The Masque of the Red Death in 1831. Others have suggested the pandemic is actually Bubonic plague or the Black death, emphasized by the climax of the story featuring the "Red" Death in the "black" room. One writer likens the description to that of a viral hemorrhagic fever or necrotizing fasciitis. It has also been suggested that the Red Death is not a disease or sickness at all but a weakness (like "original sin") that is shared by all of humankind inherently. Poe first published the story in the May 1842 edition of "Graham's Lady's and Gentleman's Magazine" as "The Mask of the Red Death", with
Masque of the Red Death and Other Tales with a cover by Robh Ruppel. Rick Swan reviewed "Masque of the Red Death and Other Tales" for "Dragon" magazine #216 (April 1995). He declares that "Masque of the Red Death" is cause for celebration, especially for players whose "AD&D" game campaigns have gone stale. Not exactly the Ravenloft setting and not exactly a new game, Connors' little mutant is the most provocative "AD&D" variant since the Spelljammer campaign." He commented: "Balancing blood-soaked imagery with humorous flourishes [...] "Masque" deftly combines the gloom of White Wolf's "" game and the whimsy of R. Talsorian's "Castle Falkenstein" game. Though "Masque" would've