Roger Zelazny’s First Chronicles of Amber weaves intrigue, family rivalries, and multiversal adventure through five fast-paced novels. Though their direct influence on Dungeons & Dragons is minimal, the series’ mix of myth, modernity, and moral ambiguity shows how bold characters and imaginative settings can elevate fantasy storytelling—offering lasting inspiration for both players and game masters.

Leigh Brackett’s The Book of Skaith is a trilogy featuring her recurring hero, John Eric Stark, a human raised on Mercury by its native beings. Earlier Stark tales unfolded on Mars, but after a ten-year break, Brackett returned to the character, relocating him to the dying world of Skaith.

What did J.R.R. think of Robert E. Howard's iconic barbarian, Conan?

Most of the classic undead monsters in Dungeons & Dragons originate in mythology and folklore. Novice players, encountering the game for the first time, usually possess at least some knowledge of zombies, skeletons, ghosts, spectres, vampires, mummies, and other horrors drawn from countless books and films. But not every creature in the game has a folkloric basis.