Overall Ratings

Overall Ratings

This page contains lists organized with my overall ratings of various works, which I intend to regularly update as I write new blog entries.

Fantasy Fiction
10/10

Conan: “The Tower of the Elephant” by Robert E. Howard

9/10
“Armageddon” by Frederic Brown
Giant of Worlds End by Lin Carter
Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny
Swords and Deviltry by Fritz Leiber

8/10

"Battle in the Dawn" by Manley Wade Wellman
The Fallible Fiend by L. Sprague de Camp

Hiero’s Journey by Sterling Lanier

Kothar: Barbarian Swordsman by Gardner F. Fox
The Legion of Space by Jack Williamson

7/10

The Carnelian Cube by L. Sprague de Camp & Fletcher Pratt

Conan and the Sorcerer by Andrew J. Offutt
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Maker of the Universes by P. J. Farmer
The Shadow People by Margaret St. Clair

“The Silver Key” by H. P. Lovecraft

6/10
Changeling Earth by Fred Saberhagen
Conan the Mercenary by Andrew J. Offutt
The Dreaming City by Michael Moorcock
The Dying Earth by Jack Vance
“The Jewel of Bas” by Leigh Brackett
The Lurker at the Threshold by August Derleth

5/10

Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson

“Redemption Cairn” by Stanley Weinbaum
Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs

The Well of the Unicorn by Fletcher Pratt

4/10
The Face in the Frost by John Bellairs

3/10
The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany

2/10
Dwellers in the Mirage by A. Merritt

1/10
Quag Keep by Andre Norton

Appendix N

Blog Introduction

For this blog I plan to share my thoughts about RPG-related materials. I want to start by reviewing stories in the fantasy genre and providing RPG reflections from years of playing D&D and other RPG games. I hope my words provide support, inspiration, and further discussion for my fellow RPG and fantasy enthusiasts.

Over the years I found myself fortunate to end up with plenty of time for socializing, gaming, and reading. My choice of profession as a teacher provides me with lots of vacation time and free weekends perfect for lengthy role-playing, planning, and writing opportunities. I started gaming during my childhood, picked the hobby back up during high school, continued during my college years, took a few years off as a “young professional” when I started my teaching career, and eventually made time to return to my favorite hobby.

Appendix N

As a kid I remember reading lots of science fiction stories and superhero comic books, but not much fantasy. I eventually discovered of a list of books recommended by Gary Gygax.

The 1979 AD&D Dungeon Master’s Guide included “Appendix N” with a list of authors that inspired the creators of Dungeons & Dragons. Gygax recommended 28 writers; in alphabetical order, the list included:

N1: Poul Anderson

N2: John Bellairs

N3: Leigh Brackett

N4: Frederic Brown

N5: Edgar Rice Burroughs

N6: Lin Carter

N7-8: L. Sprague de Camp & Fletcher Pratt

N9: August Derleth

N10: Lord Dunsany

N11: P. J. Farmer

N12: Gardner Fox

N13: Robert E. Howard

N14: Sterling Lanier

N15: Fritz Leiber

N16: H. P. Lovecraft

N17: A. Merritt

N18: Michael Moorcock

N19: Andre Norton

N20: Andrew J. Offutt

N21: Fred Saberhagen

N22: Margaret St. Clair

N23: J. R. R. Tolkien

N24: Jack Vance

N25: Stanley Weinbaum

N26: Manley Wade Wellman

N27: Jack Williamson

N28: Roger Zelazny

A digital copy of the list exists on the internet: (http://www.digital-eel.com/blog/ADnD_reading_list.htm). Over time I managed to read all the authors on the list. I plan to include a series of reviews and label them “N#: Author’s Name” to share my thoughts. Someone wanting to gain a better understanding of not only the origins of the D&D multiverse, but also fantasy literature in general, could benefit from the reading list.

If too busy to experience the entire list, someone could prioritize the entries thanks to a quote from the bottom of the appendix listing; Gygax stated, “The most immediate influences upon AD&D were probably de Camp & Pratt, R. E. Howard, Fritz Leiber, Jack Vance, H. P. Lovecraft, and A. Merritt; but all of the above authors, as well as many not listed, certainly helped to shape the form of the game.” That potentially bumps N7-8, N13, N15, N24, N16, and N17 to the front of the list.