Appendix N: The Eldritch Roots of Dungeons and Dragons

by Peter Bebergal (Editor), Ann VanderMeer (Afterword)

Drawing upon the original list of “inspirational reading” provided by Gary Gygax in the first Dungeon Master's Guide, published in 1979, as well as hobbyist magazines and gaming periodicals that helped to define the modern role-playing game, Appendix N offers a collection of short fiction and resonant fragments that reveal the literary influences that shaped Dungeons & Dragons, the world's most popular RPG. Appendix N also explores and contextualizes the ambitious lyrical excursions that helped set the adventurous tone and dank, dungeon-crawling atmospheres of fantasy roleplay as we know it today.

Including tales by Poul Anderson, Frank Brunner, Ramsey Campbell, Lin Carter, Lord Dunsany, Robert E. Howard, Tanith Lee, Fritz Leiber, H. P. Lovecraft, David Madison, Michael Moorcock, C. L. Moore, Fred Saberhagen, Clark Ashton Smith, Margaret St. Clair, Jack Vance, Manly Wade Wellman.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Short Stories, Anthologies, Gaming, Dungeons and Dragons, Sword and Sorcery

337 pages, Paperback

First published February 23, 2021

About the author

Peter Bebergal is the author of Season of the Witch: How the Occult Saved Rock and Roll, Too Much to Dream: A Psychedelic American Boyhood and The Faith between Us: A Jew and a Catholic Search for the Meaning of God (with Scott Korb). He writes widely on music and books, with special emphasis on the speculative and slightly fringe. His recent essays and reviews have appeared in The Times Literary Supplement, The Quietus, BoingBoing, and The Believer. Bebergal studied religion and culture at Harvard Divinity School, and lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

So back in 1979, Gary Gygax wrote & published the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide.



And in the back, between the encumbrance rules that nobody has ever used as written, and the random prostitute encounter table (did you run into a strumpet? a courtesan?), he included, as Appendix N, a list of books & authors he considered inspirational reading.

This book is a short story anthology drawn almost entirely from Appendix N authors, plus a couple that seem like they should have been included even though they weren't (Clark Ashton Smith and C.L. Moore) and some who weren't referenced directly but were included in other anthologies listed in Appendix N (Tanith Lee most notably).

Oh, and I suppose it wouldn't hurt to also mention some of the authors who are listed in Appendix N who are included in this anthology. (n.b. The editor, Peter Bebergal, wanted to limit it to actual short stories, so there are no novel excerpts; also, I'm sure some things he might have wanted to include were unavailable for inclusion for one reason or another.) So we have stories by Lin Carter, Poul Anderson, Jack Vance, Robert E. Howard, Margaret St. Clair and Lord Dunsany, amongst others.

Plus introductory matter discussing the history of Appendix N and the authors selected for inclusion in this volume and (most importantly), at least in the limited edition, an actual 1st edition AD&D-style dungeon map on the endpapers.



And the limited edition also came with a separate chapbook containing a story by A. Merritt.

As is often the case with these sorts of anthologies, I'd already read about 80% of the stories included; but they were all solid, entertaining stories I was happy to revisit. And the stuff that was new to me (David Madison's story in particular, although it looks like he left us far too young) did make me want to see if I could find anything else he wrote.

Recommended, even if your edition might not come with a dungeon map on the endpapers.

[Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, thanks to Peter Bebergal, editor, who graciously sent me a review copy of this book. I've long admired Peter's work and he is definitely one of the better human beings on the planet. That said, I've been careful to keep a critical eye on the ball here.

The question to be answered is: Did the book hit its mark? Of course, the answer depends, in part, on the audience. For me, a reader, a writer, an editor, and a long-time gamer, the answer is yes, with some slight caveats. They will be registered in the reviews of the stories themselves, below.

Those who have been playing D&D for some time (I've been playing since 1979) and those who have read extensively in the fantasy genre will, likely, approach with caution. All of us old-skool gamers have read Gary Gygax's "Appendix N" from the first edition of the Dungeon Master's Guide (still, as far as I am concerned, one of the best helter-skelter amalgamations of gaming tools and even some gaming wisdom - though the absolute best guide on how to run a game is found in the Call of Cthulhu 7th edition Keeper Rulebook: Chapter 10). We all know about it, but how many of us have read those works in their entirety? Not me! That might have something to do with a lazy streak, because digging up all those titles is a lot like real work, especially with some of the older, more obscure works.

