It amazes me I grew up with the old DM's guide in the early 80's and never bothered with the suggested Appendix N reading at the back. Probably too young to appreciate it. I was reading Dragonlance novels and Conan comics back then anyways.
I'm loving Dying Earth. It's well written, I kind of feel like I'm actually there. Looking forward to more of Vance's work. Also like this Dying Earth DCC boxed set rumor I read somewhere...
Just started Jack Vance's Dying Earth
Moderators: DJ LaBoss, finarvyn, michaelcurtis, Harley Stroh
-
Woodland Mutant
- Far-Sighted Wanderer
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2016 3:06 pm
- FLGS: Mayhem Games, Des Moines, IA
-
werecat
- Ill-Fated Peasant
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu May 05, 2016 2:50 am
- FLGS: Brooklyn Strategist, Compleat Strategist, Twenty Sided Store
- Location: Brooklyn, NY
Re: Just started Jack Vance's Dying Earth
I'm reading it right now and LOVING it! Currently nearing the end of "The Eyes of the Overworld".
And the boxed set is definitely happening. Jobe Bittman is writing it and it was officially announced it at the last Gen Con "What's New at Goodman Games" seminar which you can listen to over at the Spellburn podcast.
And the boxed set is definitely happening. Jobe Bittman is writing it and it was officially announced it at the last Gen Con "What's New at Goodman Games" seminar which you can listen to over at the Spellburn podcast.
"Men of broader intellect know that there is no sharp distinction betwixt the real and the unreal."
-Jervas Dudley, "The Tomb" by H.P. Lovecraft
"Sixty-sixty?" Fafhrd suggested.
The Mouser hesitated, sheathed his dirk, and rapped put, "A deal!"
-"Ill Met in Lankhmar" by Fritz Leiber
In NYC? Check out the DCC NYC Meetup group: https://www.meetup.com/DCC-MCC-RPG-NYC.
-Jervas Dudley, "The Tomb" by H.P. Lovecraft
"Sixty-sixty?" Fafhrd suggested.
The Mouser hesitated, sheathed his dirk, and rapped put, "A deal!"
-"Ill Met in Lankhmar" by Fritz Leiber
In NYC? Check out the DCC NYC Meetup group: https://www.meetup.com/DCC-MCC-RPG-NYC.
-
GnomeBoy
- Tyrant Master (Administrator)
- Posts: 4105
- Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2006 1:46 pm
- FLGS: Bizarro World
- Location: Left Coast, USA
- Contact:
Re: Just started Jack Vance's Dying Earth
I read Eyes about a year and a half ago, or so.
I really need to read it again...
So much Appendix N, so little time.
I really need to read it again...
So much Appendix N, so little time.
...
Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
Playing RPGs since '77 • Quasi-occasional member of the Legion of 8th-Level Fighters.
Link: Here Be 100+ DCC Monsters
bygrinstow.com - The Home of Inner Ham
Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
Playing RPGs since '77 • Quasi-occasional member of the Legion of 8th-Level Fighters.
Link: Here Be 100+ DCC Monsters
bygrinstow.com - The Home of Inner Ham
-
billolmesdahl
- Wild-Eyed Zealot
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:39 am
Re: Just started Jack Vance's Dying Earth
I've always felt the two Cugel novels are the best in the Dying Earth series. They're all good, but I'd probably have a new reader go to Eyes of the Overworld before any of the other novels.
-
Bilgewriggler
- Deft-Handed Cutpurse
- Posts: 233
- Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2012 7:25 am
Re: Just started Jack Vance's Dying Earth
Michael Shea's authorized sequel to Eyes of the Overworld is really good as well. Not as incredibly good as Cugel's Saga or Shea's later Nifft the Lean books, but well worth reading.
Purple Planeteers:
Jingles Coinclink, Halfling, hag-hacked into haggis
Nurzual the Faceter – M Jwlr - Wiz - L
S 12 A 8 (-1) S 9 P 11 I 15 (+1) L 10
AC 9 HP 6 Mv 30 Init -1 Ref 0 Fort 0 Will 1
Chalk 1pc, 20 gp Gem, Backpack, 10’ chain, 10 sheets parchment, Kith pouch, small hammer, ray-gun, Rope 50', 5gp 10sp 274 cp
shortsword +0(1d6)
Ch Psn (no MM), Clr Spr 65, Force Manip 81, Rd Mag 12, Spidr Cl 69
Pl.Common (basic)
Snooth Inksplot Scribe RIP under cave-in, a crushing loss
Qort Quiddlegit M Hlr - Cler - N(C?)
