The Art and Illustration of Jack Gaughan

"Jack Gaughan (September 24, 1930 - July 21, 1985) was an American science fiction artist and illustrator who won the Hugo Award several times. Working primarily with Donald A. Wollheim at Ace Books and later DAW Books, and also Galaxy Magazine during the late 1960s, his simple linear style brought to life unforgettable images of such classics as Andre Norton's Witch World Novels and Edward Elmer Smith's Lensmen and Skylark novels (for which he did two related sets of Pyramid Books covers). His broad visual vocabulary enabled him to render the objects, spaceships and scenes in whatever was presented to him as they were described in the books and stories he illustrated. That was especially an accomplishment as many of these authors drew on their knowledge of very esoteric subjects for their imagery."

Source:  Link at Wikipedia

Link at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database

Protypical Roper?  Check out my continuing series on the Origins of D&D...

I Just Love Some of These Old Paperbacks

Researching Fritz Leiber and Harry O. Fischer: Links

This is a response to Mark's question in the referring article I posted below. I have no answer for the question. Harry Fischer was born and apparently died in Clarksburg, WV, 1986.   Both he and Fritz have WiKi articles written on them.  


Other quick links from my own:


http://www.paclink.com/~ascott/me/musfs.htm  (apparently defunct Science Fiction Society in Huntington, WV where Harry gave a workshop on Fritz/Fritz' writings).

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/uhsc/00021/hsc-00021.html  (Fritz Leiber Papers at the Unv. of Texas).

http://brucebyfield.wordpress.com/2007/09/11/witches-of-the-mind/  (a wordpress blog with a very interesting associated article from a person who did research on Fritz and Harry for his own thesis publication).

http://scrollsoflankhmar.com/  (Great site).

The illustration is from the "Critical Essays" on Fritz, OOP.

Sorry I could not be of more help, Mark.

A Hearty Thank You To "2" Who Sought Adventure

I was sent a birthday gift by two close friends and associates, Allan Grohe, who you all may know as GRODOG here and there and who is one of the two main forces driving the RPG company, Black Blade Publishing; and David Witts, an Acaeum ancient man of wisdom and possibly one of the best RPG/Game Historians I am aware of (his assiduous and tenacious detail in verifying facts and in updating related WIKI articles in this field are only a sample of his true abilities as a scholar, historian and collector).

And as illustrated by my friend, DCS III: Lankhmar

Well, both of these chummers surprised me quite well, and pleasantly, by sending me a belated birthday gift of the Lankhmar board game--and not only one, but two copies!--which I helped design with Brad Stock, Gary Gygax, Fritz Leiber and Harry O. Fischer (that's right, I had the pleasure of designing side-by-side with Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser!).  That was back in 1975/1976, but this amazing gift stirred quite a lot of memories from meeting Fritz and Harry and talking with them at great length at an early GENCON in Lake Geneva.

Two Who "Found" Adventure:  Harry Otto Fischer and Fritz Leiber

Now I have more reason to post these memories for those who are interested in such histories.  I wish to thank Allan and David (again) for not only being great friends but for stirring so many memories from my aging brain as they have done over the years.  It's not a guarantee in life with anything, let alone having dear people who actually care, with or without the gifts behind it all.  Especially from "Two Who Sought Adventure."  :)

Around the Net in Eighty Ways

Here are some posts I made at various places yesterday/early today, all with some variable interest no doubt, but at least the ole internet was revolving.

Hey, it's Small Press, Folks... Get over it...

A topic at Dragonsfoot criticizing the Troll Lords for not bringing their product to market fast enough...  Amazing what little patience people have for those who work double-time in this industry for literally pennies (If you want the link, ask me), but here are my comments which followed after a few critics of the Trolls had taken their turn (I have published two works through them, and they are swell, well-intentioned people, btw).

"Well, I believe that if you like the products and want to see them then people who are sincere in this regard will wait. Most people try to pin small press publishers (and that is what the majority outside of WotC, Paizo, WW, and a few more) are. They are doing it mostly for the love of it and actually have lives and full time jobs, other personal and professional commitments. Plus, if you have never been a small press operator, then you have no clue. People are not superhuman, especially those who stand and deliver in publishing, which is hardly paid what it's worth for putting in all the extra time and effort at the expense of family, friends and often a social life. Some publishers do it full time with over 100 hours per person a week expended in that regard. Until one steps into those shoes and sees the many pitfalls (and joys) of self-sacrifice, I would not be casting a stone. For in the end, I am sure most small press folks receive veritably nothing for their dedication in bringing something to the light of day that others could not, and while doing it earning nothing in the way commensurate for the endeavor. YMMV."

rob1
Post subject: Re: Castles Keeper's Guide
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 10:05 am

Envoy of Dragonsfoot

Joined: 17 Sep, 2007
Posts: 260
Location: Northern Viginia, near the District of Confusion.

"As the original person posting this thread, I'm tired of the 'it will be out on....".... Either do it or don't. I would like a CKG but the people at TLG need to get things together IMO. Maybe I won't buy it, take my money other places...."


