Lets Talk Genres #6 - My Appendix N - Sci Fi #5

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Alot has been written about Gygax's famous Appendix N list in the D&D Dungeon Masters Guide in 1979. It was his list of the authors that influenced him and the development of D&D. In the DMG he wrote:

"All of the above authors, as well as many not listed, certainly helped to shape the form of the game. For this reason, and for the hours of reading enjoyment, I heartily recommend the works of these fine authors to you."

Once you delve into this list, you really can see the strong influences in the particulars and peculiarities of D&D and its formation. 

And since we are talking about Sci Fi this season at the Workshop, I present to you here my Appendix N for Sci Fi. 

  • Asimov, Issaic – et al., Robot Series, Foundation Series, Galactic Empire Series, The God’s Themselves, Nemesis, Nightfall
  • Brin, David – The Postman
  • Crichton, Michael – et al, Andromeda Strain
  • Dick, Phillip K – et al, Man in the High Castle, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, A Scanner Darkly, We Can Remember it for You Wholesale
  • Drake, David – Hammer’s Slammers
  • Gibson, William – et al., Burning Chrome, Neuromancer, Count Zero, Mona Lisa Overdrive
  • Gunn, David – Death’s Head
  • Haldeman, Joe – The Forever War
  • Heinlein, Robert – et al, Stranger in a Strange Land, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Friday, Time Enough for Love, Starship Troopers
  • Herbert, Frank – Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dume, God Emperor of Dune
  • McCaffrey, Anne - Sassinak
  • Niven, Larry – The Mote in God’s Eye, Lucifer’s Hammer, The Man-Kzin Wars, Dream Park
  • Pournelle, Jerry – et al, The Mercenary, Janissaries, Prince of Mercenaries, The Mote in God’s Eye, Lucifer’s Hammer, The Legacy of Heorot, Go Tell the Spartans, Far Frontiers, There Will Be War, 20 20 Vision
  • Robinson, Kim Stanley – Mars Trilogy
  • Weir, Andy – The Martian

There are many heavy hitters of the genre on this list. Many of these works are foundational to the genre as well. Classics like Foundation, Dune, and Stranger in a Strange Land are simply must reads for any basic understanding of the bigger thinking that can occur in Sci Fi. They are also about people at their core. Adventure Sci Fi like The Mercenary, Starship Troopers, and The Postman are focused on their protagonists, with layers of thinking on politics, beliefs, and government(in all its many forms). Some are mind blowing experiences that I was glad I was around for before they became mainstream, like Neuromancer. And some are just great, absorbing, engaging and fun reads like Red Mars, Man in the High Castle, Death’s Head, Sassinak, Lucifer’s Hammer, and The Legacy of Heorot.

And so, to paraphrase Gygax: All the authors you see above, as well as many not listed, had an influence on me as a devourer of science fiction. They helped to shape my thinking as well as inform my approach to Sci Fi (and all other) roleplaying games (and wargames). They are great reads, full of thoughtful ideas and fun. I heartily recommend these works to you.

You will find some authors notably absent. These are not an oversight, they most generally mean I simply never had the opportunity or time to read their works. Arthur C Clarke is a good example. I simply never got to him, seminal as he may be to some. No slight intended. I also only read 1 short story of Hubbard's crazy prolific body of work and said, that's not what I like and never had a need to read another one.  

On my list of authors to read more of or read for the first time (in no particular order) include:
  • Anderson, Poul
  • Moorcock, Michael
  • Atwood, Margaret
  • Asimov, Issaic
  • Dick, Phillip K
  • Le Guin, Ursula K
  • Herbert, Frank
  • Niven, Larry
  • Simmons, Dan
  • Corey, James S A
  • Gibson, William
  • Pournelle, Jerry
Enjoy. Oh and read.

Lead Addict 

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