D&D-influenced Fantasy Novels

[ptolemy18]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if there are any fantasy novels out there which aren't part of the "official line" (like R.A. Salvatore's Drow novels, or Dragonlance) but are nonetheless obviously influenced by D&D?

I know that Raymond Feist used to say that he was inspired by his RPG sessions. And obviously everybody has ripped off J.R.R. Tolkien at one time or another.

But there are some things which are recognizably "D&D-like" which aren't specifically Tolkien-like. How many fantasy novels are there in which clerics can heal wounds and cast spells? In which spellcasters can only cast a certain number of spells a day? In which the world is crawling with lizard men, dragons, and other monsters?

I'd guess there are a lot of them.

Has anyone ever been sued by Wizards for excessively D&D-like fantasy novels?

Jason

 

[fafhrd]

One of the better series which at least hints at roots in D&D is the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Priests who actually cast spells. Mages get "used up" after throwing their allotment. Interesting story. If you like big characters with even bigger plots, you should check it out.

 

[Glyfair]

In the "semi-official" books is Andre Norton's Quag Keep.

Besides Fiest, I think the Deed of Paksennarion series (and the prequel The Legacy of Gird)must have been influenced by D&D. A more classic D&D paladin I haven't seen.

There are also a few books that were "roleplayers get transported to the fantasy world they were playing in" that would probably qualify.

Of course, Jack Vance's Dying Earth novels have casters that can only cast so many spells a day, but that's because D&D took the concept from Vance, not visa versa.

 

[NiTessine]

China Miéville's Perdido Street Station, while otherwise very far from the traditional D&D fantasy, had some adventurer characters which were pretty much a direct reference to Dungeons & Dragons. I think it even mentioned they were in it for the gold and the experience. I haven't read it, but I understand that Miéville's Iron Council took a lot of inspiration from D&D in its handling of golems.

 

[demiurge1138]

China Mieville's New Crobuzon novels show definite D&D influences. Mieville has mentioned in interviews that the Monster Manuals inspired him, and in Perdido Street Station, there's a reference to adventurers as "killers who would do anything for gold and experience." No, really.

Demiurge out.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Heh, yeah. Perdido Street Station was the first to come to mind here, too (even though it's set in anything but the default D&D-type world).

On occasion, a couple of the books forming A Song of Ice and Fire have struck me the same way, albeit not as strongly. Wish I could remember the exact passages. I'll try to look them up, if I get the chance. Also, I could be completely wrong there - might be a coincidence, or purely my own way of looking at things, at that.

 

[Abisashi]

One of the better series which at least hints at roots in D&D is the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Priests who actually cast spells. Mages get "used up" after throwing their allotment. Interesting story. If you like big characters with even bigger plots, you should check it out.

Indeed - though, my understanding is that the world came from a GURPS campaign the author was in; I think the other guy writing books now (Ian something?) was also in it.

I also highly recommend A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen (ATotMBotF - 9 letters! We have a winner!). Gardens of the Moon is the first book, and the author is Steven Erikson.

 

[Erekose]

I'm sure I read somewhere (possibly in the notes at the end of the 1st or 2nd book!) that the original Thieves World series was described to the initial authors as being like D&D.

Although this was more in the sense of multiple authors having characters in a shared setting with a single editor - rather than in any mechanical sense of mirroring the game.

 

[arscott]

Computer RPGs and other Fantasy themed games draw are heavily influenced by D&D, and their spinoff novels reflect that influence.

For example, the dragons in the warcraft novels are divided into five dragonflights based on color, and powerful dragons are capable of using magic and assuming human form.

 

[Klaus]

And of course, there's the Records of Lodoss War manga/anime.