Dying Earth
Dying Earth is a series of fantasy books by Jack Vance.
- The Dying Earth (collection of linked stories, 1950)
- The Eyes of the Overworld (collection of linked stories, 1966)
- Cugel's Saga (novel, 1983)
- Rhialto the Marvellous (collection of linked stories, 1984)
Author Michael Shea has also written a book set in the same fictional world: A Quest of Simbilis (novel, 1974)
The magic system of pre-3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons (in which a spellcaster memorizes spells out of a spellbook, and forgets them upon casting them) was based on the magic of Dying Earth. Some of the spells from D&D are based on Dying Earth spells, notably The Excellent Prismatic Spray. There is also an official Dying Earth role playing game, which throws players into Vance's ancient world populated by desperately extravagant people.
Three of the Dying Earth books had their titles changed by editors or publishers. In the of Vance's complete oeuvre, three of the Dying Earth books have been retitled using Vance's original titles. They are as follows:
- The Dying Earth is retitled as Mazirian the Magician.
- The Eyes of the Overworld is retitled as Cugel the Clever.
- Cugel's Saga is retitled as Cugel: the Skybreak Spatterlight.
