This is a fantastic post. I hadn't considered mystical spaces as "dungeons" before, nor had I considered D&D play reports as inspiration for fantasy literature before. But I certainly am now. You also prompted me to go look up "Neverwhere", which led me down a long rabbit hole...so it's taken me an hour to read your post. Then I had to go back and read it again without getting distracted by your resources and links...LOL.
Altogether, you've written a thoughtful and inspiring piece here.
Thanks, Carolyn! I'm glad you enjoyed this piece. I first read "Neverwhere" as inspiration for the second book in my Merlin series because I had an idea for a subterranean world beneath London (and beneath the London Underground as well), and I wanted to see how a master like Gaiman approached the idea. It's a trippy book, very much of its era (1990s), but worth checking out.
Thank you for this fascinating post! I have often thought about the intersection of gaming and role playing, but usually with the intention of bringing more narrative into the game, not the other way around. I wonder if Dante’s Inferno qualifies as a “mega dungeon” narrative like what you are describing here? It certainly fits in terms of the Mythic Underground!
I love the idea of Dante's Inferno being a megadungeon! Each circle is another "level," getting more intense and dangerous as you proceed down. Fits very well with the "dungeon" idea!
This is a fantastic post. I hadn't considered mystical spaces as "dungeons" before, nor had I considered D&D play reports as inspiration for fantasy literature before. But I certainly am now. You also prompted me to go look up "Neverwhere", which led me down a long rabbit hole...so it's taken me an hour to read your post. Then I had to go back and read it again without getting distracted by your resources and links...LOL.
Altogether, you've written a thoughtful and inspiring piece here.
Fabulous work, keep it up!
Thanks, Carolyn! I'm glad you enjoyed this piece. I first read "Neverwhere" as inspiration for the second book in my Merlin series because I had an idea for a subterranean world beneath London (and beneath the London Underground as well), and I wanted to see how a master like Gaiman approached the idea. It's a trippy book, very much of its era (1990s), but worth checking out.
Thank you for this fascinating post! I have often thought about the intersection of gaming and role playing, but usually with the intention of bringing more narrative into the game, not the other way around. I wonder if Dante’s Inferno qualifies as a “mega dungeon” narrative like what you are describing here? It certainly fits in terms of the Mythic Underground!
I love the idea of Dante's Inferno being a megadungeon! Each circle is another "level," getting more intense and dangerous as you proceed down. Fits very well with the "dungeon" idea!