Novel
A novel is a special type of book that appears in NetHack. It appears as a paperback book when unidentified. Though they do not teach spells, novels are considered spellbooks.
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that the information below is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate it.
Per commit ed6b78e2, novels weigh 10 aum instead of 1.Generation
Novels are not randomly generated, though they can be wished for or found in bones. The first second-hand bookstore or rare books shop generated is guaranteed to have a novel among its wares.[1][2]
Writing a novel with a magic marker uses up 5–9 charges, subject to the usual chance of failure if novels have not been identified.
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that the information below is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate it.
Per commit 87749392, novels can no longer be written with a magic marker, and the blank spellbook the hero writes on may be used up in the attempt.
Per commit caaf1b37, novels comprise 0.1% of randomly generated spellbooks. Heroes and monsters cannot generate with a novel, nor will one be given as a prayer boon.Description
Reading a novel breaks illiterate conduct and displays a quote from a random Discworld book listed below:
- A Hat Full of Sky
- Carpe Jugulum
- Equal Rites
- Eric
- Feet of Clay
- Going Postal
- Guards! Guards!
- Hogfather
- Interesting Times
- I Shall Wear Midnight
- Jingo
- Lords and Ladies
- Making Money
- Maskerade
- Men at Arms
- Monstrous Regiment
- Mort
- Moving Pictures
- Night Watch
- Pyramids
- Raising Steam
- Reaper Man
- Small Gods
- Snuff
- Soul Music
- Sourcery
- The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents
- The Colour of Magic
- The Fifth Elephant
- The Last Continent
- The Last Hero
- The Light Fantastic
- The Shepherd's Crown
- The Truth
- The Wee Free Men
- Thief of Time
- Thud!
- Unseen Academicals
- Wintersmith
- Witches Abroad
- Wyrd Sisters
The first novel that a hero reads grants 20 points of experience, while subsequent novels have no additional effect.
Strategy
Novels are among the many sources of experience that a low-level hero should make use of early on, and is one of few sources available to a pacifist. Outside of this, they tend to have little practical use.
History
Novels first appear in NetHack 3.6.0, where they are added a tribute to Terry Pratchett, the author of the Discworld series: Pratchett passed away in 2015, the year of NetHack 3.6.0's release.
Variants
EvilHack
In EvilHack, two new novels are added that can be found in some of the branches introduced to the variant:
- The Blacksmith's Cookbook can be found in a chest within the Goblin Town branch, and details what can be done with the #forge extended command.
- The Adventurer's Journal is found on the first floor of the Ice Queen's Realm, and contains hints on what can be encountered in that branch.
