Product Description
Here are Howard’s greatest horror tales, all in their original, definitive versions. Some of Howard’s best-known characters–Solomon Kane, Bran Mak Morn, and sailor Steve Costigan among them–roam the forbidding locales of the author’s fevered imagination, from the swamps and bayous of the Deep South to the fiend-haunted woods outside Paris to remote jungles in Africa.

The collection includes Howard’s masterpiece “Pigeons from Hell,” which Stephen King calls “one of the finest horror stories of [the twentieth] century,” a tale of two travelers who stumble upon the ruins of a Southern plantation–and into the maw of its fatal secret. In “Black Canaan” even the best warrior has little chance of taking down the evil voodoo man with unholy powers–and none at all against his wily mistress, the diabolical High Priestess of Damballah. In these and other lavishly illustrated classics, such as the revenge nightmare “Worms of the Earth” and “The Cairn on the Headland,” Howard spins tales of unrelenting terror, the legacy of one of the world’s great masters of the macabre. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Master of horror and so much more!
Robert E. Howard is best known for his creation of the barbarian Conan, and rightfully so as the character and his adventures helped create the swords and sorcery genre of pulp fiction. Howard was a prolific writer though and created numerous characters who traveled this world and others in numerous adventures; and fantasy wasn't his only genre. Howard was also a writer of horror stories and corresponded with the father of weird horror, H.P. Lovecraft. For the first time since they were originally published, a span of time that covers almost a century, all of Howard's horror stories have been collected into one omnibus, //The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard//.Every poem, short story, or novella that Howard wrote that touched on the weird, supernatural, or evil can be found within this collection.You'll also find many of Howard's famous protagonists amongst the pages. Solomon Kane and Bran Mak Morn make an appearance here as do Professor Kirowan and John Conrad. Howard is a wonderful writer who manages to seep his stories in pathos and emotion without succumbing to the melodrama and purple prose.

This collection is a must for fans of horror.

Reviewed by Jonathon Howard

WOW!!!!!!!!!! A great Collection, J-HUTH Albquerque, NM
I have become one of many Robert E. Howard fans, this collection of his horror stories is perhaps the best and most of the entire series of one of America's greatest authors, Howard's stories that you might enjoy include In the Forest of Vilefere about a traveller and a man who isn't what he appears to be was a real nail-biter.
There was also his legendary Pigeons From Hell which surely jerked my look and view of reality towards the author's skills of really making anyone who is listening or reading this sense dread. Telling of two highway men staying overnight in an abandon-southern plantation mansion only to discover that its not really abandon and they discover its horrible secret with fatal actions.
I also loved The Horror From The Mound, The Shadow Of The Beast, The Dwellers From Under The Tomb, The House Of Arabu, The Black Kaanan, The Man On The Ground, The Valley Of The Lost as well as The Black Stone and some others since Howard has done a lot of Horror Poems, still it makes anyone's blood run cold by listening to Robertson Dean's narrations of each of the stories. This Tantor collection of Horror Stories from the Author of the Canon movement is the best

Not the COMPLETE horror stories.
One of the most impressive features of the current Del Rey Robert E. Howard line of trade paperbacks is the comprehensive nature of the contents. I am speaking here of the Conan, Solomon Kane, Bran Mak Morn and Kull volumes. The contents for each volume are complete and comprehensive. It is about everything the Howard enthusiast could want in each volume.This set the standard, I daresay, for the rest of the series. Perhaps this gave us heightened expectations. Perhaps the Howard fan community had hopes that a comprehensive Howard library would finally appear.

The potential is certainly there. Between Del Rey and the Robert E. Howard Foundation's own press, it is most certainly possible that a comprehensive series of collections could appear, that finally there would be a complete set of Howard's works. My bookshelf shivered in anticipation.

It is with great regret that I report that this seems to not be the case after all. It appears that Howard biographer, Russell E. Burke, or perhaps someone at Del Rey, has decided that the current volume in this set should be selected horror rather than complete horror. This is a colossal disappointment! There is no sense in doing a Selected Horror volume if you are dedicated to seeing a complete Howard library appear. And if you are not dedicated to seeing a complete Howard library appear, then what the hell are you doing preparing these things for publication anyway?

I wasn't off put by the "horror"...
I didn't know much about Robert Howard prior to starting this collection apart from the fact that he 1) created both the Conan and Solomon Kane characters and 2) had correspondence with H.P. Lovecraft and included some of Lovecraft's various "Cthulhu mythos" into some of his stories.
I didn't realize that he died so young (having committed suicide at the age of 30), nor that his writings were quite so long ago (in the 1930's; I guess I never realized that's when Lovecraft was around as well too boot).And it's that last part that somewhat colors my views of his writings to some extent.

I'll also get this out of the way - I didn't finish the book.I made it about halfway through when I realized that the stories were all falling into one of maybe two or three general themes: that there are Things Man Shouldn't Know and these things will do bad things to you; that there was a sub-human race before the time of the Picts that lived underground and did Bad Things; and that the coloreds should stay out of the white folks way.
That last bit wasn't EXACTLY a surprise as it's hinted at in the foreward - that Howard was a writer of his time, and his time wasn't exactly PC when it came to non-whites.However, it made more than a few of the stories hard to get through for the sheer fact that it's one thing to realize that equality for all races isn't something that's been around forever and quite another to have to read through the eyes of someone who actually viewed the world that way.

All in all, I'd rather read something that challenges me for different reasons.

Howardian Horror - The Good and the Bad
Before I begin this review, I want to note that I have enjoyed Robert E. Howard's fiction for a number of years, first discovering the old Ace Conan paperbacks (with the Frazetta covers) back in high school. With that said, The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard is a grand showcase of Howard's prowess at writing a scary tale, though the quality of the stories featured herein varies from one extreme (fantastic) to the other (downright awful).

Here you will find a large number of tales, poems, and story fragments (only a few of the latter) in which Howard writes of werewolves, vampires, Lovecraftian horrors, sorcery, lost and abominable civilizations still grasping for life, and even traditional ghost and revenant yarns. It, however, is a mixed bag at best; included are two Solomon Kane tales, the most famous of the Bran Mak Morn stories ("Worms of the Earth"), his best-known horror tale ("Pigeons from Hell"), and many more. While it is not made clear by the book, careful readers will no doubt find that the stories are placed in this book as they were originally published - the quality of the writing, pacing, and action increases the further into the book you get.

It has been said that Howard's writing was often formulaic, and indeed you'll find this is the case with about 55% of the stories here; with some of them (most notably "The Hoofed Thing" and "The Noseless Thing") you can figure out the plot from the first couple of paragraphs. However, other stories ("Delenda Est," "The Thing from the Mound," for instance) are expertly written and showcase Howard's deep interest in history, both ancient and local. Howard's writing really shows a spark when he includes locales familiar to him, such as the swamps bordering Louisiana and the rocky lands of his native Texas - here his stories take on a truer, more visceral cast that really sets them apart. His poetry is also exceptional - dark and atmospheric, with visions and literary combinations that will remain with you. Cthulhu Mithos fans will not be disappointed, either, as such Lovecraft-inspired stories as "The Thing on the Roof" and "The Black Stone" are also included. I would recommend this book for the fan of horror, but most especially for those interested in Howard's writing beyond Conan, etc. ... Read more

Product Description
Robert E. Howard is famous for creating such immortal heroes as Conan the Cimmerian, Solomon Kane, and Bran Mak Morn. Less well-known but equally extraordinary are his non-fantasy adventure stories set in the Middle East and featuring such two-fisted heroes as Francis Xavier Gordon—known as “El Borak”—Kirby O’Donnell, and Steve Clarney. This trio of hard-fighting Americans, civilized men with more than a touch of the primordial in their veins, marked a new direction for Howard’s writing, and new territory for his genius to conquer.

The wily Texan El Borak, a hardened fighter who stalks the sandscapes of Afghanistan like a vengeful wolf, is rivaled among Howard’s creations only by Conan himself. In such classic tales as “The Daughter of Erlik Khan,” “Three-Bladed Doom,” and “Sons of the Hawk,” Howard proves himself once again a master of action, and with plenty of eerie atmosphere his plotting becomes tighter and twistier than ever, resulting in stories worthy of comparison to Jack London and Rudyard Kipling. Every fan of Robert E. Howard and aficionados of great adventure writing will want to own this collection of the best of Howard’s desert tales, lavishly illustrated by award-winning artists Tim Bradstreet and Jim & Ruth Keegan. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

LESSER HOWARD...
The El Borak stories, while lesser Howard compared to, say, Worms of the Earth, Pigeons From Hell and Queen of the Black Coast, are still Howard. "Still Howard" should pretty well say it for readers familiar with REH's work, the stories are action packed adventures, often rousing and have the REH touch in the use of words. After you've read Conan, Solomon Kane, King Kull, Bran Mak Morn, I recommend checking out El Borak. --PL

Howards Best Non-Conan or Kane Work
Robert E. Howard is best known as the creator of Swords & Sorcery heroes like Conan, Kull, and Solomon Kane.But Howard was nothing if not pragmatic as a writer.Working during the Great Depression, Howard went where the work was in sold in any market--any genre he could to make money.Some of Howard's best work in fact was in the field of adventure fiction where he created characters such as Francis Xavier Gordon, aka El Broak, a gunfighter and adventurer from Texas, and Irish American treasure hunter Kirby O'Donnell.These were both early 20th century characters, set in the 1920s, post World War I against the exotic backdrop of the Middle East.Seven El Borak tales and three O'Donnell tales are collected together in this huge new volume and restored back to the definitive Howard version with their original titles.Several stories did not see publication until after Howard's death and thus some of the titles had been altered when previously published.

"Son of the White Wolf" has Gordon on the trail of Turkish troops under the command of Germans who wipe out a village and steal all the women including a beautiful German spy.Gordon sets out to rescue her and get revenge.

In "The Daughter of Erlik Khan" Gordon must rescue a runway princess from the husband who wants her returned and executed and has hired a pair of English assassins to do the deed.

"The Lost Valley of Iskander" finds Gordon discovering a lost civilization that dates back to the time of Alexander the Great and an evil king who wants him dead.

"Three-Bladed Doom" is the longest tale, near novel in length, as Gordon has to track down a ruthless cult that is killing regional leaders who are loyal to the British.

In "The Curse of the Crimson God" O'Donnell is on the trail of a stolen treasure map that leads to a fabulous jeweled idol call the Bloodstained God.

The O'Donnell stories have a distinct "Indiana Jones" type of feel to them as O' Donnell is disguised as an Arab, Ali el Ghazi for much of the time.The stories are filled with a lot of intrigue and loads of two-fisted, sword-swinging, gun-blazing action.These two heroes are more than just modern day versions of Conan.They each have their own unique character traits that set them apart from Howard's other characters.If you love Conan, Kull, or Solomon Kane, you owe it to yourself to check out this collection.

El Borak and Other Desert Adventures
An avid Robert E. Howard reader for about the last 30 years... He seems to come in and out of style... Right now he is very popular; you can even find much of his material for Ipod touch and Iphone applications. I thought that I'd read everything by him and of course over the last 30 years have bought the same book several times, move to a new dwelling, lose them, have and itch to read again... I have had such an itch recently and went on Ebay and saw the "El Borak and Other Desert Adventures..." I was not (and never have been) disapointed by Mr. Howard. It is hard to believe a man who died so young (suicide...) could have accomplished so much.

