Skip to main content

Tales from the Sanctum

Card Catalog

Welcome

The Sanctum Secorum podcast plumbs the depths of Appendix N as it applies to DCC RPG. Each show reviews one piece of Appendix N media — be it literature or film — and then discusses how to bring aspects of it to the table for your DCC game. We explore how the selected piece might already easily fit into particular modules and DCC settings, and we highlight one specific DCC module that really ties into the Appendix N material.

Enter the Sanctum Secorum… and be inspired.

And the Winners Are…..

Written by Gatekeeper
Leave a Comment

Wow! What a great response to our contest! Thank you to everyone who submitted their entry. We only wish that we had tons of free books to give away instead of pounds (but that require the Prize Storage Unit of Mystery).

Our domestic/US winner, recipient of a box of over 10 lbs (this killed our mailing scale) of vintage sci-fi/fantasy books is…. Brian Tieman. Brian should have his prize in a few days, in time for the holidays.

As previously announced, the overseas prize was different, due to shipping costs. While we couldn’t send oodles and oodles of paperbacks, we wanted to send out something that was really special. In the end, we think that the prize is pretty cool.

Our overseas winner is David Gallico, who receives a copy of The Shrouded Grimoire (#9 of 10). This is currently the only copy of the book’s limited run to be outside the US! Sorry David, but barring a true miracle, it is going to take a bit longer for your prize to get there. Still, we hope that you’ll find it worth the wait.

Now then, if you didn’t win, never fear! There is more to come on the next episode of the Sanctum Secorum Reading Room – Tuesday Dec 20th. The Prize Closet of Mystery is not yet done with the holiday season!

  • First, we have last month’s giveaway to announce. One lucky winner will be getting Robin Wayne Bailey’s Swords Against the Shadowland and William Hope Hodgeson’s The House on the Borderland.
  • In honor of the current Kickstarter from Planet X Games, An Occurance at Howling Crater, Levi Combs will be joining us to help us give away a (for now) mystery package of Sci-fi/Fantasy novels and comic books to one lucky live viewer.
  • Of course we will be announcing our next giveaway for January.
  • Finally, one second chance entry will be drawn with the recipient receiving a copy of Keeper Bob’s favorite science fiction novel, Armor, by John Steakley. Perfect to provide inspiration for your next Star Crawl session, with plenty of great ideas to draw from, this is the book of which Bob has said “Out-Heinlein’s Heinlein for the Starship Troopers concept” (Bob rereads the book annually, so he may be a smidge biased).

So many giveaways!

Regardless of which holiday(s) you celebrate, best wishes of the season to you from us at the the Sanctum Secorum. We look forward to seeing you in a few short days for more discussions, more giveaways, and more fun!

Contest, News, Shameless Self-Promotion

Sanctum Secorum Reading Room – Tuesday, June 21 at 9pm EST

Written by Gatekeeper
Leave a Comment

The Keepers of Mysteries return to the Goodman Games Twitch channel with an all-new live show tonight! Join Jen and Bob Brinkman as they take a deep dive into the tomes of Appendix N.

The Sanctum Secorum Reading Room plumbs the depths of Appendix N, introducing readers to inspirational materials. This month, they continue their series of episodes looking at the women of Appendix N (and those who inspired it), examining the classic work Pilgrimage: The Book of the People by Zenna Henderson.

For those looking to read the stories in the collection, see below.

Read More

News, Podcasts, Shameless Self-Promotion,

Sanctum Secorum Reading Room tonight at 9pm EST

Written by Gatekeeper
Leave a Comment

The Keepers of Mysteries return to the Goodman Games Twitch channel with an all-new live show tonight! Join Jen and Bob Brinkman as they take a deep dive into the tomes of Appendix N and beyond.

The Sanctum Secorum Reading Room plumbs the depths of Appendix N, introducing readers to inspirational materials. This month, they continue their series of episodes looking at the women of Appendix N, and those who inspired it, with a renewed exploration and discussion of Margaret St. Clair’s works with The Dolphins of Altair.

Join them over on twitch and ask your own questions, share your thoughts on the book, and help pick the focus of next month’s show!

News, Shameless Self-Promotion

Sanctum Secorum Reading Room tonight at 9pm EST

Written by Gatekeeper
Leave a Comment

Keepers Bob and Jen will be over on the Goodman Games Twitch channel for the next episode of the Sanctum Secorum Reading Room. This month, they continue our series of episodes looking at the women of Appendix N (and those who inspired it), talking about Leigh Brackett’s Sword of Rhiannon.

