Rating: 
Summary: Good content, bad package
Review: Good content, bad package. The book began falling apart when I reached the half way point. I would give the stories 4 out 5 stars but the book only 1 out of 5. Shame really, as other than the book falling apart I very much like the book's format (as well as the content.)
Rating: 
Summary: GOOD RAW STUFF HERE!
Review: Howard is probably at the top of this particular genre and it is quite gratifying to see his work republished as it should be. The "substitute writers" some publishing houses have been using during recent years just do not make the grade. Here, with Howards original work, we see Conan as he should be, uncut and raw. I am a particular fan of pulp fiction and this is that at it's best. I do hope that other publishers follow this lead with some of our other writers in the genre of the past...it is quite refreshing. Recommend this one highly.
Rating:
Summary: Bought on a whim and completely blown away...
Review: I bought this book because I had searched for any Conan story by Robert Howard for almost a year. It all started when I watched the first Schwartzenegger film and was blown away by the amazing narrative and monolithic storyline; I suspected the narrative had been lifted directly from the books, I happily discovered this to be true. After an extended search I came across this collection, bought it on impulse, and am extremely happy with it. The illustrations are a nice touch but find the work a bit uneven. I am also greatly suprised by Howards association with Wierd Tales and horror writer H.P. Lovecraft. His writing style is amazing, an educated and macho prose style best described as a combination between Lovecraft's own and Ian Flemming. His action sequences are particularly special as they communicate a real visceral experience, you can smell the blood and metal in his writing. Within the context of his contemporaries he can stand toe to toe with anyone, and I mean anyone without exception. It's a mistake to target this work to fantasy fans, with the exception of Tolkien I really don't like the majority of "FANTASY" writing. His work is like Tolkien in the respect that it is penned with a strong respect for history and mythology, incorporating enough of it into his narrative to grant it a sense of familiarity and weight. This is the kind of work that straddles genres and should appeal to far more than a predisposed genre based audience.
Rating:
Summary: Great, great stuff!
Review: I read the Frank Frazetta covered ACE Conan books back when I was 14 and thought they were great. This book brings Howard's beautiful, dark, barbaric vision back to life, without the politically correct editing that marred those books I loved so much. I can't wait for subsequent volumes. I give this book my highest possible recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: Large Doses of Swashbucking Adventure
Review: I saw Renee Zelweger and Vincent Dinofrio in The Whole Wide World and was fascinated by the story of Robert Howard. My only contact with the Conan stories have been through contact with the late 20th century caricatures rather than the author's original works. Having felt that Conan has become such a cultural stereotype, I wanted to see the source material.
Howard portrays Conan as a man outside of the civilization of his time. Cimmeria is portrayed geographically as being where Scotland is today, only at some remote time in Prehistory before the forming of the North Sea. His normal costume is a silk loincloth and a sword. When it is cold he will take up a red cloak and in battle, he often adds chain mail.
In Black Colossus, Howard describes him as tigerish, elemental, and untamed. His profession in these stories is predominantly a mercenary. When he can't find work fighting, he tends to resort to thievery. Occasionally his leadership skills propel him into the role of King, Pirate Captain or War Chief, but his direct approach doesn't find a happy home in situations where diplomacy and discretion are important traits.
He appeals to women for his elemental nature and his protective strength. Women of his acquaintance normally wear fairly revealing and diaphenous clothing that they tend to lose a lot. Nudity seems to be a fairly common situation for women of his time since this lack of attire seldom causes much of a stir.
Then there is the swashbuckling. Do not read these stories if you are not a big fan of it. Conan tends to fight his way out of most situations, and the combination of his large broadsword and his amazing strength causes a lot of bloodshed and dismemberment. I had to take these stories in small doses for this reason.
The end of the book has some really wonderful items for those who want something more. The editors have included an early draft of the first Conan story, The Phoenix on the Sword, an untitled draft, and a couple of synopses written by Howard. There are also some writings by Howard on the Hyborian Age, the mythic time he created for these tales. These added touches make this a wonderful book for the more serious reader. However, all fans of this genre will find these stories essential reading. The black and white illustrations by Mark Schultz are wonderful additions to these stories which bring the Hyborian Age to life.