So, here, Bebergal has done the work for you, and then some. Okay, not every work is collected here (that would take entire volumes), but he has picked out some of the best short work mentioned in Appendix N, and mingled in some pieces not specifically mentioned, but that may have influenced the game, and definitely have influenced players and dungeon masters for decades. But you won't find many direct corollaries with D&D spells, monsters, classes, magic items, or dungeons. No, outside of a few notable exceptions (all noted in the Introduction or Afterword), you'll have to extrapolate from the material provided - you'll have to use your imagination! After all, TSR, the founding company for D&D and many other tabletop roleplaying gems, told you right up front that these are "Products of your Imagination" all the way back in 1983. So, get with it! Get reading and get imagining!

Here's what you have to look forward to:

Right as I started reading this book, my next turn on the Play By Mail game Hyborian War arrived. I read the report on how my Darfarian armies and heroes were doing (not well, honestly - and since then, things have gotten worse). Then I read Lin Carter's "How Sargoth Lay Siege to Zaremm" and I couldn't differentiate between the two. I count that as a very good thing. I can use a lot more epic sword and sorcery on that scale (and yet, in such a short story) in my life.

"The Tale of Hauk," by Poul Anderson: Viking undead undead undead undead. Three stars. The epic "poetic" language came across stilted to me. Even ten-year-old-OMG-I'm-new-to-D&D-and-everything-is-so-awesome Forrest would have balked at the choppy only halfway-historically-accurate prose. What can I say? I was a jaded snob at a very young age. I blame Lewis Carroll. So, not bad, not great. But do not let this stop you from reading more of Anderson's work. He really is an excellent writer!

I've read my share of Leiber's Fafhrd and Gray Mouser tales, but not "The Jewels in the Forest," until now. These are not mere Murder Hobos, but people with real emotion. I could have used these role models in my early TTRPG days (I started when I was 9): Adventurers, but not sociopaths. It's the humanity of the two that I love. There is some genuine pathos here, and Bebergal has slipped other stories into this volume with more emotional impact than you might expect ("Tower of Darkness" and "Black Gods Kiss" most especially). But the pulp-action adventure and mystery here is also up front and real.

Clark Ashton Smith's "Empire of the Necromancers" may be the absolute highpoint of grimdark sword and sorcery (with an emphasis on the sorcery, though swords are utilized). It's difficult to find a darker story, where the level of vengeance would make Poe pale and Evenson blush. The voice is Dunsanian, but a Dunsany gone horribly wrong, which makes this tale horribly right. Machen might have loved this.

I've read "Turjin of Miir" before, but this reread did not tarnish the experience at all. On the contrary, now, more than ever, I can see the subtle genius of Jack Vance's work. There's a cleverness that never becomes self-seeing, a burbling sense of unaware-of-itself humor and a phantasmagoric atmosphere that's weird enough, but not crazy

I have to admit that I haven't read much Tanith Lee. But after the outstanding "A Hero at the Gates," I want more. Cyrion, the protagonist, uses his keen power of observation and quick decision making with even more skill than he shows as a swordsman. Steel may finish the deal, but the critical analysis is made in the hero's head long before a blade is unsheathed. A fantastic character study. In my mind, I couldn't help but picture Erol Otus' D&D character Valerius as I read.

I've read and enjoyed Howard's "Tower of the Elephant" thrice before, and I know why it was contained in the current volume. Still, it's not without it's faults, and I would like to have seen some other Conan story, maybe "Rogues in the House," which, to me, is more of a D&D adventurer's tale. Still, the volume would be incomplete without "Tower," I think, at least for someone new to Sword and Sorcery. So, it's really a must-have. Shame that another Conan piece couldn't have been squeezed in.

Poetry? In Sword & Sorcery? Well, of course. What do you think the old epics were? Here, in Saberhagen's "The Song of Swords," poesis and evocative epic storytelling meld perfectly. This would make any bard proud.

I've had the chance to talk with Michael Moorcock a few times on the phone, while co-editing the Leviathan 3 anthology with Jeff Vandermeer. Mike is a scholar and a gentleman, and I enjoyed some long conversations with him about the writer's craft and his time working with Blue Oyster Cult and Hawkwind. One wonders how he could create such an anti-hero as Elric, but when you read carefully, you realize that Elric might have been a "good man" once. But his world, as shown in "The Dreaming City" is broken. The dream has shattered, and so, the man, who is a shell of his former self, driven by his evil sword.

