7.2 /10 1 Votes
Language English Media type Print (Paperback) Publisher TSR Preceded by Saga of Old City | 3.6/5 Goodreads Publication date 1986 Originally published 1986 Genre Fantasy literature Country United States of America | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Similar Works by Gary Gygax, Fantasy books | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Artifact of Evil is a 1986 fantasy novel by Gary Gygax, set in the world of Greyhawk, which is based on the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.
Contents
Plot summary
Artifact of Evil was the second novel to feature Gord the Rogue. Gord and his companions must stop a recently uncovered ancient artifact from falling into the wrong hands, as its power could destroy their world.
This was the first novel to feature the drow prominently. Other characters appearing in the book include Melf of the Arrow (who has sworn fealty to Mordenkainen), Anthraxus the Oinodaemon (who appears to the Horned Society as a messenger for Nerull), the dwarf Obmi, and the losel (mixtures of orcs and baboons).
Publication history
Gary Gygax wrote Artifact of Evil as a continuation of his first novel, Saga of Old City, and it was published in 1986 as the final novel under TSR's Greyhawk Adventures banner that was written by Gygax.
Reception
Dave Langford reviewed Artifact of Evil for White Dwarf, quipping "At first glimpse within, my soul was purged by the brutalities visited upon the English language", and concluding that the story was nothing more than "an AD&D campaign write-up".