I jumped out of the series after the first book and started reading something else, but just started back on book two, The Black Mountains, last week and moving through it pretty well. While reading I noticed some really interesting aspects in regards to the story and elements found in D&D.
The first one that stood out to me was the continued use of the term "fighting men" and "fighting man", which plays directly into the the fighter class in Original D&D.
Still scowling, Chup asked: “Is there not some mistake in this? I am to serve Som as a fighting man.”
“Just so, Brother Chup. Would you deign to visit the dungeons with my Master of the Games? I’m sure no one in my employ could pick out fighting men as well as you can. You may even find one or two with real training—if not, I know you’ll spot the raw ability…”
I can't help but wonder if this is where Gary pulled the label used in D&D or if it was just a general term found in other sources or used to describe fighters of any type at that time.Walking the main, buried corridors of the citadel Chup took note of the fighting men he saw. He supposed the garrison might number a thousand if all were mobilized; but the five hundred elite Guardsmen should be easily able to hold the natural defenses of the place against Thomas’s four thousand or so.
Also in the series, which I have not actually gotten to yet, is a reference to and characterization of the the demon "Orcus". I know Orcus appears in this series and I'm looking forward to reading how the demon is introduced and what part he plays in the story.
There are also some cool aspects like an encounter with a Giant Centipede and lesser demons which kind of have a feel of the "winged demons" that are mentioned in REH's Conan stories.
There's also no doubt that this series influenced Bakshi's Wizards in some manner. The setting is fantasy, but elements of technology from earlier civilizations is present and even the mention of "nuclear technology" and such have a place.Instead he looked up at once to the upper vaulting of the high chamber. By the light of the ensorceled treasure, he saw that up there the seven guardian demons hung, where Hann’s three words had sent them, like malformed bats in fine gray gossamer robes. They were head down, with arms or forelegs—it was hard to specify—that hung below their heads. Several of the dangling limbs hung nearly to the level of Chup’s head, so elongated were the demons’ shapes. One had a gray blur of a talon run like a fishhook through the hide of small furry beast, a living toy that struggled and squeaked incessantly to be free, and very slowly dripped red blood. As Chup watched the demons, they began to drone, like humans newly fallen asleep who start to snore.
If it hadn't been for Goodman Games putting out the setting supplement, I probably would have never known about this series. So far I'm enjoying it a lot and plan to finish it up. When I'm done, I think I'll look into some other Appendix N books to work through.
