Appendix N
In the original AD&D Dungeon Master’s Guide, Gary Gygax wrote a brilliant Appendix (N), which was a list of all the inspirational fantasy and science-fiction reading for aspiring Dungeon Masters.
Gary Gygax’s Appendix N
Poul Anderson - Three Hearts and Three Lions, The High Crusader, The Broken Sword
John Bellars - The Face in the Frost
Leigh Brackett
Fredric Brown
Edgar Rice Burroughs - Pellucidar Series, Mars Series, Venus Series
Lin Carter - World’s End Series
L. Sprague de Camp - Lest Darkness Fall, Fallible Fiend
De Camp & Pratt - Harold Shea Series, Carnellian Cube
August Derleth
Lord Dunsany
P J Farmer - The World of the Tiers Series
Gardner Fox - Kothar Series, Kyrik Series
Robert E Howard - Conan Series
Serling Lanier - Hero’s Journey
Fritz Leiber - Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser
H.P Lovecraft
A Merritt - Creep, Shadow, Creep, Moon Pool, Dwellers In The Mirage
Michael Moorcock - Stormbringer, Stealer of Souls, Hawkmoon Series
Andre Norton
Andrew J Offlutt - editor Swords Against Darkness III
Fletcher Pratt - Blue Star
Fred Saberhagen - Changeling Earth
Margaret St Clair - The Shadow People, Sign of the Labrys
J.R.R Tolkien - The Hobbit, Ring Trilogy
Jack Vance - The Eyes of the Overworld, The Dying Earth
Stanley Winebraum
Manley Wode Wellman
Jack Williamson
Roger Zelazny - Jack of Shadows, Amber Series
Gary Gygax’s list is magnificent, an eclectic compilation that shows he truly was a very well read dude.
My list below will probably not be as fantastically niche as his. Mine will not include some of my favourite fantasy works - the reason being they simply didn’t inspire me in the running of Dungeons & Dragons, just if you’re wondering why some of the greats are missing.
First I will preface by saying the best way to write great home-brew modules is to read great D&D modules. This list will NOT include my favourite D&D modules. You can find that list here. Gary Gygax obviously didn’t have the luxury of drawing from a plethora of other D&D modules like we modern Dungeon Masters can… he and Dave Arneson were the original MVPs.
In brackets I give the main (but not sole) reason for including that literature on the list.
Of course the list is not all-encompassing, be inspired by whatever the hell you want to read! These are just the stories that inspire(d) my D&D campaigns.
Of course be inspired by the great mythologies and religions - Norse, Hindu, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Islamic, Christian, Aztec, Mesopotamian, Bantu, Ancient Chinese, Ancient Japanese & Slavic plus many more!
Gygax included 29 names, so shall I! (cheating with the famous writer “Various Authors”).
Dominic Merrick’s Appendix N
Joe Abercrombie - The First Law Series (for NPC characters)
Poul Anderson - The Broken Sword, Three Hearts & Three Lions (setting)
Isaac Asimov - Foundation Series (for world building)
Glen Cook - The Black Company Series (for large scale fantasy wars)
Susan Cooper - The Dark Is Rising Series (for long campaign)
Stephen R Donaldson - Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (for story arc, character and setting)
Lord Dunsany - Time And The Gods (for short adventures)
David Eddings - The Belgariad, The Mallorean (for long campaigns & PC characters)
Steven Erikson - Malazan: Book of the Fallen (world building)
Frank Herbert - Dune Series (for scheming factions)
Robert E Howard - Conan Series (for short modules)
N K Jemisin - The Inheritance Trilogy (for long campaigns and world building)
Steven King - The Dark Tower Series (for fellowship of PCs), The Stand (villain)
Fritz Leiber - Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser (for short modules, for city campaigns)
Ursula K Le Guin - Earthsea Series (for world-building and long campaigns)
C S Lewis - The Chronicles of Narnia (for long campaigns)
H P Lovecraft - The Cthulhu Mythos Collection (for villains, for short modules)
George RR Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire Series (for politics), Dreamsongs (for settings)
Anne McCaffrey - The Dragonriders of Pern Series (for sci-fantasy campaigns)
Michael Moorcock - Elric, Corum & Hawkmoon Series (for long campaign and for modules)
C L Moore - Black Gods & Scarlet Dreams (for short modules)
Terry Pratchett - Discworld Series (for NPC characters, for city campaigns)
Andzrej Sapkowski - The Witcher Series (first two books for short modules)
J R R Tolkien - The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, (for lore & long campaign)
Jack Vance - The Lyonesse Trilogy, The Dying Earth Series (for magician NPCs, for setting)
Various Authors - Arabian Nights, Beowulf, Grimm’s Fairytales (short modules)
Tad Williams - Memory, Sorrow, Thorn Series (for long campaigns, world building)
Gene Wolfe - The Book of the New Sun Series (sci-fantasy world building)
Roger Zelazny - The Chronicles of Amber Series (plane hopping & long campaigns)
I hope my list is helpful, the more you read, the more ideas can inspire your D&D campaigns! Try to use sources that your players have not read, they won’t like recognising things.