People of secondary interest to NetHack - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2026-05-14T22:03:09Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: /* Michael Moorcock */ punc

2024-05-20T09:41:38Z

‎Michael Moorcock: punc

NetSysFire: /* Jack Vance */ only

2024-05-20T06:28:17Z

‎Jack Vance: only

Umbire the Phantom: /* Fritz Leiber */ copyedit

2024-05-20T06:19:12Z

‎Fritz Leiber: copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: potholes and notes

2024-03-06T05:41:33Z

potholes and notes

Umbire the Phantom: /* Fritz Leiber */ tweaks

2024-02-24T14:59:50Z

‎Fritz Leiber: tweaks

Umbire the Phantom: /* Fritz Leiber /

2024-02-12T11:50:42Z

‎Fritz Leiber: *

Umbire the Phantom: /* Jack Vance /

2024-02-12T11:49:23Z

‎Jack Vance: *

Umbire the Phantom: /* Jack Vance */ word choice spacing, etc.

2023-07-10T07:54:00Z

‎Jack Vance: word choice spacing, etc.

Umbire the Phantom: /* Douglas Adams */ has its own article now

2022-12-16T23:38:39Z

‎Douglas Adams: has its own article now

@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 Most of Leiber's influence on ''NetHack'' is naturally related to the [[Rogue]] role - [[The Master of Thieves]] serves as the Rogue [[quest leader]], likely in acknowledgement of the above connection to Pratchett. The [[pantheon]] consists of [[Issek]], [[Mog]], and [[Kos]], who are derived from the setting of the ''Fafhrd'' stories.
-In terms of variants, [[SLASH 6]] has the artifact [[rapier]] Scalpel, which was modeled after the Gray Mouser's weapon of choice - the artifact still exists as a [[deferred feature]] in the data of [[SLASH'EM]], and is re-implemented in [[SlashTHEM]] and [[Hack'EM]] as the [[Mouser's Scalpel]]. In the [[Convict]] patch integrated into many variants, the role of lawful [[god]] is given to [[Ilmater]], a deity from the Forgotten Realms setting of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' that is described as similar to the god Issek.
+In terms of variants, [[SLASH 6]] has the artifact [[Rapier (SLASH'EM)|rapier]] Scalpel, which was modeled after the Gray Mouser's weapon of choice&mdash;the artifact still exists as a [[deferred feature]] in the data of [[SLASH'EM]], and is re-implemented in [[SlashTHEM]] and [[Hack'EM]] as the [[Mouser's Scalpel]]. In the [[Convict]] patch integrated into many variants, the role of lawful [[god]] is given to [[Ilmater]], a deity from the Forgotten Realms setting of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' that is described as similar to the god Issek.
 ==David S. H. Rosenthal==

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 ==Michael Moorcock==
 {{wikipedia|Michael Moorcock}}
-'''Michael Moorcock''' (b. 18 December 1939) is an English writer of science fiction and fantasy who has published literary novels, and is also a successful musician. His best selling works are the ''[[wikipedia:Elric of Melniboné|"Elric of Melniboné"]]'' stories centered around the titular sorcerer, who is frail, anemic and albino - Elric represents a deliberate reversal of clichés associated with [[Tolkien]]-inspired fantasy adventures.
+'''Michael Moorcock''' (b. 18 December 1939) is an English writer of science fiction and fantasy who has published literary novels, and is also a successful musician. His best selling works are the ''[[wikipedia:Elric of Melniboné|Elric of Melniboné]]'' stories centered around the titular sorcerer, who is frail, anemic and albino - Elric represents a deliberate reversal of clichés associated with [[Tolkien]]-inspired fantasy adventures.
-As emperor of Melniboné Elric can call upon [[Arioch]], a Lord of Chaos and Duke of Hell who serves as the traditional patron of the rulership and alternates between aiding Elric and antagonizing him. Elric is also the wielder of the demonic black blade [[Stormbringer]], which is similarly his greatest asset ''and'' greatest hindrance: it confers enough strength and vitality for Elric to shake off his otherwise-required herbal regimen - as well as augmenting his fighting prowess - but the blade instead feeds on the souls of intelligent beings. A recurring theme in the series is how this codependency between sword and wielder brings doom to everything Elric holds dear, despite his best intentions.
+As emperor of Melniboné, Elric can call upon [[Arioch]], a Lord of Chaos and Duke of Hell who serves as the traditional patron of the rulership and alternates between aiding Elric and antagonizing him. Elric is also the wielder of the demonic black blade [[Stormbringer]], which is similarly his greatest asset ''and'' greatest hindrance: it confers enough strength and vitality for Elric to shake off his otherwise-required herbal regimen - as well as augmenting his fighting prowess - but the blade instead feeds on the souls of intelligent beings. A recurring theme in the series is how this codependency between sword and wielder brings doom to everything Elric holds dear, despite his best intentions.
 A significant amount of Moorcock's influence on fantasy is based in his portrayals of the metaphyisical conflict between [[wikipedia:Law and Chaos|Law and Chaos]] - among many other things, this has partly and indirectly influenced the [[chaotic]] alignment's portrayal in ''NetHack''. Stormbringer is the weapon gifted to a crowned chaotic character, who their [[god]] declares a soul-stealer for "the Glory of Arioch"; this may also reflect Elric's role as [[wikipedia:Eternal Champion (character)|the Eternal Champion]]. The Hand and Eye of Vecna in variants of ''Nethack'' may also have been inspired by similar items from Moorcock's works, specifically, the Hand of Kwll and the Eye of Rhynn.

