T. H. Lain was a collective

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true meaning ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individual's o ...

used by nine separate authors writing under

Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast LLC (WotC or Wizards) is an American game Publishing, publisher, most of which are based on fantasy and List of science fiction themes, science-fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail game stores. In 1999, toy ...

's ''

Dungeons & Dragons ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) originally created and designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by TSR (company)#Tactical ...

'' 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. Nine authors had their work published using the T.H. Lain name.

Authors

* Philip Athans, managing editor for

Book Publishing and editor of the

Forgotten Realms ''Forgotten Realms'' is a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setti ...

novel line. * Cory Herndon, a freelance writer and one-time editor of the Star Wars Roleplaying Game. *

Bruce R. Cordell Bruce Robert Cordell 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 won severa ...

, 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 bee ...

and

. *

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: The Roleplaying Game, Star Wars'' lines. He was the main developer b ...

, design manager and creative director for the

line. * Johnny L. Wilson, writer for ''Computer Gaming World'' and co-author of ''High Score! The Illustrated History of Electronic Games''. * Nate Levine, a freelance writer. * Murray J.D. Leeder, a freelance writer. * Dave Gross, editor-in-chief for ''Star Wars Gamer'' and ''Star Wars Insider''. * Jess Lebow, an editor in the

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!"
21st-century pseudonymous writers House names {{D&D-stub