Desert Fury
Typical of most of Howard's work in that most of his heroes were cut from the same cloth, not that anybody minds.'Three Bladed Doom, Swords of Sharazar, The Fire of Asshurbanipal, and The Trail of the Blood-Stained God" and others missing from this collection were adapted by L.Sprague DeCamp into Conan the Barbarian tales.It's great fun comparing them.This is a great collection for reading at night with a roaring fire going.

fine collection
These thirteen tales consist of eight starring Francis "El Borak" Xavier Gordon, three headed by Kirby O'Donnell, one very short story led by Steve Clarney and one untitled other El Borak.The tales take place in Asia with the Irish-American heroes battling against the odds at a time when imperialistic Europe tries to retain control of India and Afghanistan, etc.Although the "Wild East entries are fun to read especially those of Texas gunslinger El Borak who risks his life repeatedly for his Asian friends, much of the background seems ancient; in fairness Depression Era rationalization of the world comes clear.Still Fans of Howard will appreciate the heroic escapades of the three expatriate Americans in a vividly described harsh desert and mountainous landscape; but especially the actions of El Borak who comes across as the most realistic and believable than the other two adventurers.

Harriet Klausner
... Read more

Product Description
This anthology presents a wide range of analysis, criticism, and opinion about one of the most influential fantasy authors of the twentieth century, with contributions by such well-known writers and critics as: Poul Anderson, Fritz Leiber, George H. Scithers, L. Sprague de Camp, S. T. Joshi, Howard Waldrop, Steve Tompkins, Darrell Schweitzer, Leo Grin, Robert Weinberg, Mark Hall, Charles Hoffman, Don D'Ammassa, Robert M. Price, Gary Romeo, and Scott Connors. A "must have" for every fan of Robert E. Howard. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Table of Contents
I do not own this, so the rating is based on familiarity with the stories and with other Wildside Howard collections: I'm assuming these are taken from the original pulp appearances.

From [...] (Parenthetical comments categorizing the stories are mine.):

"Rattle of Bones" (Solomon Kane)
"Skulls in the Stars" (Solomon Kane)
"Skull-Face" (Kathulos of Atlantis)
"The Blood of Belshazzar" (Cormac Fitzgeoffrey)
"Blow the Chinks Down" (Sailor Steve Costigan)
"Cupid from Bear Creek" (Breckenridge Elkins)
"Graveyard Rats" (Steve Harrison)
"The Purple Heart of Erlik" (Wild Bill Clanton)
"Black Talons" (weird menace)
"Black Wind Blowing" (weird menace)
"Alleys of Darkness" (Dennis Dorgan)
"The Thing on the Roof" (Cthulhu Mythos) ... Read more

Product Description
Robert E. Howard is one of the most famous and influential pulp authors of the twentieth century. Though largely known as the man who invented the sword-and-sorcery genre–and for his iconic hero Conan the Cimmerian–Howard also wrote horror tales, desert adventures, detective yarns, epic poetry, and more. This spectacular volume, gorgeously illustrated by Jim and Ruth Keegan, includes some of his best and most popular works.

Inside, readers will discover (or rediscover) such gems as “The Shadow Kingdom,” featuring Kull of Atlantis and considered by many to be the first sword-and-sorcery story; “The Fightin’est Pair,” part of one of Howard’s most successful series, chronicling the travails of Steve Costigan, a merchant seaman with fists of steel and a head of wood; “The Grey God Passes,” a haunting tale about the passing of an age, told against the backdrop of Irish history and legend; “Worms of the Earth,” a brooding narrative featuring Bran Mak Morn, about which H. P. Lovecraft said, “Few readers will ever forget the hideous and compelling power of [this] macabre masterpiece”; a historical poem relating a momentous battle between Cimbri and the legions of Rome; and “Sharp’s Gun Serenade,” one of the last and funniest of the Breckinridge Elkins tales.

These thrilling, eerie, compelling, swashbuckling stories and poems have been restored to their original form, presented just as the author intended. There is little doubt that after more than seven decades the voice of Robert E. Howard continues to resonate with readers around the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Robert E Howard is an American Icon
The only bad thing that could be said about this compilation is that many of Howard's stories/themes/characters/plots are now cliche, simply because they are so old and so copied.This collection has around two stories for many of his characters, as well as a lot of poetry.Anyone interested in a Howard sampler should pick this up before looking into the many volumes that more fully flush out each individual character and storyline.I would recommend this volume to anyone; Robert E Howard was a genius on the level of Einstein, is a true American master of writing, and this tome is an excellent introduction to his many excellent works.

Really his Best
REH in his short life wrote so many stories that they would fill at least 12 fat volumes and maybe more but his fans would not like to admit that he wrote a lot of trash but who could blame him. It was the depression and most sold. This book and the 2nd volume 'Best of REH ; Grim Lands' are the cream of his writings with sampling all the genres he worked with .
I think a 3rd Best of with 'The Iron Man' and 'Skull-Face' and 'Marchers of Valhalla'I can think of now should be published. Also there should be a volume of his poetry.
"Nuff Sed" Buy the 2 Bests !

A trip back
The stories written by Robert E. Howard are distinct and classic in their own right. Thinking back when I first found the Conan series (after first watching Conan The Barbarian) I was immersed in any REH work I could find. At that time it was only Conan. As I read my treasured paperbacks to tatters I looked over the years to replace them with new ones.

Now I have discovered the other wealth of adventure by REH... I only wish it could have been sooner. The elements of style and much of his descriptions carry through to other works yet the other stories are also fresh and different. This man was a brilliant story teller! Read, enjoy and immerse yourself in Howard's many worlds for true adventure! I have read other authors who have done these stories well but no one wrote like the original!

disappointing, in general
I am, first and foremost, a diehard fan of Howard's sword-and-sorcery tales, particular his Conan series and, to a lesser extent, his Kull, Kane, and Bran series (in descending order). What we have in the last two volumes (#7 and #8) of the Ballantine/Del Rey series too often feels like a collection of lesser leftovers. I was never impressed by his Western-themed works nor by his two-cent street boxing efforts. To top it off, Jim and Ruth Keegan seem to have taken the quick way out of illustrating the works, foisting off the easiest possible substitutes for what should be action drawings. (As the simplest example, when Conan and Valeria must escape from a murderous giant snake in the novelette "Red Nails," Gary Manchess [in the same publisher's "Bloody Crown of Conan"] offers us a thrilling picture of the duo taking to their heels, with a slavering reptilian colossus in hot pursuit. In contrast, Keegan offers no better than a ho-hum representation of Conan standing there, utterly relaxed, as if he's about to start filing his friggin' fingernails.) This is made all the more disturbing by the Keegans' foreword that praises the excellence of the works, the outstanding opportunity to illustrate them, and (thank you very much) their own profoundly challenging efforts at slaving away to produce a handful of tres boring charcoals. No, by all means purchase the first six volumes of the series (in order of publication: Conan I; Solomon Kane; Conan II; Bran Mac Morn; Conan III; Kull), but pass on these two!

An excellent REH Sampler
Crimson Shadows is the latest in Del Rey's definitive Howard series.The books provide the most authoritative versions of Howard's stories available anywhere, with scholarly notes (in the back, which you need not read, but can be cool to sample) on the original texts.
I have only one caveat about this excellent collection.If (like me) you have previously purchased the previous volumes in the series, namely the Conan, Kane, Kull, and Bran Mak Morn books, then you have already more than half the material in the book.You may find it worth buying anyway, as I did, in order to get Howard stories about lesser known characters (but not written with less passion).Many are well worth the read.
For some one who has not read much of Robert E. Howard, this is a superb place to start.The best Kull story ever (Shadow Kingdom, one of REH's very best) is here.So is the best Bran Mak Morn story (Worms of the Earth).The original version of "The Grey God Passes" is here, etc.
This book is REH at his best.But the overlap with previous volumes in the same series is at least 50%. ... Read more

Product Description
This title has fewer than 24 printed text pages. The State of the Blessed Dead is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Henry Alford is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Henry Alford then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Super Reader
Conan is travelling, finds a dead woman, and then encounters Valeria of the Red Brotherhood. After trading some insults, they have the misfortune to stumble across a dragon.

Then they have fun in an abandoned city full of crazed warriors, two evil, leering royals, and a third undead type one. Capture, bondage, slayage, all the great stuff in this tale of a fantastic partnership.

A great introduction to Howard's "Conan" character
Take a trip into our barbaric past, when thewhite race did not question the necessity of manifest destiny or the need to subdue non- whites by violence, and women existed as chattel and threat to male dominance.Thiscollection of stories is not politically correct, andhopefully readers'enjoyment will contend with their discomfort at Howard's obvious racism and sexism.Readers should know that Howard wasdestroyed by the very systemhe so faithfullyrepresents in his stories; he committed suicide duringthe Great Depression due to his distressed economic situation.For a bluntrepresentation of the mind set that led to the internment camps, theTuskegee medical experiments, and Hiroshima/ Nagasaki, this anthology isunsurpassed.Sword and sorcery/fantasy fans may wish that these storiesare "simple, escapist fun", but therenever is such a thing.

A very good read !!
One the very first fantasy novels I read, I am interested in finding an available copy.Am also searching for a copy of "The Hour of the Dragon", by Howard as well. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Robert E. Howard - King Kull
REH lived from 1906-1936 and lived most of his life in Cross Plains, TX. He was a genius and visionary.

From the back of book: "Robert E. Howard had a gritty, vibrant style--broadsword writing that cut its way to the heart, with heroes who are truly larger than life." - David Gemmell

In a meteoric career that spanned a mere twelve years, Robert E. Howard single-handedly invented the genre that came to be called sword and sorcery. From his fertile imagination sprang some of fiction's most enduring heroes. Yet while Conan is indisputable Howard's greatest creation, it was in his earlier sequence of tales featuring Kull, a fearless warrior with the brooking intellect of a hilosopher, that Howard began to develop the distinctive themes, and the richly evocative blend of history and mythology, that would distinguish his later tales of the Hyborian Age.
Much more than simply the prototype for Conan, Kull is a fascinating character in his own right: an exile from fabled Atlantis who wins the crown of Valusia, only to find it as much a burden as a prize.
This groundbreaking collection, lavishly illustrated by award-winning artist Justin Sweet, gathers together all Howard's stories featuring Kull, from Kull's first published appearance, in "The Shadow Kingdom," to "Kings of the Night," Howard's last tale featuring the cerebral swordsman. The stories are presented just as Howard wrote them, with all sugsequent editorial emendations removed. Also, included are previously unpublished stories, drafts, and fragments, plus extensive notes on the tests, an introduction by Howard authority Steve Tompkins, and an essay by noted editor Patrice Louinet.

"Howard was a true storyteller-one of the first, and certainly among the best, you'll find in heroic fantasy. If you're never read him before you're in for a real treat." -Charles De Lint

"For stark, living fear...what other writer is even in the running with Robert E. Howard?"--H.P. Lovecraft.

Other books to read are: One Who Walked Alone by Novalyne Price and DVD The Whole Wide World about Novalyne Price who was REH's girlfriend the last few years of his life. This movie on DVD stars Renee Zellweger and Vincent D'Onofrio as REH. Outstanding books are Blood & Thunder, The Life & Art of REH by Mark Finn, The Last of the Trunk, The Never Ending Hunt, and all Weird Works by Paul Herman, Selected Letters of REH Vol 1-3 and Poetry by Rob Roehm, Two-Gun Bob, and The Black Stranger & Other American Tales which has the scariest story Pigeons From Hell better than Poe and Hitchcock. There are so many. Check out the REH Foundation and Forum!

Beautifully Writen and Illustrated
If you enjoy Robert E. Howard's Conan series then you will truly enjoy this book. It is written in they same style as the Conan novels. A story of a barbarian king trying to maintain his hold on a decadent kingdom filled with enemies whose only wish is to overthrow him.