MajorKookie
Post subject: Re: Castles Keeper's Guide
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 10:22 am

Avatar of Dragonsfoot


Joined: 22 Mar, 2004
Posts: 649
Location: Milwaukee, WI

"Well I can understand frustration, too. Some publishers like to keep the Buzz going. Sometimes they get pinned into release dates by over-zealous fans pressing them for such. Honestly, though, the Troll Lords are decent folks putting out a decent product and not making (I am sure) a lot of cash for their endeavors. If we as imperfect humans cannot give well-intentioned folks a break while they are doing something which mostly derives from a love of the games(s) and a genuine interest in furthering the hobby, as they have done, then who are we, then, and what value are our lone opinions compared to those who strive to make us things we cannot, or will not, make ourselves? I wonder...

RJK"

_________________
"How can we create the literature of the strange if we stay in well-mapped lands?"--Orson Scott Card, How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy.

http://www.pied-piper-publishing.com
http://lordofthegreendragons.blogspot.com/


@ my Q&A on Dragonsfoot.  Rossik asks the darndest questions and often catches me off guard...  :)

"rossik wrote:
hi rob!

glad to hear that the machine level is doing fine!

i dont remember if this was already asked, but if so, forgive me for doing it again:

how do you determine PC level for a adventure?
i imagine that you first create the adventure, challenges, monsters, traps, etc, and then the recomended level for characters.

could you share something about your process of doing that?

thanks!"


"Correct. I have an idea going in while designing and choosing the elements of what range (PC level spread) I am crafting it for and then at the end appraise that against the actual whole, thus arriving at the calculation. But keep in mind that I normally craft very challenging adventures where a combination of real thinking, tactics and quick distillations of ongoing elements are paramount to PC survival, so these are no "walk right in" and start bashing away adventures. If DMs have groups that are normally used to less strangeness, less demanding involvement, and to less thinking, then this combined thinking-action-strangeness will start mounting PC attrition very quickly. I write them the way EGG and I DMed/played them 1972 onward in our Greyhawk campaign. The Machine Level will be an extreme example in this case as every situation, monster, etc. is ALL NEW. Repeat: Every instance, every particle, is NEW. With that, its design will push this newness always to the adventure's forefront (where I prefer it to be, or else I couldn't, and wouldn't, write these). Because of this, and depending on each group who plays it, level adjustments (upwards) might have to be made. I am assuming with the final level-range placement that this type of challenging adventure is 1) well known to my fans; 2) is preferred by those who purchase it.

Cheers!--RJK"

@ Timeshadow's (Kyrinn Eis) Blog--my partner in the sublime... ;)

Lord of the Green Dragons said...
"I use the D&D/AD&D "rules" as a framework of mechanics that allow one to insert variations on whatever is expandable and is understood and not so much as a "paint by number" set; so I say experiment and expand, for as long as it doesn't become overly complex and still builds upon the same variable mechanic (which has a very wide range, IMO, if one eagerly experiments outside of pre-conceived templates) it's all good. Did I ever send you the Berserker class I did BitD, K? Maybe I'll post it at LOTGD as it represents what I did in expansion mode; similar in expression to the two evil classes of druids I created for DARK DRUIDS. I like the direction you are taking. Very cool."

Clark Ashton Smith - Collected Fantasies Vol 5 - The Last Hieroglyph

I recently inquired about this last volume in the series of CAS's collected fantasies (highly recommended for their quality and presentation).  Here's what Tomra @ Nightshade Books wrote back:

"I just received the book from the printer and I'll be shipping it out this week.  I'm not sure exactly off the top of my head but I'm assuming we printed somewhere around 3 - 4,000. Enjoy!

Best Regards,
Tomra Palmer
Night Shade Books"

It's a go!  My order's already in.

Here are the links for those die-hard CAS collectors like me:

LINK 1  Overview order page for all 5 volumes

LINK 2  Order Page for Volume 5

"How now varlet!"  quoth Ralibar Vooz... :)

D & D "Origins II Expedition to the Barrier Peaks"

For those interested in such ephemera, a copy of the very rare MS that E. Gary Gygax and I wrote for the Origins II convention tournament was sold yesterday on Ebay.  I estimate that there are still 2-4 more in existence as one each was handed out to those judging this large tournament, plus EGG and I kept ours (mine was since lost).

Here's the referring link, an ending shot, and some photo samples by the seller.

Sold:  $1436.12

Gary went on to expand our concepts into TSR's AD&D adventure of the same name.  I was thanked for my contributions on the front cover matter.

Delayed: Taking D&D Back to its Future Level: 2 and 3

I have been diligently working on several projects and researching, typing and ordering when I can the 2nd & 3rd parts for this series article.  See below my screen shot of the Word file.  The darn thing is at almost 5,500 words and it isn't stopping! I took the screen shot on top of the Machine Level MS partial, which gives you a small glimpse of that, as well.

In between I read several short stories and got an idea for an ancient "Greyhawk-like" fiction piece (some of the die-hard WoG fans may recognize several of the allusions here) which is based on old notes contained in my Red Book concerning an rpg adventure I would have liked to have crafted back in the day if WoG had ever been officially revitalized.

It just caught up with me when I was reading part of Smith's "Marooned in Andromeda" and thinking in turn about Lem's, "The Invincible."  Don't ask me for a correlation as I don't have an answer to how these things work with me; I just roll with it.  But below is a sample of what I wrote (unedited) and what I have tentatively titled: "Flames of the Suulimen."  Now, back to writing The Machine Level.  On the plate, the Hack-Horrois... :)