Inspirational Source Material

"A good D&D campaign is imaginative and creative. Sometimes a little research is useful to improve a dungeon, flesh out a scenario, and provide inspiration for a campaign. Books on folklore, mythology, fairy tales, bestiaries, and knightly legends can often help the DM fill in important details of a campaign, but fictional tales and fantasy novels usually provide the best sources of inspiration. The following list includes some books which might prove useful. A title list followed by 'et al' means that the author has written more fantasy titles than those which can be listed in the limited space available. Note that some books listed as 'non-fiction' are about myths and legends, but are labeled as non-fiction because they are not on the fiction shelves of the library or bookstore.

FICTION: YOUNG ADULT FANTASY

Alexander, Lloyd - The Book of Three; Black Cauldron; Castle of Llyr

Baum, L. Frank - The Wizard Of Oz, The Emerald City Of Oz

Bellairs, John - The Face In The Frost; House With A Clock In Its Walls

Burroughs, Edgar Rice - A Princess Of Mars; At The Earth's Core

Carroll, Lewis - Alice's Adventures In Wonderland

Garner, Alan - Elidor; Weirdstone Of Brisingamen

Le Guin, Ursula - A Wizard Of Earthsea; Tombs of Atuan

Lewis, C.S. - The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

FICTION: ADULT FANTASY

Anderson, Poul - Three Hearts Three Lions; The Broken Sword

Anthony, Piers - A Spell For Chameleon

Asprin, Robert - Another Fine Myth

Brackett, Leigh - The Secret Of Sinharat; People of the Talisman

Campbell, J. Ramsey - Demons By Daylight

Carter, Lin - Flashing Swords; Year's Best Fantasy Stories

Davidson, Avram - The Phoenix In The Mirror

de Camp, L. Sprague - The Fallible Fiend; The Goblin Tower

de Camp and Pratt - The Incompleat Enchanter; Land Of Unreason

Dunsany, Lord - King Of Elflands Daughter; Over The Hills And Far Away

Eddison, E.R. - The Worm Ouroboros

Eisenstein, Phyllis - Born To Exile; Sorcerer's Son

Farmer, P.J. - Maker Of Universes, Gates Of Creation, Private Cosmos

Finney, Charles - The Unholy City; The Circus of Dr. Lao

Heinlein, Robert - Glory Road

Howard, Robert E. - Conan; Red Nails; Pigeons From Hell

Lee, Tanith - Night's Master; Storm Lord; The Birthgrave

Leiber, Fritz - The Swords of Lankhmar, Swords Against Wizardry

Lovecraft, H.P. - Doom That Came To Sarnath; The Dunwich Horror

Merritt, A. - The Moon Pool; Dwellers In The Mirage

Moorcock, Michael - The Stealer Of Souls; Knight Of Swords

Mundy, Talbot - Tros Of Samothrace

Niven, Larry - The Magic Goes Away; Flight Of The Horse

Norton, Andre - Witch World; Year Of The Unicorn

Offutt, Andrew - The Iron Lords; Swords Against Darkness

Pratt, Fletcher - The Blue Star; Well Of The Unicorn

Smith, Clark Ashton - Xiccarph; Lost Worlds; Genus Loci

Stewart, Mary - The Crystal Cave; The Hollow Hills

Stoker, Bram - Dracula

Swann, T. Burnett - Cry Silver Bells; Moondust

Tolkien, J.R.R. - The Hobbit, Lord Of The Rings

Vance, Jack - Eyes Of The Overworld; Dying Earth; Dragon Masters

Wagner, Karl Edward - Bloodstone; Dark Crusade

White, Theodore - The Once And Future King

Zelazny, Roger - Jack Of Shadows; Nine Princes In Amber"

-- T. Moldvay, 1981 D&D Basic Rulebook, p. B62