Rating: 
Summary: Classic tales by a great storyteller..
Review: A great volume of classic pulp fantasy. The stories(many of them unpublished for many years) crackle with the energy and violence of RE Howards creation. Gloriously pulply, these are not the later pastiches of Sprauge and Decamp or the Marvel Comics Conan..this is the original Conan who lives by his sword and wits, and who lives for the moment.Nice little extras such as miscellenia, maps and comments by the editor make this a great read for any fan of heroic fantasy or great storyteling.
Rating: 
Summary: The greatest fantasy character ever
Review: All the original Conan tales in one book, and in the order they were written, finally. This collection is an exciting, fast-paced invitation into REH's Hyborian age, as the reader stands sword-to-shield with the fiercest anti-hero ever written, Conan the Cimmerian. Also, Schultz's illustrations throughout are wonderful. His realistic style illustrates Conan without copying Frazetta, but leaving no doubt who's swinging the axe or sword. This is a must for any Howard fan, fan of Conan, or of great action fantasy. I'll read and re-read these yarns until I wear the cover off. Then I'll buy another.
Rating:
Summary: A Book you have to have
Review: As for those who are familiar with REH's works and can discount the meddling of other less talented authors (you-know-who) and pastiche writers (some are good and some are bad but all stray from the vision of REH), this is the one book on REH which you should have (and perhaps the rest of the related series, when these are issued in mass paperback form). And as for those not familiar with REH, you are in for a treat, my friend. This will be a book you will not put down until you read it cover to cover and will keep with you forever; don't count on selling it on Ebay once it gets a little musty. REH is one of the most compelling writers we have ever had on this earth; reading his stories is like hearing a symphony with no false note. He is to adults what Rowling is to small children. Admittedly, REH is a grim writer, and some of his stories may not be appetizing to some of you or considered politically correct in our place and time. But don't miss this. It is very affordable and one of the best $15 bucks or so you will spend in your life. I wish I could say I would buy back your book if you are not wholly satisfied (that's how confident I am you will like it), but unfortunately, I do not have sufficient resources and cannot make such a pledge.
Rating:
Summary: At LAST! Pure REH!
Review: At last a volume of Conan tales untainted by overlording editors and PC sensitivity. For pulp realism and ripping ytarns, these are great. TOWER OF THE ELEPHANT and DEVIL IN IRON...so many good ones here, plus outlines and extras....a great read!
Rating:
Summary: Return of The King
Review: Conan is the greatest Fantasy adventure Hero of all time. Its good to see him finally back in print. These stories are brutal, uncut, and totally politically incorrect. If your sick of estrogen fest garbage like "mists of avalon" pick this one up and enjoy. Almost all the stories in this collection are very good. If you like this volume, I strongly recommend a trip to the local comic shop to check out the new "Conan" comic book from Dark Horse.
Rating:
Summary: Second Only to JRR Tolkien
Review: Exciting, savage, horrifying! Hands down, the biggest bang, the greatest thrill for your buck! These classic stories created such a popular commotion that book sales almost outstripped JRR Tolkien's <i>Lord of the Rings.</i> Yet, these stories are so different from Tolkien's brand of adventure, that it's almost impossible to compare them. Whereas Tolkien's tales were written in a more sedate, classic style; Robert E. Howard's Conan tales connect with the darker side of the human psyche. Power, force, physical strength, fear, hate, futility, conflict, violence, triumph, exultation, and superstition. These stories are fast paced, triumphant achievements in story telling... whether in the fantasy or adventure genres. If you have not read these stories, you do not yet know the poetential of fantasy fiction -- and you are in for a real treat. These are some of the few fantasy stories that can actually be considered great, and they have influenced nearly every major fantasy writer for the last 60 years. Every conceivable bonus item has been included in this book... illustrations, rare information, original typescripts, hand drawn maps prepared by the author, etc. The most authoritative, comprehensive, and exquisite collection of these tales ever published. The book itself is a work of art, even in paperback.
I have been waiting for a book of Howard's Conan tales to give my nephew, and now I have it... finally!
