do nothing else .

As an aside, it's great to see Paizo moving into book publication and into this genre specifically. You guys are the best!

 

[S. Baldrick]

I wouldn't mind seeing the "Kothar" series back in print. I picked up a copy of "Kothar and the Wizard Slayer" last summer in used book store. I was really enjoying it until the book disintegrated.

I would also like to see a reprint of the original version of Poul Anderson's "The Broken Sword".

 

[replicant2]

I would also like to see a reprint of the original version of Poul Anderson's "The Broken Sword".

Seconded. Pretty much all of Anderson's fantasy is a must-read, IMO ("War of the Gods," "Hrolf Kraki's Saga," "Three Hearts and Three Lions," etc.). But if I had to pick one, I'd also go with "The Broken Sword."

Another old S&S favorite of mine is "The Worm Ouroboros" by ER Eddison.

 

[Joshua Randall]

This is great news. Huzzah for Paizo.

Here are two threads discussing classic books, many of which are no longer in print and thus are difficult to find:

This one is about the old Appendix N in the 1eDMG.

The Classics of Fantasy thread, discussing a series of that name that was on the WotC site a long time ago -- John Rateliff's reviews of various seminal works.

 

[Rl'Halsinor]

The Face in the Frost - John Bellairs; he can say more in a 100 pagesthan some writers can say in a 1,000.

Nifft the Lean - Michael Shea; weird, mesmorizing, a so very different than any writer I have read. I think he captures in essence a protagonist that is Chaotic Neutral at best, and a whole lot worse as well. His dipiction of Hell and its minions can give DM's a real good taste of beings without passion or mercy. Truly other-worldly.

 

[mmadsen]

This is great news. Huzzah for Paizo.

Huzzah!

This one is about the old Appendix N in the 1eDMG.

The Classics of Fantasy thread, discussing a series of that name that was on the WotC site a long time ago -- John Rateliff's reviews of various seminal works.

You beat me to both! Another great list to work off of is the Fantasy Masterworks line put out by Orion in the UK.

 

[Erik Mona]

Nifft the Lean - Michael Shea; weird, mesmorizing, a so very different than any writer I have read. I think he captures in essence a protagonist that is Chaotic Neutral at best, and a whole lot worse as well. His dipiction of Hell and its minions can give DM's a real good taste of beings without passion or mercy. Truly other-worldly.

It's interesting that you mention this as "so very different than any writer I have read," as the story is an admitted (and approved) Vance pastiche. Have you read much Jack Vance? He's one of my favorites.

Thanks for the suggestions here (and the links to the old threads). Keep 'em coming!

--Erik