"The Doom That Came to Sarnath" is one of those tales in which a deep lore is established. Here Lovecraft paints the picture of a lost city saturated by a long-duree history of corruption and fear. Just the sort of place adventurers might go to seek treasure, and just the sort of place where they might meet their own doom!

David Madison's "Tower of Darkness" is amazing. The protagonists, Diana and Marcus, are thoroughly-realized characters that might have been every bit as well-written as Fafhrd and Gray Mouser, had Madison not died an untimely death at age 27. I want to read more of his work. Much more. Absolutely fantastic fantastical work, and such a loss to the world of Sword and Sorcery.

I've often mused on where Gygax found his monsters. I think that Manly Wade Wellman's "Straggler from Atlantis" might be a source for what later became the gelatinous cube (I'm certain his ochre jelly came from Hiero's Journey). Regardless, Wellman crafts a good tale of sword sorcery, and even a crashed flying saucer here. Expedition to the Barrier Peaks , anyone?

Margaret St. Clair's "The Man Who Sold Rope to the Gnoles" holds no surprises, nor does it need to. This is one of those rare stories where you can sense what's coming, what is almost inevitable, but it is so cleverly written that you gladly come along for the ride. This was a joy to read, alas for Mortensen, and the ending was a delightful (for us, not for the salespoerson) cherry on top. I loved this little story.

I've ,read my fair share of Ramsey Campbell's work, especially his Cthulhu mythos fiction. I didn't quite know what to think when I saw that his story "The Pit of Wings" appeared in this collection. Now I see that it's a brilliant mix of Sword & Sorcery and outright horror; exactly the type of game I like to run! If you've ever worried about stirges, don't read this story. Oh, and stirges are one of my favorite things to throw at a party of adventurers!

I will run out of words before I can explain how absolutely marvelous C.L. Moore's "Black God's Kiss" is. Jirel of Joiry is so well-realized in this one story that I immediately ran off to find more of Moore's work. She is a complex character who encounters turns of emotion and morality that reflect an inner reality absent in most Sword and Sorcery. And Moore's Hell is truly a Hell; terrible, yet beautiful. The image of a herd of fleet-footed blind white horses stampeding through hell will probably never leave me:

As the last one of all swept by her, sweat-crusted and staggering, she saw him toss his head high, spattering foam, and whinny shrilly to the stars. And it seemed to her that the sound was strangely articulate. Almost she heard the echoes of a name - "Julienne! Julienne!" - in that high, despairing sound. And the incongruity of it, the bitter despair, clutched at her heart so sharply that for the third time that night she knew the sting of tears.

"The Fortress Unconquerable, Save for Sacnoth" is everything you'd expect from Lord Dunsany. I have to admit that his penchant for hyperbole in all of his stories is simultaneously endearing and annoying. But he wrote in a epic mythological register, so it's to be expected. Still a great story, especially if you haven't read Dunsany before. Plenty of inspiration here for dungeoneers old and young, though! Note that Stormbringer isn't the only great sword of fantasy fiction. I'm going to venture a guess that Gygax took his idea (or was it Arneson's?) for intelligent swords both from Moorcock and from Dunsany.

I have heard A. Merritt's "The People of the Pit" as a great exemplar of pulp weird fiction. That may be true, but the telling of the tale felt off to me. The mimicry of Lovecraft's prose wore thin, and the high vocabulary of a character that clearly wouldn't use it was also a hindrance, throwing me out of my willing suspension of disbelief. So, it might be iconic, but it isn't particularly good. Didn't hate it, didn't love it.

As much a morality tale as an adventure tale, "Legacy from Sorn Fen," by Andre Norton is told in a register one step down from Dunsany's high flights. This suits the story more, with a grit that will appeal to most gaming tables. The biggest takeaway is to be careful what you wish for. Anyone who has been playing D&D long enough realizes the potential pitfalls of fulfilled desires. "Is that what you really want?"

Following these prose pieces are two comics. The first one is "Crom the Barbarian," a comic from 1950 that reads and looks like, well, a comic from 1950, with all that implies. The plotline definitely informed that of a certain '80s movie staring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The final piece is "Sword of Dragonus," from 1971, three years before the appearance of the epic black-and-white adult comic series The Savage Sword of Conan. I have a special place in my own Appendix N for Savage Sword. This is where I cut my teeth on sword and sorcery fantasy. While living at San Vito AFB, Italy, my parents dropped me off one night at the base day care so they could go watch Superman. I was 7 or 8 years old. Someone, probably some half-drunk airman, had left a copy of Savage Sword in among the kids books and comics that people had donated to the child care. It was there I read my first Savage Sword story, The Slithering Shadow. I had no idea why the women hardly wore any clothes, but I didn't really care. I was all about the swords and monsters! Thankfully, the guy running the Stars and Stripes Bookstore on base thought I was just buying comics when I bought my own issues of Savage Sword. This was what set me on the path that prepared me for my encounter with D&D about a year later. But that's a different story.