Rating:
Summary: It does not get any better than this!!!!!!
Review: I was introduced to REH as a kid by the ramblings of Roy Tomas in every issue of the 1980s black & white oversized Marvel Conan comic mags. In high-school I secured a compilation of his novels, essays, and short-stories through the sci-fi book club. His stuff has been VERY hard to come by...until now that is. I will without a doubt buy every Conan, Soloman Kane, Kull, or Bran Mak Morn compilation of REH that becomes available.This volume is a great read. Most of these stories were not contained in the other book I have. If you have not read this man's writings you need to step up to the plate. He smokes every modern fantasy writer. Very visceral and very intense writing. Also, this compilation has excellent art-work. And for only 15 bucks you NEED TO BUY THIS NOW!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: The Real Deal
Review: I've been reading Conan from the age of 11, and for me this is a dream come true. For years I had to settle with the Lancer/Ace editions, which were filled with pastiches from other authors and heavily edited in order to be more politically correct. Whoever had the bright idea of renaming "The Hour of the Dragon" "Conan the Conqueror" obviously didn't understand Howard's point to begin with. But I digress. For those who are only familiar with Conan from the comics, the movies, or the numerous pastiches written by other authors, you may be in for quite a shock. Howard's stories are grim, sexually charged, and sometimes racially offensive. If you're offended by it (Mr. DeCamp), get over it! This is the way the author intended it, and no one has the right to change his words in order to make it more palatable to modern audiences. Besides, one must remember that Howard was a rural Texan living in the 1930s. If he was a racist, he was obviously a mild one compared to most of his neighbors at the time. For instance, the word "savage" in the context of Howard's stories is not exactly an insult. Let's not forget that Howard also made the love of Conan's life a Jewish princess (Queen of the Black Coast).
Some might remember that in the late seventies, Berkely tried to release definative series of Howard's Conan which were unabridged and pastiche free. The series was ultimately buried when Ace books beat them to the punch by re-releasing the Lancer volumes, which were better known and also had the advantage of much better cover art (thanks to the incomparable Frank Frazetta). Finally, after 20 years, we're able to read Conan as he was meant to be read, free of pastiches and free of politically correct editorial decisions.
One thing fans of the movies/comics/pastiches might not realize is that Conan doesn't go around wearing a loincloth all the time. I always hated that. Its just so stupid. Why would a Conan in his mid-twenties or thirties still be wearing the same loincloth he presumably had on when he first came out of the wilds of Cimmeria? Howard never even wrote that the Cimmerians wore loincloths! The real barbarians of antiquity didn't even wear them! Are we supposed to believe that the barbarians of Howard's world have mastered sword-making but couldn't figure out how to make clothes? The only story where Conan is described wearing a loincloth is "The Tower of the Elephant", and its not described as an animal skin. In all of Howard's stories, Conan is dressed appropriately for the situation. If its a pirate story (Pool of the Black One), he's dressed like a pirate. If he's a Kozaki raider he's dressed like a Cossack, etc. What makes Conan a barbarian is not the clothes he wears but the person he is, which is revealed through his actions and dialogue.
I highly recommend this book, along with "The Bloody Crown of Conan", and the forthcoming "The Conquering Sword of Conan". Even Howard's mediocre Conan stories are light years ahead of Robert Jordan or L. Sprague DeCamp. Howard was one of the best, and arguably the most influential pulp-fiction writers of the twentieth century. His writings should be regarded for what they truly are: literature. This is the real deal!
Rating:
Summary: Finally, Howard's REAL genius shines...