An added feature to this book is the excellent artwork that fills it's interior. It is a fantastically illustrated work that I am proud to have in my library. ... Read more

Product Description
“Between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities . . . there was an Age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world like blue mantles beneath the stars. . . . Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand . . . to tread
the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandalled feet.”

Conan is one of the greatest fictional heroes ever created–a swordsman who cuts a swath across the lands of the Hyborian Age, facing powerful sorcerers, deadly creatures, and ruthless armies of thieves and reavers.

In a meteoric career that spanned a mere twelve years before his tragic suicide, Robert E. Howard single-handedly invented the genre that came to be called sword and sorcery. Collected in this volume, profusely illustrated by artist Mark Schultz, are Howard’s first thirteen Conan stories, appearing in their original versions–in some cases for the first time in more than seventy years–and in the order Howard wrote them. Along with classics of dark fantasy like “The Tower of the Elephant” and swashbuckling adventure like “Queen of the Black Coast,” The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian contains a wealth of material never before published in the United States, including the first submitted draft of Conan’s debut, “Phoenix on the Sword,” Howard’s synopses for “The Scarlet Citadel” and “Black Colossus,” and a map of Conan’s world drawn by the author himself.

Here are timeless tales featuring Conan the raw and dangerous youth, Conan the daring thief, Conan the swashbuckling pirate, and Conan the commander of armies. Here, too, is an unparalleled glimpse into the mind of a genius whose bold storytelling style has been imitated by many, yet equaled by none. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (113)

Conan Audio
I have been reading Howard's stories for 35 years and re-read them all the time. It is great having these yarns read to me on my long commute!

BUY IT NOW!
And if you do not care.. then TO HELL with You!


IT

IS

CONAN the BARBARIAN!!!!!!

pathetic excuse for a book
Great stories...One of the best writers of short stories ever. Terrible book. After the second story it started to fall apart. Del Rey should stick to e-books.

Kindle version has no artwork!!!
The stories are great, but the Kindle version has no artwork.If you read the Amazon review of the book it mentions the artwork.Yet there is none to be found in the digital version.Come on and get with it Amazon!!

Criminal Intent
"Conan" is your typical insensitive brute floating through life with no rhyme or reason to the consideration of others, save for the woman he favors at the time.One wonders if Howard really meant to write this kind of character with this kind of story.

The prose is rich and vibrant, but Conan himself is not a character to be admired for anything beyond brute animal survivalist savagery.In one of the first stories the narrative tells of how he came to the crown of his own kingdom.A tale that reads like the history of a mafia don, only instead of Tommy guns and pinstripe suits the characters wield swords and shields.

Conan is a thief.He's also a murderer, though excuses his behavior with the explanation being "survival".In one story he even states that he going to "hide the evidence".

The depiction of a nearly uncaring individual with a certain amount of warrior's guile is an attractive one to the reader.The lexicon Howard employs is full of poetic texture.I happen to like the reads themselves.

But Conan the character?One might as well read about a sociopathic Viking, which I'm almost sure Howard meant Conan to be.Beyond that is idle speculation.

The stories themselves are interesting diversions, but again can be nearly as insulting as Conan himself.In one story tall "black men" act as sadistic aliens, while in another tale another set of races are portrayed as dumb.Conan himself is painted as an "outsider" among the fairer skinned northerners of the purported "Hyborean Age".Again, speculation as to why might yield the true answer, but I'm not sure it's worth contemplating.That, and I think were the truth known, it might set back social concordances another fifty years.

Then again, they are merely just stories, and you can't take this stuff too seriously.It's not a read I'd recommend for good literature.Go find that elsewhere. ... Read more

Product Description
“FOR HEADLONG, NONSTOP ADVENTURE AND FOR VIVID, EVEN FLORID, SCENERY, NO ONE EVEN COMES CLOSE TO HOWARD.”
–Harry Turtledove

In a meteoric career that covered only a dozen years, Robert E. Howard defined the sword-and-sorcery genre. In doing so, he brought to life the archetypal adventurer known to millions around the world as Conan the barbarian.

Witness, then, Howard at his finest, and Conan at his most savage, in the latest volume featuring the collected works of Robert E. Howard, lavishly illustrated by award-winning artist Greg Manchess. Prepared directly from the earliest known versions–often Howard’s own manuscripts–are such sword-and-sorcery classics as “The Servants of Bit-Yakin” (formerly published as “Jewels of Gwahlur”), “Beyond the Black River,” “The Black Stranger,” “Man-Eaters of Zamboula” (formerly published as “Shadows in Zamboula”), and, perhaps his most famous adventure of all, “Red Nails.”

The Conquering Sword of Conan includes never-before-published outlines, notes, and story drafts, plus a new introduction, personal correspondence, and the revealing essay “Hyborian Genesis”–which chronicles the history of the creation of the Conan series. Truly, this is heroic fantasy at its finest. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Exellent reading for a blood and guts thrill ride.
Shipped fast and has been a great book of short stories. I recommend this reading for adults needing an escape into a powerful world of thrills.

A GREAT SERIES BUT....
This is 5 great books, an essay,and a lot of notes,I still wish the publishers had given it to us for half the price. It's not like they're printing or shipping a physical book.

So much better than the fake "Conan" books
I used to think that Conan was pure junk food reading until I got this series. It turns out, the L Sprague DeCamp stuff is what was garbage. Get this series of books, and you'll see that Robert Howard was an amazing writer without other people turning him into pulp fiction. The stories in this volume are the last he wrote and show amazing maturity as a writer compared to the earlier ones.

J.Ja

The Greatest Barbarian
Robert E. Howard seems to finally be getting his due. He was, without a doubt, one of the best fantasy writers of all time. Not only fantasy, but numerous other genres came to life under his brillant pen. Do yourself a favor and read this book. Then read all the other Conan editions. Then take a deep breath and plunge into the worlds of Solomon Kane, Bran Mak Morn, Breckenridge Ellis, El Borak, and the multitude of other supermen of the plain,mountain, and ethereal other worlds. It's a hell of a ride.

Classic!
Having read the old 1-12 series of Conan paperbacks religiously when I was teenager and going back to re-read the stories from time to time I was VERY happy when these were put back into print in nice and inexpensive volumes that were unedited pure Robert E. Howard written versions of the stories. Conan is a much deeper character than the public, even those that have read Conan, seem to understand. As well as Howard does not get the credit he deserves from the mainstream. As I have said before these stories are sometimes as much horror stories in the Lovecraft veign as they are sword and sorcery tales as well as being VERY politically incorrect. ... Read more

Product Description
The third collection of Robert E. Howard's fantasy work, from the legendary pulp magazine Weird Tales and its rival Strange Tales, features more classic fiction and poetry from Howard's prime writing years. Gathered here are stories with such enduring and popular characters as Solomon Kane, Turlogh Dubh and Comac of Connacht. Other highlights include "The Black Stone," considered by many to be Howard's finest excursion into Lovecraftian horror; "The Horror from the Mound," a vampire story set in Texas; and "People of the Dark," a precursor to the Conan stories which ultimately made Howard famous! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

ROBERT E. HOWARD - THE BEST OF THE BEST!
Robert E. Howard (1906-1936) was and is still the best story teller wordsmith of action, adventure, horror, and more of all time! The Weird Works is some of REH's best stuff!My favorite in this book is Queen of the Black Coast that has Belit who is Conan's true love.Belit is the first woman Conan stayed faithful with up until her ____.The poem To A Woman ("Though fathoms...") Moder American Poetry Galleon Press, 1933 is really creepy. Just the way I like um! REH was a genius.Must reads of his:
The Last of the Trunk, The Never Ending Hunt, all Weird Works by Paul Herman, Blood & Thunder by Mark Finn, Selected Letters Vol 1-3 and Poetry by Rob Roehm, One Who Walked Alone by Novalyne Ellis REH's girlfriend, The Black Stranger, Lord Samarcand, Dark Horse comics Solomon Kane, Kull, All Conans, Bran Mak Morn, Cormac Mac Art, Two Gun Bob and all REH stories.My favorite is The Beast from the Abyss about cats.You can find this on REH websites. It's a real treat. Tell others about REH and keep visiting your local bookstores.I found some really inexpensive and out of print books of REH at some local Used Book Stores.MUST READ - Two Gun Bob! Superb insight into REH's mind and stories. Neat factoid, REH had only visit the sea shore once in his life! Get Two Gun Bob before it's gone! Check out the REH Foundation and Forum!

Howard's Dark Read!
This collection of stories by the illustrious author of Conan and Brak Mak Morn, Solomon Kane, and legendary others, takes readers into the golden age of sword & sorcery that was written better back in the day.

Written grammatically correct in Old English that past authors like Edgar Rice Buroughs and Howard made this a refreshing reading experience that takes one back to yesteryear of high end adventure fantasy.

A must read for Conan fans.

Not Free SF Reader
More Cthulhu work, and a Bran Mak Morn/Kull crossover, and one Solomon Kane story.

Weird Works 3 : The Black Stone - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 3 : The Children of the Night - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 3 : The Dark Man - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 3 : The Footfalls Within - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 3 : The Gods of Bal-Sagoth - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 3 : The Horror from the Mound - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 3 : Kings of the Night - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 3 : People of the Dark - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 3 : The Thing on the Roof - Robert E. Howard


A Cthulhoid type venture. Not somewhere you want to be. Fairly proficiently done.

3.5 out of 5


Anthropological arguments and reminiscences over Cthulhu cults.

3 out of 5


Turlogh Dubh O'Brien gets some inspiration from Bran Mak Morn in beach side battle.

3.5 out of 5


Kane is following a band of slavers, and is unable to help himself when he sees them stop and start to whip a girl to death. Despatching many, he is overcome by the dozens of others, and forced to march as a slave.

A nasty supernatural end awaits his captors, where his possession of the Bast-headed staff of N'Longa in the past is no bad thing.

3.5 out of 5


Swords in the storm, serpent ships, swimming with sharks, and a sheila scheming with religion.

3.5 out of 5


If an old priest tells you that the body in the tomb is an undead Spanish nobleman, and you happen to be a credulous cowboy, next time, believe him!

3.5 out of 5


Bran Mak Morn has leadership problems. Wulfhere's Northerners will not follow him, or Cormac, prince of Erin, they demand a King. Consulting with Gonar, who talks to his ancestor in Kull's time, and summons Kull, King of Valusia! Kull likes Bran, as he reminds him of Brule, and agrees to lead the Northerners. Wulfhere challenges him to combat. Big mistake for Wulfhere.

With Kull's help, Bran manages to hold the Romans for now, at some significant cost.

4 out of 5


"I came to Dagon's Cave to kill Richard Brent." 10 out of 10 for courage, minus several million for common sense. Luckily, there is a bit of reincarnated presence ancient barbarian named Conan and other action here so not everybody dies.

4 out of 5


A book collector acquires a copy of Nameless Cults. It motivates the man he got it for to go back to th temple of the Toad God.

The amulet he acquires there has very unfortunate consequences.

3 out of 5

An Excellent Series Continues
This third volume in the series comes with beautiful cover art by Stephen Fabian and nine superb short stories (plus two poems) by the master of heroic fantasy.Every tale in the book is a great read, several of these being Lovecraft inspired, and there are fascinating characters:Cormac of Connacht, Solomon Kane, Black Turlogh, and Athelstane.I highly recommend it, and expect this series to only get better. ... Read more

Product Description
In his hugely influential and tempestuous career, Robert E. Howard created the genre that came to be known as sword and sorcery–and brought to life one of fantasy’s boldest and most enduring figures: Conan the Cimmerian–reaver, slayer, barbarian, king.

