Wild Cards is a
science fictionScience fiction is a genre of fiction. It differs from fantasy in that, within the context of the story, its imaginary elements are largely possible within scientifically-established or scientifically-postulated laws of nature...
and
superheroA superhero is "a fictional character of unprecedented powers dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest"...
anthology series set in a
shared universeA shared universe is a fictional universe to which more than one writer contributes. Work set in a shared universe share characters and other elements with varying degrees of consistency. Shared universes are contrasted with collaborative writing, in which multiple authors work on a single story....
. The series was created by a group of
New MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. Inhabited by Native American populations for many centuries, it has also been part of the Imperial Spanish viceroyalty of New Spain, part of Mexico, and a U.S. territory. Among U.S...
science fiction authors, and mostly edited by
George R. R. MartinGeorge Raymond Richard Martin , sometimes referred to as GRRM, is an American author and screenwriter of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He is best known for his ongoing epic A Song of Ice and Fire series.-Biography:...
. There were 12 volumes published between 1987 and 1993 before it switched publishers, which released three new volumes between 1993 and 1995; a fourth appeared belatedly in 2002, and a fifth in early 2006.
While most of the books are made up of individual short stories, they generally focus around a central theme or event. There were also several longer storylines which run through several of the books. Some volumes use the format of a
mosaic novelA mosaic novel is a novel where individual chapters are written by different authors with the aim of telling linear story from beginning to end, with the individual chapters, however, refracting a plurality of viewpoints and styles....
. This involved several writers writing individual story lines which were then edited together into one novel length story. Finally, some volumes are a complete novel written by a single author.
Wild Cards was inspired by
superheroA superhero is "a fictional character of unprecedented powers dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest"...
comics, and many of the authors play with the conventions of the medium, while some characters are based on existing heroes (for example,
JetboyJetboy is also the name of a hard rock/glam metal band who began in the 1980s.Jetboy is a fictional character from the Wild Cards book series. He appeared in the short story "Thirty Minutes Over Broadway!" by Howard Waldrop, but is referenced throughout the Wild Cards series. Jetboy is based on...
was modeled on the Hillman Periodicals' character
AirboyAirboy is a fictional aviator hero of an American comic book series initially published by Hillman Periodicals during the World War II-era time period that fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books. He was created by writer Charles Biro with scripter Dick Wood and artist Al...
). Many of the original authors were also inspired by a long-running
Albuquerque, New MexicoAlbuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 521,999 as of July 1, 2008, according to U.S. census estimates, and ranks as...
campaign of the
role-playing gameA role-playing game is a game in which the participants assume the roles of fictional characters. Participants determine the actions of their characters based on their characterization, and the actions succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines...
SuperworldSuperworld is a superhero-themed role-playing game published by Chaosium in 1983. Written by Basic Role-Playing and RuneQuest author Steve Perrin, Superworld began as one third of the Worlds of Wonder product, which also included a generic fantasy setting, "Magic World", and a generic science...
,
gamemasterA Gamemaster, Game Master or Game Manager is a player in a multiplayer game who acts as organizer, arbitrator, and officiant in rules situations...
ed by
George R. R. MartinGeorge Raymond Richard Martin , sometimes referred to as GRRM, is an American author and screenwriter of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He is best known for his ongoing epic A Song of Ice and Fire series.-Biography:...
, and many modeled their characters on their in-game persona.
Major contributors to the series include
Roger ZelaznyRoger Joseph Zelazny was an American writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels. He won the Nebula award three times and the Hugo award six times , including two Hugos for novels: the serialized novel ...And Call Me Conrad Roger Joseph Zelazny (May 13, 1937 – June 14, 1995)...
,
Lewis ShinerLewis Shiner is an American writer.Shiner began his career as a science fiction writer, identified early on with cyberpunk, and later wrote more mainstream novels, albeit often with magical realism and fantasy elements...
,
Melinda M. SnodgrassMelinda M. Snodgrass is a professional writer best known for her work in science fiction for print and television media....