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 '''John Holbrook "Jack" Vance''' (August 28, 1916 – May 26, 2013) was an award-winning American mystery, fantasy, and science fiction writer who published most of his work under the name '''Jack Vance'''. Among Vance's many achievements are the 1984 World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement; Guest of Honor at the 1992 World Science Fiction Convention in Orlando, Florida; becoming the 15th Grand Master of the The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 1997; and induction into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2001.
-Jack Vance's main influence on fiction that is most relevant to ''NetHack'' is the "Vancian" magic system, which can be seen in ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' - the magic system in use is explicitly inspired by Vance's ''Dying Earth'' series, where magic users forget learned spells immediately upon casting them, and must re-study in order to cast them again. A Vancian-style system for [[spellcasting]] was present in ''NetHack'' from versions [[1.3d]] to [[3.2.3]] - spells had to be learned or transcribed from [[spellbook]]s, and successfully learning the spell granted the user a limited number of castings before they had to relearn the spell. This was phased out with [[NetHack 3.3.0]]'s integration of the [[Wizard Patch]] and its revamp of the spellcasting system into one that uses a more traditional system with magic points rather than a set number of uses; however, knowledge of the spell lasts a limited amount of turns, and can be refreshed when necessary by reading the appropriate spellbook (which can themselves be read a limited amount of times).
+Jack Vance's main influence on fiction that is most relevant to ''NetHack'' is the "Vancian" magic system, which can be seen in ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' - the magic system in use is explicitly inspired by Vance's ''Dying Earth'' series, where magic users forget learned spells immediately upon casting them, and must re-study in order to cast them again. A Vancian-style system for [[spellcasting]] was present in ''NetHack'' from versions [[1.3d]] to [[3.2.3]] - spells had to be learned or transcribed from [[spellbook]]s, and successfully learning the spell granted the user a limited number of castings before they had to relearn the spell. This was phased out with [[NetHack 3.3.0]]'s integration of the [[Wizard Patch]] and its revamp of the spellcasting system into one that uses a more traditional system with magic points rather than a set number of uses; however, knowledge of the spell lasts a limited amount of turns, and can be refreshed when necessary by reading the appropriate spellbook (which can themselves only be read a limited amount of times).
 Vance's works have had other varying, indirect influences on ''NetHack'':

