L. Sprague de Camp
L. Sprague de Camp was an American writer of science fiction, fantasy, and non-fiction. He was a prolific author known for his works in the genres of speculative fiction and historical fiction, as well as his contributions to the Conan the Barbarian series.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
-
1. The Castle Of Iron
A Harold Shea Adventure
In "The Castle of Iron," readers are transported into a fantastical world of magic and adventure, where the protagonist, an adept in the arcane arts, finds himself and his companion inadvertently transported to a medieval realm. There, they must navigate the complex social hierarchy and political intrigue of a land where sorcery and swordplay are the means to power. The duo's quest to return to their own world is further complicated by the discovery of a mysterious and powerful artifact, the titular castle, which is made entirely of iron and holds secrets that could alter the fabric of reality itself. As they delve deeper into the enigma of the castle, they must confront formidable foes and unravel the castle's enigmatic puzzles to find a way back home.
The 2925th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
2. The Incomplete Enchanter
The Incomplete Enchanter is a collection of two fantasy novellas by American writers L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt, the first volume in their Harold Shea series. The pieces were originally published in the magazine Unknown in the issues for May and August 1940. The collection was first published in hardcover by Henry Holt and Company in 1941 and in paperback by Pyramid Books in 1960.
The 4769th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Amazon -
3. The Land Of Unreason
A Fantasy Adventure
In this fantasy novel, the protagonist finds himself transported to a whimsical and unpredictable world after a mysterious encounter. This realm is governed by the peculiar logic of fairy tales, where reason and conventional rules are upended. As he navigates through a series of bizarre and often humorous adventures, he encounters a variety of fantastical creatures and challenges that test his wit and adaptability. Throughout his journey, he must learn to embrace the absurdity of this land to find a way back home, all while uncovering deeper truths about himself and the nature of reality.
The 5173rd Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Amazon -
4. The Tritonian Ring
A Novel of the Lost Continent
In this fantasy novel, the story follows Prince Vakar of Lorsk, who is tasked with a perilous quest to retrieve a powerful magical artifact known as the Tritonian Ring. Set in a richly imagined prehistoric world, Vakar's journey is fraught with danger as he encounters mythical creatures, treacherous landscapes, and cunning adversaries. Along the way, he must rely on his wits, bravery, and the help of unlikely allies to overcome the challenges that stand between him and his goal. The narrative weaves together elements of adventure, magic, and ancient mythology, creating an engaging tale of heroism and discovery.
The 5386th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
5. Lest Darkness Fall
This science fiction novel revolves around the adventures of Martin Padway, a modern-day man who inexplicably finds himself transported to Rome during the 6th century. Faced with the decline of the Roman Empire, Padway uses his knowledge of history and modern technology to introduce innovations in an attempt to alter the course of history and prevent the onset of the Dark Ages. Through his efforts to implement social and technological advancements, he navigates the complexities of ancient politics, economics, and warfare, striving to create a better future. The story blends historical fiction with time travel, exploring themes of innovation, cultural exchange, and the impact of individual actions on the course of history.
The 11547th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Amazon -
6. Lovecraft
A Biography
The book is a comprehensive biography that delves into the life and works of a seminal figure in the horror genre, exploring his personal history, influences, and the development of his unique literary style. It examines his upbringing, relationships, and the socio-cultural factors that shaped his worldview and writing. The biography also provides insights into his most famous creations and their lasting impact on literature and popular culture, while addressing the complexities and contradictions of his character. Through meticulous research, the book paints a detailed portrait of a man whose imagination continues to captivate and inspire.
The 13355th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Amazon -
7. Conan Of Aquilonia
An older warrior who has risen from barbarian roots to sit on a throne is drawn from courtly routines back into bloody action when dark sorcery and political treachery threaten his kingdom and his son; he must call on guile, battle skill and raw strength to lead daring raids, face supernatural foes and protect his heir, in a lean, hard‑edged tale of honor, fatherhood, aging and the violent clash between civilization and the wild.
-
8. The Reluctant Shaman And Other Fantastic Tales
And Other Fantastic Tales
A compact collection of witty, imaginative short tales that blend fantasy, folklore and speculative ideas, following pragmatic, often skeptical protagonists who confront magical or uncanny situations and resolve them with practical ingenuity, dry humor and satirical observations about modern life and ancient belief.
-
9. The Ancient Engineers
A lively, readable survey of the technological achievements of ancient civilizations that explains how builders and inventors solved practical problems with bridges, roads, aqueducts, dams, irrigation, machines, surveying instruments, siege engines and architectural innovations; it outlines the engineering principles behind those devices, places them in their chronological and cultural contexts, dispels misconceptions, and traces the evolution and transmission of technical knowledge from Mesopotamia and Egypt through Greece and Rome to India, China and the medieval Islamic world, showing how ancient practical ingenuity laid foundations for later developments.
Purchase from Bookshop.org -
10. Science Fiction Handbook
Science-Fiction Handbook, subtitled The Writing of Imaginative Fiction, is a guide to writing and marketing science fiction and fantasy by L. Sprague de Camp, "one of the earliest books about modern sf." The original edition was published in hardcover by Hermitage House in 1953 as a volume in its Professional Writers Library series. A revised edition, by L. Sprague de Camp and Catherine Crook de Camp, titled Science Fiction Handbook, Revised, was published in hardcover by Owlswick Press in 1975 and as a trade paperback by McGraw-Hill in 1977. An E-book version of the revised edition was published by Gollancz's SF Gateway imprint on April 30, 2014.
