Robert E Howard - Conan and Friends!

[crooksy73]

Hi all,

I've just picked up two "tomes"!!

The Complete Chronicles of Conan
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Chron.../dp/0575077662

Conan's Brethren: The Complete Collection
http://www.amazon.com/Conans-Brethre...ref=pd_sim_b_1

I have to say I'm really looking forward to reading both these collections. They're both huge volumes so should take me quite some time to get through them but the reviews seem to be excellent and I think it will be interesting to read some classic Sci-Fi/Fantasy fiction.

Anyone yet had the pleasure and what did you think?

Cheers
Crooksy

[GOLLUM]

Yep.

You will find quite a few who have read Howard's work here including Conan and are definitely fans!

I know both of those books and they provide a reasonable introduction to Howard's S&S (I'm using that very loosely here) ouevre. The books published by Del Rey (not your publisher who is also good) are to my way of thinking beautiful productions of a lot of Howard's work if you want to pursue things further.

I wrote a biography on Howard at one stage here and detailed notes on various editions/variations over the years. Basically the most comprehensive and 'true' Conan collection is from Wandering Star but they are very expensive and likely out of print now.

I have to skedaddle but there will be heaps of people who can reply to this thread.

Hope you enjoy.

Cheers.

[Fried Egg]

I own a copy of "The Complete Chronicles of Conan" which I haven't read through yet although I've read most of the stories in other collections in the past. Generally these stories are all excellent. Howard was one of the best action writers around.

I notice the other collection contains many of the Solomon Kane stores which are also very good indeed. I've not read most of the other stories in the book but I'm sure they're undoubtedly of a similar high standard.

Have you read any Robert Howard before?

[crooksy73]

Thanks for the recommendations chaps. Making me anticipate reading these even more.

No Freid Egg, completely new to Howard's work. Just going on recommendation and the type of fiction I'm interested in

[Connavar]

Howard is one of the best adventure,fantasy,horror,historical writers i have read. He is a big favourite of mine.

I have read most of Conan stories but i also like reading Kane,Bran Mak Morn,Borak and most of his other series.

Start with Conan but dont stop there if you like his stories. He is much more than Conan.

[Bugg]

I've been looking at that Complete Chronicles on and off for a while and still haven't taken the plunge, mainly because I was torn between that and the version(s) available on the Kindle (there's a 'complete' Kindle version available on Amazon.co.uk for £2.14). Is there any artwork (or maps) in the book that would make it advantageous to have the hardback rather than the ebook?

The only other Howard I've read was a couple of the Solomon Kane stories.

[thatollie]

Hmm, I have those two collections. They're very good.

[jchris]

Did anyone read the old comic books? I thought those were cool.

By the way, I'm excited about the movie, but I don't expect it to be very good...

[woodsman]

I read Howard because of Conn (cheers buddy!) and his discussions with various people on here.

He could actually write a complete story in less than 400 pages . A great command of language and really does capture action very well. I think both Conan and Kane are well worth a good look. haven't read much beyond that personally.

I think we need a return to quality fantasy of his ilk and fewer doorstop trilogies which seem to have flooded and by-and-large, drowned the market.

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by woodsman

I read Howard because of Conn (cheers buddy!) and his discussions with various people on here.

He could actually write a complete story in less than 400 pages . A great command of language and really does capture action very well. I think both Conan and Kane are well worth a good look. haven't read much beyond that personally.

I think we need a return to quality fantasy of his ilk and fewer doorstop trilogies which seem to have flooded and by-and-large, drowned the market.

That makes my day in this rainy summer hell much brighter REH is one of my few literary heroes. He is the best i have read when it comes strong characters, action scenes in genre fiction.

When Gemmell was alive we had REH of sorts but now it feels terrible there is no one like him. There are only Charles. R Saunders Imaro books and Paul Kearney who keep REH like S&S still going.

By the way read El Borak he has passed Conan and Kane as my fav Howard hero. His adventure stories has break neck vivid action that surpass even the S&S stories.

[crooksy73]

Well Connavar you're making me drool now in anticipation of reading these!

Quick question, how do you promounce......
Cimmeria

Is it "sy-me-ria" or "Ky-me-ria" or "Kim-er-ria"? I'm guessing it's "Kim-er-ria"

Cheers
Crooksy

[Fried Egg]

I always pronounced it to myself as "sim-air-ria" but I wouldn't be suprised if I've got that wrong...

[Connavar]

Its with a K like "Kim-er-ria" according to Howard scholars who knows what they are talking about.

Hehe speaking about Conan recently i sent buy in suggestion to the library for Conan collection by Del Rey. I was annoyed they had only Robert Jordan pastiche book of Conan. I sent them along with a message saying Conan is popular culture icon written by a classic fantasy writer who made S&S/Heroic fantasy a popular subgenre. Conan has new film, comics, games but they dont have the book.

[Extollager]

Originally Posted by Fried Egg

I always pronounced it to myself as "sim-air-ria" but I wouldn't be suprised if I've got that wrong...

When I was a lot younger than I am now, I envisioned a parody about a wandering taker of people's wealth (I think he sold defective vacuum cleaners), Conman of Some Area....

[Extollager]

Which Conan stories do folks think come closest to transcending the limitations of mere pulp entertainment? It's a while since I read very many of them. My impression is that "Tower of the Elephant" is one, and "Beyond the Black River" another -- stories that are more than mere exercises in pulp exploitation. Conversely, "The Slithering Shadow" is just that. It really is trash.