In summation: I'm impressed by the breadth of the collection. The varied tones and excellent writing make this not just a book about stories for gamers, it is a collection of good to outstanding writing in and of itself. What ties it all together is the imagination and the potential for collaborative imagining, riffing off the themes, characters, settings, plots, monsters, and, of course swords (lest we forget them). The book itself is an experience that rewards both the non-gaming reader and the long-time gamers.

I can't end without noting that though this copy is a paperback, there is fold-out endpapers that are - you nerds guessed it - an old blue dungeon map! Would you expect anything less from Strange Attractor Press? If not, you obviously haven't read enough of their books. So, intrepid adventurer, start here!

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A selection of works from the famous D&D Appendix N.

With some variation because, for instance, Poul Anderson was cited only in novel form, and he didn't want to do excerpts. Also drawing on his personal experience. Included a couple not on the list -- for instance, something from C.L. Moore, but nothing from Andre Norton who was on the list.

Besides its historical significance, also a sampling of sword and sorcery of the era. Tends to be bleak.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dungeons and Dragons is a household name. It is firmly embedded in our pop culture. Whether you have played the game or not, you are aware of it. I fall into the second group, but I have known of the game most of my entire life and know many people who play. It is hard to imagine a world without D&D. Within its pages, co-creator Gary Gygax shared a list of stories that inspired him. This list is known as Appendix N.

Peter Bebergal is the editor of Appendix N: The Eldritch Roots of Dungeons and Dragons. In this collection he introduces the reader to D&D, Gary Gygax, and Appendix N. Bebergal explains his introduction to D&D and how he came about choosing titles for this collection. I'm sure this was an arduous task, because no matter what there are always critics waiting in the wings. He explains that everyone has their list, or Appendix N based on the stories they have read and enjoyed. I liken this to the bit 7 Dirty Words by the late George Carlin. Carlin explains that there are seven words you cannot say on television or radio, but goes on to say that everyone has their own list of 'dirty' words. Much is the same with works of fiction. Everyone has different preferences for what is to be included and what is to be excluded.

Seventeen authors to sample. A veritable who's who of classic sword and sorcery. Some were new to me, some were old classics I've read time and again.

- How Sargoth Lay Siege to Zaremm by Lin Carter

Lin Carter is a name many people recognize, and I have enjoyed many of his stories. Although, this piece is terribly short; almost a flash piece. For our protagonist some lessons have to be learned firsthand.

- The Tale of Hauk by Poul Anderson

Anderson has yet to disappoint me. This was a treat because I had not read this one before. Hauk is a great warrior, merchant, and explorer. He returns home to find it haunted and terrorized by a revenant. Why is the dead not resting in it's slumber?

- The Jewels in the Forest by Fritz Leiber

Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser probably need no introduction. This indomitable duo go on a treasure hunt. Unfortunately they aren't the only seekers and the guardian of the treasure isn't what anyone would expect.

- Empire of the Necromancers by Clark Ashton Smith

Stop me if you've heard this one before: Two necromancers get run outta town and set up shop smack dab in the middle of a waste, which used to be the home to a vast empire. Who is to stop them with an army of the dead surrounding them?

- Turjan of Miir by Jack Vance

I'm a big fan of Jack Vance and his Dying Earth stories! His sorcerers are limited in their magical abilities, but aided by fantastic technology and knowledge from a bygone era. It makes for an intriguing combination.

- Hero at the Gates by Tanith Lee

Our hero journeys out of the wastes to a city under siege by monster. Prophecy tells of a hero, just such as he, that will deliver the city and be their savior. Mystery and misdirection. Cyrion isn't buying it.

- Tower of the Elephant by Robert E Howard

New in town, Conan seeks the storied treasures in the Tower of the Elephant. He is not prepared for what he finds. I really like this story but I feel like it is a go-to story for collections and that it's been used too often.

- Song of Swords by Fred Saberhagen

The only poem chosen for the collection. Bebergal wanted to include Saberhagen, but didn't want to use an excerpt from a novel.