,
Walter Jon WilliamsWalter Jon Williams is an American writer, primarily of science fiction.Several of Williams' novels have a distinct cyberpunk feel to them, notably Hardwired and Voice of the Whirlwind...
, Leanne C. Harper,
Chris ClaremontChris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer...
,
Victor MilánVictor Woodward Milán is an American writer known for libertarian science fiction and an interest in cybernetics. In 1986 he won the Prometheus Award for Cybernetic Samurai. He has also written several shared universe works for the Forgotten Realms, Star Trek, and Wild Cards Universes...
,
John J. MillerJohn J. Miller is a science fiction author known for his work in the Wild Cards shared universe. He has published four novels, as well as a handful of short stories. He also wrote GURPS Wild Cards, a supplement for the GURPS role-playing system published in 1989.-External links:*...
, and Martin himself.
Setting
The series relates an
alternate historyAlternate history or alternative history is a subgenre of literary fiction, though it often uses the tropes of science fiction and historical fiction that is set in a world in which history has diverged from the actual history of the world. It is sometimes abbreviated AH. Another...
of the earth after
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1946 an alien virus that rewrites human
DNADeoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and some viruses. The main role of DNA molecules is the long-term storage of information...
is accidentally unleashed in the skies over New York City. It kills 90% of those who come into contact with it (referred to as 'drawing the Black Queen'). However, 9% mutate into deformed creatures (known as 'Jokers') and the remaining 1% gain superpowers (known as 'Aces'). There is also a class known as 'deuces' - Aces who have acquired useless or ridiculous powers, such as the ability to levitate up to two feet, or to grow bodily hair at will. The airborne virus eventually spreads all over the world, affecting tens of thousands.
The Wild Cards universe is distinguished from most
superheroA superhero is "a fictional character of unprecedented powers dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest"...
comic bookA comic book is a magazine made up of narrative artwork, often accompanied by dialog and often including brief descriptive prose...
fiction by several thematic elements. Early on the authors decided to pursue a more realistic, or naturalistic approach to storytelling. Few of the Ace characters in Wild Cards have secret identities, or are traditional crime-fighting superheroes in the mold of
Spider-ManSpider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer and editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
or
BatmanThe Batman, originally referred to as the Bat-Man, is a fictional character, a comic book superhero co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger , appearing in publications by DC Comics...
. Wild Cards remained set within a recognizably real world with recognizably real people and pop culture and, because of the historical setting of many of the stories, had characters who aged realistically during the course of the series. The majority of Wild Card victims live in the run-down ghetto of
JokertownJokertown is a fictional neighborhood in the Wild Cards anthology series.In the Wild Cards universe, it is an area of New York City corresponding loosely to the real world Bowery region...
, while the fortunate Aces become glamorous celebrities. In addition, Wild Cards took a more graphic approach to violence, and particularly to sex, than most superhero stories do.
Another aspect of the series is its use of real people, such as
Buddy HollyCharles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
,
Grace KellyGrace Patricia Kelly was an American film and stage actress and fashion icon who later became Princess Grace of Monaco....
and
Richard NixonRichard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States and is the only president to resign the office. He was also the 36th Vice President of the United States ....
. Unlike most superhero universes, the events of Wild Cards alter history in many ways - a notable example being
Fidel CastroFidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban politician, one of the primary leaders of the Cuban Revolution, the Prime Minister of Cuba from February 1959 to December 1976, and then the President of the Council of State of Cuba until his resignation from the office in February 2008...
remaining in
New YorkNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to play
baseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The goal is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot square, or diamond...
, and the lack of a Communist takeover in
CubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island country in the Caribbean. It consists of the island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city. Cuba is home to over 11 million people and is...
thereafter. As of 1986, Castro was the pitching coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers, who never moved to Los Angeles, and still play at
Ebbets FieldEbbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football. The first National Football League team in New York City, the New York Brickley...
