Manuscript Found in a Dragon's Cave

Book cover

Manuscript Discovered in a Dragon's Cave (Polish: Rękopis znaleziony w Smoczej Jaskini) is a guide to fantasy literature. It was written in the form of an encyclopedia by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski, first published by Supernowa publishing house in 2001. The author discusses in it the history of the literary genre, well-known fantasy heroes, descriptions of magic terminology, fantasy features, fantastic bestiary, major fantasy writers and characters.[1][2][3]

Several sections of the book discuss the essence and the limits of the genre as Sapkowski defines it, albeit rather broadly.[1]

Polish literary critic Eryk Remiezowicz writes that the book "should become required reading for Polish educators and a model for writing textbooks on any topic. Lots of information, reasoning, well, sometimes shaky, but usually surprisingly coherent. The author rarely deviates from his enlightening course (unless he absolutely has to add that one great story), and everything is served in a thickly humorous glaze that makes digestion easier."[2] From the very beginning the author presents the text as his subjective opinion, from the definition of the genre to sharp but witty criticism of what he does not like in it.[2]

The fantasy canon according to Sapkowski

The first edition of the book contained a list of "85 titles that every self-respecting fan of the genre should know", expanded in the 2011 edition to 100. The ten emboldened titles are works that Sapkowski views as "absolutną klasykę" ("absolute classics").

Nr Title Forma Author Year(s)
1 The Hobbit, or There and Back Again novel J.R.R. Tolkien 1937
2 Conan short-story series Robert E. Howard 1932–1936
3 Harold Shea novella series Fletcher Pratt,

L. Sprague de Camp

1940–1954
4 The Chronicles of Narnia novel series C.S. Lewis 1950–1956
5 Silverlock novel John Myers Myers 1949
6 Dying Earth short-story series Jack Vance 1950
7 The Lord of the Rings novel J.R.R. Tolkien 1954–1955
8 Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser series of novels and short stories Fritz Leiber 1939–1988
9 The Broken Sword novel Poul Anderson 1954
10 The Once and Future King series of novels T.H. White 1938–1977
11 Three Hearts and Three Lions novel Poul Anderson 1961
12 Glory Road novel Robert A. Heinlein 1963
13 Witch World series of novels Andre Norton 1963–
14 Elric of Melniboné series of novels and short stories Michael Moorcock 1961–
15 The Last Unicorn novel Peter S. Beagle 1968
16 Earthsea series of novels and short stories Ursula K. Le Guin 1964–2018
17 Grendel novel John Gardner 1971
18 Jack of Shadows novel Roger Zelazny 1971
19 The Chronicles of Amber series of novels and short stories Roger Zelazny 1970–1991
20 Watership Down novel Richard Adams 1972
21 Deryni series of novels and short stories Katherine Kurtz 1970–
22 Birthgrave trilogy Tanith Lee 1975–1978
23 Dragon Knight series of novels Gordon R. Dickson 1976–2000
24 The Forgotten Beasts of Eld novel Patricia A. McKillip 1974
25 The Riddle-Master trilogy trilogy Patricia A. McKillip 1976–1979
26 The Morgaine Stories tetralogy C.J. Cherryh 1976–1988
27 Die unendliche Geschichte novel Michael Ende 1979
28 The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant series of novels Stephen R. Donaldson 1977–2013
29 The Land of Laughs novel Jonathan Carroll 1980
30 The Vampire Tapestry novel Suzy McKee Charnas 1980
31 Lord Valentine's Castle novel Robert Silverberg 1980
32 Ariosto novel Chelsea Quinn Yarbro 1980
33 Little, Big novel John Crowley 1981
34 The Book of the New Sun series of novels Gene Wolfe 1980–1987
35 The Chronicles of Tornor trilogy Elizabeth A. Lynn 1979–1980
36 Winter's Tale novel Mark Helprin 1983
37 Lyonesse trilogy Jack Vance 1983–1989
38 Spellsinger series of novels Alan Dean Foster 1983–2004
39 The Belgariad,

