[Shadow, Sword & Spell] References
Work has been underway on Shadow, Sword & Spell for awhile. Like a lot of the design work James and I do, research drives not only the writing, but the design. Designing a game, like this, requires a lot of research and a lot of reading. This has helped focus in on areas needing covered, as well as aid in getting the tone we are seeking right. So what have I been reading?
A lot of books.
What follows is my list of sources, I am sure in a few weeks James will be following with his own. The list is long, and there is a lot on here, that might not seem on point. All of this was read with a reason, and though Shadow, Sword & Spell is specific in what it is, the reading helped clarify a lot for me.
Here is my list:
Allston, Aaron. Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia. TSR, 1991.
de Camp, L. Sprague and Catherine C. de Camp. Spirits, Stars and Spells: The Profits and Perils of Magic. Canaveral Press, 1966.
Cook, David and Steve Marsh. Dungeons & Dragons Expert Rulebook. TSR, 1981.
Cook, David. Conan Role-Playing Game. TSR, 1985.
Connord, Scott and Ron Hilger, editors. The Collected Fantasies of Clark Ashton Smith: Vol. 1 The End of the Story, Night Shade Books, 2006.
—. The Collected Fantasies of Clark Ashton Smith: Vol. 2 The Door to Saturn, Night Shade Books, 2007.
—. The Collected Fantasies of Clark Ashton Smith: Vol. 3 A Vintage from Atlantis, Night Shade Books, 2007.
—. The Collected Fantasies of Clark Ashton Smith: Vol. 4 The The Maze of the Enchanter, Night Shade Books, 2009.
Dezago, Todd and Mike Wieringo. Tellos Colossal. Image Comics, 2007.
Dragon. Issues #1 to #100.
The Dungeoneer, #1 to #19. Judges Guild
Goldberg, Eric, David James Ritchie, and Edward J. Woods. DragonQuest. SPI, 1980
Halliwell, Richard, Rick Priestly, Graeme Davis, Jim Bambra and Phil Gallager. Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. Games Workshop, 1986.
Holems, Eric. Dungeons & Dragons. TSR, 1979.
Howard, Robert E. Beyond The Borders. The Robert E. Howard Library Vol. VII. Baen Books, 1996.
—. The Black Strange and Other American Tales, University of Nebraska Press, 2005.
—. Bran Mak Morn. The Robert E. Howard Library Vol. IV. Bean Books, 1996.
—. The Conan Chronicles Volume 1: The People of the Black Circle, Millienum, 2000.
—. The Conan Chronicles Volume 2: The House of the Dragon, Millienum, 2001.
—. Cormac Mac Art. The Robert E. Howard Library Vol. I. Baen Books, 1995.
—. Eons of the Night. The Robert E. Howard Library Vol. V. Baen Books, 1996.
—. Kull. The Robert E. Howard Library Vol. II. Baen Books, 1995.
—. Solomon Kane . The Robert E. Howard Library Vol. III. Baen Books, 1995.
—. Trails in Darkness. The Robert E. Howard Library Vol. VI. Baen Books, 1996.
Judges Guild Journal, #1 to #21.
Lovecraft, H.P. At the Mountains of Madness, The Modern Library, 2005.
—. The Call of Cthulhu & Other Weird Stories, Penguin Books, 1999.
—. The Dreams in the Witch House, Penguin Books, 2004.
—. The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories, Penguin Books, 2001.
Michelinie, David, Ernie Chan, and Kieth Griffen. Claw The Unconquered, #1 to #12. DC Comics, 1975-1978.
Moldvay, Tom. Dungeons & Dragon Basic Rulebook. TSR, 1981.
Moorcock, Michael. City of the Beast. Planet Stories, 2007.
—. The Dreamthief’s Daughter: A Tale of the Albion. Aspect, 2001.
—. Eternal Champion, Vol 1: The Eternal Champion. White Wolf Publishing, 1995.
—. Eternal Champion, Vol 2: Von Beck. White Wolf Publishing, 1996.
—. Eternal Champion, Vol 3: Hawkmoon. White Wolf Publishing, 1995.
—. Eternal Champion, Vol 4: A Nomad of the Time Streams. White Wolf Publishing, 1997.
—. Eternal Champion, Vol 5: Elric: Song of the Black Sword. White Wolf Publishing, 1995.
—. Eternal Champion, Vol 6: The Roads Between The Worlds. White Wolf Publishing, 1998.
—. Eternal Champion, Vol 7: Corum: The Coming of Chaos. White Wolf Publishing, 1997.
—. Eternal Champion, Vol 8: Sailing to Utopia. White Wolf Publishing, 1997.
—. Eternal Champion, Vol 9: Kane of Old Mars. White Wolf Publishing, 1998.
—. Eternal Champion, Vol 10: Dancers at the End of Time. White Wolf Publishing, 1998.
