Scott 'Dwarfland" Driver once opined that there was often more gaming inspiration to be had from "bad" fiction than from good. He was specifically talking about the works of Lin Carter, but I think this is often true in general. I haven't read Urshurak by the Brothers Hildebrandt and Jerry Nichols, so I can't comment on it specifically, but that seems to be the internet consensus. Here's a typical review.
Regardless, the art was surely the main selling point for purchasers in 1979. That and curiosity got me to pick it up on ebay a few months ago. It's gorgeous if you like the work of the Hildebrandt Brothers, though it could easily, I suppose be derided as too traditional or even generic nearly 50 years on. Certainly, the images and a thumbnail description of the plot mark it as a work of a more naive time when it comes to genre fantasy. There are heroes and a quest with swords and sorcerers and elves and dwarves in a vaguely faux Medieval Europe sort of setting. There are some sci-fi elements (it's a bit of fusion of Lord of the Rings and Star Wars), but no gestures toward realism, grittiness or deconstruction to be found.
Perhaps it's just nostalgia, but naive fantasy has a certain sort of appeal to me, though. It's not that I never want fantasy to go new places, but having seen the new places it has gone over the decades become, in their own way, stale or cliched or really shine in their focus on aspects other than adventure and action (which are the most relatable of fictional elements to the gaming table), I sometimes feel the pull for gaming inspiration to the things that wouldn't have made my reading list a decade or so ago.
And honestly, more fantasy epics could probably benefit from high tech Amazons.
4 comments:
Naive fantasy is if nothing else a very charming genre. Fantasy RPGs which attempt to impose a grim or "dark" milieu I find tend to lighten up with time and play. D&D is still a game of elves, wizards, and dragons. Even in the grimmest setting a little bit of genuine and perhaps even naive joy is never misplaced.
I agree
Stunning art for a weak story has always been the consensus of opinion - but even so, I find it more appealing than anything Brooks ever wrote. If nothing else Urshurak didn't spawn any unwanted sequels.
For a while I would try to write down all the gameable content in any fantasy book I read. I would generally get way more out of 120 page pulp S&S potboiler than a whole traditional trilogy. I'm not talking about the brand names like Howard or Moorcock either. Also thanks for the link to that review - I've had a copy of Ushurak on bookshelf for ever and never did more than look at the pictures - now at least I know the storyline. Plenty of game content there!
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