On August 10th, 2023, the Gygax Memorial Fund dedicated the Appendix N Alcove within the Lake Geneva Public Library that holds a collection of over 100 novels and stories from the Gary Gygax Appendix N list of inspirational reading.

This collection of books, purchased by the Lake Geneva Public Library and paid for by the Gygax Memorial Fund, comes from the list of inspirational reading that Gary Gygax provided in Appendix N 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 youth 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.)

On August 10th, 2023, we had Gary’s eldest son, Ernie Gygax, dedicate the Alcove with a silver cord cutting in the Lake Geneva Public Library in the City of Lake Geneva. (Video courtesy of Dave O’Brien.)