Fantasy Inspirational Reading
My kids have recently become interested in Dungeons & Dragons. So after a 30 year hiatus I picked up a copy of the new, 5th Edition Players Handbook. In an Appendix they included a list of books and short stories that had inspired the creators of D&D from Gary Gygax onwards.
The list included authors and titles — often just the first book in a series. So, I thought I would bring that list online with links to the authors, books and expand it to list all the books in a series. Many of the books are out of print and can only be found used. Others, especially those out of copyright, only have eBook editions.Some of the series have been going on for so long that have split into multiple interlocked series and it was unclear how far the inspiration" should go. In which cases I have used my best judgement and/or random dice rolls to determine what I included.
So, chronologically by date the book was published with most of the data from Wikipedia .
1790's
Series: Standalone Books
Bullfinch's Mythology , published 1881
1850's
Series: Standalone Books
Gods and Fighting Men , published 1904
1870's
Series: Mars
A Fighting Man of Mars , published 1931
Swords of Mars , published 1936
A Princess of Mars , published 1912
The Warlord of Mars , published 1918
John Carter of Mars , published 1964
The Gods of Mars , published 1914
Thuvia, Maid of Mars , published 1920
The Chessman of Mars , published 1922
Llana of Gathol , published 1948
Synthetic Men of Mars , published 1940
Series: Venus
Pirates of Venus , published 1934
The Wizard of Venus , published 1970
Lost on Venus , published 1935
Escape on Venus , published 1946
Carson of Venus , published 1939
Series: Pellucidar
Tanar of Pellucidar , published 1928
Back to the Stone Age , published 1937
Pellucidar , published 1923
Savage Pellucidar , published 1963
Land of Terror , published 1944
Tarzan at the Earth's Core , published 1929
At the Earth's Core , published 1914
Series: Standalone Books
The Night Land , published 1912
Series: Standalone Books
The Book of Wonder , published 1912
The Sword of Welleran and Other Tales , published 1908
The Gods of Pegana , published 1905
The King of Elfland's Daughter , published 1924
The Essential Lord Dunsany Collection , published 1957
Lord Dunsany Compendium , published 1957
1880's
Series: Standalone Books
The Moon Pool , published 1918
Creep Shadow, Creep , published 1934
Dwellers in the Mirage , published 1932
1890's
Series: Lord of the Rings
The Fellowship of the Ring , published 1954
The Two Towers , published 1954
The Return of the King , published 1955
Series: Standalone Books
The Hobbit , published 1937
Silmarillion , published 1950
Series: Standalone Books
The Return of the Sorcerer , published 1931
Series: Standalone Books
The Blue Star , published 1952
Carnellian Cube , published 1948
Series: Harold Shea
The Green Magician , published 1954
The Wall of Serpents , published 1953
The Mathematics of Magic , published 1940
The Castle of Iron , published 1941
The Roaring Trumpet , published 1940
1900's
Series: Standalone Books
The Worlds of If , published 1935
The Valley of Dreams , published 1934
Series: Standalone Books
The Golgotha Dancers , published 1937
Series: Standalone Books
What Mad Universe , published 1949
Hall of Mirrors , published 1953
Series: Conan
The Bloody Crown of Conan , published 1936
The Conquering Sword of Conan , published 1936
The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian , published 1936
Series: Standalone Books
Fallible Fiend , published 1973
Carnellian Cube , published 1948
Lest Darkness Fall , published 1941
Series: Harold Shea
The Green Magician , published 1954
The Wall of Serpents , published 1953
The Mathematics of Magic , published 1940
The Castle of Iron , published 1941
The Roaring Trumpet , published 1940
Series: Standalone Books
The Pygmy Planet , published 1932
The Cosmic Express , published 1930
Series: Standalone Books
Watcher's out of Time , published 1974
1910's
Series: Gormenghast
Gormenghast , published 1950
Titus Groan , published 1946
Titus Alone , published 1959
Series: Standalone Books
The Sign of the Labrys , published 1963
Change the Sky and Other Stories , published 1974
The Shadow People , published 1969
Series: Kyrik
Kyrik and the Lost Queen , published 1976
Kyrik Fights the Demon World , published 1976
Kyrik and the Wizard's Sword , published 1976
Kyrik: Warlock Warrior , published 1976
Series: Kothar
Kothar and the Conjurer's Curse , published 1969
Kothar the Wizard Slayer , published 1969