Join them over on twitch tonight, March 15 at 9:00 p.m. EST, and ask your own questions, share your thoughts on the book, and help pick the focus of next month’s show!

podcast, Shameless Self-Promotion,

Sanctum Secorum Reading Room tonight at 9pm EST

Written by Gatekeeper
Leave a Comment

Keepers Bob and Jen will be over on the Goodman Games Twitch channel for the next episode of the Sanctum Secorum Reading Room. This month, they continue our series of episodes looking at the women of Appendix N (and those who inspired it) with a renewed exploration and discussion of Margaret St. Clair’s Shadow People.

Join them over on twitch and ask your own questions, share your thoughts on the book, and help pick the focus of next month’s show!

podcast, Shameless Self-Promotion,

News: What is on the horizon for the Sanctum Secorum

Written by Gatekeeper
3 Comments

The Keepers of Mystery have been fairly quiet of late. Indeed, the last, regularly released episode was in 2019, with only sporadic specials since then. So…what gives? Obviously, having all three of the Keepers of Mysteries working on DCC Dying Earth has taken up a great deal of time, and free time has been precious, but fear not!

In January 2022, the Sanctum Secorum will relaunch with new episodes, new zines, and new content. As a small preview…

Episode #46 – Dead Birds (2004) w/ Keeper David Baity
Episode #47 – Hills of the Dead by Robert E. Howard w/ special guest: Judge Eric Young
Episode #48 – Night’s Master w/ special guest: Artist James V. West

So, you can see that things are progressing along, plans are being hatched, and the library is stirring back to life. In addition, a few folks have agreed to join our ‘zine’s creative team and, while you might not see them in every issue – you definitely will be seeing them: Daniel J. Bishop, Mike McKeown, James A. Pozenel Jr., and Jim Yoder. We are thrilled to have them aboard as contributors – and are always looking for more hands so that we can bring you more, and better content.

As the Sanctum Secorum celebrates its 50th episode, and the 50th regular issue of its zine, we have so many thoughts on what to do that we’re still in discussions. Additionally, the idea has been floated of perhaps hiring an outside audio editor to aid in getting the show out on a more regular basis again (audio editors truly do the Dark Master’s work) – but those things aren’t set in stone.

What is still set in stone is that the Sanctum Secorum will continue to bring you episodes, and FREE ‘zines chock full of gameable goodness. So, keep your library cards current…you won’t want to miss the new arrivals.

Do you want more episodes of the Sanctum Secorum Reading Room? Let us know.
Do you want more episodes of the Sanctum Secorum Live? Let us know.

There is even yet another Sanctum Secorum podcast lurking in the shadows…wondering what that is? All we can say is that 2022 is going to be a big year!

News, Shameless Self-Promotion

News: TWO Upcoming Special Episodes – THIS WEEKEND!

Written by Gatekeeper
Leave a Comment

The Sanctum Secorum Reading Room Discusses Dying Earth This Saturday

We are kicking off a new show, with a new format. The Sanctum Secorum Reading Room, starting with a focus on Dying Earth. Join the Keepers of Mysteries, and special guest Judge Julian of Spellburn, as they discuss the Dying Earth, focusing on a reader’s eye view of this masterwork of Appendix N literature. No gaming experience required!

This show is all about the books themselves, and an excellent chance for you to share an appreciation of the Dying Earth with other fans of the same. It airs 9:00 PM EST Saturday night, on the Goodman Games Twitch channel. The audio will also be made available via our regular stream.

 

Sanctum Secorum: Live Interviews John Vance This Sunday!

We’re very excited to announce that we’ve been given the special honor of interviewing John Vance, son of Jack and Norma Vance, about his father’s enduring legacy and the special appeal of Jack Vance’s many worlds of imagination. In addition to John we’re thrilled to also be able to host Koen Vyverman of Spatterlight Press, the Jack Vance specialty press dedicated to preserving and promoting Vance’s fiction for new generations of fans.

This special episode of Sanctum Secorum: Live airs on the Goodman Games Twitch channel Sunday at 2:00 PM EST. The Keepers of Mysteries are thrilled for this opportunity to host this special  honoring the extraordinary life and work of Grandmaster of Science Fiction Jack Vance.

Kickstarter, News, Shameless Self-Promotion