Novels about Greyhawk - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Novels about Greyhawk

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Jun 23, 2004 11:04:57 I picked up the anniversary edition of Dungeon and got really interested in reading more about Mordenkienen/Greyhawk. I have never played anything other than Forgotten Realms, and I was wondering if there were any good novels about Mordenkienen or Bigby or anyone else that is cool in Greyhawk.
#2
robertfisher
Jun 23, 2004 11:48:16 Andre Norton's Quag Keep is set in Greyhawk. (I just finished it last night!) It's really Norton's own story, though, & not connected with the Lake Geneva campaign beyond being set in a version of Greyhawk.

Gygax's Gord the Rogue novels are fiction intended to capture the feel of the Greyhawk campaign. The first two or three were published by TSR, but then the rest were published under by New Inifinities.

Kuntz wrote some things for Oerth Journal (online fanzine). The City of the Gods story is fabulous. (Gygax & Kuntz being DM'd by Arneson!)

Gygax & Kuntz retold some of their old stories in recent Dragon magazines. These, as well as some others, will hopefully be published in book form in the future.

There are numerous other places online where you can find some stories from the Greyhawk campaign. Some are first party (Gygax, Kuntz, &c.). Some are third party retellings. I spent a lot of time tracking down everyone I could find some months ago, but I didn't keep a good record of everywhere I found them.

Hope that helps.
#3
lincoln_hills
Jun 24, 2004 16:00:40 There are also a number of absolutely execrable 'Greyhawk' novels which should have been hung without benefit of clergy. Ask about them at conventions if you like watching old-time gamers twitch.

There are Rose Estes' ancient "Mika" novels... which TSR put out because Gary had just left the firm, taking his character Gord with him and leaving them with three novels to write. Shun them: they fill the Wolf Nomad lands with tribal wizards, the city of Exag with rust monsters, and the lives of the characters with EVER so many multi-species romantic misunderstandings.

They're not actually BADLY written, but Gary's Gord novels are not quite up to the standards of some pulp adventures. They tend to jump around a bit. Destroying Oerth in - what was it, 'Come Endless Darkness'? - was the ultimate fit of DM pique, I feel... though the author's anger was justified IMO. ;)

And Paul Kidd - his "White Plume Mountain" and "Descent into the Depths of the Earth" are light-hearted romps which only incidentally use Oerth as a setting (with side trips into Faerie, the Abyss, and what have you): I'd have enjoyed them a lot, if I hadn't felt like I was watching a clown at a funeral: he trampled across some fine, fine modules in the course of writing his stories. (I'm told there was a third book: I passed on it.)

BTW, thanks to RF for letting me know about Quag Keep: I had forgotten the title.
#4
zombiegleemax
Jun 24, 2004 16:24:34 What about all of the recent books about the "Iconic" characters?
#5
zombiegleemax
Jun 24, 2004 17:18:36 From flicking through the books featuring the Iconic characters the Greyhawk content in them is unfortunately minimal IMO.

I wish WOTC would produce some new Greyhawk novels. The last I think was Tomb of Horrors, which I quite liked.
#6
caeruleus
Jun 24, 2004 17:42:50
Originally posted by Lincoln Hills
And Paul Kidd - his "White Plume Mountain" and "Descent into the Depths of the Earth" are light-hearted romps which only incidentally use Oerth as a setting (with side trips into Faerie, the Abyss, and what have you): I'd have enjoyed them a lot, if I hadn't felt like I was watching a clown at a funeral: he trampled across some fine, fine modules in the course of writing his stories. (I'm told there was a third book: I passed on it.)

Passing on that third book (Queen of the Demonweb Pits) is a good idea (unless you think you'll like the idea of Lolth being used for comic relief).

I liked Against the Giants by Ru Emerson, although there wasn't much Greyhawk in it (much like the original modules, which were more generic, so I wouldn't necessarily blame this on Emerson).
#7
Mortepierre
Jun 25, 2004 3:35:03 And let's not forget about Night Watch (though it never carried the GH logo). Very nice grim & gritty description of the City of Greyhawk.

Wasn't there another Mika-inspired book named The Eyes Have It or something like that? It was set in Yeomanry if I am not mistaken.
#8
Halberkill
Jun 25, 2004 10:56:50
Originally posted by adventureauthor
What about all of the recent books about the "Iconic" characters?

Not only is the Greyhawk content minimal, it is non-existant. Those books are set in an entirely different world.