. Thus, L.A, not New York, got an expansion team called the Stars after the Giants moved to Minnesota in lieu of San Francisco. In the Wild Cards universe, the Dodgers are the equivalent of the
New York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League....
, with their history after the 1950s coinciding with the Mets' history, including victory in the
1969 World SeriesThe 1969 World Series was played between the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles, with the Mets prevailing in five games to accomplish one of the greatest upsets in Series history, as that particular Orioles squad was considered to be one of the finest ever...
over the
Baltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The "Orioles" name refers to the official state...
. The Los Angeles Stars are the equivalent of the real Dodgers.
Other notable changes:
Mick JaggerSir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is a Golden Globe and Grammy Award winning English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, occasional film producer and actor, best known for his work as lead vocalist and frontman of The Rolling Stones.The Rolling Stones started in the early 1960s as a...
is a lycanthropic ace.
Frank ZappaFrank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, electronic, orchestral, and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed album...
became a general in the US Army rather than a musician, eventually becoming Vice President.
Buddy HollyCharles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
did not die in a plane crash, becoming a washed up has-been, working in dingy venues, covering Prince and Billy Idol eventually showing his Ace super powers in a come-back concert. HUAC blacklisted aces instead of entertainment industry workers. Thomas Marion Douglas (an analogue of
Jim MorrisonJames Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American singer, songwriter, poet, writer and filmmaker. He was best known as the lead singer and lyricist of The Doors and is widely considered to be one of the most charismatic frontmen in rock music history. He was also the author of several books of poetry ...
), lead singer for the rock group Destiny, was an ace called the Lizard King, and died not of an overdose in France, but from a dose of the experimental
trump virusThe Trump Virus is a fictional virus from the Wild Cards anthology series.It is developed as a counter-agent for the mutagenic Wild Card virus by Dr. Tachyon, who helped develop the original Wild Card virus. The Trump has limited success as a cure; originally it only worked in approximately...
, which cured him and removed his immunity to many years of drug abuse. The botched Iranian hostage rescue of the
Jimmy CarterJames Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981 and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
administration was bungled by a team of aces (including
PopinjayJay "Popinjay" Ackroyd is a character from the Wild Cards series of books. As an Ace , Jay can teleport people and things anywhere he can clearly visualize Jay "Popinjay" Ackroyd is a character from the Wild Cards series of books. As an Ace (a Wild Card victim with powers, but relatively few...
and
CarnifexCarnifex is a fictional character in the Wild Cards anthology series. Carnifex is Billy Ray's nickname given to him for his love of violence. Infection with the Wild Card Virus has given him superhuman levels of strength, speed and stamina, along with a rapid regenerative healing factor and a...
) rather than the U.S. military (and was later proven to be part of a
conspiracy to prevent Carter's re-electionThe phrase "October Surprise conspiracy" refers to an alleged plot to influence the outcome of the 1980 United States presidential election between incumbent-Jimmy Carter and opponent-Ronald Reagan ....
due to his pro-wild card stance). President
George H. W. BushGeorge Herbert Walker Bush was the 41st President of the United States . He was also Ronald Reagan's Vice President , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence....
promised "no new exotics (a politically correct term for wild carders) laws" rather than "no new taxes," but still went back on his word.
Main characters
The series features a large and ever-changing cast of characters. A minor character in one story can become a major, or even the viewpoint character, in another, or vice versa.
Classifications in Wild Cards
There are certain broad classes of characters in the
Wild CardsWild Cards is a science fiction and superhero anthology series set in a shared universe. The series was created by a group of New Mexico science fiction authors, and mostly edited by George R. R. Martin...
universe of
superheroA superhero is "a fictional character of unprecedented powers dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest"...
novels started by George R.R. Martin.
Aces
To be classified as an
Ace, the person must still be basically human in appearance and generally be able to "pass" in society as normal people--as opposed to the physical mutations affecting those known as Jokers, resulting in various physical deformities or debilitating conditions. Certain individuals with both powers and physical alterations are still considered Aces, such as the celebrity Ace known as
PeregrinePeregrine is a fictional character from the Wild Cards series of books.-Character background:Peregrine might technically be considered a Joker, since the wild card virus left her with a visible "deformity" a pair of giant wings. However, the majestic nature of her wings, combined with her physical...
