On August 24th, 2023, the Gygax Memorial Fund dedicated the Appendix N Alcove within the Lake Geneva Public Library.

The Alcove holds a collection of over 100 novels and stories from the Gary Gygax Appendix N list of inspirational reading in the back of the AD&D® Dungeon Masters Guide. These are the literary works that inspired Gary Gygax’s writing of Dungeons & Dragons®!

Additionally, Gary’s widow Gail Gygax generously donated a complete collection of Gary’s own Gord the Rogue and Setne Imhotep novels to be ensconced amongst his favorite authors.

These arcane tomes may be found in a secret alcove, deep within the library — the Appendix N Alcove!

Gary in his childhood spent his days combing through the Lake Geneva Public Library, finding many titles on history, warfare, mythology, religion, science-fiction, and fantasy, many of which would find their way into his Appendix N list.

Later, in his home in Stone Manor in the mid-1980s, Gary had a throne-like chair that he likened to a magic item or powerful artifact in the Dungeons & Dragons® game. He lightheartedly called this ornate chair of his, the Throne of Reading, as if it were a magic item or artifact in the D&D® game.

Now you too can sit upon a Throne of Reading and share in the magic of reading the books that inspired Gary’s writing of Dungeons & Dragons®!

(Images courtesy of Keith Gerlach, Lake Geneva Public Library, and Eric Honea.)