Why? Wish I knew.

Though strangely, the iconics were included in the Scourge of Worlds DVD that was set in Greyhawk.

Halber
#9
zombiegleemax
Jun 25, 2004 14:57:35 I read a book out of my school library many years ago (1985?) that was about a young wizard set on a fantasy world. I remember very clearly a map on the inside of the cover that had an island, shaped like a hand, that was called "The Hand" or some such thing. I remember a description of the boys village being huts on stilts or some such thing. My DM said it may have been "Quag Keep" but I checked and that wasn't it. Any ideas?
#10
grodog
Jun 27, 2004 1:03:30 Keith Strohm's Tomb of Horrors was quite inspired, and is on par with Nightwatch---both are worth picking up.

If you have the Dragon archive, EGG wrote the short story "At Midnight Blackcat Comes" (Dragon 100), which introduces Gord to the world.
#11
crusaderx
Jun 27, 2004 16:21:16
Originally posted by Lincoln Hills
And Paul Kidd - his "White Plume Mountain" and "Descent into the Depths of the Earth" are light-hearted romps which only incidentally use Oerth as a setting (with side trips into Faerie, the Abyss, and what have you): I'd have enjoyed them a lot, if I hadn't felt like I was watching a clown at a funeral: he trampled across some fine, fine modules in the course of writing his stories. (I'm told there was a third book: I passed on it.)

Nah, I don't think Kidd trampled on those modules at all. He had fun with them. They're game modules, not holy scripture. They're meant to have fun with.

I highly recommend the Kidd novels. If you like fun reading, that is. ;)
#12
omote
Jun 28, 2004 10:53:27 I liked the latest Greyhawk novels (Against the Giants, Queen, Tomb, Temple, etc.). There are by no means great literary accomplishments, but they are indeed a light hearted, kinda fun romp in Greyhawk. Some of the books tend to be a bit generic, but hawkers will know what information to insert in particular areas to make it more "hawk." I liked them for what they were. A $5.00 weeklong distraction.

........................Omote
FPQ
#13
zombiegleemax
Jun 28, 2004 11:25:38 Sorry, gang, I hate to do this but WotC has a new policy on not discussing novels on their boards.

Please direct any questions to WotC customer support at [email]custserv@wizards.com[/email] .