This lavishly illustrated volume gathers together three of Howard’s longest and most famous Conan stories–two of them printed for the first time directly from Howard’s typescript–along with a collection of the author’s previously unpublished and rarely seen outlines, notes, and drafts. Longtime fans and new readers alike will agree that The Bloody Crown of Conan merits a place of honor on every fantasy lover’s bookshelf.

THE PEOPLE OF THE BLACK CIRCLE
Amid the towering crags of Vendhya, in the shadowy citadel of the Black Circle, Yasmina of the golden throne seeks vengeance against the Black Seers. Her only ally is also her most formidable enemy–Conan, the outlaw chief.

THE HOUR OF THE DRAGON
Toppled from the throne of Aquilonia by the evil machinations of an undead wizard, Conan must find the fabled jewel known as the Heart of Ahriman to reclaim his crown . . . and save his life.

A WITCH SHALL BE BORN
A malevolent witch of evil beauty. An enslaved queen. A kingdom in the iron grip of ruthless mercenaries. And Conan, who plots deadly vengeance against the human wolf who left him in the desert to die. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

It's CONAN dudes...
If you're a man, you grow chest hairs and have the urge to become a MAN without borders when reading any of Howards' Opus! This Cimmerian will cleave the best apart on his days off while wenching the women to his own delights as he chops unknown horrors apart! All at the same time too!!!

What more can I write?

It Is CONAN the BARBARIAN!!!!

Nice
I wish Mr. Howard were still around to whoop up some more Conan stories. Wonderful book...can't wait to read the next one. I've read many Conan stories by different authors through the years. What actually got me started reading was a boxed set of Conan novels I was gifted when I was 14 years old...25 years ago. Those novels were by another author, so it's nice to finally get to read the real thing from the original author.

The Trouble with Girls
With apologies to the creators of The Trouble with Girls I chose this title for my review because each of the 3 complete and 1 unfinished stories assembled herein demonstrate the problems the female of the species can pose even to such a unique concentration of testosterone as Conan of Cimmeria.

Having tried and loved both Conan 2.0: Kull: Exile of Atlantis and the first volume of Conan 3.0: The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian: The Original Adventures of the Greatest Sword and Sorcery Hero of All Time!, I was very much looking forward to the present volume, and once again Robert E. Howard (and for that matter, Del Rey) did not disappoint!

Introduction by Rusty Burke: Interesting and useful, especially to a newbie like me.Mr. Burke makes the point that the Hyborian Age is not really an imaginary world like that of a J.R.R. Tolkien for example but rather a nexus where largely recognizable elements from different historical eras could come together for the sake of the story.

"The People of the Black Circle": A nicely tangled knot of conflicting conspiracies that Howard manages to keep straight while at the same time producing in the Devi Yasmina one of his most fully developed and satisfying female characters, a worthy rival/love interest for Conan.The trouble with girls here?Sometimes they have careers that conflict with potential romance.Can the Chief of all the Afghulis and the Queen of Vendhya find happiness together?Apparently not.Also reprinted here: The Best of Robert E. Howard Volume 1: Crimson Shadows.

"The Hour of the Dragon":The only Conan novel Howard ever wrote and the last Conan story chronologically.More than a bit derivative, this is clearly "The Scarlet Citadel" writ large, with a large debt owed to "Black Colossus" as well.Nevertheless, the sum is greater than its parts, and the result is a fascinating tale of a mature Conan, determined to regain the throne a younger Conan would have walked away from because of what he genuinely perceives as his obligations to his subjects, even the cowardly ungrateful ones who embraced the usurper before his savage misrule revealed their folly in doing so.The trouble with girls here?Sometimes they need rescuing at enormous personal risk (Countess Albiona). Sometimes they need rescuing even though they would normally be able to take care of themselves then reward you with riddles they refuse to explain (Zelata, the witch).Sometimes they rescue you and leave you owing them (Zenobia).Sometimes they are vicious bloodsuckers, quite literally (Akivasha, the vampire).

"A Witch Shall Be Born": More than a bit overdone as the monstrous Salome skates along the borders of self-parody, but it contains one of the deservedly most famous scenes in all the Conan stories.The trouble with girls here?Sometimes they have Evil Twin sisters you don't know about.Sometimes they crucify you just for pissing them off, which in this case only makes you mad.

Miscellanea: Collection of synopses, drafts, notes, and serial recaps for the 3 published stories, useful to the Howard scholar.Most importantly it also contains the Untitled Synopsis and Untitled Draft of an unfinished novel that was probably a false start written before "The Hour of the Dragon".Basically what there is of it is a pale imitation of "Xuthal of the Dusk" that makes Conan a guest star in his own story.The trouble with girls here?Sometimes they are so sweet and innocent they make the most heartless rogues want to protect them.

"Hyborian Genesis Part II" by Patrice Louinet: Continuation of informative notes on the creation of the Conan stories.

"Notes on the Conan Typescripts and the Chronology" and "Notes on the Original Howard Texts": Mostly of use to the Howard scholar.

I am looking forward to reading the rest of this Del Rey series: The Conquering Sword of Conan (Conan of Cimmeria, Book 3), Bran Mak Morn: The Last King, The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane, The Best of Robert E. Howard Volume 1: Crimson Shadows, The Best of Robert E. Howard Volume 2: Grim Lands, The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard, and El Borak and Other Desert Adventures.

Note: In reading this volume and reviews of same I have been made aware of what I will call the Zenobia Problem: did Howard mean for Conan to mean it when he vowed to make her Queen of Aquilonia?I believe Howard did intend for Conan to keep his vow for reasons this Howard newbie has not seen mentioned elsewhere, making me willing to toss in my two cents: as a start towards fulfilling a kingly duty Conan had until now neglected,...

providing an heir.

Several times it is indicated by Conan's still loyal subjects that if there had only been a legitimate heir, even an infant, then he or she would have provided a rallying point for the loyal and reduced considerably the temptation for Aquilonians to crown the usurper.Conan had obviously resisted all previous attempts to get him to marry, partly out of selfish willfulness, but also probably despising the court intrigue they no doubt entailed, but the opportunity to reward a (very) attractive woman who loved him enough to risk her life repeatedly to save his AND to stick it to the nobles by raising a slave to the level of queen would likely prove irresistible to a man who was finally willing to face up to ALL the responsibilities of being king.

Howard's Only Full Length Conan Novel is Here!
This is the second volume in Del Rey's Conan collection.Unlike The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian: The Original Adventures of the Greatest Sword and Sorcery Hero of All Time! there are only three tales here, but they are the longest of the Conan stories.The real highlight of this volume is the "The Hour of the Dragon."THOTD is the only full length Conan novel that Howard ever wrote, and it's a good one.
It takes place in Conan's days as a King.He is dethroned by an evil undead wizard and must seek out the Heart of Ahriman, a magical jewel, in order to combat the fiend and reclaim his kingdom.There is a final confrontation that rivals anything from The Lord of The Rings.
If you enjoyed volume one then you should definatly check this second volume out as well.There aren't any stinkers here; this is Howard on his A-game!

It is what it says it is
"The Bloody Crown of Conan" contains 3 novellas by Robert E Howard.As far as I know, they are faithfully transcribed.

There are a few full page black and white art pieces by the illustrator Gary Gianni. He also has smaller, half and quarter page illustrations at the beginnings and ends of chapters (which wasn't present in the first book of the series).

Overall, the stories are longer than in the first book, "The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian", but there are less of them.It seemed to me that most of Howard's work had already been covered by the first book, the commentary in the first book is very thorough, as are the analyses of Howard's writing style.There is no arguing that the three additional novellas in this book, "The Bloody Crown of Conan", are significant, but this book costs more than "The Coming of Conan", and it has fewer pages than it's predecessor, and fewer actual stories. The only added value you get here is the artwork, which is nice, but if you don't know Gary Gianni's artwork, or don't care for it, this isn't a big deal.

If you don't own "The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian", I would buy that instead.If you are looking for the stories contained in this book, hoping to complete your Conan collection, or are a fan of the illustrator, I'd buy this one.

Basically, it is what it claims to be, a collection of three of Howard's novellas focusing on Conan. ... Read more

Product Description
“[Behind Howard’s stories] lurks a dark poetry and the timeless truth of dreams.”
–Robert Bloch

“Howard’s writing seems so highly charged with energy that it nearly gives off sparks.”
–Stephen King

The classic pulp magazines of the early twentieth century are long gone, but their action-packed tales live on through the work of legendary storyteller Robert E. Howard. From his fecund imagination sprang an army of larger-than-life heroes–including the iconic Conan the Cimmerian, King Kull of Atlantis, Solomon Kane, and Bran Mak Morn–as well as adventures that would define a genre for generations. Now comes the second volume of this author’s breathtaking short fiction, which runs the gamut from sword and sorcery, historical epic, and seafaring pirate adventure to two-fisted crime and intrigue, ghoulish horror, and rip-roaring western.

Kull reigns supreme in “By This Axe I Rule!” and “The Mirrors of Tuzan Thune”; Conan conquers in one of his most popular exploits, “The Tower of the Elephant”; Solomon Kane battles demons deep in Africa in “Wings in the Night”; and itinerant boxer Steve Costigan puts up his dukes of steel inside and outside the ring in “The Bulldog Breed.” In between, warrior kings, daring knights, sinister masterminds, grizzled frontiersmen–even Howard’s stunning heroine, Red Sonya–tear up the pages in stories built to thrill by their masterly creator.

And in such epic poems as “Echoes from an Anvil,” “Black Harps in the Hills,” and “The Grim Land,” the author blends his classic characters and visceral imagery with a lyricism as haunting as traditional folk balladry. Lavishly illustrated by Jim and Ruth Keegan, here is a Robert E. Howard collection as indispensable as it is unforgettable.

“Howard had a gritty, vibrant style–broadsword writing that cut its way to the heart, with heroes who are truly larger than life.”
–David Gemmell

“For stark, living fear . . . What other writer is even in the running with Robert E. Howard?”
–H. P. Lovecraft ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Robert E Howard Classic!!
A wonderful collection of REH stories! Great to see the renewed interest in this often under-rated Author and for Publishers like this one to be providing top quality volumes.
Well worth adding to your personal collection!
Highly Recommended!!

disappointing, in general
I am, first and foremost, a diehard fan of Howard's sword-and-sorcery tales, particular his Conan series and, to a lesser extent, his Kull, Kane, and Bran series (in descending order). What we have in the last two volumes (#7 and #8) of the Ballantine/Del Rey series too often feels like a collection of lesser leftovers. I was never impressed by his Western-themed works nor by his two-cent street boxing efforts. To top it off, Jim and Ruth Keegan seem to have taken the quick way out of illustrating the works, foisting off the easiest possible substitutes for what should be action drawings. (As the simplest example, when Conan and Valeria must escape from a murderous giant snake in the novelette "Red Nails," Gary Manchess [in the same publisher's "Bloody Crown of Conan"] offers us a thrilling picture of the duo taking to their heels, with a slavering reptilian colossus in hot pursuit. In contrast, Keegan offers no better than a ho-hum representation of Conan standing there, utterly relaxed, as if he's about to start filing his friggin' fingernails.) This is made all the more disturbing by the Keegans' foreword that praises the excellence of the works, the outstanding opportunity to illustrate them, and (thank you very much) their own profoundly challenging efforts at slaving away to produce a handful of tres boring charcoals. No, by all means purchase the first six volumes of the series, but pass on these two!