Kothar of the Magic Sword , published 1969
Kothar: Barbarian Swordsman , published 1969
Kothar and the Demon Queen , published 1969
Series: Standalone Books
Quag Keep , published 1979
Witch World , published 1963
Series: Standalone Books
The Long Tomorrow , published 1955
The Best of Leigh Brackett , published 1977
The Sword of Rhiannon , published 1953
Series: Standalone Books
The Dying Earth , published 1950
The Eyes of the Overworld (aka Cugel the Clever) , published 1966
Series: World of Tiers
More Than Fire , published 1993
The Lavalite World , published 1977
Behind the Walls of Terra , published 1970
The Gates of Creation , published 1966
Maker of Universes , published 1965
A Private Cosmos , published 1968
1920's
Series: Chronicles Of Prydain
The Black Cauldron , published 1965
The High King , published 1968
The Castle of Llyr , published 1966
Taran Wanderer , published 1967
The Book of Three , published 1964
Series: Standalone Books
The Broken Sword , published 1954
The High Crusade , published 1960
Three Hearts and Three Lions , published 1953
Series: Standalone Books
Hiero's Journey , published 1973
The Unforsaken Hiero , published 1983
Series: Earthsea
The Other Wind , published 2001
The Farthest Shore , published 1972
The Tombs of Atuan , published 1971
A Wizard of Earthsea , published 1968
Tales form Earthsea , published 2001
Tehanu: The Last Book of Earthsea , published 1990
1930's
Series: Book of the New Sun
The Sword of the Lictor , published 1982
The Citadel of the Autarch , published 1983
The Urth of the New Sun , published 1987
The Shadow of the Torturer , published 1980
The Claw of the Conciliatr , published 1981
Series: Apprentice Adept
Phaze Doubt , published 1989
Juxtaposition , published 1982
Blue Adept , published 1981
Unicorn Point , published 1988
Out of Phaze , published 1983
Split Infinity , published 1980
Robot Adept , published 1987
Series: Standalone Books
Swords against Darkness III , published 1977
Series: Standalone Books
The Coming of the King , published 1988
Series: Chronicles of Amber
Nice Princes in Amber , published 1970
Sign of the Unicorn , published 1975
Jack of Shadows , published 1971
The Hand of Oberon , published 1976
The Courts of Chaos , published 1978
The Guns of Avalon , published 1972
Series: Chronicles of Amber
Trumps of Doom , published 1985
Sign of Chaos , published 1987
Knight of Shadows , published 1989
Blood of Amber , published 1986
Prince of Chaos , published 1991
Series: Standalone Books
The Face in the Frost , published 1969
Series: Hawkmoon
The Quest for Tanelorn , published 1975
Count Brass , published 1973
The Champion of Garathorm , published 1973
Series: Hawkmoon
The Jewell in the Skull , published 1967
Secret of the Runestaff , published 1969
The Sword of the Dawn , published 1968
Sorcerer's Amulet , published 1968
Series: Elric
The Bane of the Black Sword , published 1963
The Sailor on the Seas of Fate , published 1976
Stormbringer , published 1965
The Weird of the White Wolf , published 1963
The Vanishing Tower , published 1977
Elric of Melniboné , published 1972
1940's
Series: Black Company
Shadow Games , published 1989
Dreams of Steel , published 1990
Series: Black Company
Water Sleeps , published 1999
Soldiers Live , published 2000
Bleak Seasons , published 1996
She Is the Darkness , published 1997
Series: Black Company
Black Company , published 1984
The White Rose , published 1985
Shadows Linger , published 1984
Series: Black Company
The Silver Spike , published 1989
Series: Shannara
The Sword of Shannara , published 1977
The Elfstones of Shannara , published 1982
The Wishsong of Shannara , published 1985
Series: Shannara
First King of Shannara , published 1996
The Talismans of Shannara , published 1993
The Scions of Shannara , published 1990
The Druid of Shannnara , published 1991
The Elf Queen of Shannara , published 1992
Series: Standalone Books
The Eyes of the Dragon , published 1987
Series: Song of Fire and Ice
A Storm of Swords , published 2000
A Feast for Crows , published 2005
The Winds of Winter , published 2020
A Dance with Dragons , published 2011
A Clash of Kings , published 1999
A Dream of Spring , published 2020
A Game of Thrones , published 1996
Series: Wheel of Time
Knife of Dreams , published 2005
The Path of Daggers , published 1998
The Shadow Rising , published 1992
The Dragon Reborn , published 1991
The Eye of the World , published 1990
A Memory of Light , published 2013
Crossroad's of Twilight , published 2003
New Spring , published 2004