Review: I've collected many copies of old, worn out, out of print paperback books that had Robert E. Howard's Conan stories...edited and co-authored by Lin Carter or Sprague de Campe. I love those books...and cannot stand the modern ghost-writers, like Robert Jordan. Let alone what people have done to the Conan story with regards to the movies, though as far as Barbarian flicks go, I do like Arnie's first Conan movie... Anyways, this book is superior to the old out-of-print books I already owned. Howard's stories are published as originally published and in the order of publication. No re-organizing, no editing, no creative writing of the editor. Pure 100% Robert E. Howard's Conan. This book is the best purchase I've made in years!
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic edition for old time fantasy lovers old and new
Review: IF you are sick and tired of the over-blown LOTR hype and fed up with the hordes of Tolkien rip offs, this is the book for you. Howard is THE fantasy craftsman of the 20th century. He predates even the supposed father of fantasy Tolkien. The truth be known, Howard had success before Tolkien and this collection of Conan stories shows us why. While there are some duds here, classics like the Tower of the Elephant and the Phoenix on the Sword are gems of fantasy literature. Howard creates in Conan a character of savage fury, intelligent humor, deep honor and free spirit. It is a refreshing reminder of a style of fantasy without the angst ridden common man hero archtype. Conan is a man with personality and life that has very rarely been matched in fantasy since.
While it is true that Howard allows a certain amount of sexism and racism to creep into his work if you look for it, the true theme that prevades much of Conan - Howards study of the degredation of civilization and the battle between barbarism and ordered society is what really stands out in most of the work and indeed in Conan's thought and action. If you prefer heroes who exhibit human qualities and needn't ride into the sunset ona white stallion at the end of the day, look no further.
Rating:
Summary: Essential reading for every fan of dark fantasy!
Review: If you love the fantastic tales of David Gemmell, Michael Moorcock, Poul Anderson, even H.P. Lovecraft; or if you're interested in exploring the roots of fantastic fiction which led to the modern epic masterpieces by Tolkien and Brooks, then The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian by Robert E. Howard is an addition to your library that you can not live without! Decades before Tolkien and Brooks had created their imaginary worlds of Middle Earth and Shannara, Robert E. Howard was spinning tales of Conan the Cimmerian set in the Hyborian Age - a meticulously developed world set in our Earth's distant past. Philosophizing that barbarism is the natural state of humankind, Howard's Conan tales are violent action-filled stories that will definitely please fans of Gemmell, Moorcock, & company. Given their weird and supernatural elements these tales will also thrill fans of H.P. Lovecraft, the Cthulhu Mythos and weird fiction in general. As stated in other reviews here on Amazon - the most exciting thing about this book is that it contains original tales by Robert E. Howard (and Howard alone) exactly as the author intended them. Other volumes of Howard's Conan tales were marred by the additions and "corrections" of editors as well as the inclusion of non-Howard stories written to fill in the blanks in Conan's career. This books is pure Robert E. Howard. Pure Howard means that between the pages of this book you will find tales of high adventure, bloody action, and magical sorcery. Howard's style is poetic and highly visual. His Hyborian Age vividly comes to life and immerses you in a world that is at once fantastically otherworldly and at the same time strangely familiar. These tales are great fun to read and are a superb example of the best of Fantasy, and more specifically, of Sword and Sorcery. Pure Howard also means that these tales are a product of the era in which they were written - they are NOT "politically correct". This is not meant as a negative critique but rather as a simple warning. Some readers may find passages of Howard's writing to be sexist or racist. Physically the book itself is very impressive. In spite of the low cover price this is not a cheap paperback by any means. It is sturdy and should withstand years of repeated reading. The artwork by Mark Schultz is, for the most part, excellent; a few drawings here and there are lacking in detail or bravado, while others (especially the full page drawings) are simply fantastic. Both the introduction and the essay by Howard scholar Patrice Louinet are superb and as much essential reading as the stories themselves. The extras - including Howard's background history "The Hyborian Age", rough and unfinished drafts, and Howard's maps of the Hyborian world all significantly enhance the reader's appreciation and enjoyment of Howard and HIS Conan. I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy sword and sorcery and dark fantasy. However, even general fantasy fans will find much of interest here.
|
