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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2020 17:54:17 GMT -6
Hey guys and gals.
In 2017 I decided to begin a gradual, years-long, on-and-off delve into Appendix N.
So far I own and have read the following:
The Dying Earth compendium, the Alastor trilogy and three short stories in a single collection (Dragon Masters, Last Castle and Miracle Workers) by Jack Vance
The entire Elric Saga by Michael Moorcock
The collected writings of H.P. Lovecraft
The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany
Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson
The Best of L. Sprague De Camp
Swords and Deviltry by Fritz Leiber
The first five John Carter of Mars stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs
The Complete Illustrated Stark: 70th Anniversary Collection by Leigh Brackett
I enjoyed all these to varying degrees and for different reasons. Jack Vance is at the tip top of my list. Moorcock is tied or a close second, and Lieber is in there, too.
I read some Howard years ago and intend to get a Conan refresher soon.
Based on what I've read so far and my preferences, do you good guys, gals and everyone else reading have any personal recommendations of where to go next in my Appendix N read? Or would you recommend something adjacent but not included in Gary's list?
Thanks in advance and happy reading.
edit: Yikes. I'd be remiss to exclude J.R.R. Tolkien from my list! I personally own and have read The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, Children of Hurin, Beren and Luthien, and Unfinished Tales by the good professor. Obviously as a fantasy fan I love Middle Earth very much!
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Post by stevemitchell on Nov 8, 2020 20:42:25 GMT -6
In addition to Conan--King Kull, Bran Mak Morn, and Solomon Kane.
Andre Norton's Witch World novels and stories.
The Kane books from Karl Edward Wagner.
Hyperborea and Zothique from Clark Ashton Smith.
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Post by geoffrey on Nov 8, 2020 20:54:07 GMT -6
In this order:
1. All 21 Conan tales by REH
2. The following A. Merritt novels: The Moon Pool, The Face in the Abyss, Dwellers in the Mirage
3. Fritz Leiber's Swords against Death (which includes the first-published Fafhrd and Mouser tales)
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Post by Piper on Nov 9, 2020 0:21:19 GMT -6
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Post by tombowings on Nov 9, 2020 3:17:11 GMT -6
In addition to what's been said already, I'd recommend Jack Vance's Lyonesse Trilogy and the Worm Orouboros.
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Post by Falconer on Nov 9, 2020 12:03:03 GMT -6
Anderson, Poul: THE HIGH CRUSADE; THE BROKEN SWORD
Burroughs, Edgar Rice: THE MASTER MIND OF MARS; LLANA OF GATHOL
de Camp & Pratt: “Harold Shea” series
Howard, R. E.: “Conan” series
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Post by Zenopus on Nov 9, 2020 13:37:27 GMT -6
For maximum impact, I'd highly recommend reading the stories in the same format that Gygax et al were reading at the time, generally slim paperbacks. For Conan, read the ACE/Lancer paperback series, including the DeCamp/Carter stories - there is non-Howard stuff there that influenced D&D. These stories are often "monster of week"-type stories, which are very D&D. For example, Vol 2 has one story with a Remorhaz and another with an Ochre Jelly-ish monster. Leigh Brackett's Sword of Rhiannon is amazing. It starts on a Burroughs-esque Mars but there's a big twist. Chris Holmes gave me an ACE double of it that also has Conan the Conquerer (aka the Hour of the Dragon) on the other side. Margaret St. Clair's The Shadow People is another great one. Vast underworld lit by phosphorescent fungi and populated by evil "elves". |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2020 15:54:44 GMT -6
So many great recommendations. Glad I knew where to ask! I think I have a better road map now.
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Post by talysman on Nov 9, 2020 16:30:44 GMT -6
One I'd like to read again (it's been many years) is The Face in the Frost by John Bellairs. It feels a little more like The Hobbit than like Fritz Lieber or Jack Vance. A little lighter in tone.
Poul Anderson's Operation Chaos is not listed in Appendix N, but is adjacent, obviously. You'll recognize it as a source for some D&D elements.
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Post by tombowings on Nov 9, 2020 23:44:45 GMT -6
Gosh! I can't believe I forgot the Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny. Also, his stand alone novel, Lord of Light, while not strictly fantasy, is the best treatment of D&D-style gods and magic items I've ever encountered.
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Post by tetramorph on Nov 10, 2020 17:10:45 GMT -6
I've just started reading Harold Lamb's Khlit the Cossack reading. I think I may have found the ur-texts of our whole S&S genre!
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Post by stevemitchell on Nov 10, 2020 20:59:49 GMT -6
Lamb was certainly a major influence on Robert E. Howard.
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Post by retrorob on Nov 11, 2020 5:55:22 GMT -6
"Lord of Light" by Roger Zelazny as well as "Kane" saga by KEW is a must.
Check also "The Face in the Abyss" by Abraham Merritt - vast wilderland area, lost city, mega dungeon with a lot of secret doors, strange creatures, magic and devices. A great novel.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2020 17:56:14 GMT -6
"Lord of Light" by Roger Zelazny as well as "Kane" saga by KEW is a must. Check also "The Face in the Abyss" by Abraham Merritt - vast wilderland area, lost city, mega dungeon with a lot of secret doors, strange creatures, magic and devices. A great novel. Good. My next question was going to be for someone to recommend me some Merritt specifically. That's a blank spot in my education. |
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Post by tdenmark on Feb 1, 2021 14:34:03 GMT -6
For maximum impact, I'd highly recommend reading the stories in the same format that Gygax et al were reading at the time, generally slim paperbacks. This is a good point. There is something to a novella that can be read in a day or two that really packs a punch in a way unabridged dictionary sized epic fantasy novels don't. Most of ERB's books are like that. (Don't get me wrong, I love all the world building too, but sometimes I just want a quick satisfying story) |
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Post by derv on Feb 1, 2021 15:45:17 GMT -6
"Lord of Light" by Roger Zelazny as well as "Kane" saga by KEW is a must. Check also "The Face in the Abyss" by Abraham Merritt - vast wilderland area, lost city, mega dungeon with a lot of secret doors, strange creatures, magic and devices. A great novel. Good. My next question was going to be for someone to recommend me some Merritt specifically. That's a blank spot in my education. will often have works not easily found else where. It has a fairly good sampling of Merritt, including The Face in the Abyss. There's also large collections of Howard, Lovecraft, Burroughs, and Dunsany to be found here. |
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Post by stevemitchell on Feb 1, 2021 17:21:34 GMT -6
I would rate Dwellers in the Mirage as the best of Merritt's novels.
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Post by Finarvyn on Feb 1, 2021 22:30:08 GMT -6
For Conan, read the ACE/Lancer paperback series, including the DeCamp/Carter stories - there is non-Howard stuff there that influenced D&D. These stories are often "monster of week"-type stories, which are very D&D. I'll play devil's advocate here. I read the ACE Conan books, which I believe are the same as the Lancer ones, back in the 70's and thought they were good -- however when I read the DEL RAY series of trade paperbacks I thought Conan elevated from good to great. Howard's Conan is way more vivid and vibrant than the one from the old paperbacks. Heck, Howard's writing just tops almost everyone else's. When you finish the three Conan DEL RAY trades, look up Kull and Solomon Kane and El Borak and pretty much any of the others in the series. They have the original manuscripts and not the altered ones. Highly superior, IMO, than any of the ones "fixed" by lesser authors. As always, your mileage may vary. Just my two coppers.  |
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