, who despite having a pair of feathered wings growing from her shoulder blades is otherwise physically attractive in appearance.
Ace powers range from the trivial (for example, the ability to turn water into wine) to the fantastic abilities that the general public would actually consider to be "superpowers" (flying, teleporting, mind-reading, shape-shifting, etc). Those Aces with powers that are so minor or specific as to be considered "parlor tricks" are sub-classified Deuces.
Jokers
A
Joker is a person that was infected by the Wild Card virus and got one or more deformities or crippling physical conditions as a result. The mutations can be slight (like
Father SquidFather Squid is a fictional priest from the Wild Cards anthology series. He was created by John J. Miller.Father Squid is a Joker, the common term for a person deformed by the alien Wild Card Virus. He has a mass of small tentacles hanging where his nose would be, slick hairless grey skin,...
's nose, which turned into a mass of tentacles) or grotesque (like
SnotmanSnotman is a character from the Wild Cards book series. He was originally a Joker derelict who oozed a snot-like mucus from every pore of his body. However in Wild Cards volume V: Down and Dirty, he had an encounter with Croyd Crenson, better known as The Sleeper, during a time when Crenson's...
, who exudes a foul-smelling secretion through every pore of his body). Some alterations that would be classified as a Joker are only obvious if one was aware of the infected individual's original appearance (such as Gimili, who appeared to simply be a
dwarfDwarfism is a medical disorder, the term being used to describe a person of short stature. It is sometimes defined as a person with an adult height under 4 feet 10 inches...
, but was in fact mutated into that form by the virus, or Succubus, who appeared to be an elderly woman, whose physical aging had been accelerated by her mutation). Those who gained superhuman powers were instead classified as Aces, though there were some with both powers and deformities who were referred to as Ace/Jokers, such as
BloatBloat is a fictional character from the Wild Cards series of books. He was created for the books by Stephen Leigh. An adolescent boy transformed by the Wild Card virus into a monstrous Joker, he resembles a tiny human torso atop a massively bloated sluglike body...
. There were even a very fortunate few whose deformities were considered attractive by many, such as
PeregrinePeregrine is a fictional character from the Wild Cards series of books.-Character background:Peregrine might technically be considered a Joker, since the wild card virus left her with a visible "deformity" a pair of giant wings. However, the majestic nature of her wings, combined with her physical...
, an Ace with flight-capable angelic wings who eventually became a TV star with her own talk show,
Peregrine's Perch. Jokers often refer to those not affected by the Wild card virus as
NatsNat is a slang term from the Wild Cards novels referring to normal humans uninfected by the Wild Card virus. Most often used by Jokers when referring to their uninfected oppressors, though also occasionally employed by Aces as a pejorative...
.
Dr. TachyonDr. Tachyon is a character from the Wild Cards series of books. He was created for the books by Melinda M. Snodgrass. Tachyon is a geneticist from the planet Takis, whose people created what human doctors called "Xenovirus Takis-A" -- the Wild Card virus...
has theorized that the forms taken by Jokers are influenced by the subconscious mind through a form of micro-telekinesis during the initial stage of the disease. This could explain why some joker forms are similar to those of animals or fantasy creatures, or often reflect the personal fears or desires of the individuals.
The largest and oldest Joker community in the world is the New York City neighborhood known as
JokertownJokertown is a fictional neighborhood in the Wild Cards anthology series.In the Wild Cards universe, it is an area of New York City corresponding loosely to the real world Bowery region...
.
Deuces
A
Deuce is a person that was infected by the Wild Card virus and gained a useless or trivial ability, like the power to levitate pennies, the ability to turn into a puddle of water, the ability to grow bodily hair at will, or the ability to levitate 2 feet off the ground. Those with more significant powers are known as Aces.
