Planet Stories Top Nav Branding
Welcome, guest! | Sign In | My Account | My Subscriptions | My Downloads | Shopping Cart   Shopping Cart | Help/FAQ
  About Paizo     Messageboards     News     Paizo Blog     Help/FAQ  




Pathfinder Society
SEARCH


BROWSE
Shop
Upcoming Products
The Ship of Ishtar (Trade Paperback)

Steppe (Trade Paperback)

Who Fears the Devil?—The Complete Silver John (Trade Paperback)

Sos the Rope (Trade Paperback)

The Walrus & the Warwolf (Trade Paperback)

Store / By Company / P / Paizo Publishing, LLC / Planet Stories®     Top Sellers     New     Upcoming
PZO8001

The Anubis Murders (Trade Paperback)
Paizo Publishing, LLC

5x5
List Price: $12.99
Sale Price: $7.00
Add To Cart
5x5 5x5

by Gary Gygax, with an introduction by Erik Mona

The father of fantasy roleplaying and the co-creator of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game weaves a fantastic tale of warring wizards that spans the world from the pyramids of ancient Egypt to the mist-shrouded towns of medieval England.

Someone is murdering the world’s most powerful sorcerers, and the trail of blood leads straight to Anubis, the solemn god known by most as the Master of Jackals. Can Magister Setne Inhetep, personal philosopher-wizard to the Pharaoh, reach the distant kingdom of Avillonia and put an end to the Anubis Murders, or will he be claimed as the latest victim?

160-page softcover trade paperback ISBN: 1-60125-042-8
ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-042-1

Ian Randal Strock of SFScope.com has posted the first online review of The Anubis Murders. "I was taken with the character and his world," Strock says. "...this volume is a good episode of what could be an interesting series of books or television shows." In fact, The Anubis Murders is the first of three books starring Magister Setne Inhetep. The second, The Samarkand Solution, is slated for a April 2008 Planet Stories release.

The geek-focused folks over at Always Go Right had this to say about The Anubis Murders: "I was expecting a classic hero's journey in a fantasy setting, but what I got was a Sherlock Holmes mystery in a fantasy setting, with a lot more sexual tension between Holmes and Watson... I am impressed by the pure creativity Gygax demonstrates in this unusual book."

NOTE: Copies sold as "Non-Mint" have been dinged or bent during the course of shipment, or have some markings on the cover, so we're making them available at a discounted price. While they have some cosmetic damage, they'll make great second reading copies. There will be no refunds on these non-mint copies.

About the Author

In 1974, Gary Gygax (1938–2008) co-created the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, forever changing the face of fantasy. The hand-assembled first print run of 1000 boxed rulesets sold out in nine months, and by 1978 the game’s explosion in popularity warranted a three-volume harcover rules expansion called Advanced Dungeons & Dragons authored by Gygax. The release of AD&D coincided with the explosive popularity that catapulted the game into a true cultural phenomenon, introducing fantasy to a generation of new readers. D&D’s literary roots drew upon the sword and sorcery work of authors like Fritz Leiber, Jack Vance, and Robert E. Howard, and by the mid-1980s D&D’s publisher, TSR, began to release their own line of fantasy fiction.

Thus was born Gord the Rogue, Gygax’s rakish, metropolitan thief whose daring adventures span seven novels: Saga of Old City, Artifact of Evil, Sea of Death, City of Hawks, Night Arrant, Come Endless Darkness, and Dance of Demons. Years later he introduced a new character, the crime-solving Ægyptian wizard-priest Magister Setne Inhetep, in a trilogy of novels: The Anubis Murders, The Samarkand Solution, and Death in Delhi.

Gygax's importance to American popular culture was solidified with an animated cameo alongside Al Gore, Stephen Hawking, and Star Trek's Nichelle Nichols in a 2000 episode of Futurama.

Usually ships from our warehouse in 3 to 6 business days

Are there errors or omissions in this product information? Got corrections? Let us know at webmaster@paizo.com.


Product Reviews

Average product rating: FullStarFullStarFullStarFullStarFullStar (4.3) based on 7 reviews

Sign in to create or edit a product review.

FullStarFullStarFullStarFullStarFullStar A Fun Ride
Reviewer: DaveMage

The Anubis Murders is a fun read that is a good kick-off to the Planet Stories line. I quite enjoyed the book.

The Good
The characters are distinctive and the protagonists are interesting and engaging. I especially liked the rapport between them, and there was never a dull moment when they were featured. The plot moves along at a nice pace and the action is well-written.

The Bad
The only thing that was a bit out of place was the ending, which, without spoiling it, leaves a little room for improvement. Suffice to say, it's clear that this book was not meant to competely stand alone, as there is certainly unfinished business.

The Very Bad
If you are new to Gary Gygax's novels, and/or if you intend to read his "Gord the Rogue" series, then skip the introduction by Erik Mona. For some reason, Mona makes the (in my opinion) very poor decision to throw out a pretty major spoiler for both the novel and the Gord-The-Rogue series.

Again, I enjoyed the novel and look forward to more great stories in the line.

FullStarFullStarFullStarFullStarFullStar I liked it...
Reviewer: Shem

The Anubis Murders by Gary Gygax is a fun read. It is set in an Earthlike world where a Magician/Priest from Eygpt is asked to solve strange murders of strong wizards. This Magician/Priest is somewhat of a celebrity in his world and his life is filled with challenges. Gygax is not the best writer of fantasy fiction but he is a good story teller and creates interesting characters.