S 11 temp 14 (+1) A 11 temp 14 (+1) S 6 (-1) P 5 (-2) I 6 (-1) L 5 (-2)
AC 10 temp 11 HP 8 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref t+1 Fort 0 Will -1
club +0 (1d4+1t) - hand mirror, holy wtr, wtrskin Kith drink 12 oz drunk, 31 cp
-2 Ms fire damage
Det Magic
Brandybland Shoetree F Coblr N
S 10 A 9 S 10 P 8 (-1) I 9 L 9
AC 14 HP 1 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref 0 Fort 0; Will -1
gldtr glaive +0 (1d10) - gldtr ch mail - Fe spike, shoehorn, 48 cp
Prof: dagger
Jingles Coinclink, Halfling, hag-hacked into haggis
Nurzual the Faceter – M Jwlr - Wiz - L
S 12 A 8 (-1) S 9 P 11 I 15 (+1) L 10
AC 9 HP 6 Mv 30 Init -1 Ref 0 Fort 0 Will 1
Chalk 1pc, 20 gp Gem, Backpack, 10’ chain, 10 sheets parchment, Kith pouch, small hammer, ray-gun, Rope 50', 5gp 10sp 274 cp
shortsword +0(1d6)
Ch Psn (no MM), Clr Spr 65, Force Manip 81, Rd Mag 12, Spidr Cl 69
Pl.Common (basic)
Snooth Inksplot Scribe RIP under cave-in, a crushing loss
Qort Quiddlegit M Hlr - Cler - N(C?)
S 11 temp 14 (+1) A 11 temp 14 (+1) S 6 (-1) P 5 (-2) I 6 (-1) L 5 (-2)
AC 10 temp 11 HP 8 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref t+1 Fort 0 Will -1
club +0 (1d4+1t) - hand mirror, holy wtr, wtrskin Kith drink 12 oz drunk, 31 cp
-2 Ms fire damage
Det Magic
Brandybland Shoetree F Coblr N
S 10 A 9 S 10 P 8 (-1) I 9 L 9
AC 14 HP 1 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref 0 Fort 0; Will -1
gldtr glaive +0 (1d10) - gldtr ch mail - Fe spike, shoehorn, 48 cp
Prof: dagger
-
Griffith
- Far-Sighted Wanderer
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Sun Jul 19, 2015 10:04 am
- FLGS: Paradox Comics-N-Cards
Re: Just started Jack Vance's Dying Earth
Michael Shea's work is top-notch. His In Yana, the Touch of Undying is also a great read.
-
Bilgewriggler
- Deft-Handed Cutpurse
- Posts: 233
- Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2012 7:25 am
Re: Just started Jack Vance's Dying Earth
That's another of my favorites.Griffith wrote:Michael Shea's work is top-notch. His In Yana, the Touch of Undying is also a great read.
Purple Planeteers:
Jingles Coinclink, Halfling, hag-hacked into haggis
Nurzual the Faceter – M Jwlr - Wiz - L
S 12 A 8 (-1) S 9 P 11 I 15 (+1) L 10
AC 9 HP 6 Mv 30 Init -1 Ref 0 Fort 0 Will 1
Chalk 1pc, 20 gp Gem, Backpack, 10’ chain, 10 sheets parchment, Kith pouch, small hammer, ray-gun, Rope 50', 5gp 10sp 274 cp
shortsword +0(1d6)
Ch Psn (no MM), Clr Spr 65, Force Manip 81, Rd Mag 12, Spidr Cl 69
Pl.Common (basic)
Snooth Inksplot Scribe RIP under cave-in, a crushing loss
Qort Quiddlegit M Hlr - Cler - N(C?)