—. Eternal Champion, Vol 11: Elric: The Stealer of Souls. White Wolf Publishing, 1998.
—. Eternal Champion, Vol 12: Corum: The Prince With the Silver Hand. White Wolf Publishing, 1999.
—. Eternal Champion, Vol 13: Legends from the End of Time. White Wolf Publishing, 1999.
—. Eternal Champion, Vol 14: Earl Aubec and Other Stories. White Wolf Publishing, 1999.
—. Eternal Champion, Vol 15: Count Brass. White Wolf Publishing, 2000.
—. The Jewel in the Skull. Ace, 1990.
—. Lord of the Spiders. Planet Stories, 2008.
—. The Mad God’s Amulet. Ace, 1990.
—. Masters of the Pit. Planet Stories, 2008.
—. The Runestaff. Ace, 1991.
—. The Skrayling Tree. Aspect, 2003.
—. The Sword of the Dawn. Ace, 1990.
—. Phoenix in Obsidian. Mayflower Books, Ltd., 1970.
—. The White Wolf’s Son. Aspect, 2005.
—. Wizardy & Wild Romance: A Study of Epic Fantasy. Monkeybrain Books, 2004.
Moorcock, Michael and Walter Simonson. Elric: The Making of a Sorcerer. DC Comics, 2007.
Moorcock, Michael, Walter Simonson and John Ridgeway. Michael Moorcock’s Multiverse. DC Comics, 1999.
O’Neil, Dennis and Howard Chaykin. Sword of Sorcery, #1 to #5. DC Comics, 1973.
Pegasus, #1 to #15. Judges Guild.
Perrin, Steve and Ray Turney. Runequest, 2nd Edition. Chaosium, 1980.
Price, Robert M, editor. Nameless Cults: The Cthulhu Mythos Ficition of Robert E. Howard. Chaosium Book, 2001.
Rohan, Michael Scott. The Winter of the World, Vol. 1: The Anvil of Ice. Orbit, 1987.
—. The Winter of the World, Vol. 2: The Forge in the Forest. Orbit, 1988.
—. The Winter of the World, Vol. 3: The Hammer of the Sun. Orbit, 1988.
Rosenberg, Joel. Guardians of the Flame, Book 1: The Sleeping Dragon. Roc, 1983.
—. Guardians of the Flame, Book 2: The Sword and the Chain. Roc, 1984.
—. Guardians of the Flame, Book 3: The Silver Crown. Roc, 1985.
—. Guardians of the Flame, Book 4: The Heir Apparent. Roc, 1987.
—. Guardians of the Flame, Book 5: The Warrior Lives. Penguin Books, 1990.
—. Guardians of the Flame, Book 6: The Road to Ehvenor. Roc, 1992.
—. Guardians of the Flame, Book 7: Not Exactly the Three Musketeers. Tor, 2000.
Sim, David. Cerebus Book One. Aardvark-Vanheim, Inc. 1994.
—. Cerebus Book Two. Aardvark-Vanheim, Inc. 1996.
—. Cerebus Book Three. Aardvark-Vanheim, Inc. 1998.
—. Cerebus Book Four. Aardvark-Vanheim, Inc. 2000.
Smith, Jeff. Bone, #1 to #60. Cartoon Books, 1991 to 2004.
Wagner, Karl Edward. Gods in Darkness: The Complete Novels of Kane. Night Shade Books, 2002.
—. Midnight Sun: The Complete Stories of Kane. Night Shade Books, 2003.
White Dwarf. Issues #1 to #110.
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Reader Comments (3)
No Fritz Leiber? It’s a long list already, so maybe just an oversight?
Does Jack Vance – & I’m thinking of the Dying Earth series rather than Lyoness – stray too far from “humanistic fantasy”?
C. L. Moore’s Jirel of Joiry?
Good to see Michael Scott Rohan in there; he’s an author that never had the real success I think he deserved.
— Ant
Just re-reading the list again.
1. I can see having all of the D&D type gaming resources on the list. Those clearly help inspire the style of play that I'm interested in re-creating.
2. Of course Howard, Lovecraft, and Smith made the list. Lots of times. :-)
3. Like Ant, I was surprised not to see Leiber's Lankhmar books on the list, and from later blog posts I assume it's an oversight.
4. Mixed thoughts about Moorcock. I love his stuff but sometimes his style comes off as being very brooding and philosophical, much like some of his characters. Some of his work seems to fit the Howard-Smith-Lovecraft style, others not.
5. I thought that seeing the GUARDIANS OF THE FLAME series on the list was a surprise and was an interesting entry. It's somewhat modern and didn't have the "pulp" feel of many of the classics. I may have to re-read those to see what you saw in them.
It's an interesting list!
Took me time to read all the comments, but I enjoyed the article.
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