For the Conan stories, I recommend the unadulterated Howard stories. Something like this series: https://www.amazon.com/Coming-Conan-Cimmerian-Original-Adventures/dp/0345461517/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3N7ZB7NQ2TL6P&keywords=conan+howard&qid=1682460339&s=books&sprefix=conan+howard%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C144&sr=1-1

It's expensive, but you can get them free (and legally) online: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Author:Robert_Ervin_Howard#Conan_the_Barbarian

As to the others in Appendix N, as you've probably realised, there is no agreement. At the risk of being burned at the stake, I'm not that keen on LOTR, CAS or HPL. Even within an author's work, it can be variable; I wasn't a fan of some of Vance's work, but loved the Cugel saga. Every book belongs on Appendix N because some people love it, though your mileage may vary.

I've started reading the holes in Appendix N myself recently. My favourite so far was The High Crusade, which is a very tongue-in-cheek story about a small medieval English army taking on a vast space empire.

Quote from: ForgottenF on April 24, 2023, 10:05:16 PM

Quote from: jhkim on April 24, 2023, 03:27:13 PM
I just read Poul Anderson's "Three Hearts and Three Lions" for the first time, and I thought it was very illuminating about D&D's roots - moreso than most of the others.

Things that struck me about Three Hearts and Three Lions was especially how Anderson approached myth from a scientific viewpoint - with comments about the energy needed for magic, genetics of lycanthropy, and thermodynamics of dragons. AD&D doesn't use most of these specifics - but it has a lot of that mindset, like having "infravision" for seeing in the dark as seeing in infrared, psionics, and discussion of the energy of magic.

Especially, AD&D elevates a distinctly Carolingian paladin as its most iconic symbol of good - which is taken quite directly from Three Hearts and Three Lions. It drops the stuff about fey, and substitutes demons and devils, but I think the ethos is similar.

I have a pet theory about fantasy as a genre. I usually describe it to neophytes as a composite genre, with the chief ingredients being science fiction, historical fiction, and folklore/mythology. Most of the great authors use all three, but they can be classed according to which of the three ingredients they most emphasize. Personally, I find this to be a more useful method of categorization than nebulous terms like "epic fantasy" or "dark fantasy".

Tolkien, Lewis and Alexander I would say are folklorists first. Howard and Martin clearly emphasize the historical element. Leiber, Vance and Moorcock take a more science fiction based approach. Under that schema, Poul Anderson is a bit of a strange case. Depending on the book, he mixes all three elements pretty evenly. 3H3L is roughly an even split between science fiction and folklore. The Broken Sword is almost purely in the myth/folklore camp, while Mother of Kings is much heavier on the historical fiction angle. Terry Pratchett is that way too, where he shifts up the proportions from book to book.

Interesting stuff! I was discussing if "The Winter King" could be classified as fantasy since it contained a little magic in it. Your perspective clarifies things I bit.

I tried my hand at classification a while ago, but didn't get too far.

https://methodsetmadness.blogspot.com/2021/03/my-weird-dark-twisted-fantasy.html

Henry Kuttner's Elak of Atlantis stories are also very much D&Dish in style.

Looking for Anthologies I found an anthology Flashing Swords, and it has a recent release "Flashing Swords #6" (2021). I don't understand the situation with some negative comments it seems some American are too sensible. In any case reading the positive comments is a great collection,  the book is here:

https://www.amazon.com/Lin-Carters-Flashing-Swords-Anthology/dp/9187611384

Quote from: Cathal on April 26, 2023, 04:14:41 PM
Looking for Anthologies I found an anthology Flashing Swords, and it has a recent release "Flashing Swords #6" (2021). I don't understand the situation with some negative comments it seems some American are too sensible. In any case reading the positive comments is a great collection,  the book is here:

https://www.amazon.com/Lin-Carters-Flashing-Swords-Anthology/dp/9187611384

I used to read those (and other anthologies), and liked them a lot. Lin Carter was a great guy too.  Yeah, apparently Sword and Sorcery has aspects that get some folks all bent out of shape. I only learned that a few months ago, from reading some blogs. Go figure. IMO it's a classic genre that I enjoy.