Original series (Bantam BooksBantam Books is an American publishing house owned by Random House; it is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group. It was formed in 1945 by Walter Pitkin, Jr., Sidney B. Kramer, and Ian and Betty Ballantine...
)
- Wild Cards (1987)
- Aces High (1987)
- Jokers Wild (1987)
- Aces Abroad
Aces Abroad is the fourth volume in the Wild Cards shared universe fiction series, edited by George R. R. Martin. It was published in 1988 and dealt with a world tour, sponsored by the United Nations and the World Health Organization, featuring many of the main characters from the previous novels...
(1988)
- Down and Dirty
Down and Dirty is the fifth book in the Wild Cards anthology series, set in the same shared universe as the other Wild Cards novels and collections. It was edited by George R. R...
(1988)
- Ace in the Hole
Ace in the Hole is the sixth volume in the Wild Cards shared universe series edited by George R. R. Martin. Like the third volume in the series , this volume uses the format of a mosaic novel, where several writers write individual storylines which were then edited together into one novel length...
(1990)
- Dead Man's Hand (1990)
- One-Eyed Jacks (1991)
- Jokertown Shuffle (1991)
- Double Solitaire
Double Solitaire , the tenth entry and the first full novel in the Wild Cards shared universe fiction series edited by George R. R. Martin. It was authored by Melinda Snodgrass and first published in paperback in the USA.-Plot introduction:...
(1992) (novel)
- Dealer's Choice (1992)
- Turn of the Cards (1993) (novel)
Double Solitaire and
Turn of the Cards were actually full-length novels rather than anthologies, written by Snodgrass and Milán, respectively.
"New Cycle" (Baen BooksBaen Books is an American publishing company established in 1983 by long time science fiction publisher and editor Jim Baen. It is a science fiction and fantasy publishing house that emphasizes space opera, hard science fiction, military science fiction, and fantasy...
)
- Card Sharks (1993)
- Marked Cards
Marked Cards is the fourteenth volume in the Wild Cards shared universe fiction series edited by George R. R. Martin...
(1994)
- Black Trump
For the Cocoa Brovaz song, see The Rude Awakening.The fifteenth volume in the Wild Cards shared universe fiction series edited by George R. R. Martin. Published in 1995, it is the final book in the "Card Sharks" cycle, with the completion of the Black Trump virus and its release in the world...
(1995)
(iBookThe iBook is a line of discontinued laptop computers sold by Apple Inc. between 1999 and 2006. The line was targeted at the consumer and education markets, with lower specifications and prices than the PowerBook, Apple's higher-end line of laptop computers....
s)
- Deuces Down
Deuces Down is the sixteenth volume in the Wild Cards shared universe fiction series edited by George R. R. Martin. Published in 2002, it differed from the other novels in that it featured deuces as the main characters.-Stories:Deuces Down contains the following short stories:...
(2002)
- Death Draws Five (2006) (novel)
Death Draws Five is another solo novel, this time by John J. Miller.
Tor BooksTor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. Tom Doherty...
revival
- Inside Straight
Inside Straight may refer to:* An inside straight is type of hand in poker—see Draw #Inside straight draw, Rank of hands .*"Inside Straight", the first book in the "next-generation Wild Cards triad", edited by George R. R...
(2008)
- Busted Flush (2008)
- Suicide Kings (2009) (delivered)
- Fort Freak (2010 or 2011)
The Future
According to George R. R. Martin's website ,
Tor BooksTor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. Tom Doherty...
has picked up a contract to produce three new Wild Cards books. Tor released the first,
Inside Straight, on January 22, 2008. The second, "Busted Flush" was released in December 2008 and the third, "Suicide Kings" should follow in about a year. The new trilogy features the next generation of Wild Cards, although there will be some familiar faces. Each is to be released initially in hardcover format.
In May it was announced that a new volume will follow the Committee trilogy. The book titled FORT FREAK, will follow the police and detectives of the Jokertown police district.