The Malloreon

series of novels David Eddings 1982–1984,

1987–1991

40 The Mists of Avalon novel Marion Zimmer Bradley 1983
41 The Anubis Gates novel Tim Powers 1983
42 Tea with the Black Dragon novel R.A. MacAvoy 1983
43 The True Game series of novels Sheri S. Tepper 1983–1986
44 The Witches of Eastwick novel John Updike 1984
45 Ryhope Wood series of novels and short stories Robert Holdstock 1984–2009
46 The Black Company series of novels and short stories Glen Cook 1984–
47 The Princess Bride novel William Goldman 1973
48 The Ladies of Mandrigyn novel Barbara Hambly 1984
49 Kedrigern series of novels and short stories John Morressy 1981–2003
50 The Fionavar Tapestry trilogy Guy Gavriel Kay 1984–1986
51 Xanth series of novels Piers Anthony 1977–
52 Magic Kingdom of Landover series of novels Terry Brooks 1986–
53 The Tales of Alvin Maker series of novels and short stories Orson Scott Card 1986–
54 Merlin novel Robert Nye 1978
55 Dragonsbane novel Barbara Hambly 1985
56 The Winter of the World series of novels Michael Scott Rohan 1986–2001
57 The Eyes of the Dragon novel Stephen King 1984
58 Soldier novel and sequel Gene Wolfe 1986–1989
59 Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy Tad Williams 1988–1993
60 Bones of the Moon,

Sleeping in Flame,

A Child Across the Sky

trilogy Jonathan Carroll 1987–1989
61 Stalking the Unicorn novel Mike Resnick 1987
62 The Stress of Her Regard novel Tim Powers 1989
63 The Healer's War novel Elizabeth Ann Scarborough 1988
64 Knights of Dark Renown novel David Gemmell 1989
65 Tigana novel Guy Gavriel Kay 1990
66 The Wheel of Time series of novels Robert Jordan,

Brandon Sanderson

1990–2013
67 Beauty novel Sheri S. Tepper 1991
68 Briar Rose novel Jane Yolen 1992
69 Last Call novel Tim Powers 1992
70 The Innkeeper's Song novel Peter S. Beagle 1993
71 The Iron Dragon’s Daughter novel Michael Swanwick 1993
72 Winter Rose novel Patricia A. McKillip 1996
73 The Moon and the Sun novel Vonda N. McIntyre 1997
74 Jack Faust novel Michael Swanwick 1997
75 Lord of the Two Lands novel Judith Tarr 1993
76 The Death of the Necromancer novel Martha Wells 1998
77 Harry Potter series of novels J.K. Rowling 1997–2007
78 Mockingbird novel Sean Stewart 1998
79 The Sarantine Mosaic novel and sequel Guy Gavriel Kay 1998–2000
80 Tamsin novel Peter S. Beagle 1999
81 Symphony of Ages series of novels Elizabeth Haydon 1999–2002
82 Stardust,

Neverwhere

novels Neil Gaiman 1997,

1996

83 A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels George R.R. Martin 1996–
84 The Snow Queen novel Eileen Kernaghan 2000
85 Thraxas series of novels Martin Scott 1999–2019
Items added in the 2011 second edition:
86 Interview with the Vampire novel Anne Rice 1976
87 Discworld series of novels Terry Pratchett 1983–2015
88 His Dark Materials trilogy Philip Pullman 1995–2000
89 American Gods novel Neil Gaiman 2001
90 Perdido Street Station novel China Miéville 2000
91 Castle series of novels Steph Swainston 2004–
92 The First Law series of novels and short stories Joe Abercrombie 2006–
93 Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell novel Susanna Clarke 2004
94 Vellum novel Hal Duncan 2005
95 Anansi Boys novel Neil Gaiman 2005
96 Temeraire series of novels Naomi Novik 2006–
97 The Kingkiller Chronicle series of novels Patrick Rothfuss 2007–
98 The Graveyard Book novel Neil Gaiman 2008
99 Nostradamus / Venice trilogy trilogy Dave Duncan 2007–2009
100 Lavinia novel Ursula K. Le Guin 2008

Notes

References

  1. ^ a b Dariusz Nowacki. "Manuscript Found in a Dragon's Cave - Andrzej Sapkowski". culture.pl. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Eryk Remiezowicz, Bajka o bajkach [Andrzej Sapkowski „Rękopis znaleziony w smoczej jaskini. Kompendium wiedzy o literaturze fantasy” - recenzja]
  3. ^ Sapkowski, Andrzej, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
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