Quote from: Baron on April 26, 2023, 04:19:13 PM

Quote from: Cathal on April 26, 2023, 04:14:41 PM
Looking for Anthologies I found an anthology Flashing Swords, and it has a recent release "Flashing Swords #6" (2021). I don't understand the situation with some negative comments it seems some American are too sensible. In any case reading the positive comments is a great collection,  the book is here:

https://www.amazon.com/Lin-Carters-Flashing-Swords-Anthology/dp/9187611384

I used to read those (and other anthologies), and liked them a lot. Lin Carter was a great guy too.  Yeah, apparently Sword and Sorcery has aspects that get some folks all bent out of shape. I only learned that a few months ago, from reading some blogs. Go figure. IMO it's a classic genre that I enjoy.

My main issue with S&S anthologies is that the quality of the writing tends to vary widely.  I have no problem with the content; the more gratuitous sex and violence, the better.  I'm not reading this stuff because I like or expect Jane Austen.

Quote from: Baron on April 26, 2023, 04:19:13 PM

Quote from: Cathal on April 26, 2023, 04:14:41 PM
Looking for Anthologies I found an anthology Flashing Swords, and it has a recent release "Flashing Swords #6" (2021). I don't understand the situation with some negative comments it seems some American are too sensible. In any case reading the positive comments is a great collection,  the book is here:

https://www.amazon.com/Lin-Carters-Flashing-Swords-Anthology/dp/9187611384

I used to read those (and other anthologies), and liked them a lot. Lin Carter was a great guy too.  Yeah, apparently Sword and Sorcery has aspects that get some folks all bent out of shape. I only learned that a few months ago, from reading some blogs. Go figure. IMO it's a classic genre that I enjoy.

I'm searching over the internet and unfortunately what I found Swords and Sorcery is shifting, maybe in the future the Swords and Sorcery we all know will be lost, for something completely different named Sword & Sorcery.

Quote from: Persimmon on April 26, 2023, 05:19:54 PM
My main issue with S&S anthologies is that the quality of the writing tends to vary widely.  I have no problem with the content; the more gratuitous sex and violence, the better.  I'm not reading this stuff because I like or expect Jane Austen.

For the moment I'm focusing my reading in the book bought and in the classics if is possible. The classics seems to be free.

It probably goes without saying but La Morte De Arthur, The Illiad, The Oddessy, Gilgamesh, and Beowulf.

Quote from: David Johansen on April 26, 2023, 07:27:59 PM
It probably goes without saying but La Morte De Arthur, The Illiad, The Oddessy, Gilgamesh, and Beowulf.

Interesting selection David  Thank you for sharing.

One thing I've been wondering for a while is whether there's a decent English translation or compilation of The Matter or France or the legends of Charlemange?  I've got Bullfinch's Mythology but it's tedious and dull.  I'd also like a good version of the Ulster Cycle.

Any suggestions?

Quote from: Rhymer88 on April 26, 2023, 10:00:08 AM
Henry Kuttner's Elak of Atlantis stories are also very much D&Dish in style.

Adrian Cole has continued Elak's stories. Not as good as the Kuttner stuff, but worth reading.

Quote from: David Johansen on April 27, 2023, 08:44:05 PM
One thing I've been wondering for a while is whether there's a decent English translation or compilation of The Matter or France or the legends of Charlemange?  I've got Bullfinch's Mythology but it's tedious and dull.  I'd also like a good version of the Ulster Cycle.

Any suggestions?

I don't know of any compilations, but there are English translations of the Chanson de Roland and Huon de Bordeaux. The main Italian epics (Orlando Furioso and Orlando Innamorato) are also available in English.

I found this book Flame and Crimson: A History of Sword-and-Sorcery

https://www.amazon.com/Flame-Crimson-History-Sword-Sorcery/dp/1683902440

Review
- https://rogue-blades.com/2021/05/14/flame-and-crimson-linking-sword-and-sorcery-to-todays-world/
- https://jwwrightauthor.wordpress.com/2021/02/11/review-of-flame-and-crimson-a-history-of-sword-and-sorcery-by-brian-murphy/

Quote from: David Johansen on April 27, 2023, 08:44:05 PM
One thing I've been wondering for a while is whether there's a decent English translation or compilation of The Matter or France or the legends of Charlemange?  I've got Bullfinch's Mythology but it's tedious and dull.  I'd also like a good version of the Ulster Cycle.

Any suggestions?

Define decent.

I have an academic translation somewhere. It's readable but was expensive 40 years ago and might not be in print.