-
11. 3000 Years Of Fantasy And Science Fiction
An edited anthology that surveys the sweep of speculative imagination across three millennia, assembling ancient myths, medieval romances, folkloric tales and modern science-fiction stories to trace how themes—heroic quests, encounters with the uncanny, and speculative technologies—have evolved. Selections are paired with contextual commentary that highlights continuities and shifts in style, motifs and worldbuilding, illustrating how human responses to the unknown have changed over time.
-
13. Ancient Ruins And Archaeology
A concise, engaging survey that examines notable ancient ruins and the archaeological methods used to study them, explaining how careful excavation, dating techniques, and historical context reveal the lives and technologies of past peoples; it contrasts responsible scholarship with romanticized or speculative interpretations, debunks popular misconceptions, and emphasizes human creativity and continuity rather than mysterious lost civilizations.
-
14. Lands Beyond
A lively, erudite survey of the world’s imaginary and legendary places—from Atlantis, El Dorado, and Prester John’s kingdom to Shangri‑La, Thule, and polar paradises—tracing how explorers, cartographers, and storytellers concocted, pursued, and occasionally “found” them. Blending historical research, travel anecdotes, map evidence, and skeptical wit, it examines the motives behind those quests (greed, faith, curiosity), the hoaxes and errors that sustained the myths, and the interplay between imagination and real-world exploration. Readable and often humorous, the work serves as both a history of ideas about geography and a critique of the romanticized search for utopian lands.
-
15. Blond Barbarians And Noble Savages
A collection of essays that traces the origins and persistence of two contrasting literary stereotypes—the idealized “noble savage” and the romanticized “blond barbarian”—examining how myths about race, primitivism, and heroism have shaped popular fiction and scholarly thought; blending historical research, literary criticism, and wry commentary, it surveys examples from mythology, folklore, pulp adventure, and modern literature to show how cultural anxieties and ideals produce recurring archetypes and to argue for more honest, less romanticized understandings of other peoples.
-
16. The Fantastic Swordsmen
The Fantastic Swordsmen is a 1967 anthology of fantasy short stories in the sword and sorcery subgenre, edited by American writer L. Sprague de Camp. It was first published in paperback by Pyramid Books. It was the third such anthology assembled by de Camp, following his earlier Swords and Sorcery (1963) and The Spell of Seven (1965). It has also been translated into German.
-
19. Great Cities Of The Ancient World
A lively, accessible survey of the great urban centers of antiquity that reconstructs how they were founded, planned and governed, describes their monuments, markets, religious and civic institutions, and evokes the daily lives of their inhabitants, and explains the economic, military and environmental forces that brought them prosperity and, in many cases, decline; drawing on archaeology and ancient texts, the book compares city-building traditions across civilizations to illuminate the contributions of these ancient metropolises to later urban development.
-
20. The Spell Of Conan
A compact collection of essays and commentary examining the origins, literary qualities, and publishing history of Conan the Barbarian and his creator; it mixes biographical sketches, critical analysis of the sword-and-sorcery genre, discussion of textual problems and editorial decisions, and reflections on adaptations and the character's enduring popularity.
-
22. Lost Continents
A concise, skeptical survey of the legends of vanished continents that traces how ancient sources, 19th-century speculation and occultism gave rise to modern claims about places like Atlantis, Lemuria and Mu; the book examines the historical origins of those stories, the selective reading and imagination that fueled them, and the geological and archaeological evidence that undermines grandiose reconstructions, mixing clear explanation with pointed debunking of popular pseudo-historical theories.
-
-
24. Spirits, Stars And Spells
A skeptical, accessible survey of popular supernatural and pseudoscientific beliefs that traces the historical roots, cultural appeal, and psychological and physical mechanisms behind claims of spirits, miracles, astrology, witchcraft, reincarnation, psychic phenomena and related subjects; the author examines cases, exposes common errors and frauds, and argues for scientific explanations and critical thinking while remaining often wry and conversational in tone.
-
25. Rogue Queen
Rogue Queen is a science fiction novel by American writer L. Sprague de Camp, the third book in his Viagens Interplanetarias series. It was first published in hardcover by Doubleday in 1951, and in paperback by Dell Books in 1952. A later hardcover edition was issued by The Easton Press in its The Masterpieces of Science Fiction series in 1996; later paperback editions were issued by Ace Books (1965) and Signet Books (November 1972, reprinted June 1978). A trade paperback edition was issued by Bluejay Books in June 1985. The first British edition was published in paperback by Pinnacle Books in 1954; a British hardcover reprint followed from Remploy in 1974. The novel has been translated into Portuguese, Italian, French and German. An E-book edition was published by Gollancz's SF Gateway imprint on September 29, 2011 as part of a general release of de Camp's works in electronic form.
Purchase from Bookshop.org -
26. Dark Valley Destiny
This biography traces the life of pulp-fiction writer Robert E. Howard from his childhood in rural Texas through his prolific output in the 1920s and 30s, exploring how his physical surroundings, family history, and intense temperament shaped the gritty, heroic worlds he created. Drawing on letters, magazine publications, and interviews, it chronicles his literary development, friendships and correspondence with contemporaries, struggles with isolation and mental distress, and the circumstances leading to his early death, while offering close readings of major works and assessing his influence on sword-and-sorcery and popular culture. The authors argue that an interplay of personal tragedy, cultural environment, and literary ambition produced both his imaginative achievements and his tragic end, and they situate his reputation within debates over his craft and legacy.