- The Dreaming City by Michael Moorcock

The Albino leads a motley army to overthrow his cousin and free his beloved from ensorcelment. My favorite part was Elric vowing to give this Age a reason to hate him and his sword, Stormbringer.

- The Doom that Came to Sarnath by H.P. Lovecraft

More of a description of this marvel of human endeavor and human folly than an actual story. As a farce, I could see this being drawn up with some nice artwork as a travel brochure. "See the sights! Bask in the history! Get murdered by an elder race!"

- Tower of Darkness by David Madison

Diana and Marcus come into town at dusk. The town is empty, boarded up. No one will offer hospitality. Ready to spend the night out of doors, they are offered food and rest at a local temple. Their host is very accommodating. It's going to be a long night of feasting. The mood of this story reminds me of Southern Lights by Tanith Lee; which can be found in DMR's collection Empress of Dreams.

- Straggler from Atlantis by Manly Wade Wellman

Kardios washes up on the shore of giants. He is propositioned to fight a stranded monster from beyond the stars. Excellent heroic fantasy story. More Kardios tales can be found in Heroes of Atlantis & Lemuria and Renegade Swords from DMR Books.

- The Man who Sold Rope to the Gnoles by Margaret St. Clair

St. Clair is an author that I've never taken the opportunity to read. This short piece seems to have an abundance of dark humor.

- Pit of Wings by Ramsey Campbell

Campbell is hard on his protagonist Ryre. Everywhere this dude goes he gets the raw end of the stick. Every single one of his adventures leaves him worse off than the last. Pit of Wings doesn't disappoint in this regard. Maybe he should have just stayed home.

- Black God's Kiss by C. L. Moore

Joiry is conquered. Jirel is imprisoned. Escaping she seeks a weapon from the underworld to vanquish her foe. Journeying through a strange, lovely, and sinister world she receives the kiss of the black idol. The Ace Books collection Jirel of Joiry was my introduction to Sword and Sorcery. It still holds a special place with me.

- The Fortress Unvanquishable, Save for Sacnoth by Lord Dunsany

Bad dreams sent by an evil wizard. A youth is chosen to seek Sacnoth a fabled weapon. The wizard and his fortress have one weakness, that weapon can only be gained by slaying a dragon-like beast in a certain way. Fantastic story. Captures the feel of a fairy tale/legend handed down and embellished over time.

- Sword of Dragonis by Frank Brunner

This was a departure from the rest because it was a comic. Dragonis is tasked with the retrieval of a maiden from a wizard. Imprisoned he makes some unlikely acquaintances. Brunner is hard on his characters. This was very short, but made me eager for more.

A very nice collection for fans old and new. Many additional touches in the layout will appeal to avid fans of D&D. A few of the stories in this collection haven't been reprinted often or at all; adding another reason to seek it out.

[Michael Burnam-Fink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Appendix N, for those not in the know, is a list of literary works at the back of the first Dungeon Master's Guide which inspired Gary Gygax when he created Dungeons & Dragons. This Appendix N is a rollicking sword and sorcery collection, drawn from Gygax's Appendix N (a list of authors) with a few stories that Bebergal thinks deserves to be included, even if Gygax missed them.

And you know, I'm more a golden age scifi guy, but on the whole, these stories slap! Cynical rogues and barbarian antiheros face off against evil sorcerers and uncanny monsters with nothing but their wits and a true sword in their hand. The worlds are strange and terrifying, the action frantic, and on occasion the writing is even good. It says a lot when the contributions by Howard (Conan) and Moorcock (Elric) are some of the weaker entries in the book.

If you're looking for weird tales, this is a great place to start!

[Clint · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Bebergal is taking some flack for putting together an Appendix N anthology that isn’t exacting to the A to Z list put together by Gary Gygax. Some scream HERESY. I’m not so sure that those yelling loudest bothered to read the Introduction, in which Bebergal explained his odd choices.

Some are mad that he used the title Appendix N, which was used by Jeffro Johnson in his book Appendix N: The Literary History of Dungeons and Dragons. Johnson’s book and Bebergal’s book are apples and oranges. Johnson’s is a collection of essays about the works that formed D&D; Bebergal’s is a collection of stories that inspired D&D. Besides, I’m not sure either can claim the title as their own.

Me? Meh. So it isn’t chained tightly; I don’t care so much. I like what it is: a kick-ass collection of great stories.