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 '''Fritz Reuter Leiber Jr.''' (December 24, 1910 – September 5, 1992) was an American writer of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He is considered one of the fathers of "sword and sorcery" fiction, coining the term in response to a 1961 letter from Michael Moorcock in the fanzine ''Amra''. Moorcock initially proposed the term "epic fantasy" as a name for the sort of fantasy-adventure story written by Robert E. Howard -  Leiber replied in the journal ''Ancalagon'' by suggesting "'sword-and-sorcery' as a good popular catchphrase for the field".
-Leiber's greatest influence on the "sword and sorcery" genre is the ''Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser'' series of stories about a barbarian-and-thief pair of unlikely heroes, taking place in and around the city of Lankhmar - the two titular characters are based on Leiber and his friend, Harry Otto Fischer. Numerous writers have since paid homage to them and its characters - [[Terry Pratchett]]'s city of ''Ankh-Mor''pork in particular bears more than a passing resemblance to L''ankhmar''; while Pratchett asserted this was unintended on his part, he does lean into it with the mention of a swordsman-thief "The Weasel" and his giant barbarian comrade "Bravd" in the opening scenes of the first ''Discworld'' novel.
+Leiber's greatest influence on the "sword and sorcery" genre is the [[wikipedia:Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser|''Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser'']] series of stories about a barbarian-and-thief pair of unlikely heroes, taking place in and around the city of Lankhmar - the two titular characters are based on Leiber and his friend, Harry Otto Fischer. Numerous writers have since paid homage to them and its characters - [[Terry Pratchett]]'s city of ''Ankh-Mor''pork in particular bears more than a passing resemblance to L''ankhmar''; while Pratchett asserted this was unintended on his part, he does lean into it with the mention of a swordsman-thief "The Weasel" and his giant barbarian comrade "Bravd" in the opening scenes of the first ''Discworld'' novel.
 Most of Leiber's influence on ''NetHack'' is naturally related to the [[Rogue]] role - [[The Master of Thieves]] serves as the Rogue [[quest leader]], likely in acknowledgement of the above connection to Pratchett. The [[pantheon]] consists of [[Issek]], [[Mog]], and [[Kos]], who are derived from the setting of the ''Fafhrd'' stories.
-In terms of variants, [[SLASH 6]] has the artifact [[rapier]] Scalpel, which was modeled after the Gray Mouser's weapon of choice - the artifact still exists as a [[deferred feature]] in the data of [[SLASH'EM]], and is re-implemented in [[SlashTHEM]] and [[Hack'EM]] as the [[Mouser's Scalpel]]. In the [[Convict]] patch integrated into many variants, the role of lawful [[god]] is given to Ilmater, a male deity from the Forgotten Realms setting of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' that is described as similar to the god Issek.
+In terms of variants, [[SLASH 6]] has the artifact [[rapier]] Scalpel, which was modeled after the Gray Mouser's weapon of choice - the artifact still exists as a [[deferred feature]] in the data of [[SLASH'EM]], and is re-implemented in [[SlashTHEM]] and [[Hack'EM]] as the [[Mouser's Scalpel]]. In the [[Convict]] patch integrated into many variants, the role of lawful [[god]] is given to [[Ilmater]], a deity from the Forgotten Realms setting of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' that is described as similar to the god Issek.
 ==David S. H. Rosenthal==

