We know that in 1979 Gary Gygax published the AD&D Dungeon Master’s Guide with its famous”Appendix N’ composed of Gary’s recommended reading for inspiration of the game.
Did you know that Gary published a similar (shorter) list in 1976? If you go back to December, 1976, in Dragon Magazine #4 you can find an earlier version of the list. Gary called it “FANTASY/SWORDS & SORCERY: RECOMMENDED READING” and it’s interesting.
AUTHORS (SPECIFIC WORK) Anderson, Poul (Three Hearts and Three Lions) Blackwood, Algernon Brackett, Leigh Burroughs, E.R. (John Carter of Mars; et al) Carter, Lin (Warrior of the Worlds End) deCamp & Pratt (Incomplete Enchanter; Castle of Iron; et al) Farmer, P.J. (Gates of Creation; et al) Fox, G.F. (Kother the Barbarian; et al) Howard, R.E. (Conan the Conqueror; et al) Lanier, Sterling (Hiero’s Journey) Leiber, Fritz (Swords of Lankhmar; et al) Lovecraft, H.P. Merritt, A. (Creep Shadow, Creep; Moon Pool; Face in the Abyss; Dwellers in the Mirage et al) Moorcock, Michael (Stealer of Souls; Stormbringer) Saberhagen, Fred (Changling Earth) St. Clair, Margaret Tolkien, J.R.R. (The Hobbit; Lord of the Rings Trilogy) Vance, Jack (Eyes of Overworld; The Dying Earth) Weinbaum, Stanley Wellman, M. W. Zelazny, Roger (Jack of Shadows; Lord of Light; Nine Princes of Amber series)
Interesting Notes:
1. NOT ON THE LIST YET
Several authors of Appendix N haven’t been included on this list: John Bellars, Frederick Brown, August Derleth, Lord Dunsany, Andre Norton, Andrew J Offutt, Fletcher Pratt, and Jack Williamson.
2. PURGED FROM THE LIST
For some reason, Algernon Blackwood appears on the 1976 list but not on the 1979 one. I wonder if it was an oversight, or if Gary decided he didn’t like Blackwood’s works as well as he did a few years before.
_________________ Marv / FinarvynDCC Minister of Propaganda; Deputized 6/8/11  DCC RPG playtester 2011, C&C playtester 2003, T&T since 2003, ADRP Since 1993, OD&D player since 1975 "The worthy GM never purposely kills players' PCs, He presents opportunities for the rash and unthinking players to do that all on their own." -- Gary Gygax "Don't ask me what you need to hit. Just roll the die and I will let you know!" -- Dave Arneson
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