It has three of my favorite S&S stories: Robert E Howard’s “The Tower of the Elephant”, C.L. Moore’s “Black God’s Kiss” and Fritz Leiber’s “Jewels in the Forest”. Add to that stories by Poul Anderson, Jack Vance, Clark Ashton Smith, Michael Moorcock, Manly Wade Wellman and Lord Dunsany and I find it hard to not love this eclectic book.

All of the stories included by those authors are not new to me; however, I discovered new to me stories by other authors I have read: Ramsey Cambell, Tanith Lee and Margaret St Clair. Campbell’s “Pit of Wings” was a rousing dark tale of gruesome monsters. “A Hero at the Gates” by Lee was predictable, but clever fun. Margaret St Clair’s short entry deserves mention as a great new to me treat.

Add to that an author I have never encountered before, David Madison. His story “Tower of Darkness” was fantastic fun, and I’m sad to learn he died so young (only 27). I enjoyed this story so much, I wrote DMR books begging them to collect Madison.

The only negative things I can say: I was disappointed that the Fred Saberhagen selection was a poem. I like poetry, but I wanted a meal, not a snack. Saberhagen is an author I have always meant to get to, but have not yet. “The Doom that Came to Sarnath” by H.P. Lovecraft is not one of my favorites, I have never been a fan of his Dream Cycle stories.

Many will cry SACRILEGE!!! at the inclusion of the Frank Brunner “Sword of Dragonus” comic, but I love the hint in the Introduction that it might be a taste of Bebergal’s next collection “representative of the books and comics that came to define the D&D of my own childhood”.

I would read that book.

[John Fulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent anthology of short stories from the era that inspired the setting of Dungeons and Dragons - mighty heroes, dread sorcerers, many a mysterious tower, and more than one magical sword. Some authors I was very familiar with, others less so, with the highlight of the anthology for me being “Tower of Darkness” by David Madison, a writer I’d never heard of before. Unfortunately his stories seem to have appeared almost exclusively in fanzines and have almost never been collected, which seems a terrible shame - the story in this volume is fantastic, and Marcus and Diana are wonderful characters. I’d certainly welcome a Marcus and Diana collection if anyone felt like putting one together.

[Stately Elms Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many fun stories to escape. Each unique and quite disconnected from fantasy stories written today.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a GREAT collection of Appendix N and Appendix-N-adjacent stories that ought to be on the shelf of any old-school fantasy RPG gamer. If you don't know, the reference is to Appendix N in the original AD&D (1st edition) Dungeon Master's Guide in which Gary Gygax listed some of the authors and stories that had been most influential in inspiring the creation of Dungeons & Dragons (and thus, indirectly, all subsequent RPGs). It's the DNA of fantasy gaming, and its worth getting back to this - things have moved so far away from these roots that they would be all but unrecognizable, I think, to anyone coming in to D&D from the 1990s onward. Anyway, there is some GREAT stuff in this anthology, and I highly recommend it!

[Jason Waltz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord Dunsany's writing is simply poetic, a prose style that paints pictures and evokes emotions. Excellent concluding tale. Brunner's comic is a nice inclusion. The afterword is ridiculous, I cannot imagine it is what was sought.

Overall a nice book to have in the heroic library, though I must confess it is not the compelling compilation I anticipated.

[Jeb Boyt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent collection of 20th Century fantastic fiction drawn from the list of inspirational reading in Appendix N of the first Dungeon Master's Guide. This collection prompted me to reread favorites, like Robert E. Howard's Tower of the Elephant, and gave me a chance to read a few classic tales for the first time, such as CL Moore's Black God's Kiss, featuring Jirel of Joiry, a powerfully driven character similar to many of Howards, who is sent on a journey that combines Lovecraftian terror and person insight. My favorite was Clark Ashton Smith's Empire of the Necromancers. I had heard the praises of his Zothique stories, and I'll now put more effort in seeking them out.

[Robert Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one in a few hours, I had already read about three-fourths of the stories within. The stories are of stranger sorts of sword & sorcery tales but also those that have been published in other collections through the years. I still enjoyed the strange often sword-proof monsters and the smug, violent heroes that populate them. As an abridged demonstration of Gary Gygax's Appendix N, I think it does the reader service.

What I really liked was the afterword citing the social limitations of fictional roots of D&D though I wished it was a longer discussion than it was. Overall, if you're not familiar with the stories I would recommend picking this one up otherwise there is not much else here. Note I did like this book and enjoyed the stories that were new(ish) to me.