Rating:
Summary: Second Only to JRR Tolkien
Review: Exciting, savage, horrifying! Hands down, the biggest bang, the greatest thrill for your buck! These classic stories created such a popular commotion that book sales almost outstripped JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Yet, these stories are so different from Tolkien's brand of adventure, that it's almost impossible to compare them. Whereas Tolkien's tales were written in a more sedate, classic style; Robert E. Howard's Conan tales connect with the darker side of the human psyche. Power, force, physical strength, fear, hate, futility, conflict, violence, triumph, exultation, and superstition. These stories are fast paced, triumphant achievements in story telling... whether in the fantasy or adventure genres. If you have not read these stories, you do not yet know the poetential of fantasy fiction -- and you are in for a real treat. These are some of the few fantasy stories that can actually be considered great, and they have influenced nearly every major fantasy writer for the last 60 years. Every conceivable bonus item has been included in this book... illustrations, rare information, original typescripts, hand drawn maps prepared by the author, etc. The most authoritative, comprehensive, and exquisite collection of these tales ever published. The book itself is a work of art, even in paperback.
I have been waiting for a book of Howard's Conan tales to give my nephew, and now I have it... finally!
Rating:
Summary: Finally!
Review: Finally, Conan presented as Robert E. Howard intended. If you were hooked on Howard by reading the old Lancer/Ace versions of Conan, you ain't seen nothin' yet. The Del Rey edition presents Howard's stories as he wrote them, no editorial interference, using the original typescripts whenever possible. For me, it was like reading Conan for the first time. Not only do you get thirteen Conan stories, but also several fragments/synopsises and a rough draft or two, an interesting look into Howard's creative process. Also included is Howard's "Hyborian Age" essay, which outlines beautifully the world in which Conan lived, a couple of maps drawn by the author himself, and a few other goodies. The book is beautifully packaged with fine illustrations by Mark Schultz and an introduction by Howard scholar Patrice Louinet. I can't wait for the next volumes!
Rating:
Summary: Finally--a complete package
Review: First, let me say that this is one of the most important books to be released in a long time. Howard was more or less totally out of print when this book came out, which is utterly ridiculous; he's one of America's best authors/poets, he more-or-less defined the Sword & Sorcery genre... and even if you're too uptight to consider his writing classic (which it is...), these are some "good yarns." Yarns that nobody has been able to top in 60 years. His writing -takes- you to these places with a blend of unresistable exoticism and brutal, grim realism. And finally we get the original texts. I've compares some of the stories to the de Camp edits, and there are a LOT of changes. Surprisingly, most of them are stylistic--and I wouldn't say they're improvements over Howard's. De Camp was just a meddling fool. Ok, so it's not quite a complete package yet. There are two more volumes that have yet to come out. But if they are -anything- like the one I am holding in my hand, this is by far the most complete collection of pure REH Conan the world has ever seen! Not only does this edition have the first 13 Conan stories (in order of composition), but it also has the poem, Cimmeria. Everywhere I look online, this poem is missing its last stanza, but not here. And we get a small note about its inspiration from Howard. Moreover, this book finally puts into publication the synopses and fragments (at least, the ones pertaining to the stories herein) we've all read about online, but that few have gotten a chance to see. They're more exciting to read, somehow, than the completed versions by de Camp and Carter. And we get MORE treats: a second final draft of the Phoenix on the Sword, which provides more exposition about the Hyborian Age and Conan's character. As a general rule of thumb with Howard, the more the better--because these are all short stories, edited down to the most compact packages possible at the behest of his contemporary editors. But his writing is so tight to begin with, that a spare paragraph or line of explanation is pure gold to an audience who isn't purely interested in the action--and it's not enough to bother anyone who is. I was also pleased to find his "Notes on Various Peoples of the Hyborian Age," which I have been unable to find elsewhere, but which was also a lot shorter than I thought it would be. Basically, this is Ultimate Conan. The tales are captivating... a real treat, as others have described. And finally we can get EVERYTHING relating to them, in their pure form, in a nice package, and with copious illustrations (they aren't as bad as one fellow described them... but they aren't Frazetta either). Thanks, de Camp. You screwed everything up; Wandering Star and Del Rey will take it from here. Thanks guys, for all your hard work!
Rating:
Summary: The real deal
Review: For Conan lovers this book is a must. No one tells it like Robert E Howard. He was, and still is in many a mind, the best epic fantasy writer ever. The stories in this book prove it. And also, the art inside is of the highest standard.
The book belongs in anyones collection.
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