ROBERT E HOWARD (1906-1936) THE BEST OF THE BEST!!
First of all disregard the Disappointing and subjective review as the reviewer is "knocking" the Keegan's and their artwork, REH's boxing and cowboy stories, and more. I wasn't keen on boxing stories but did read them with an open mind and developed a deep fascination and appreciation for them. In defense of the Keegan's they drew about 10 drawings for Red Nails and each drawing was in proper alignment with the story. To me, their wonderful visual artwork enhanced each and every story and added a lot of value! They drew from their heart and soul just like REH and I appreciated it very much.

I can't praise this book enough as anytime you can get a collecton of Robert E. Howard stories do so!! The man was and still is the Best of The Best!! Grab Vol 1 & 2 while you can.You'll be glad you did.They make excellent gifts, too!!

Quote from intro on page xvii - " Unpublished during Howard's life, but among the finest of his Kull tales, was By This Axe I Rule! The story is not, strickly speaking, one of "swords and sorcery" - there is no fantasy element other than the setting itself. In this tale, the ostensible villains are the consprators who hope to overthrow Kull, but I think the real villain is one more terrible than any other-worldly demon, nefarious sorcerer, or would-be assassins: it is the stultifying traditions and laws of an ancient society, inflexible rules that stifle and inhibit everyone, from king to servant. The last of a fantasy element made the story unsuitable for Howard's primary market at the time, Wierd Tales, while the imaginary antediluvian setting probably hurt it with the non-fantasy magazines to which he submitted it.A few years later Howard would rework the story considerably, turning it into the first of the Conan of Cimmeria tales, The Phoenix on the Sword.While the rewritten story was quite good, I'm not the only one who finds the Kull version superior: in my informal survey it outpolled the Conan version by almost three to one."Unquote-How about that folks:)

By This Axe I Rule is the first story in this book on page 1.What a great start and the last story is Red Nails which is one of my favorites.Everything in between is "gravy"!Enjoy and tell others about Robert E. Howard.Must reads The Best of Robert E. Howard Vol 1, Blood & Thunder, The Life & Art of REH by Mark Finn, One Who Walked Alone by Novalyn Ellis Price who was REH's girlfriend, Two-Gun Bob, The Last of the Trunk and The Never Ending Hunt by Paul Herman, Collected Letters of REH Vol1-3 and Poetry by Rob Rhoem, The Barbaric Triumph by Don Herron, Weird Tales, Marvel Conan Magazines during the 60's & 70's a black & white magazine writer Roy Thomas and Big John Busceman artist, any of Dark Horse Comics of Conan, Solomon Kane coming out in a few weeks, Kull, Pigeons From Hell, Kull, Cormac Mac Art, Steve Costigan, The Star Rover by Jack London, John Carter Princess From Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, H.P. Lovecraft, Poe, Hitchcock, and check out the video The Whole Wide World about REH told by Novalyn Price. Check out the REH Foundation & Forum!

For the hardcore fan or the new
This book and the first volume, "Crimson Shadows", provides a very decent look at the work of a truly American author. Covering Howard's stories from Conan to his westerns, horror, and other genres, this is an excellant introduction for the new fan (and a great way to introduce him to new people), and a boon to hardcore collector. I've been reading Howard since 1965. This is a nice way to have a variety of his most excellant stories without having to carry several books with you at on time (not that there's anything wrong with that). The lavish illustrations by Jim & Ruth Keegan are reminicent of older illustration from the magazines that first published Howard and manage to capture the moods of the stories very well. Buy these books...you'll not be disappointed. ... Read more

Product Description
From Robert E. Howard’s fertile imagination sprang some of fiction’s greatest heroes, including Conan the Cimmerian, King Kull, and Solomon Kane. But of all Howard’s characters, none embodied his creator’s brooding temperament more than Bran Mak Morn, the last king of a doomed race.

In ages past, the Picts ruled all of Europe. But the descendants of those proud conquerors have sunk into barbarism . . . all save one, Bran Mak Morn, whose bloodline remains unbroken. Threatened by the Celts and the Romans, the Pictish tribes rally under his banner to fight for their very survival, while Bran fights to restore the glory of his race.

Lavishly illustrated by award-winning artist Gary Gianni, this collection gathers together all of Howard’s published stories and poems featuring Bran Mak Morn–including the eerie masterpiece “Worms of the Earth” and “Kings of the Night,” in which sorcery summons Kull the conqueror from out of the depths of time to stand with Bran against the Roman invaders.

Also included are previously unpublished stories and fragments, reproductions of manuscripts bearing Howard’s handwritten revisions, and much, much more.

Special Bonus: a newly discovered adventure by Howard, presented here for the very first time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Better than Conan
To say this is better than Conan is to say that so much of the Conan stuff was written with magazine articles in mind and then you find that a healthy portion of those just aren't that great to begin with.

Bran is a different hero and the stories were written better in my opinion, at least better than a good deal of the Conan shorts.

My personal favorites from the Howard reissues are the Solomon Kane stories.I enjoyed those even more.

If your a Howard fan, you won't do wrong here.

Not worth the money or the time
I've enjoyed the other Robert E. Howard volumes from Del Rey, and I generally appreciate Howard's writing despite its flaws and have been willing to overlook the occasional hint of '30s racism, etc. This volume, on the other hand, is embarrassingly bad by comparison. First of all, there is hardly a handful of actual stories contained within; fully half the volume consists of fragments and rough drafts. What's more, the stories themselves contain little in the way of actual narrative. At least two of them are taken up largely with tedious exposition, mostly regarding Howard's pet theory of how the Picts were actually a "Mediterranean" race (as opposed to "aryan," I suppose). The problem is that, not only is that theory bunk to begin with, it's not even presented reasonably within the context of the stories. Seriously, Bran the Pict at one point actually says, "I'm a Mediterranean." Hearing supposedly ancient characters spout 1930s race theory is jarring, to say the least. On top of that, the race theory in question is rather uncomfortable in this day and age: Howard clearly was enamored of some of the same racial theories that the Nazis also fetishized, and while such interests are detectable in his other works, they are exceptionally prominent in this volume. That might be forgivable if the stories in question were at least entertaining, but on the whole they are not, and there are few enough of them that this defect is exacerbated.

My advice would be to skip this volume altogether. Its only value is for the completist who must have each of the volumes, regardless of their merits. Instead, do purchase Del Rey's other collection,The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard, as it also contains the story "Worms in the Earth," the only noteworthy yarn found in this volume. Moreover, that volume contains a large number of stories, many of superior quality, and all for the same price. In other words, it succeeds precisely where this one fails. Bran Mak Morn simply did not merit his own book.

Excellent, lesser known works
Before this book was published, Bran Mak Morn was one of many Robert E. Howard characters I'd never heard of.Conan and Kull get the press, but there were many other fine characters.

These few short stories build up a mythos Howard began, linking in the Picts from his Hyborean Age to the Roman occupation of Britain.One fine story actually brings in King Kull, the prototype for Conan.

This book is well worth adding to your collection.

ROBERT E. HOWARD STILL THE BEST OF THE BEST!!!
There are so many good things about this book! The introduction is superb! Here's a small sample by Rusty Burke, 'Robert E. Howard (1906-1936), in a writing career that spanned less than a dozen years, created many memorable fantasy adventure characters, such as Conan, Kull, and Solomon kane, who continue to thrill readers long after they first appeared in the legendary magazine, Weird Tales. The seemingly endlessly inventive author also created enormously popular characters in other genres, such as the wester tall tales of Breckenridge Elkins, the rollicking misadventrues of Sailor Costigan, and the Middle Easdtern exploits of El Borak and Kirby O'Donnell. But of all the many characters he created, none seem to have held for the Texas author a fascination to equal that of the people he called Picts, and their great king, Bran Mak Morn. Contents are: Foreward, Introduction, Men of the Shadows, King of the Night, A Song of the Race, Worms of the Earth, The Dark Man, The Last Race, Poem, Miscellane, The Little People, The Little People-Typescript, The Children of the Night, Bran Mak Morn, Bran Mak Morn manuscript, Synopsis, Worms of the Earth - Draft Version, Fragment, Poem - Previously Unpublished, Untitled, Appendices, REH and the Picts, A chronology, REH Bran Mak Morn and the Picts, Note on the original Howard Texts. Sketches byl Gary Gianni. Gary does a superb job on these sketches which are about every other page and coincides with the stories! How can I wear the harness of toil, And sweat at the daily round, While in my soul forever The drums of Pictdom sound? by REH on page 187 Miscellanea. Enjoy!

Also recommended: Whole Wide World by Novalyne Price who dated REH during the last few years of his life. This is a must have and also see the DVD The Whole Wide World starring Renee Zellweger and Vincent D'Onofrio as REH. Blood & Thunder, The Life & Art of REH by Mark Finn, The Last of The Trunk and The Never Ending Story by Paul Herman, Selected Letters of REH by Rob Roehm, Dark Horse comics, Roy Thomas Conan and Conan The Phenom, Two-Gun Bob, The Dark Barbarian and The Barbaric Triumph by Don Herron, Savage Sword of Conan, The Beast from the Abyss a story about Cats and my all time favorite. Check out the REH Foundation and Forum!

Kull in disguise
A significant portion of this book was just a repeat of the story in Kull.I feel I was ripped off by the ads for this book.Again, a disjointed portrayal of a great writer by the authors ... Read more

Product Description
Out-of-print classic! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Conan #1
I discovered Robert E. Howard and his hero Conan in Middle School. I am an avid fan of Conan and the fantasy genre. I am putting together a Conan Library to pass on to my Grand children one day.

Succeeds despite the contibutions of Howard's "helpers"
Robert E. Howard's famous barbarian hero journeys among the nations of the Hyborian Age in this anthology of stories, seeking his fortune and reveling in bloody adventure.I devoured several of these anthologies back when I was in junior high school and was pleasantly surprised to see how well they hold up now.His prose is muscular and direct, his characters brutal and equally direct, as befits the world in which they live.I was surprised that Conan is actually a secondary character in some of the original stories, such as "The God in the Bowl," a Sherlockian tale with the Cimmerian as one of the suspects.Although all of the tales written by Howard, either whole or in part, are strong, the pastiches produced by Lin Carter and L. Sprague de Camp are weak.The lengthy "City of Skulls" is particularly egregious for its careless dependance on wild coincidence--wandering through the darkness of the sewers, Conan and his companion chance upon a secret passage that leads directly to the chamber of an evil king just as he is about to sacrifice the heroine.How sloppy! Howard's "Rogues in the House" is the highlight of this collection.

i have the rest but not this one any more
i read this series back when i was like 10. im now 21 and i havent found many other authors that could write such a compelling stories that cause you to finish them one after the another, until youve read all 16. i cant say enough about them and i wish i could find this one to replace the one i lost so long ago. the idea of somone taking it upon themselves and reissuing them is outstanding, and has my support.

BOUND ANTHOLOGY NEEDED
Howard is a master story teller and his Conan series and extended series by Jordan, Lin, and others, are a testiment to Sword & Sorcery. He has few equals in this genre. I have been looking for years for a bound anthology of his early & mid-year Conan works but there are non to be found. Even most of the paper back versions are currently out of print. Possibly the PB's will not produce the revenue needed for a reprint, but I am willing to bet a comprehensive anthology would have a large following and would be a sure thing for the lucky publisher that took a chance on it.

Valiant Effort
What we have in this series of books (starting with Conan, and proceding through Conan The Cimmerian, Conan The Wanderer, etc.) is an attempt to put the stories in chronological sequence, filling in the gaps from the late Howard's notes.It's a valiant effort, both respectable and respectful though it's certain that whatever demons possessed Howard and allowed him to write as knowledgably (even "truthfully") about Conan as he did do not possess Carter and de Camp.