[Jesuitstea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine selection of well-read favorites and some more obscure stories that perfectly captures the devilry and danger of dungeon delving and dragon slaying. Each inclusion in this anthology was on the mark, and together with a very respectable introduction and the stellar quality we've come to expect from Strange Attractor the end result is one of the best short story collections I've read in a while. The inclusion of Frank Brunner's comic Sword of Dragonus is particularly appreciated, and it's great to see Bebergal tip his hat to the contribution of Sword and Sorcery comics to the fantasy zeitgeist. The afterword was a bit gratutious for my taste and its writer seems to have none of Bebergal's understanding or appreciation for the genre, but that "contribution" is hardly worth mentioning- or reading. A lot of fantasy readers will already have some of these stories present in their other collections, but I can't help think that this book will make a great gift for anyone you wish to introduce to the world of S&S.

[Andrew Nierenhausen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a blast. Every story was memorable, and carefully selected by the editor. I was familiar with about half of the authors present, but now I will be searching for works by the other half. This old style of sword, sorcery, and adventure tale, is really what I want from fantasy.

[Kristofer Wall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cool to see the origins of D&D and the high fantasy that inspired Gary Gygax but I didn't enjoy most of the stories. Highlight were "Tower of Darkness" , "The Jewels in the Forest" and "A Hero at the Gates". Interesting characters that I'd like to meet in a real game of D&D.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of short stories taken from, or - more accurately - inspired by Gary Gygax's legendary "Appendix N" in the original Dungeon Masters Guide. Peter Bebergal also took inspiration from Tom Moldvay's "Inspirational Source Material" in his Basic Dungeons & Dragons boxed set and included a couple of stories which he thinks should hold a place alongside those selected by Gygax and Moldvay. All in all, this volume contains a host of great fantasy/sword & sorcery stories and a few that could be given a pass with no harm done to the reading experience (like most anthologies). Readers who are unfamiliar with AD&D/D&D or the golden age of sword & sorcery will be surprised at the quality of plots, characterization, and overall stories that these stories offer. Many, I think, tend to dismiss older stories as being lowbrow, lacking in modern sensibilities, or uninspired. That is their loss. Fans of the genre or the games, on the other hand, will have a welcome reunion with old friends or a pleasant introduction to new ones.

Included in this volume are legitimate masterpieces, including Lin Carter's "How Sargath Lay Siege to Zaremm," Poul Anderson's "Tale of Hauk," Leiber's "Jewels in the Forest," Clark Ashton Smith's "Empire of the Necromancers," Vance's "Turjan of Miir," Robert E. Howard's "Tower of the Elephant," Moorcock's "Dreaming City," Lovecraft's "The Doom that Came to Sarnath," and Lord Dunsany's "The Fortress Unvanquishable, Save for Sacnoth." That's an incredibly high number of excellent works for an anthology (over 50%).

Other strong stories were Tanith Lee's "A Hero at the Gates," Manly Wade Wellman's "Straggler from Atlantis" (which had a great idea behind it but would've benefited from being reworked into a novella), Ramsey Campbell's "Pit of Wings," C. L. Moore's "Black God's Kiss," and Frank Brunner's "Dragonus" (an early sword & sorcery comic which appeared in an early fanzine and was later reprinted by Marvel).

Tales which could've been omitted without doing harm to the reading experience were Saberhagen's "Song of Swords" (which was a poem, and decent if not inspired, but that didn't really fit in this book), David Madison's "Tower of Darkness," and Margaret St. Clair's "The Man Who Sold Rope to the Gnoles" (which is completely out of place here).