FullStarFullStarFullStarFullStarFullStar Fun Detective Romp
Reviewer: Lilith

A familiar yet exciting romp through an alternate Earth, Setne Inhetep is every bit as hard-boiled as his 20s detective counterparts. Twists and turns a-plenty in this book, but all leading to a savory ending that leads you hungering for more.

FullStarFullStarFullStarFullStarFullStar Fun to Read!
Reviewer: janxious

Gygax is not the best writer in the world, but this is a fun book to read. I read it in a single go!

Certainly, it's better than any Drizzt novel I've read, and at times it channels some Howard.

Give it a go.

FullStarFullStarFullStarFullStarFullStar Surprisingly Good
Reviewer: Rubezahl

Okay, I'll admit that despite Gygax's place in rpg history, I've not enjoyed his writing all that much before. Clearly lots of good ideas, but he seemed to have a hard time getting them onto paper in an organized and enjoyable fashion.

That said, I can only endorse TAM as a great yarn. It feels fresh, but obviously holds to a classic sword 'n' sorcery prose, even if it is a murder/mystery! Quite a combination.

Solid characters and some very strong scenes help this move along, all the while giving you the chance to explore and enjoy Gygax's new world.

It is exactly the book I wanted to read at the time I read it, and I can see myself reading it again soon.

FullStarFullStarFullStarFullStarFullStar Not sure why it's mature readers...
Reviewer: Matthew Morris (RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32)

I mean there's some references to nudity, but no long taudry descriptions or sexual scenes. Very interesting pseudo Europe setting and a nice bit of detective work. It is interesting how whipping out Commune doesn't solve this one.

Note. Do not read the forward unless you want to have an urge to drop a scorpion down Erik's pants. (I'll see you at Origins, spoiler-boy!) ;-)

FullStarFullStarFullStarFullStarFullStar This is a really cool book!
Reviewer: James May

I am very impressed with this book. Imagine if Sherlock Holmes was an Egyptian Wizard/Priest and you would have a good feel for this book. As a long time reader of both fantasy and mystery, I was pleased. I can't wait to read other books in the Planet Stories line.


Product Discussion
7 posts. See all discussion for this product.

The Swordsman of Mars (Trade Paperback)
Respectable Hobbit,

12 Ost Untamoinen avatar

Is the book set in Yarth or Aerth? The back of the book says Aerth, but in the book they say Yarth. Anyone know where to find a map of Yarth? There must have been one for the Dangerous Journeys game.

Erik Mona (Publisher),

Rel avatar

The issue is pretty confusing.

The book says it is set in Yarth, but at some point after the book was written the world's name was changed to Aerth for the associated Dangerous Journeys RPG products. I think it may have been to avoid conflict with the world of Gardner F. Fox's "Kothar" stories, which is also called Yarth.

But Inhetep's planet is called Yarth in the final Gord the Rogue book (Dance of Demons) as well as in the first two Setne Inhetep books. I'm not sure about Death in Delhi, yet, as I haven't read it in a while.

The back of the book should probably have said Yarth, or I should have changed the interior text to match the Aerth construction. I should ask Gary which he prefers and will go with that in future printings and editions.

Haladin,

Carlisle Drg 359 New Myth 5 avatar

is this a novel or rpg adventure?

Lilith (Pathfinder Chronicles Charter Superscriber; Planet Stories Subscriber),

Chess-final 2 avatar

Novel (as are the rest of the Planet Stories stuff). Though I would not be averse to a supplement in those worlds.

Matthew Morris (RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32),

Blue-Dragon avatar

Lilith wrote:
Novel (as are the rest of the Planet Stories stuff). Though I would not be averse to a supplement in those worlds.

*pokes Lilith with Hamunaptra*

PZO8001

Top Sellers
PZO8021
1. Robots Have No Tails (Trade Paperback)
Our Price: $12.99
Add To Cart
2. The Swordsman of Mars (Trade Paperback)
3. Black God's Kiss (Trade Paperback)
4. The Dark World (Trade Paperback)
5. Northwest of Earth: The Complete Northwest Smith (Trade Paperback)
6. Almuric (Trade Paperback)
7. Elak of Atlantis (Trade Paperback)
8. The Reavers of Skaith (Trade Paperback)
9. City of the Beast (aka Warriors of Mars) (Trade Paperback)
10. The Ship of Ishtar (Trade Paperback)
News

Paizo Gives PDFs Some Love: 35% Off!, Apr 8, 2009

Paizo Announces New System for Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Apr 1, 2009

Neil Spicer Voted RPG Superstar™ 2009, Mar 24, 2009

Paizo Releases Pathfinder Compatibility License, Mar 5, 2009

Paizo to Host PAIZOCON 2009 in June, Mar 4, 2009



©2002–2009 Paizo Publishing, LLC®. Need help? Email customer.service@paizo.com or call 425-289-0060 Monday–Friday, 10 AM–5 PM Pacific Time. View our privacy policy. Paizo Publishing, LLC, the Paizo golem logo, GameMastery, Pathfinder, Planet Stories, and Undefeated are registered trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and Pathfinder Chronicles, Pathfinder Companion, Pathfinder Modules, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Pathfinder Society, PAIZOCON, RPG Superstar, Titanic Games, the Titanic logo, and the Planet Stories planet logo are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC. Amazing Stories is a trademark of, and Dungeons & Dragons, Dragon, Dungeon, and Polyhedron are registered trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., and are used by Paizo Publishing under license. Most product names are trademarks owned or used under license by the companies that publish those products; use of such names without mention of trademark status should not be construed as a challenge to such status.