--Drake

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Jun 23, 2004 11:04:57	I picked up the anniversary edition of Dungeon and got really interested in reading more about Mordenkienen/Greyhawk. I have never played anything other than Forgotten Realms, and I was wondering if there were any good novels about Mordenkienen or Bigby or anyone else that is cool in Greyhawk.
#2 robertfisher Jun 23, 2004 11:48:16	Andre Norton's Quag Keep is set in Greyhawk. (I just finished it last night!) It's really Norton's own story, though, & not connected with the Lake Geneva campaign beyond being set in a version of Greyhawk. Gygax's Gord the Rogue novels are fiction intended to capture the feel of the Greyhawk campaign. The first two or three were published by TSR, but then the rest were published under by New Inifinities. Kuntz wrote some things for Oerth Journal (online fanzine). The City of the Gods story is fabulous. (Gygax & Kuntz being DM'd by Arneson!) Gygax & Kuntz retold some of their old stories in recent Dragon magazines. These, as well as some others, will hopefully be published in book form in the future. There are numerous other places online where you can find some stories from the Greyhawk campaign. Some are first party (Gygax, Kuntz, &c.). Some are third party retellings. I spent a lot of time tracking down everyone I could find some months ago, but I didn't keep a good record of everywhere I found them. Hope that helps.
#3 lincoln_hills Jun 24, 2004 16:00:40	There are also a number of absolutely execrable 'Greyhawk' novels which should have been hung without benefit of clergy. Ask about them at conventions if you like watching old-time gamers twitch. There are Rose Estes' ancient "Mika" novels... which TSR put out because Gary had just left the firm, taking his character Gord with him and leaving them with three novels to write. Shun them: they fill the Wolf Nomad lands with tribal wizards, the city of Exag with rust monsters, and the lives of the characters with EVER so many multi-species romantic misunderstandings. They're not actually BADLY written, but Gary's Gord novels are not quite up to the standards of some pulp adventures. They tend to jump around a bit. Destroying Oerth in - what was it, 'Come Endless Darkness'? - was the ultimate fit of DM pique, I feel... though the author's anger was justified IMO. ;) And Paul Kidd - his "White Plume Mountain" and "Descent into the Depths of the Earth" are light-hearted romps which only incidentally use Oerth as a setting (with side trips into Faerie, the Abyss, and what have you): I'd have enjoyed them a lot, if I hadn't felt like I was watching a clown at a funeral: he trampled across some fine, fine modules in the course of writing his stories. (I'm told there was a third book: I passed on it.) BTW, thanks to RF for letting me know about Quag Keep: I had forgotten the title.
#4 zombiegleemax Jun 24, 2004 16:24:34	What about all of the recent books about the "Iconic" characters?
#5 zombiegleemax Jun 24, 2004 17:18:36	From flicking through the books featuring the Iconic characters the Greyhawk content in them is unfortunately minimal IMO. I wish WOTC would produce some new Greyhawk novels. The last I think was Tomb of Horrors, which I quite liked.
#6 caeruleus Jun 24, 2004 17:42:50	Originally posted by Lincoln Hills And Paul Kidd - his "White Plume Mountain" and "Descent into the Depths of the Earth" are light-hearted romps which only incidentally use Oerth as a setting (with side trips into Faerie, the Abyss, and what have you): I'd have enjoyed them a lot, if I hadn't felt like I was watching a clown at a funeral: he trampled across some fine, fine modules in the course of writing his stories. (I'm told there was a third book: I passed on it.) Passing on that third book (Queen of the Demonweb Pits) is a good idea (unless you think you'll like the idea of Lolth being used for comic relief). I liked Against the Giants by Ru Emerson, although there wasn't much Greyhawk in it (much like the original modules, which were more generic, so I wouldn't necessarily blame this on Emerson).
#7 Mortepierre Jun 25, 2004 3:35:03	And let's not forget about Night Watch (though it never carried the GH logo). Very nice grim & gritty description of the City of Greyhawk. Wasn't there another Mika-inspired book named The Eyes Have It or something like that? It was set in Yeomanry if I am not mistaken.
#8 Halberkill Jun 25, 2004 10:56:50	Originally posted by adventureauthor What about all of the recent books about the "Iconic" characters? Not only is the Greyhawk content minimal, it is non-existant. Those books are set in an entirely different world. Why? Wish I knew. Though strangely, the iconics were included in the Scourge of Worlds DVD that was set in Greyhawk. Halber
#9 zombiegleemax Jun 25, 2004 14:57:35	I read a book out of my school library many years ago (1985?) that was about a young wizard set on a fantasy world. I remember very clearly a map on the inside of the cover that had an island, shaped like a hand, that was called "The Hand" or some such thing. I remember a description of the boys village being huts on stilts or some such thing. My DM said it may have been "Quag Keep" but I checked and that wasn't it. Any ideas?
#10 grodog Jun 27, 2004 1:03:30	Keith Strohm's Tomb of Horrors was quite inspired, and is on par with Nightwatch---both are worth picking up. If you have the Dragon archive, EGG wrote the short story "At Midnight Blackcat Comes" (Dragon 100), which introduces Gord to the world.
#11 crusaderx Jun 27, 2004 16:21:16	Originally posted by Lincoln Hills And Paul Kidd - his "White Plume Mountain" and "Descent into the Depths of the Earth" are light-hearted romps which only incidentally use Oerth as a setting (with side trips into Faerie, the Abyss, and what have you): I'd have enjoyed them a lot, if I hadn't felt like I was watching a clown at a funeral: he trampled across some fine, fine modules in the course of writing his stories. (I'm told there was a third book: I passed on it.) Nah, I don't think Kidd trampled on those modules at all. He had fun with them. They're game modules, not holy scripture. They're meant to have fun with. I highly recommend the Kidd novels. If you like fun reading, that is. ;)
#12 omote Jun 28, 2004 10:53:27	I liked the latest Greyhawk novels (Against the Giants, Queen, Tomb, Temple, etc.). There are by no means great literary accomplishments, but they are indeed a light hearted, kinda fun romp in Greyhawk. Some of the books tend to be a bit generic, but hawkers will know what information to insert in particular areas to make it more "hawk." I liked them for what they were. A $5.00 weeklong distraction. ........................Omote FPQ
#13 zombiegleemax Jun 28, 2004 11:25:38	Sorry, gang, I hate to do this but WotC has a new policy on not discussing novels on their boards. Please direct any questions to WotC customer support at [email]custserv@wizards.com[/email] . --Drake