I thought it was a nice touch to include a selection of inspirational reading suggestions in the PHB, and extra nice to preface it with Gary's original preamble to Appendix N. So far as I can tell the new list covers everything that was in Appendix N, plus a range of newer fantasy works that have come out since then (including credible works like Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun, so it's not just D&D authors, though Salvatore and Weis & Hickman get nods). It's a nice acknowledgement of the game's roots and should hopefully prompt some kids to go do this reading and enrich their knowledge of the genre.
EDIT: And come to think of it, I think it's a very sly way of repositioning D&D as being a big tent game that can encompass a range of fantasy styles, moods and aesthetics, rather than being married to a specific "dungeonpunk" aesthetic which Pathfinder seems to be the market leader on these days.
With GRR Martin in the list, I wonder if that means we'll get rules for incest in 5e
Quote from: Warthur;779486EDIT: And come to think of it, I think it's a very sly way of repositioning D&D as being a big tent game that can encompass a range of fantasy styles, moods and aesthetics, rather than being married to a specific "dungeonpunk" aesthetic which Pathfinder seems to be the market leader on these days.
At first I wanted to kame a derrogatory remark about this supposedly all-encompassing quality of D&D, which I found to be... a bit too inexistant to praise. But, it is cheap to point out other's people hubris while ignoring one's own. So yes, the literature list is a nice addition, if only because it includes a few reading suggestions of truly good books.
Quote from: YourSwordisMine;779490With GRR Martin in the list, I wonder if that means we'll get rules for incest in 5e
With the apparent success of the ongoing TV series right now, it would be foolish to ignore Martin; ASOIAF is contemporarily as important for fantasy literature as a genre as The Lord of the Rings. You don't have to like it, but Martin deserves the recognition within the genre.
I didn't like how instead of just listing authors which EGG did in many cases, they highlighted certain works by those authors.
For instance, Manly Wade Wellman, the list mentions "The Golgotha Dancers (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/32580/32580-h/32580-h.htm)".
Seriously? One very short story? Not say, the Silver John series which in some respects, is very D&D-ish.
It seemed obvious that whoever compiled the list didn't bother to read it, at least EGG's original list.
Quote from: JeremyR;779499I didn't like how instead of just listing authors which EGG did in many cases, they highlighted certain works by those authors.
For instance, Manly Wade Wellman, the list mentions "The Golgotha Dancers (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/32580/32580-h/32580-h.htm)".
Seriously? One very short story? Not say, the Silver John series which in some respects, is very D&D-ish.
It seemed obvious that whoever compiled the list didn't bother to read it, at least EGG's original list.
The same is true of Moorcock - no mention of Corum (The Prince in the Scarlet Robe).
I think it's better to give concrete recommendations rather than leaving people to fumble through the (potentially extensive) bibliography of an unfamiliar author by themselves. If they dig the initial recommendation they can read the rest of the author's stuff at their leisure.
Choice of what to recommend might be shaped by what is currently easily accessible in print, of course.
Quote from: YourSwordisMine;779490With GRR Martin in the list, I wonder if that means we'll get rules for incest in 5e
Rulings, not rules!
I don't have my PHB handy at the moment. Does the appendix also make reference to the Choose Your Own Adventure books? I think it should. Even though there were lots of authors (like R L Stein), those style of books deserve a call out.
I like the list. It's clearly a broad spectrum of fantasy, I have no problem with it.
As for not including a writer's particular works of some subjective quality, it's inescapable. I'm a *massive* Moorcock fan, outside of Herbert, no sci-fi/fantasy writer looms larger in my melon. If you're gonna mention anything by Moorcock it's always going to be Elric. Always. Corum is certainly worthy, far more than many others on that list - but if you're gonna get one from Moorcock, c'mon, you gotta give it to Elric. I'd also have liked to seen Dorian Hawkmoon (but you know. Corum is my second favorite...)
Gene Wolfe? Fuggedabout it. Quite possibly one of the best writers of the modern age. I'm not just talking about genre either. I'm talking just style. Book of the New Sun is utterly sublime.
It's a healthy list. I'm sure this thread is going to spiral out of control in fantasy literature discussions. I plan on taking notes for good recommendations! :)