It's too easy (and fruitless) to criticize the effort for that. The series gives you a look at Conan as he grows and matures, and presents as cohesive a picture of him as any literary (or even actual) character ever documented. Aspiring fantasists would do well to read this for an idea of how to build a lasting character.

Beyond that, the stories are just plain fun. Violent, of course, with a smattering of non-graphic... (less here than in other books), and lots of good weird stuff. Because these are short stories, you don't get the kind of cliffhangers you get from a "Tarzan" book, but you do get non-stop action from one of the best. And that ain't bad. ... Read more

Product Description
With Conan the Cimmerian, Robert E. Howard created more than the greatest action hero of the twentieth century—he also launched a genre that came to be known as sword and sorcery. But Conan wasn’t the first archetypal
adventurer to spring from Howard’s fertile imagination.

“He was . . . a strange blending of Puritan and Cavalier, with a touch of the ancient philosopher, and more than a touch of the pagan. . . . A hunger in his soul drove him on and on, an urge to right all wrongs, protect all weaker things. . . . Wayward and restless as the wind, he was consistent in only one respect—he was true to his ideals of justice and right. Such was Solomon Kane.”

Collected in this volume, lavishly illustrated by award-winning artist Gary Gianni, are all of the stories and poems that make up the thrilling saga of the dour and deadly Puritan, Solomon Kane. Together they constitute a sprawling epic of weird fantasy adventure that stretches from sixteenth-century England to remote African jungles where no white man has set foot. Here are shudder-inducing tales of vengeful ghosts and bloodthirsty demons, of dark sorceries wielded by evil men and women, all opposed by a grim avenger armed with a fanatic’s faith and a warrior’s savage heart.

This edition also features exclusive story fragments, a biography of Howard by scholar Rusty Burke, and “In Memoriam,” H. P. Lovecraft’s moving tribute to his friend and fellow literary genius.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

Savage Tales of Solomon Kane
I have read other Robert E. Howard books, but had not really noticed Solomon Kane until I began hearing about the movie that was being made about him.The book is beautifully written.The details are superb.The reader is transported to the side of Kane as he moves from adventure to adventure.Wish he had written more.

Adventurer, Puritan, Swashbuckler!(Spoiler Free Review)
Robert E. Howard, the Creator of Conan the Barbarian, brings you nine action packed tales of the occult, featuring Solomon Kane.Kane is a puritan adventurer who feels like he is doing God's will.He wanders the world during the 17th Century and vanquishes evil with a sword and two pistols.His unwavering faith fuels his drive and determination as he protects the weak from evil men, evil spirits, and evil beasts.

Robert E. Howard knows how to write a hero, action, and horror.Solomon Kane is a force of reckoning, the action is exciting, and the horror is chilling.If you like a mix of Heroic, Epic, and Dark Fantasy, you really need to buy this book.

The book itself is 432 pages and contains stories, fragments of stories, poems, and a biography of Robert E. Howard.At the cover price of $16.95 or the Amazon Price of $11.53, this is a great deal.

There is horror, gore, and violence, so you might want to use discretion if you are getting it for pre-teens.

Warning:
These are the original works from the 1920's and 1930's, so they are racist and sexist.Africans are simple savages with spears and bones through their noses that will drop down and worship anybody with a boom stick.Women are helpless damsels in distress that swoon, faint, or swoon then faint.

Overall:
The book is really worth buying if you have any interest in swashbuckling tales of adventure.

Buy it if you like authors like David Gemmell or H.P. Lovecraft.
Buy it if you like manly men that take care of business like Conan, Indiana Jones, or Van Helsing.
Buy it if you like spooky stuff like spirits, demons, and the unknown.
Avoid it if you can't handle violence or gore.
Avoid it if you want loads of dialogue.Solomon is a man of action.
Avoid it if the mentality of the 1920's may offend you.

An Unlikely Hero from Another Era
Solomon Kane is definitely a different kind of hero cast in a different era. Although these stories were written some time ago, the character lives on to this day. Howard knows how to spin a tale that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat not suspecting what will happen next. Howard was a gifted and masterful storyteller taking an unlikely character to unlikely places and making you see and hear the action like it was really happening. Howard's tales of Kane are incredibly imaginative yet still feel true to form as if they could be real. He does a fantastic job of injecting enough realism to make the characters almost seem possible. This collection of stories also has some excellent illustrations that help carry the story and are very well. An excellent read.

A Scourge For The Powers Of Evil
Robert E. Howard is known today as the creator of Conan, but in his brief life he produced a number of singular characters for a variety of pulp fiction genres. One of his earlier and most distinctive was a grim-visaged, black-clad Puritan warrior named Solomon Kane.

Many of Howard's creations, like Conan, have a catch-as-catch-can approach to morality, if they consider it at all. Not Kane.

"It has fallen upon me, now and again in my sojourns through the world, to ease various evil men of their lives," he explains in "The Castle Of The Devil" "Devil" is one of four story fragments that appear here along with nine full Kane stories and three poems.

While not all of them are equally inspired, all resonate with the singularity of the main character, half-swashbuckler, half-fantasy hero, wandering through Europe and Africa following the call of God and his own willful urges.

Two of the stories, the early "Red Shadows" (1928) and the later "Wings Of The Night" (1932) are first-rank Howard stories, masterpieces of mood and pulsing suspense. "Shadows" gives us a classic revenge tale served up with style, while "Wings" is a complex character study that pits Kane against a rare defeat. Two others, "The Footfalls Within" (1931) and "The Hills Of The Dead" (1930), are just a cut below, not as well-crafted but imbued with that Howard quality of primitive power that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go.

Add to that some other stories that, while pat at times (see "A Rattle Of Bones") and convoluted at others ("Skulls In The Stars"), have flashes of the same dark power. Kane isn't evil; in fact he's something of a maniacal do-gooder. In "Footfalls" he gets so caught up watching helplessly as a line of blacks are force-marched into slavery he bites down on his forearm "until his teeth met in the flesh". Other stories have him spending years chasing down the murderers of women and villagers he never knew in life.

This book is the first time all the known Solomon Kane items have been collected in one place. Publisher Del Ray does even better by employing the talents of illustrator Gary Gianni from first page to last. Too bad they don't mirror their sterling Conan collections with some Kane-focused scholarly essays. All that's offered instead is a general biography on Howard and a contemporary obituary by his friend and fellow legend H.P. Lovecraft.

That Howard could be a purple writer is evident here at times, like with the frustrating, overlong "Moon Of Skulls" with its half-baked lost-civilization theme. He could frustrate just as much with what he didn't write. "The Castle Of The Devil" sets up to be his best European-set adventure before abruptly stopping. "Hawk Of Basti" catches up with Kane for a rare ocean-borne adventure Howard also didn't finish. Even the poems seem misplaced stories.

Howard's sudden death in 1936 cheated us of further Kane adventures, though Howard himself had apparently dropped the character well before then. Given the progression of Howard's art in his last short years, with its sturdier plot construction and cinematic scene changes, one can only wonder what else might have been possible.

What is here is good all the same, an entertaining corrective for those who think Howard only wrote for barbarians.

Satisfied Customer
Received book in pristine condition. Product was everything it was advertised.I will/would definitely purchase from this seller again. ... Read more

Product Description
This Halcyon Classics ebook contains 97 short stories and novellas by 1930s pulp writer Robert Ervin Howard.Howard (1906-1936) is best known today for creating the sword-and-sorcery hero Conan, subject of two movies and dozens of books.However, during his short life Howard also published stories in a number of other genres.

In addition to fantasy, Howard wrote boxing stories, westerns, detective stories, horror, and created an number of compelling characters such as Solomon Kane, Bran Mak Morn, El Borak, Steve Costigan, Pike Bearfield, King Kull, and Conan the Cimmerian.

This ebook is DRM free and includes an active table of contents for easy navigation.

Conan Stories


Gods of the North
Queen of the Black Coast
Shadows in the Moonlight
A Witch Shall be Born
Shadows in Zamboula
The Devil in Iron
The People of the Black Circle
The Pool of the Black One
Red Nails
Jewels of Gwahlur
Beyond the Black River
The Hour of the Dragon
The Hyborian Age


Boxing Stories

Alleys of Peril
Blow the Chinks Down!
Breed of Battle
Champ of the Forecastle
Circus Fists
Cupid vs. Pollux
Dark Shanghai
Fist and Fang
General Ironfist
Night of Battle
Sailors’ Grudge
Sluggers on the Beach
Texas Fists
The Bull Dog Breed
The Iron Man
The Pit of the Serpent
The Sign of the Snake
The Slugger’s Game
The TNT Punch
Vikings of the Gloves
Waterfront Fists
Winner Take All
Alleys of Darkness
Apparition in the Prize Ring


Detective Stories

Graveyard Rats
Fangs of Gold
Names in the Black Book
Skull-Face
The Tomb’s Secret


Fantasy Adventure Stories

Almuric
The Treasures of Tartary
The Voice of El-Lil
The Valley of the Worm


Kull Stories

The Shadow Kingdom
The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune


Bran Mak Morn Stories

The Lost Race
Worms of the Earth


Cormac Fitzgeoffrey Stories

Hawks of Outremer
The Blood of Belshazzar


El Borak Stories

Hawk of the Hills
The Daughter of Erlik Khan


Wild Bill Clanton Stories

She Devil
The Purple Heart of Erlik


Historical Adventure Stories

Lord of Samarcand
Gates of Empire
The Lion of Tiberias
The Shadow of the Vulture
The Sowers of the Thunder


Horror Stories

People of the Dark
Black Canaan
Moon of Zambebwei
Black Talons
Black Vulmea’s Revenge
The Cairn on the Headland
The Fearsome Touch of Death
The Haunter of the Ring
The Hyena
The Fire of Asshurbanipal
Pigeons from Hell


Solomon Kane Stories

Solomon Kane
Skulls in the Stars
The Moon of Skulls
Wings in the Night
Rattle of Bones


Western Stories

A Gent from Bear Creek
Cupid from Bear Creek
Evil Deeds at Red Cougar
Guns of the Mountains
High Horse Rampage
No Cowherders Wanted
Pilgrims to the Pecos
Pistol Politics
Sharp’s Gun Serenade
Texas John Alden
The Apache Mountain War
The Conquerin’ Hero of the Humbolts
The Feud Buster
The Haunted Mountain
The Riot at Cougar Paw
The Road to Bear Creek
The Scalp Hunter
War on Bear Creek
The Vultures of Whapeton
While Smoke Rolled
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent compilation with helpful Kindle navigation!
Excellent collection of books and stories. All the Conan stuff, along with Solomon Kane stories, boxing stories, westerns, you name it!For $1.99, well worth the price, since this compilation has a working Table of Contents! The Robert E. Howard Omnibus: 97 Collected Stories (Halcyon Classics) ... Read more

Product Description
Shadow Kingdoms is the first volume of the Weird Works of Robert E. Howard, presenting all of Howard's work for the pulp magazine Weird Tales meticulously restored to its original magazine texts.This volume begins with "Spear and Fang," Howard's first professional fiction sale, and concludes with "Red Thunder," a gripping sword & sorcery tale. Series characters present in this volume include King Kull and Solomon Kane.Edited by Paul Herman. Introduction by Mark Finn. Cover by Stephen Fabian. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Great audio reading of nine Howard tales
Shadow Kingdoms is volume one of Wildside Press's series of ten books collecting "The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard," namely Howard's stories as published in the magazine Weird Tales, in chronological order. Audio publisher Audio Realms has taken a selection of the stories in that volume and produced an unabridged recording of its own, also called Shadow Kingdoms.

