Robert E. Howard

[j d worthington]

None of the Solomon Kane tales can be called "novels", either long or short. They are short stories, though some just verge into novellas....

One of the best adaptations of Howard I've ever seen is the Thriller episode from his story "Pigeons from Hell". Very effective, very eerie; nicely shot, good lighting, good acting, and a respect for Howard's tale (though they did underplay the racism aspect of the story). Well worth seeing, if you have a chance....

"Thriller" Pigeons from Hell (1961) - Full cast and crew

 

[Connavar]

None of the Solomon Kane tales can be called "novels", either long or short. They are short stories, though some just verge into novellas....

One of the best adaptations of Howard I've ever seen is the Thriller episode from his story "Pigeons from Hell". Very effective, very eerie; nicely shot, good lighting, good acting, and a respect for Howard's tale (though they did underplay the racism aspect of the story). Well worth seeing, if you have a chance....

"Thriller" Pigeons from Hell (1961) - Full cast and crew

Good to know about what to expect of Kane. I knew him only by name didnt know what format his stories was in.


Is that the best adaption of Howard? or there more good adaption of his creations ?

I will check it out after i have read Soloman Kane.

 

[j d worthington]

I'm not sure I'd say it's the best, as I'm not sure how many film and tv adaptations of Howard there are out there; but it's certainly among the best I've seen. Sadly, Hollywood still tends to view Two-Gun as little more than a comic-book writer (in the pejorative sense) with no subtlety and absolutely no literary worth -- much as they do most pulp writers. So genuinely good adaptations of his work are likely to be rather thin on the ground....

 

[GOLLUM]

Robert E Howard


In that link are Soloman stories in right order?

I was thinking about getting Soloman book next. Are his stories short stories or shorter novel?

Not sure, I would have to dig that up but the Kane tales are really short stories. Certainly no novel-length offerings. If you get the Del Rey edition you'll be fine as they collect all the stories in one place and as Nesa says well presented with lovely llustrations. I can recommend all the Del Rey publications of Howard to you in fact. I think they've done a good job at an affordable price.

 

[GOLLUM]

Planet Stories are releasing a TPB edition of Howard's Almuric story this year.

Almuric (Trade Paperback)
by Robert E. Howard, with an introduction by Joe R. Lansdale

The creator of Conan looks to the stars in one of fantasy’s most enduring science fantasy classics!

Robert E. Howard’s Almuric is a savage planet of crumbling stone ruins and debased, near-human inhabitants. Into this world comes Esau Cairn, Earthman, swordsman, murderer. Only he can overthrow the terrible devils that enslave Almuric, but to do so he must first defeat the inner demons that forced him to abandon Earth.

Filled with vile beasts and thrilling adventure in the tradition of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Almuric is one of Howard’s few novels, and an excellent yarn from one of America’s most distinct literary voices.

 

[nomadman]

Robert E Howard

In that link are Soloman stories in right order?

I was thinking about getting Soloman book next. Are his stories short stories or shorter novel?

Although they're short stories, there is a certain degree of continuity between tales. Nothing that necessitates a totally linear reading, though.

The order of publication (ripped from wiki) is:

• "Red Shadows" (first published: Weird Tales, August 1928). Also known as "Solomon Kane." This was the first Solomon Kane story ever published.
• "Skulls in the Stars" (Weird Tales, January 1929)
• "Rattle of Bones" (Weird Tales, June 1929)
• "The Moon of Skulls" (Weird Tales, Part 1, June 1930; Part 2, July 1930)
• "Hills of the Dead" (Weird Tales, August 1930)
• "The Footfalls Within" (Weird Tales, September 1931)
• "Wings in the Night" (Weird Tales, July 1932)
• "Blades of the Brotherhood" (Red Shadows, Grant, 1968). Also known as "The Blue Flame of Vengeance."
• "The Right Hand of Doom" (Red Shadows). Kane plays a minimal role in this story.

This is also the order in which the stories in my Wordsworth edition are arranged. The Del Rey collection I don't have, though I recall "Skulls in the Stars" being the first piece. Someone can hopefully confirm or deny that.

 

[j d worthington]

Actually, while there are no specific ties in the sense of actions, plot, etc. from story to story, like the Conan and Kull tales, there is a sequence to them, as they depict different periods in Kane's life; and the chronology is based upon internal evidence of that sort, which does form a rather consistent order for the tales.

 

[Connavar]

Planet Stories are releasing a TPB edition of Howard's Almuric story this year.

Almuric (Trade Paperback)
by Robert E. Howard, with an introduction by Joe R. Lansdale

The creator of Conan looks to the stars in one of fantasy’s most enduring science fantasy classics!

Robert E. Howard’s Almuric is a savage planet of crumbling stone ruins and debased, near-human inhabitants. Into this world comes Esau Cairn, Earthman, swordsman, murderer. Only he can overthrow the terrible devils that enslave Almuric, but to do so he must first defeat the inner demons that forced him to abandon Earth.