I have to also mention the Afterward by Ann VanderMeer. It is, to be blunt, a disservice to the readers and belittling to Gygax and the actual authors themselves. VanderMeer touts her bona fides as being, at one time, the Editor-in-Chief of Weird Tales (yes, that Weird Tales) She was, she says, "tasked with bringing the magazine into the twenty-first century." She makes no mention of why this was necessary, or even desirable, but it seems her view of the sensibilities of the twenty-first century are quite limited. She also claims that she "was very familiar with these stories, but ... was also very aware of their limitations." With all due respect, I find the former claim hard to believe and the later one to be laughable. VanderMeer fetishizes sexuality, sexual orientation, and non-traditional gender roles, which is apparent when you read her comments on the stories and what she thinks would make them "more interesting." Someone who served as the EIC for what was at one time the flagship publication for this genre should know that, for instance, her suggestion
that having Cymoril rescue Elric in Imrryr wouldn't have improved the story but ruined it and the rest of the Elric series since - spoilers! - Elric accidentally killing Cymoril with his soul-stealing blade Stormbringer looms large in nearly every Elric tale that follows. Her suggestion that "dare we even imagine if the necromancers in Smith's story, Mmatmuor and Sodosma, were more than just allies but partners in life as well? Or would that be blasphemous?" Since Smith blatantly portrays both necromancers as engaging in necrophilia, no, the suggestion that they could've been in a committed homosexual relationship would hardly qualify as "blasphemous." Clark Ashton Smith was a better writer, and more transgressive, than VenderMeer could ever hope to be, so spare me the cutesy-pie suggestions that would actually harm the stories instead of improving them. Bebergal's choice of having VanderMeer write the afterword simply leaves a bad taste in the reader's mouth after an almost exclusively enjoyable read. There's no justifiable reason why her piece should've been included in the first place.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing curated collection of Appendix N and associated literature. While the heavy hitters like Dunsany, Howard, Leiber, CAS, and Moorcock are there, I found myself all the more appreciating the more obscure tales. I was especially happy to finally get a chance to read Margaret St. Clair's "The Man Who Sold Rope to the Gnoles."

[Rachel Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology as a fan of Dungeons and Dragons and the swords and sorcery genre. It was delightful to piece together references to spells or class features that are in today's edition of the game. C.L. Moore’s “Black God’s Kiss” was a highlight, and I do not care about this anthology being biblically accurate to Gary Gygax, a man who is nearly as famous for his misogyny as he is his contributions to TTRPG (and asking for such a rules-lawyered version of the anthology to exist takes away from the homebrew spirit of the games he made).

[Ian Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m familiar with the list of stories referenced by the title here: the famous “further reading” collection collated by Gary Gygax for the original version of D&D. And I love the idea and love of the genre behind this entire anthology. It’s a great mix of stories and even though some stories are only included because they aren’t the listed novels, it’s a great mix that shows the origins and inspirations for the role-playing genre.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stopped reading anthologies some time ago because I found that 80% of the stories suck, but this one is full of classics, as well as some tales that are new to me. I skipped around a little bit, having recently re-read "The Tower of the Elephant," for example, and "Black God's Kiss," but overall, I enjoyed just about every story in this book. I am a sucker for a weird tale, and this one is chock full of them.

[jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

"But Leothric went straightaway thence, and cut a great staff from a hazel tree, and slept early that evening. But the next morning, awakening from troubled dreams, he arose before the dawn, and, taking with him provisions for five days, set out through the forest northwards towards the marshes."
'The Fortress Unvanquishable, Save for Sacnoth' by Lord Dunsany (1908).

[Jed Mayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immensely entertaining and a glorious journey back into the world of twentieth century fantasy, and for me at least, into the world of my adolescence. Bebergal's introduction is outstanding, and his story selection is generally excellent, though sometimes individual stories did not seem meaningfully connected to the adventure gaming of the anthology's premise. Nevertheless, this was a joy to read and an edifying testament to the value of imaginative story-telling.

[Cherok · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with every collection, there were some highs and lows, but all in all an enjoyable read of a plethora of iconic authors.

The curation and selection was done with care, and this is a perfect entry to the Appendix N without having to dive into thousands of pages of material. Something I'm currently attempting anyways... :)

[Dan Sumption · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-chosen selection of short fantasy stories from, or related to, Gary Gygax's list in Appendix N of the Dungeon Master's Guide. A nice reminder that D&D isn't all elves, orcs and the vast shadow of Tolkien.

[Adam Chafe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly the best anthology I have read in a long time. Every story was a great selection and a joy to read, even though several are classics many people would have read before.

Bonus points, the book itself is lovely with a fun layout that makes you feel like you are reading a D&D supplement.

[Mike Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. Because it’s a book of short stories, I found many new authors to look up and read a few stories by authors that I’ve already read and enjoyed. A good back for fantasy and short-story fans.

[Carl Grider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of Sword and Sorcery tales. Had stories from Howard and Moorcock which are 2 of my favorites along with many others I had never read before but will be seeking out further

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very fun (and nostalgic) trip down memory lane.

[Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb collection of Sword & Sorecery short stories that perfectly capture the feeling of a fantasy roleplaying game.

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

What could have been an excellent anthology tarnished by scope creep and a terrible afterword.