Towers of Midnight , published 2010
Lord of Chaos , published 1994
A Crown of Swords , published 1996
The Fires of Heaven , published 1993
The Great Hunt , published 1990
The Gathering Storm , published 2009
Winter's Heart , published 2000
Series: Discworld
Witches Abroad , published 2009
Going Postal , published 2009
The Truth , published 2009
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents , published 2009
Wintersmith , published 2009
Raising Steam , published 2009
The Last Continent , published 2009
The Wee Free Men , published 2009
Moving Pictures , published 2009
The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable , published 2009
Lords and Ladies , published 2009
Mort , published 2009
Monstrous Regiment , published 2009
Small Gods , published 2009
Men at Arms , published 2009
Unseen Academicals , published 2009
The Light Fantastic , published 2009
The Colour of Magic , published 1983
Sourcery , published 2009
Jingo , published 2009
Carpe Jugulum , published 2009
Pyramids , published 2009
Thief of Time , published 2009
Feet of Clay , published 2009
Wyrd Sisters , published 2009
Soul Music , published 2009
Hogfather , published 2009
The Fifth Elephant , published 2009
Interesting Times , published 2009
Snuff , published 2009
Making Money , published 2009
Eric , published 2009
Reaper Man , published 2009
A Hat Full of Sky , published 2009
Guards! Guards! , published 2009
I Shall Wear Midnight , published 2009
Maskerade , published 2009
Equal Rites , published 2009
Thud! , published 2009
Night Watch , published 2009
Series: Standalone Books
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld , published 1974
1950's
Series: Dragonlance Chronicles
Dragons of Autumn Twilight , published 1984
Dragons of Summer Flame , published 1995
Dragons of Spring Dawning , published 1985
Dragons of Winter Night , published 1985
Series: Dragonlance Chronicles
Dragons of Autumn Twilight , published 1984
Dragons of Summer Flame , published 1995
Dragons of Spring Dawning , published 1985
Dragons of Winter Night , published 1985
Series: Legend of Drizzt
Night of the Hunter , published 2014
Rise of the King , published 2014
Series: Legend of Drizzt
The Crystal Shard , published 1988
Streams of Silver , published 1989
The Halfling's Gem , published 1990
Series: Legend of Drizzt
Gauntlgrym , published 2011
The Last Threshold , published 2013
Charon's Claw , published 2013
Neverwinter , published 2012
Series: Legend of Drizzt
The Legacy , published 2008
Siege of Darkness , published 2008
Passage to Dawn , published 2008
Starless Night , published 2008
Series: Legend of Drizzt
Sojourn , published 1991
Homeland , published 1990
Exile , published 1990
Series: Legend of Drizzt
The Ghost King , published 2010
The Pirate King , published 2009
The Orc King , published 2008
Series: Legend of Drizzt
The Spine of the World , published 2009
The Sea of Swords , published 2009
The Silent Blade , published 2009
Series: Legend of Drizzt
The Lone Drow , published 2004
The Two Swords , published 2005
The Thousand Orcs , published 2003
Series: Legend of Drizzt
The Companions , published 2013
1970's
Series: Eternal Sky
Steles of the Sky , published 2104
Shattered Pillars , published 2103
Range of Ghosts , published 2012
Series: Broken Earth
The Fifth Season , published 2015
The Killing Moon , published 2012
The Shadowed Sun , published 2012
Series: Inheritance
The Kingdom of Gods , published 2011
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms , published 2010
The Broken Kingdoms , published 2010
Series: Bas-Lag
The Scar , published 2002
Perdido Street Station , published 2000
Iron Council , published 2004
Series: Kingkiller Chronicle
The Doors of Stone , published 2020
The Name of the Wind , published 2007
The Wise Man's Fear , published 2011
Series: Mistborn
Mistborn: The Well of Ascension , published 2007
Mistborn: The Hero of Ages , published 2008
Mistborn: The Allow of Law , published 2011
Mistborn: The Final Empire , published 2006
Mistborn: Shadows of Self , published 2020
Series: Wheel of Time
A Memory of Light , published 2013
Towers of Midnight , published 2010
The Gathering Storm , published 2009
Series: Standalone Books
Throne of the Crescent Moon , published 2012
Series: Gentleman Bastards
The Mage and the Master Spy , published 2020
The Thorn of Emberlain , published 2020
The Republic of Thieves , published 2013
Inherit the Night , published 2020
Red Seas Under Red Skies , published 2007
The Lies of Locke Lamora , published 2006
The Ministry of Necessity , published 2020