S 11 temp 14 (+1) A 11 temp 14 (+1) S 6 (-1) P 5 (-2) I 6 (-1) L 5 (-2)
AC 10 temp 11 HP 8 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref t+1 Fort 0 Will -1
club +0 (1d4+1t) - hand mirror, holy wtr, wtrskin Kith drink 12 oz drunk, 31 cp
-2 Ms fire damage
Det Magic
Brandybland Shoetree F Coblr N
S 10 A 9 S 10 P 8 (-1) I 9 L 9
AC 14 HP 1 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref 0 Fort 0; Will -1
gldtr glaive +0 (1d10) - gldtr ch mail - Fe spike, shoehorn, 48 cp
Prof: dagger
Jingles Coinclink, Halfling, hag-hacked into haggis
Nurzual the Faceter – M Jwlr - Wiz - L
S 12 A 8 (-1) S 9 P 11 I 15 (+1) L 10
AC 9 HP 6 Mv 30 Init -1 Ref 0 Fort 0 Will 1
Chalk 1pc, 20 gp Gem, Backpack, 10’ chain, 10 sheets parchment, Kith pouch, small hammer, ray-gun, Rope 50', 5gp 10sp 274 cp
shortsword +0(1d6)
Ch Psn (no MM), Clr Spr 65, Force Manip 81, Rd Mag 12, Spidr Cl 69
Pl.Common (basic)
Snooth Inksplot Scribe RIP under cave-in, a crushing loss
Qort Quiddlegit M Hlr - Cler - N(C?)
S 11 temp 14 (+1) A 11 temp 14 (+1) S 6 (-1) P 5 (-2) I 6 (-1) L 5 (-2)
AC 10 temp 11 HP 8 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref t+1 Fort 0 Will -1
club +0 (1d4+1t) - hand mirror, holy wtr, wtrskin Kith drink 12 oz drunk, 31 cp
-2 Ms fire damage
Det Magic
Brandybland Shoetree F Coblr N
S 10 A 9 S 10 P 8 (-1) I 9 L 9
AC 14 HP 1 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref 0 Fort 0; Will -1
gldtr glaive +0 (1d10) - gldtr ch mail - Fe spike, shoehorn, 48 cp
Prof: dagger
-
Bilgewriggler
- Deft-Handed Cutpurse
- Posts: 233
- Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2012 7:25 am
Re: Just started Jack Vance's Dying Earth
George R.R. Martin edited a Dying Earth tribute collection called Songs of the Dying Earth a few years back. About half of it consists of famous F&SF writers making fools of themselves and demonstrating how hard it is to write like Vance. But several of the stories are very good, and a couple are terrific.
Purple Planeteers:
Jingles Coinclink, Halfling, hag-hacked into haggis
Nurzual the Faceter – M Jwlr - Wiz - L
S 12 A 8 (-1) S 9 P 11 I 15 (+1) L 10
AC 9 HP 6 Mv 30 Init -1 Ref 0 Fort 0 Will 1
Chalk 1pc, 20 gp Gem, Backpack, 10’ chain, 10 sheets parchment, Kith pouch, small hammer, ray-gun, Rope 50', 5gp 10sp 274 cp
shortsword +0(1d6)
Ch Psn (no MM), Clr Spr 65, Force Manip 81, Rd Mag 12, Spidr Cl 69
Pl.Common (basic)
Snooth Inksplot Scribe RIP under cave-in, a crushing loss
Qort Quiddlegit M Hlr - Cler - N(C?)
S 11 temp 14 (+1) A 11 temp 14 (+1) S 6 (-1) P 5 (-2) I 6 (-1) L 5 (-2)
AC 10 temp 11 HP 8 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref t+1 Fort 0 Will -1
club +0 (1d4+1t) - hand mirror, holy wtr, wtrskin Kith drink 12 oz drunk, 31 cp
-2 Ms fire damage
Det Magic
Brandybland Shoetree F Coblr N
S 10 A 9 S 10 P 8 (-1) I 9 L 9
AC 14 HP 1 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref 0 Fort 0; Will -1
gldtr glaive +0 (1d10) - gldtr ch mail - Fe spike, shoehorn, 48 cp
Prof: dagger
Jingles Coinclink, Halfling, hag-hacked into haggis
Nurzual the Faceter – M Jwlr - Wiz - L
S 12 A 8 (-1) S 9 P 11 I 15 (+1) L 10
AC 9 HP 6 Mv 30 Init -1 Ref 0 Fort 0 Will 1
Chalk 1pc, 20 gp Gem, Backpack, 10’ chain, 10 sheets parchment, Kith pouch, small hammer, ray-gun, Rope 50', 5gp 10sp 274 cp
shortsword +0(1d6)
Ch Psn (no MM), Clr Spr 65, Force Manip 81, Rd Mag 12, Spidr Cl 69
Pl.Common (basic)
Snooth Inksplot Scribe RIP under cave-in, a crushing loss
Qort Quiddlegit M Hlr - Cler - N(C?)
