T. H. Lain was a collective
pseudonym
A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...
used by nine separate authors writing under
Wizards of the Coast's ''
Dungeons & Dragons'' novels imprint.
According to Peter Archer, WotC's Director of Publishing, the decision to credit the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' novels to just one author was made to ensure they would be shelved together, as well as to spark a certain measure of curiosity and speculation as to T.H. Lain's identity. However, it was already obvious to many from the stylistic differences between volumes that Lain's output was the work of many authors rather than one. In December 2003, WotC formally announced the nine authors whose work was published under the T.H. Lain name:
Authors
*
Philip Athans
Philip Athans (born 1964 in Rochester, New York) is an American editor and author.
Biography
Philip Athans was born in 1964 in Rochester, New York, but was raised in Chicago. Athans grew up reading Marvel comics and ''Starlog'' magazines, and wat ...
, Managing Editor for
Wizards of the Coast Book Publishing and editor of the
Forgotten Realms novel line.
*
Cory Herndon, a freelance writer and one-time editor of the
Star Wars Roleplaying Game.
*
Bruce R. Cordell
Bruce Robert Cordell (born 1968) is an American author of roleplaying games and fantasy novels. He has worked on ''Dungeons & Dragons'' games for Wizards of the Coast. He won the Origins Award for ''Return to the Tomb of Horrors'' and has also wo ...
, an RPG designer with
TSR, Inc.
TSR, Inc. was an American game publishing company, best known as the original publisher of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D''). Its earliest incarnation, Tactical Studies Rules, was founded in October 1973 by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye. Gygax had been ...
and
Wizards of the Coast.
*
Ed Stark
Ed Stark is a game designer who has worked primarily on role-playing games.
Career
Ed Stark began his career at West End Games, where he wrote for the ''TORG'' and ''Star Wars'' lines. He was the main developer behind the MasterBook system and t ...
, Design Manager and Creative Director for the
Dungeons & Dragons line.
*
Johnny L. Wilson, writer for ''Computer Gaming World'' and co-author of ''High Score! The Illustrated History of Electronic Games''.
*
Nate Levine
Nate or NATE may refer to:
People and fictional characters
*Nate (given name)
*A nickname for Nathanael
*A nickname for Nathaniel
Organizations
*National Association for the Teaching of English, the UK subject teacher association for all aspects ...
, a freelance writer.
*
Murray J.D. Leeder
Murray may refer to:
Businesses
* Murray (bicycle company), an American manufacturer of low-cost bicycles
* Murrays, an Australian bus company
* Murray International Trust, a Scottish investment trust
* D. & W. Murray Limited, an Australian whol ...
, a freelance writer.
*
Dave Gross
Dave Gross () is a game designer who has worked primarily on role-playing games.
He is also a magazine editor, and has held the position of Editor-in-Chief at ''Star Wars Insider'' and at ''Amazing Stories''.
Career
Dave Gross, Michael Mikael ...
, Editor-in-Chief for ''Star Wars Gamer'' and ''Star Wars Insider''.
*
Jess Lebow
T. H. Lain was a collective pseudonym used by nine separate authors writing under Wizards of the Coast's ''Dungeons & Dragons'' novels imprint.
According to Peter Archer, WotC's Director of Publishing, the decision to credit the ''Dungeons & Drago ...
, an editor in the
Wizards of the Coast Book Publishing department.
In addition,
Steve Winter acted as line editor, starting with ''The Living Dead''.
Books
Ten books were published under the T.H. Lain pseudonym between July 2002 and December 2003, collectively following the exploits of the
iconic characters of Dungeons & Dragons. ''The Savage Caves'' was the first in the series of novels featuring the
iconic heroes of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game.
The books in the series included:
* ''The Savage Caves''—Philip Athans
* ''The Living Dead''—Cory Herndon
* ''Oath of Nerull''—Bruce Cordell
* ''
City of Fire''—Ed Stark
* ''The Bloody Eye''—Johnny L. Wilson
* ''Treachery's Wake''—Nate Levine
* ''Plague of Ice''—Murray J.D. Leeder
* ''The Sundered Arms''—Dave Gross
* ''Return of the Damned''—Jess Lebow
* ''The Death Ray''—Philip Athans
References
External links
"Will the Real T.H. Lain Please Stand Up!"
House names
Pseudonymous writers
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