Filled with vile beasts and thrilling adventure in the tradition of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Almuric is one of Howard’s few novels, and an excellent yarn from one of America’s most distinct literary voices.

It says one of Howard's few novels, which are his other ones? That are written by REH himself and not others writing his ideas and characters into their own novel.


Is it the first time realese of Almuric or a new printing ?

 

[j d worthington]

New printing. Almuric has had several editions before:

Bibliography: Almuric

In addition to these, Berkley Books put out an edition as part of their Howard collection in the late 1970s-early 1980s (I'd have to check my copy to get the exact date, though). Donald M. Grant may also have put out one; on this I can't remember.

His other novels? He wrote one titled Post Oaks and Sand Roughs which is more regional and slightly autobiographical -- that is, the characters are strongly based personality-wise on Howard and various people he knew (at least, that's been my impression from the little I've read on it). The Hour of the Dragon, the Conan novel; Three-Bladed Doom (a Francis X. Gordon novel); a rewriting of several of the Breck Elkins tales to make a novel, A Gentleman from Bear Creek...

 

[Connavar]

So there is an actual Conan novel written by the REH himself, thats very exciting i didnt know that


More regional? He wrote about the places he was born in ? Texas?

Gotta check up what Francis X. Gordon and Breck Elkins is .

 

[j d worthington]

Francis X. Gordon (El Borak) was a character Howard created for a series of tales set in the modern Middle East (often Afghanistan, as I recall, though it's been more than 20 years since I read these tales... need to reacquaint myself with the gentleman....)

"Breck" or Breckenridge Elkins, was a character in quite a long series of humorous Western tales of the "tall tale" variety... the sort of gent who, if an enemy tried to kill him by poisoning his coffee, would feel that the coffee was maybe a tad weak (it had been diluted, you see....)

 

[Connavar]

Francis X. Gordon (El Borak) was a character Howard created for a series of tales set in the modern Middle East (often Afghanistan, as I recall, though it's been more than 20 years since I read these tales... need to reacquaint myself with the gentleman....)

"Breck" or Breckenridge Elkins, was a character in quite a long series of humorous Western tales of the "tall tale" variety... the sort of gent who, if an enemy tried to kill him by poisoning his coffee, would feel that the coffee was maybe a tad weak (it had been diluted, you see....)

Haha Breck sounds fun


You know if REH wrote hardboiled westerns? Or were they wierd tales in the west kind of stories?

I have a hard time founding westerns that are hardboiled,violent ala Clint's classic westerns. Dont wanna read westerns that tries to be something esle.

 

[j d worthington]

REH set several different kinds of stories in the Southwest, from straightforward Western tales (often quite gritty), to the tall tale, to supernatural stories that blended his fantastic imagination with aspects of the land around him that inspired him. Sometimes these latter were based on genuine folklore or superstitions of the region, and these are often both the oddest and the most powerful. Even when blending the two, he almost always captures the feel of the land and its people in that time....

 

[Connavar]

I read earlier today "The Slithering Shadow.".

Must say i thought its the best Conan story i have read so far and i have read them chrono wise including several more famous ones.

It had the usual nice wierd tale feel + the sword action plus a degenerating culture the Xuthal which was very interesting. I liked the history of those people and what they became.

It was also the most horror like story of Conan stories i have read too, it had very intense mood, the city creeped me out as much it did Conan.

I hope more Conan stories are as good historical wise.


Also read by the way that REH wrote in Punt nation or people in his Hyborian Age. I read that from wiki in a part about the nations,people and their real historical version or legend version.

Nice to see where you are from used well in a huge and well build world like REH's famous world.

 

[GOLLUM]

Conn, I thought I seet you my Howard biography?? It features many of the characers JD is referring to and you could use it as a way to furhter investigate the books/collections you don't have.

Let me know here if you have, if not I'll send you the link, OK?

 

[Connavar]

I have it i just forgot that i did have it


Im checking it out now. Other than Soloman Kane, im interested in his westerns and historical oriental stories.

 

[GOLLUM]

Well I have a fairly well documented mention of several of his main charatcers, so let me know what you find.

EDIT: You know you can get collection of his oriental and western tales.

 

[j d worthington]

Well I have a fairly well documented mention of several of his main charatcers, so let me know what you find.

EDIT: You know you can get collection of his oriental and western tales.

As GOLLUM mentions, you can get such a collection currently. As a matter of fact, several are in print at the moment....

 

[Connavar]

Lord of Samarcand : Other Adventure Tales of Old Orient is the only oriental collection of his so its easy. It has awesome cover.


Any of you have favorit westerns of his ? I saw there are several western collections of his and wondered which stories are most famous of his westerns.

 

[nomadman]

Vultures of Wahpeton is often cited as his best.

Wild Water (I think that's what it's called) is supposed to be a good one also.