Though they're not the first ones presented, I began with the three stories of my favorite character, Solomon Kane, featured in this collection. "Red Shadows" introduces Howard's 17th-century Puritan hero. Avenging the death of a young woman, Kane travels for years to find Le Loup ("the wolf"), meeting "good juju man" N'Longa -- who later plays a larger role in Kane's life -- for the first time. Howard doesn't shy away from the action here, putting Kane in peril no less than three times.

I've experienced "Red Shadows" multiple times, in print and audio, and it never loses its power to entertain. Both Kane and Le Loup are indelible characters, and the action sets up Kane admirably well for his later stories.

In "Rattle of Bones," Kane and Gaston L'Armon enter a tavern for the night and discover there's a good reason it's called "The Cleft Skull." This story and "Skulls in the Stars" have suspense, death, and insanity portrayed with skill, and they really show Howard at his best. In some ways, Solomon Kane reminds me of the Western hero: stoic and strong and operating under a strict moral code of his own devising. The Kane stories offer the same kind of entertainment provided by modern Western series like The Trailsman and The Gunsmith: a sole hero who comes in, solves a problem, and travels off again, ready for another adventure.

"The Lost Race" is one of the earliest of Howard's Weird Tales publications, from 1927. Howard's appreciation of the history of the Pict race was already long-standing. In this tale, a fellow named Cororuc happens upon some dwarfish folk ("small dark people") and gets mixed up in an age-old revenge. Written when its author was only 18, it has a tangential relationship to his stories of Bran Mak Morn (though the Pict king himself is not mentioned).

"The Dream Snake" stands out as a particularly well-done pure horror story in the classic told-by-the-campfire vein. That is, its ending is entirely predictable and, in fact, inevitable from the beginning. But Howard's portrait of a man in the grip of an intense lifelong fear (from a horrific recurring dream) is utterly believable. A well-performed reading of "The Dream Snake" could be the highlight of any Halloween night storytelling session.

"The Hyena" is a high-energy adventure tale set in Africa and involving the antagonism between a fetish man and an American rancher. The American is kind of dumb -- I guess he's never read this kind of "twist" ending before -- but this doesn't ruin the tense showdown.

"The Shadow Kingdom" is the first featuring Kull from Atlantis, usurping king of Valusia. Kull meets his own attempted usurpers in the Serpent Men, a fascinating race of snake-headed individuals who deal in mesmerism and shape-shifting. Kull has to struggle with his own doubts to maintain the throne. Many consider this story to be the beginning of the sword-and-sorcery genre ("Red Shadows" also has its supporters for that title), with the main difference being the latter's use of a realistic setting (Kull lives around 100,000 years B.C.). Though similar in many ways to the later character of Conan the Cimmerian (the first Conan story was a rewritten Kull story), I find Kull superior due to his tendency toward deeper thinking.

"The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune" finds Kull in a melancholy mood. His friend Brule the spear-slayer suggests a night on the town, but that does not appeal. Later, a blonde with "violet eyes" recommends a visit to Tuzun Thune, a wizard who shows Kull his hall of mirrors. Kull sits before one often, expostulating on which Kull is the real one. Sounds like Kull didn't take his meds. After such a heroic turn in "The Shadow Kingdom," this story may disappoint some. But perhaps it was merely the author's way of putting a little of himself in his work, given Howard's own notorious bouts with depression. It certainly seems like being king isn't all it's cracked up to be.

"The Voice of El Lil" was actually published in Weird Tales's sister publication Oriental Stories, and it's actually from volume two of the Weird Works series, The Moon of Skulls and doesn't appear in the print version of Shadow Kingdoms at all. Why this was done is rather confusing, but the story itself is one of Howard's rousing "lost race" stories. It starts out slow but shows many facets by the end.

All in all, Shadow Kingdoms is highly entertaining listening. Audio Realms seems to have picked the most exciting stories of the bunch and given them to the narrators best suited for them. (Usually, single-author collections have a single reader.) I look forward to their future recordings in this series.

ROBERT E HOWARD SHADOW KINGDOMS VOL 1
The few people that knock this book of REH are subjective. Robert E. Howard (1906-1936)was and still is the greatest adventure story teller wordsmith of all time!

Any time you can get one of his books please do. It's non stop action, terror, adventure, and more!

Two of my favorite stories are The Dream Snake, Weird Tales, Feb 1928 and The Hyena, Weird Tales, Mar 1928. Red Shadows is superb, too; This is about Solomon Kane who hunts a wolf named Le Loup. There's some excellent poetry.

Must read books of REH are:The Last of the Trunk, The Never Ending Story, and all Weird Works by Paul Herman, Blood & Thunder, The Life & Art of REH, by Mark Finn, Selected Letters of REH Vol 1-3 and Poetry by Rob Roehm, One Who Walked Alone by Novelyne Ellis, The Black Stranger, Lord Samarcand, Two Gun Bob, The Dark Barbarian and The Barbaric Triumph by Don Herron.Two of my all time favorites of REH are Beyond The Black River about Picts and Red Nails. Check out the REH Foundation and Forum!

Beware two versions of book with different collections of stories
I purchased this book assuming I was getting 'Wildside Press' book, but what I actually got was the 'Cosmos book'. Same cover art and title, but different selection of stories from what people have mentioned in the reviews. The Book I got contained

"The Lost Race"
"The Song of the Bats" (poem)
"The Ride of Falume" (poem)
"The Riders of Babylon" (poem)
"The Dream Snake"
"The Hyena"
"The Gates of Nineveh" (poem)
"Red Shadows"
"The Harp of Alfred" (poem)
"Easter Island" (poem)
"Skulls in the Stars"
"Crete" (poem)
"Moon Mockery" (poem)
"Rattle of Bones"
"Forbidden Magic" (poem)
"The Shadow Kingdom"
"The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune"
"The Moor Ghost" (poem)
"Red Thunder" (poem)
"Skull-Face"
"Dead Man's Hate" (poem)
"The Fearsome Touch of Death"
"The Voice of El-Lil"

It's a good selection, but was missing some of the stories I expected to get, but that's my problems not Amazons. I enjoyed the book and think it was good value for the money.

Not Free SF Reader
An eclectic collection, with a supernatural theme, and encludes a good chunk of Solomon Kane and some fine Kull, as well as some poetry, which I haven't mentioned, that is a general thing for the 'Weird Works', having poetry, etc.

Weird Works 1 : Spear and Fang - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 1 : In the Forest of Villefere - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 1 : Wolfshead - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 1 : The Lost Race - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 1 : The Dream Snake - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 1 : The Hyena - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 1 : Sea Curse - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 1 : Red Shadows - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 1 : Skulls in the Stars - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 1 : Rattle of Bones - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 1 : The Shadow Kingdom - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 1 : The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune - Robert E. Howard

Young pretty Cro-Magnon are still young and pretty to Neandertals who fancy some sex and violence.

2.5 out of 5


Choose carefully when you kill a werewolf.

2.5 out of 5


Hanging around Spanish noble types is bad for your health. This time, it took a while to work out whether this gentleman Was Don Leopard, or Don Lupin. The latter was the case, and causes quite a few problems.

3.5 out of 5


There are still some strange old Picts around, it appears.

2.5 out of 5


Scary snooze leaves sleeper smooshed.

2 out of 5


Shapeshifter of the not so high class variety.

3 out of 5


A group of local seamen and basically criminals, and when they cause the death of a girl, a woman curses them, quite impressively :-



"I curse you by sea and by land, by earth and by air, by the demons of the swamplands, the fiends of the forest and the goblins of the hills! And you"--her lean finger stabbed at Lie-lip Canool and he started backward, his face paling--"you shall be the death of John Kulrek and he shall be the death of you! You shall bring John Kulrek to the doors of hell and John Kulrek shall bring you to the gallows-tree! I set the seal of death upon your brow, John Kulrek! You shall live in terror and die in horror far out upon the cold grey sea! But the sea that took the soul of innocence to her bosom shall not take you, but shall fling forth your vile carcass to the sands!"

This is what she causes them to run into :-

"From the hell of lost craft Satan sent a ship of bygone ages!"

Needless to say, not good for them.

3 out of 5


Kane comes across Le Loup twice in his life, once after he comes across
a dying girl, one of his kills, and once at the temple of the Black
God. He leaves him mortality challenged, and watches as his underling,
Gulka the gorilla slayer finds a ape who is more than a match for him.

3.5 out of 5


Kane is tracking, and being hunted by a swamp fiend, and realises when fighting it:

"For man's only weapon is courage that flinches not from the gates of Hell itself, and against such not even the legions of Hell can stand."

He finds the man that created the fiend, and adds the man to its list of victims, to appease it.

3.5 out of 5


In which Kane enters the Cleft Skull tavern, and finds that is most definitely lives up to its name.

3 out of 5


There is evil treachery afoot in the time of Atlantis, the serpent priests are stirring, and a cunning old king brings them to the attention of a somewhat restless Kull. More pity them. With a stalwart Pictish spear-slayer at his side, he wreaks bloody havoc among them, and vows to take the war to them. No-one else would ever have copied this plot later on, would they?

4 out of 5


Introspection and philosophy are not cures for what ails a bored warrior-King. Neither are wizardly mirrors or Lovecraftian elder races.

Thankfully, the stout, pragmatic Spear-Slayer is there to remind him.

4 out of 5

Book of Lies
I was sorely disappointed with this softcover book edition. It states on the back cover, for instance, that this is "the first volume of The Wierd Works of Robert E. Howard" and that it has "meticulously restored to its original texts" the stories within. Further that "This volume begins with Spear and Fang, Howards first professional fiction sale, and condludes with Red Thunder, a gripping sword and sorcery tale." Spear and Fang appear NOWHERE in this book and while Red Thunder is in the book, it does not "conclude" with it.

In my opinion, leaving OUT Howard's first professional fiction sale and NOT concluding with Red Thunder (BOTH AS ADVERTISED ON THE BACK COVER) doesn't speak well of the "meticulous" alledged restoration alluded to.

While containing almost two dozen Howard pieces, I somehow doubt the dedication, attention to detail and/or the "expertise" of the publisher as to authenticity or accuracy that should be a hallmark of a series of this sort. Don't waste your money. ... Read more

Product Description
Meticulously-restored text by renowned Robert E. Howard scholar Paul Herman, this is the ninth in a ten book definitive chronological collection of Robert E. Howard's stories that appeared in pulp magazines like the revered Weird Tales. ... Read more

Product Description
The seventh volume of the Weird Works of Robert E. Howard continues reprinting Howard's fantasy from Weird Tales and Strange Tales in order of original publication. All texts have been meticulously restored to their original pulp appearances. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

ROBERT E. HOWARD = THE BEST OF THE BEST!
Beyond the Black River is one of my favorite stories of REH. Scholars say it was orginally written for Kull in By This Axe I rule and modified with Conan later on. As always REH medaphoric stories tell something about him and in this case scholars agree that a young Balthus is REH and a dog he finds along the way Slasher is Patches REH's only dog he ever had. Excerp from the book, A slight sound ahead of him jumped his heart into his throat and Conan's sword gleamed in the air. He lowered it when a dog, a great, gaunt, scared beast, slunk out of the bushes and stood staring at them. 'That dog belonged to a settler who tried to build his cabin on the bank of the river a few miles south of the fort,' grunted Conan. 'The Picts slipped over and killed him of course and burned his cabin. We found him dead among the embers, and the dog lying senseless among three Picts he'd killed. He was almost cut to pieces. We took him to the fort and dressed his wounds, but after he recovered he took to the woods and turned wild. What now, Slasher, are you hunting the men who killed your master?' The massive head swung side to side and his eyes glowed greenly. He did not growl or bark. Silently as a phantom he slid in behind them. 'Let him come,' muttured Conan. 'He can smell the devils before we can see them.' Balthus smiled and laid his hand caressingly on the dog's head. This story is a classic and I believe a movie should be made. It would make movie history. In fact, there are a lot of REH stories that should be made into movies. Enjoy the book and tell other people about REH. You're in for a real treat! I believe Beyond The Black River needs to be make into a movie! It's a classic! Anyone know award winning actor/directors Mel Gibson & Clint Eastwood who are the best of the best, too?