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 As emperor of Melniboné Elric can call upon [[Arioch]], a Lord of Chaos and Duke of Hell who serves as the traditional patron of the rulership and alternates between aiding Elric and antagonizing him. Elric is also the wielder of the demonic black blade [[Stormbringer]], which is similarly his greatest asset ''and'' greatest hindrance: it confers enough strength and vitality for Elric to shake off his otherwise-required herbal regimen - as well as augmenting his fighting prowess - but the blade instead feeds on the souls of intelligent beings. A recurring theme in the series is how this codependency between sword and wielder brings doom to everything Elric holds dear, despite his best intentions.
-A significant amount of Moorcock's influence on fantasy is based in his portrayals of the metaphyisical conflict between [[wikipedia:Law and Chaos|Law and Chaos]] - among many other things, this has partly and indirectly influenced the [[chaotic]] alignment's portrayal in ''NetHack''. Stormbringer is the weapon gifted to a crowned chaotic character, who their [[god]] declares a soul-stealer for "the Glory of Arioch"; this may also reflect Elric's role as [[wikipedia:Eternal Champion (character)|the Eternal Champion]].
+A significant amount of Moorcock's influence on fantasy is based in his portrayals of the metaphyisical conflict between [[wikipedia:Law and Chaos|Law and Chaos]] - among many other things, this has partly and indirectly influenced the [[chaotic]] alignment's portrayal in ''NetHack''. Stormbringer is the weapon gifted to a crowned chaotic character, who their [[god]] declares a soul-stealer for "the Glory of Arioch"; this may also reflect Elric's role as [[wikipedia:Eternal Champion (character)|the Eternal Champion]]. The Hand and Eye of Vecna in variants of ''Nethack'' may also have been inspired by similar items from Moorcock's works, specifically, the Hand of Kwll and the Eye of Rhynn.
 ==Jack Vance==
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 ===Influence on variants===
-[[Vecna]] is a highly-notable ''D&D'' villain whose name is an anagram of "Vance" and is indirectly inspired by the author; he appears in [[SLASH]], [[SLASH'EM]], [[SlashTHEM]], [[EvilHack]] and [[Hack'EM]]. In ''D&D'' lore, he is an incredibly powerful wizard-turned-lich who was betrayed and destroyed by his right-hand servant [[Kas]], who used a [[The Sword of Kas|powerful sword]] that Vecna either created or procured for him, depending on the source. Vecna's only remnants from the pitched battle were left hand and eye, which he never recovered even after resurfacing as a demigod - these became [[Hand of Vecna|powerful]] [[Eye of Vecna|artifacts]], and at least one can be obtained in each of those variants, typically only by killing Vecna.
+[[Vecna]] is a highly-notable ''D&D'' villain whose name is an anagram of "Vance" and is indirectly inspired by the author; he appears in [[SLASH]], [[SLASH'EM]], [[SlashTHEM]], [[EvilHack]] and [[Hack'EM]]. In ''D&D'' lore, he is an incredibly powerful wizard-turned-lich who was betrayed and destroyed by his right-hand servant [[Kas]], who used a [[The Sword of Kas|powerful sword]] that Vecna either created or procured for him, depending on the source. Vecna's only remnants from the pitched battle were left hand and eye, which he never recovered even after resurfacing as a demigod - these became powerful artifacts known as [[The Hand of Vecna]] and [[The Eye of Vecna]], and at least one can be obtained in each of those variants, typically only by killing Vecna.
 The term "[[wikipedia:Grue (monster)|grue]]" originated in Jack Vance's ''Dying Earth'' series, used to describe a human-bat hybrid predator. The name was then borrowed for the 1977 computer game ''[[Wikipedia:Zork|Zork]]'', where it is most famously remembered as the darkness-dwelling monster that would eat the player character quickly if they ventured too far into any dark area without a light source. While only appearing as a [[hallucinatory monster]] in ''NetHack'' itself, the [[devnull tournament]] had [[Grue challenge|an homage]] to ''Zork'' as one of the many challenges, and the [[Grue]] itself is an actual monster in [[dNetHack]] and [[notdNetHack]].