S 11 temp 14 (+1) A 11 temp 14 (+1) S 6 (-1) P 5 (-2) I 6 (-1) L 5 (-2)
AC 10 temp 11 HP 8 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref t+1 Fort 0 Will -1
club +0 (1d4+1t) - hand mirror, holy wtr, wtrskin Kith drink 12 oz drunk, 31 cp
-2 Ms fire damage
Det Magic
Brandybland Shoetree F Coblr N
S 10 A 9 S 10 P 8 (-1) I 9 L 9
AC 14 HP 1 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref 0 Fort 0; Will -1
gldtr glaive +0 (1d10) - gldtr ch mail - Fe spike, shoehorn, 48 cp
Prof: dagger
-
Gentlegamer
- Far-Sighted Wanderer
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:30 pm
Re: Just started Jack Vance's Dying Earth
Here's a thread at Dragonsfoot where I engaged in some Vance/Cugel fan-fic: http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewt ... 48&t=10384
-
serendipitous
- Wild-Eyed Zealot
- Posts: 88
- Joined: Wed May 20, 2020 12:56 pm
Re: Just started Jack Vance's Dying Earth
Thanks for this rec -- I'm hoping to start my Vance reading this week.billolmesdahl wrote: ↑Thu Apr 06, 2017 8:44 am I've always felt the two Cugel novels are the best in the Dying Earth series. They're all good, but I'd probably have a new reader go to Eyes of the Overworld before any of the other novels.
" ... the things I am going to say are true and I am a force for truth and goodness, dammit, and I will beat anyone unconscious if they say otherwise."
-- The Angry GM
-- The Angry GM
-
finarvyn
- Cold-Hearted Immortal
- Posts: 2591
- Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 3:42 am
- FLGS: Fair Game, Downers Grove IL
- Location: Chicago suburbs
- Contact:
Re: Just started Jack Vance's Dying Earth
So, Cugel's Saga is a sequel to Eyes of the Overworld, as it starts with Cugel where Eyes left him. Shea's book A Quest for Simbilis seems to have a similar start, so...Bilgewriggler wrote: ↑Thu May 04, 2017 3:30 pmMichael Shea's authorized sequel to Eyes of the Overworld is really good as well. Not as incredibly good as Cugel's Saga or Shea's later Nifft the Lean books, but well worth reading.
(a) is the order Eyes, Symbilis, Saga?
(b) is the order Eyes, Saga, Symbilis?
(c) do Saga and Symbilils form some sort of fork in the timeline, where it's one or the other?
Just curious. I'm reading Cugel's Saga for the first time now and don't yet know if it ends much like Eyes does, or not, so I don't know what the "proper" order for the stories might be.
Marv / Finarvyn
DCC Minister of Propaganda; Deputized 6/8/11 (over 11 years of SPAM bustin'!)
DCC RPG playtester 2011, DCC Lankhmar trivia contest winner 2015; 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
"Misinterpreting the rules is a shared memory for many of us"
-- Joseph Goodman
DCC Minister of Propaganda; Deputized 6/8/11 (over 11 years of SPAM bustin'!)
DCC RPG playtester 2011, DCC Lankhmar trivia contest winner 2015; 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
"Misinterpreting the rules is a shared memory for many of us"
-- Joseph Goodman
Re: Just started Jack Vance's Dying Earth
I guess I'm the rare reader who likes the original Dying Earth book more than the Cugel books. Eyes of the Overworld is great, Cugel's Saga is fun but suffers from being more of the same, but the variety of the world is on full display n the first book. I never read Rhialto the Marvellous, though I should get around to that sooner rather than later.
For other "dying earth" (not Dying Earth) stories, my favorite of the genre is Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun.
Viriconium, by M. John Harrison is also good.
And Clark Ashton Smith, though a little dated, also contributed to the genre pre-Vance.
For other "dying earth" (not Dying Earth) stories, my favorite of the genre is Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun.
Viriconium, by M. John Harrison is also good.
And Clark Ashton Smith, though a little dated, also contributed to the genre pre-Vance.