D&D General The first official D&D novel, a surprise

[doctorbadwolf]

Or that guy who became an engineer and unleashed engineering upon the fantasy world...

Yes sir. While I always rolled my eyes a little at the whole “all men are equal, and [name I can’t recall] made them that way” line in the books (and yes, I know the reference), his whole arc was pretty fun.

 

[Gradine]

I mean, Mark Train wrote A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, which is a pretty early example of portal fantasy

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The Summer Tree by Guy Gaveriel Kay is literally D&D players being sucked into a fantasy world. I didn't enjoy the book though.

One I liked much better was The Doomfarers of Coramonde by Brian Daley.

 

[Coroc]

When did the trope start? CS Lewis?

Far earlier, there was something bout a Yankee at king Arthurs court was it by Mark Twain?

 

[Coroc]

I mean, Mark Train wrote A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, which is a pretty early example of portal fantasy

Ups funny, I did reply the same w/o reading your post

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Far earlier, there was something bout a Yankee at king Arthurs court was it by Mark Twain?

As mentioned earlier, it can be traced back to folk tales about wanderers who enter a hole in a hill and find themselves in the land of the fair folk.

Technically, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court was presented as time travel, not an alternate world.

 

[Gadget]

I think I had heard of this book long ago but never read it and forgotten about it. I was unaware it was the first "D&D" book, but it does not surprise me. I certainly would not have pegged Dragonlance (1984?) or Forgotten Realms (a few years later), to hold that distiction. But I was around back then, so that's not so surprising. I probably would have been fooled if someone told me that Gord the Rogue, or some such, was first.

 

[jasper]

Is it worth buying this book?

Having reread it recently.. No. Or if you must have it buy under $4.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

I've had this book sitting on my to-read shelf for a while. I picked it up for its historical significance in gaming history. But Andre Norton has left me cold when I've read her other books. And the whole "people getting sucked into their D&D game" subgenre of portal fantasy, likewise. Eventually I'll screw up the nerve to give it a read.

 

[darjr]

The forward is imho the most relevant part for history’s sake. For bits about Greyhawk, only the first couple chapters are relevant

 

[Arilyn]

I've had this book sitting on my to-read shelf for a while. I picked it up for its historical significance in gaming history. But Andre Norton has left me cold when I've read her other books. And the whole "people getting sucked into their D&D game" subgenre of portal fantasy, likewise. Eventually I'll screw up the nerve to give it a read.

I was a huge fan of Andre Norton growing up. When I went back to her as an adult? Couldn't read her stuff anymore. This happens a lot, to the point of me not wanting to read old favourites anymore. Sigh.

 

[David Howery]

I read this as soon as I could get a copy after I found out about it. I did like it. I started the sequel but never finished it.

I bought/read the book upon it's initial release, but lost it somewhere. Didn't hear about the sequel until long after. A few years back, the Science Fiction Book Club offered a two-in-1 book with both, and I have it. Like you, never did finish the sequel.

 

[Eis]

The Summer Tree by Guy Gaveriel Kay is literally D&D players being sucked into a fantasy world. I didn't enjoy the book though.

One I liked much better was The Doomfarers of Coramonde by Brian Daley.

huh I really liked The Summer Tree

 

[Alzrius]

When did the trope start? CS Lewis?

 

[Parmandur]

Fantastic book.

 

[Arilyn]

huh I really liked The Summer Tree

Kay is one of my favourite authors, and I really enjoyed Summer Tree too. His writing got even better after that trilogy, although, he does have a style that I realize would not appeal to everyone.

 

[Alzrius]

Fantastic book.

To be fair, this isn't from that (hence the notice at the bottom of that page), but rather is a takeoff from an online comic I like called Fans!

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Sacrosanct]

I, uh, read some Piers Anthony when I was much much younger.

.....I don't even want to know.

I went back and read Piers Anthony a couple years ago. I had a couple observations.

1. He clearly on was on LSD when he was writing
2. He would be judged through a modern lens of being a giant sexist (Note that I am generally cautious of judging people's work from decades ago through a modern lens)
3. They really weren't all that great books. Not awful, but not great.