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 * The [[Monk]] [[quest artifact]], [[The Eyes of the Overworld]], is derived from the story of the same name written by Vance.
-* The [[encyclopedia]] entry for the [[sandestin]] uses an excerpt from another of his stories, ''Rhialto the Marvellous''.
+* The [[sandestin]] is also derived from the ''Dying Earth'' series, with the [[encyclopedia]] entry using an excerpt from another of his stories, ''Rhialto the Marvellous''.
 Many other monsters and features in variants of ''NetHack'' were indirectly influenced by Vance and his works as well.
 ===Influence on variants===
-[[Vecna]] is a highly-notable ''D&D'' villain whose name is an anagram of Vance, and appears in [[SLASH]], [[SLASH'EM]], [[SlashTHEM]], and [[EvilHack]]. In ''D&D'' lore, he is an incredibly powerful wizard-turned-lich who was betrayed and destroyed by his right-hand servant [[Kas]], who used a [[The Sword of Kas|powerful sword]] that Vecna either created or procured for him, depending on the source. Vecna's only remnants from the pitched battle were left hand and eye, which he never recovered even after resurfacing as a demigod - these became [[Hand of Vecna|powerful]] [[Eye of Vecna|artifacts]], and at least one can be obtained in each of those variants, typically only by killing Vecna.
+[[Vecna]] is a highly-notable ''D&D'' villain whose name is an anagram of "Vance" and is indirectly inspired by the author; he appears in [[SLASH]], [[SLASH'EM]], [[SlashTHEM]], [[EvilHack]] and [[Hack'EM]]. In ''D&D'' lore, he is an incredibly powerful wizard-turned-lich who was betrayed and destroyed by his right-hand servant [[Kas]], who used a [[The Sword of Kas|powerful sword]] that Vecna either created or procured for him, depending on the source. Vecna's only remnants from the pitched battle were left hand and eye, which he never recovered even after resurfacing as a demigod - these became [[Hand of Vecna|powerful]] [[Eye of Vecna|artifacts]], and at least one can be obtained in each of those variants, typically only by killing Vecna.
-The term "[[wikipedia:Grue (monster)|grue]]" originated in Jack Vance's ''Dying Earth'' series, used to describe a human-bat hybrid predator. The name was then borrowed for the 1977 computer game ''[[Wikipedia:Zork|Zork]]'', where it is most famously remembered as the darkness-dwelling monster that would eat the player character quickly if they ventured too far into any dark area without a light source. While only appearing as a [[hallucinatory monster]] in ''NetHack'' itself, the [[devnull tournament]] had [[Grue challenge|an homage]] to ''Zork'' as one of the many challenges, and the [[Grue]] itself is an actual monster in [[dNetHack]].
+The term "[[wikipedia:Grue (monster)|grue]]" originated in Jack Vance's ''Dying Earth'' series, used to describe a human-bat hybrid predator. The name was then borrowed for the 1977 computer game ''[[Wikipedia:Zork|Zork]]'', where it is most famously remembered as the darkness-dwelling monster that would eat the player character quickly if they ventured too far into any dark area without a light source. While only appearing as a [[hallucinatory monster]] in ''NetHack'' itself, the [[devnull tournament]] had [[Grue challenge|an homage]] to ''Zork'' as one of the many challenges, and the [[Grue]] itself is an actual monster in [[dNetHack]] and [[notdNetHack]].
 ==Fritz Leiber==

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:38, 16 December 2022
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	This article is a list of various notable '''people of secondary interest''' to the game of ''[[NetHack]]'' and its variants, explaining each person's works and the contributions to the game that they inspired.		This article is a list of various notable '''people of secondary interest''' to the game of ''[[NetHack]]'' and its variants, explaining each person's works and the contributions to the game that they inspired.
−
−	~~==Douglas Adams==~~
−	~~{{wikipedia\|Douglas Adams}}~~
−	'''Douglas Adams''' (11 March 1952 – 11 May 2001) was an English author, screenwriter, essayist, humorist, satirist and dramatist. Adams is best known as the author of ''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'', a work of science fiction comedy which originated in 1978 as a BBC radio comedy and developed into a "trilogy" of five books that sold more than 15 million copies in his lifetime and generated several adaptations. These stories chronicle the adventures of one Arthur Dent, though to be the last survivor of the Earth's destruction by a Vogon constructor that was making way for a hyperspace bypass - he is rescued from Earth's destruction by Ford Prefect, a humanoid alien writer for the in-universe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and the pair travel around the galaxy.
−
−	In ''NetHack'', there are a few references to ''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'', with the most primary one being the [[towel]], a multipurpose [[tool]]. While not as ridiculously useful as in ''The Hitchhiker's Guide'', it still has various relevant applications: among them are [[blind]]ing yourself, wiping glop or grease off your person, removing [[engraving]]s on the floor, and [[wet]]ting the towel to whip at monsters.
−
−	The Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal and the [[microscopic space fleet]] are two [[hallucinatory monster]]s that originated in ''The Hitchhiker's Guide''; the latter appears as an actual monster in [[SlashTHEM]].
−
−	~~===NetHack: The Next Generation===~~
−	In 1994, [[Sebastian Klein]] released [[NetHack: The Next Generation]], a [[variant]] of [[NetHack 3.1.3]] that draws much more heavily from the works of Douglas Adams and adapts them to the [[w:c:hitchhikers:Whole Sort of General Mish Mash\|Whole Sort of General Mish Mash]] that is the variant's geek culture influence.

	==Frank Herbert==		==Frank Herbert==