Also recommended: One Whole Walked Alone by Novalyne Price-REH's girlfrield, Blood & Thunder, The Life & Art of REH by Mark Finn, and The Last of the Trunk by Paul Herman of REHFoundation, The Abyss a story about cats=really good! Two-Gun Bob, The Dark Barbarian and The Barbaric Triumpth by Don Herron, Selected Letters of REH at REH Foundation on net, The Star Rover by Jack London that had a major influence on REH, Life After Life by Dr. Raymond Moody, Solomon Kane, Kull, Crimson Shadows the Best of REH 1 & 2, Bran Mak Morn, Lord of Samarcand, Conan of Dark Horse comics and Conan of 60s & 70s Marvel Black & White magazine by Roy Thomas and John Buscema, Red Nails, and The Black Stranger & Other American Tales that has the scariest story called Pigeons From Hell, Weird Tales - 32 Unearthed Stories from 1922-1954 that has one real scarey story called Winged Death by Hazel Heald about a man pestered by a fly with blue wings and The Stone Man by same author. Check out the REH Foundation and Forum!

"Barbarism must ultimately triumph."
This is the seventh volume in publisher Wildside Press' "The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard" series, collecting all his fantasy work for the legendary pulp magazine Weird Tales. And of course, with a story like "Beyond the Black River" collected in this volume, which many consider one of the best Conan stories Howard ever wrote, what more do you need to add to put some icing on the cake? Well, a couple of other Howard stories of course!
"Beyond the Black River" is an American Frontier story transplanted into the Hyborian world of Conan the Barbarian: on the Aquilonian frontier, with our hero facing an evil Pictish wizard, who has united the tribes of Picts in driving the settlers out of the Pictish Wilderness or massacring them on the spot. The only one standing in their way? Conan the Barbarian, sword in hand. Besides being a great tale, this story also provided Howard's most-used quote: "Barbarism is the natural state of mankind. Civilization is unnatural. It is the wim of circumstance. And barbarism must ultimately triumph." It's not just a reference to Howard's own beliefs; this grim outlook also powered his unsurpassed story-telling ability that many tried to imitate but all failed to do.
This volume also has the Conan stories "Jewels of Gwahlur" and "Shadows in Zamboula". The average pulp tales-plot of these stories would have long ago moved them into the dustbin of history, but Howard's writing, during the later years of his short life, had achieved such a headlong pace that it was impossible to resist. Even at it's most "pulp-ish". He usually grabbed his readers by the throat from the first sentence, and swept them along from start to finish in a avalanche of luridly painted word-images of exotic settings and blood-soaked, grim-faced heroes, towering over their enemies and crushing skulls left and right while triumphing over uninmagible odds - leaving the reader breathless at the end of the tale and ever clamoring for more stories.
Also collected in this volume - and hard to find anywhere else - is "The Challenge from Beyond", a 'round-robin' story written by C.L. Moore, A. Merritt, H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard and Frank Belknap Long and a horror story placed in the Old South: "The Grisly Horror".
My only small complaint: I know, Wildside is a specialty press and I'm glad they're publishing Robert E. Howard. But come on! 35 dollars for a 190-page hardcover? That's a tad much, even if R.E. Howard is worth every cent. It could have been collected in a five-volume series. Or better yet, publish a ten-volume series of ALL his work! Many of which is out-of-print, hardly in print at all or extremely hard to get. Now that would have Howard-fans salivating at the prospect! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (20)

The best single-volume Conan there is
"Conan" is one of those iconic names that transcend "fantasy" or "pulp" fiction.This is a collection of all the Conan tales that Robert E Howard wrote - as he had it published, unedited by later writers.There are also a few fragmentary tales, some nice B&W line art, the "Hyborian Age" essay, and a fine concluding note by Stephen Jones.

These stories were written in the 1930's, and generally published in Weird Tales magazine.But they crackle and live with modern energy, and have not dated at all in the passage of eighty years.Conan is an immense protangonist in both physique and character - bold, cunning, lusty, and honourable in his own way.He is thief, reaver, pirate, war chief, mercenary and king - not to mention treasure-hunter, adventurer, scout and warrior.Conan is much more than a simple "barbarian".

The best stories are probably Red Nails, Beyond the Black River, and Tower of the Elephant - but I have a soft spot for Queen of the Black Coast, and A Witch Shall be Born, also.But dont take my word for it: buy the book, read the stories.Conan is an immortal hero for any age.

good stuff
This is the good stuff, old school original Conan.
If you've read Conan books by anyone else you should read this, and see how it's supposed to go.
Big fat book. Worth the dough.

A savagely excellent sword and sorcery collection!
Conan, arguably one of the bets fantasy characters of all time and this collection of original stories gives any reader everything they need.

Well worth the money!

An affordable and nice-looking collection of Howard's Conan
I have been a fan of Robert E. Howard's Conan stories since I first got my hands on the Ace paperbacks with the Frank Frazetta covers back in the early 80s.It wasn't until much later that I discovered how adulterated those stories were, and went searching for more "pure" Howard.I now own about three collections of the complete Howard Conan stories, with this single volume collected edition being the third.

"The Complete Chronicles of Conan: Centenary Edition" is a handsome imitation leather-bound hardback by UK-based publisher Gollancz, who also published the 2-Volume "The Conan Chronicles" which was one of the first collection of all-Howard material (without the supplemental De Camp edits).This "Centenary Edition" was published in the UK in 2006 to celebrate the 100th birthday of author Robert E. Howard, and is a companion volume to the Necronomicon: The Best Weird Tales of H. P. Lovecraft collection that is similarly bound.

The stories here are presented exactly as they were originally published.This contrasts with the 3-volume Del Rey editions (The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian, The Bloody Crown of Conan, The Conquering Sword of Conan), which worked from Howard's notes to publish the stories as Howard intended rather than how they were ultimately edited and published.

In ordering the stories, Gollancz avoided all "Conan Timeline" controversies by using the original publication dates as a guide.In previous editions, Gollancz put together a timeline of Conan's life, and ordered the stories appropriately.This meant you started with "The Tower of the Elephant" and ended with "The Hour of the Dragon."This collection puts them in the order of original publication, meaning that you start with "The Phoenix on the Sword" and end with the unpublished tale of "The Vale of Lost Women" and some fragments.Also included in the beginning are Howard's poem "Cimmeria" and his fictional/historical background essay "The Hyborian Age" which he used to detail his created worlds.

As an afterward, editor Stephen Jones chronicles Howard's life, and the life of the Conan stories and how they were adapted and received following Howard's death.Little of this was new to me, but it was still an enjoyable read.

The only real complaint I have with this version of "The Complete Chronicles of Conan" is with the illustrations. They are well done, with several black-and-white illustrations done by Les Edwards, but the placements of the illustrations are questionable.At the end of "The Phoenix on the Sword" there is a drawing that is clearly Thank from "Rogues in the House."The drawing for Yag-kosha in "The Tower of the Elephant" comes long before the character appears in the story, which would spoil some of the surprise for new readers.

Which publication of Howard's Conan stories is superior is up for debate, I suppose.In all honesty, the differences in text are not major and the casual fan would probably not notice the difference between the Del Rey and Gollancz versions.Personally, I I personally think the Del Rey books are the most "definitive" of the mass-market collections.The Del Rey books are reprints of the beautiful Wandering Star editions, which are works of art but prohibitively expensive at around a hundred and fifty dollars a book at time of publishing.They include several "bonus features" of Howard's notes and original manuscripts.

If you have the money for it, Easton Press also puts out a high-end single-volume genuine leather-bound version which reprints the text from the Prion Conan the Barbarian collection.That is also a beautiful book but well out of my budget at over a hundred dollars for the volume.That edition also uses the original publication text rather than Del Rey's revisions from Howard's notes.

Realistically, I got this book as a shelf decoration, as part of a matched set with the Lovecraft book.The price is low enough that I don't mind picking it up for that purpose, and I have been reading and enjoying it too.If you are a first-time Conan reader, this collection is a good place to start before diving into the heavier Del Rey editions.Gollancz plans more in this series, and their next offereing in the same format will be "Conan's Bretheren," featuring some of Howard's lesser-known heroes.

Classic Stories
This is a classic book of Heroic Fantasy. All was written above about its style and properties. I can only say that in my opinion all Conan stories written by Robert Evin Howard are really good read. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description

CONTENTS:

Customer Reviews (2)

Spiritual and Speculative Alchemy
Many times we pick up a brief bit of fiction for a reprieve from the study of deep lore or historical fact.In this case, you will be sorely disappointed.This is not little dime store novel.This is a journey of alchemical and spiritual allegory disguised as a novel.Excellent read.Open your mind and enjoy.

ROBERT E. HOWARD = THE BEST OF THE BEST!
Beyond The Black River is a gutsy and barbaric struggle of everyday people trying to survive the attacking Picts which are small animalistic men bent on killing innocent men, women, and children. REH Scholars say this is one or if not his best story. I believe Beyond The Black River will make an excellent movie. Mel Gibson or Clint Eastwood would be perfect as they are the best directors/actors in the industry.

The six superb stories in this third edition of Weird Works from pulp magazine Weird Tales of REH are: A Witch Shall Be Born, The Grisly Horror, Jewels of Gwahlur, Beyond The Black River, The Challenge From Beyond (Horror),and Shadows in Zamboula - 352 pages.

These two horror stories were the first time I've read them and they scared the daylights out of me. The Thing on The Roof (People of the Dark)and Pigeons From Hell (The Black Stranger) are two excellent horror stories. To me, Pigeons From Hell is the scariest! Don't read these stories alone at night.

Highly recommend Volumes One and Two! An introduction in future volumes by the likes of Paul Herman, Don Herron, Mark Finn, Joe Lansdale, Jim & Ruth Keegan, etc. would be nice.

Red Nails is one of my other favorite REH stories and can be found in Crimson Shadows -The Best of REH by Del Rey Vol 2. Vol 1 is a must have, too as is Rogues In The House.

Must reads: Blood & Thunder, The Life & Art of REH by Mark Finn, One Who Walked Alone by Novalyne Price Ellis, The Barbaric Triumph and The Dark Barbarian by Don Herron, Two-Gun Bob, The Last of The Trunk and Selected Letter of REH at REH Foundation, Dark Horse Comics Conan & Pigeons From Hell, Marvel Conan B&W Magazine of the seventies by Roy Thomas & John Buscema, Almuric, The Star Rover by Jack London which had a major influence on REH, Bran Mak Morn, All Conans, Kull, El Borak, Solomon Kane, Boxing stories - Steve Costigan, Lord of Samarcand, The Black Stranger & Other American Tales, Cormac Mac Art, and more!!

Be sure to tell others about REH as if you've never read one of his stories before it's similar to the first time wearing glasses and seeing the world differently and being in awe! Reread them and you'll encounter details overlooked before. Enjoy!! ... Read more