Tor books will also re-release the first three Wild Cards books, with the first book WILD CARDS containing three all-new short stories.
Comics
Portions of the series have been adapted into
comic bookA comic book is a magazine made up of narrative artwork, often accompanied by dialog and often including brief descriptive prose...
format.
Marvel ComicsMarvel Publishing, Inc., a company doing business as Marvel Comics, produces American comic books and related media. It forms a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc....
'
EpicEpic Comics was a creator-owned imprint of Marvel Comics started in 1982, lasting through the mid-1990s, and being briefly revived on a small scale in the mid-2000s.- Origins :...
imprint. published a four-issue miniseries ("
Wild Cards") in 1990 and included short stories set in the Wild Card universe (amongst other, non-Wild Cards stories) in the anthology-format comic book ("
Epic Comics: An Anthology") in 1992. The series also ran for four issues, although a mooted second limited series was never released after Epic's demise.
Author
Daniel AbrahamDaniel Abraham is an American science fiction / fantasy author who lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His short stories have appeared in numerous publications and anthologies. His novelette Flat Diane was nominated for the Nebula Award...
is penning a 6-issue Wild Cards
limited seriesA limited series is a series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
for
Dabel Brothers ProductionsDabel Brothers Productions is a U.S. publishing company of comic books and graphic novels. It was founded in 2001 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia. It is best known for its comic book and graphic novel adaptations of fantasy novels by major authors like Orson Scott Card, Raymond E...
that will be adapted into a graphic novel and possible ongoing series. The initial series is called
George R. R. Martin's Wild Cards: The Hard Call and started in April 2008.
Role-playing
The setting was also adapted into
role-playing gameA role-playing game is a game in which the participants assume the roles of fictional characters. Participants determine the actions of their characters based on their characterization, and the actions succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines...
format twice.
The first was in the form of two
GURPSThe Generic Universal RolePlaying System, or GURPS, is a role-playing game system designed to adapt to any imaginary gaming environment. It was created by Steve Jackson Games in 1986. GURPS won the Origins Award for Best Roleplaying Rules of 1988, and in 2000 it was inducted into the Origins Hall...
sourcebooks that made use of the GURPS Supers rules. The first of the
GURPSThe Generic Universal RolePlaying System, or GURPS, is a role-playing game system designed to adapt to any imaginary gaming environment. It was created by Steve Jackson Games in 1986. GURPS won the Origins Award for Best Roleplaying Rules of 1988, and in 2000 it was inducted into the Origins Hall...
sourcebooks was published between the publications of
Down and DirtyDown and Dirty is the fifth book in the Wild Cards anthology series, set in the same shared universe as the other Wild Cards novels and collections. It was edited by George R. R...
and
Ace in the Hole, in 1989. It is currently outdated, providing a snapshot of the universe at that time, but does contain biographical and power data on about 60 characters from the first five books along with details on current storylines and organizations. It was written by
John J. MillerJohn J. Miller is a science fiction author known for his work in the Wild Cards shared universe. He has published four novels, as well as a handful of short stories. He also wrote GURPS Wild Cards, a supplement for the GURPS role-playing system published in 1989.-External links:*...
.
The second is by
Green Ronin PublishingGreen Ronin Publishing is an American company based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2000 by Chris Pramas, they have published several role-playing game–related products...
, based on their
Mutants and MastermindsMutants & Masterminds is a top-selling multiple ENnie award and Pen & Paper Fan Award winning superhero role-playing game written by Steve Kenson and published by Green Ronin Publishing based on a variant of the d20 System by Wizards of the Coast...
product line. The first of this line, the
Wild Cards Campaign Setting, was written by series author
John J. MillerJohn J. Miller is a science fiction author known for his work in the Wild Cards shared universe. He has published four novels, as well as a handful of short stories. He also wrote GURPS Wild Cards, a supplement for the GURPS role-playing system published in 1989.-External links:*...
, and debuted at Origins in 2008. Two supplements are currently planned, including an adventure and a character book.
External links