Book Review 247 // Red Nails by Robert E. Howard

And like that, we reach the end of the Robert E. Howard Conan Adventures. Now I know there are plenty of others out there from other authors. But I don't want to travel that road yet. I've enjoyed reading the complete series in order, and it has given me a great view of this writer growing with each story. So for one last time, let us travel the open road with Conan.

Title: Red Nails

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb:

Pursing the beautiful Valeria in the Black countries, Conan happens upon a strange, walled city in the midst of a desert. Conan and Valeria become enmeshed in a civil war, a war driven by ancient hate and blood-lust that threatens the few surviving inhabitants of Xuchotl.

Robert Ervin 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. Howard committed suicide in 1936.

Review

Glad we finished on a strong one rather than a weak fizzle. As I mentioned, this was the last Conan, and this was due to Weird Tales not paying their bills. During the Great Depression, Weird Tales had failed to pay Howard the $1500 owed for his work, so Howard took his pen elsewhere and wrote Westerns instead.

The story starts with Valeria, who, having just killed a would-be rapist, is now on the run. This classic strong, decisive, beautiful female lead soon catches Conan's attention, who gives chase. Upon reaching her, they talk as if they have a past, one I don't remember if it was ever written in another story. We then get a classic Howard sexual tension paragraph before a creature appears to feast on their horses. Soon the pair are working together to survive the story.

I'm glad this story happened. The last few kind of felt like a blend/retelling of the same story. Conan does what Conan does best, and we end up with a great little adventure piece set within an ancient city. Worth the read.

But where to next? Some Star Wars titles, with Judge Dredd and Aliens, have sat on the shelf for far too long. So some Sci-fi is in our future. Thanks for reading!

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Book Review 246 // The Hour of the Dragon by Robert E. Howard.

We are nearing the end of our adventures with Conan, and I can't help but feel a little sad. It has been a joy to read these in order and watch as Howard progresses the character and builds upon previous ideas. This is a unique title as it was originally written as a series and then squashed together to make the book. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Title: The Hour of the Dragon

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb: Written in the 1930s as a serial for Weird Tales, the famous pulp magazine, Hour of the Dragon is the only novel by Howard featuring his greatest creation, Conan the Barbarian. This powerful novel of violent adventure has spawned many imitations in the genre over the years, including a series of best-selling paperbacks which, in imitation of Howard, continued the adventures of Conan.

Conan is at the pinnacle of his career in this story, having roamed the imaginary prehistoric world of Hyborea and, with native cunning and sheer force, fought his way to the throne of Aquilonia. He is the archetype of the invincible warrior: tough, fearless and incredibly strong.

As the novel opens, King Conan is captured by the magic of the evil sorcerer Xaltotun, whom Conan's enemies have raised from the dead, after three thousand years, for the express purpose of removing Conan from the throne. Conan's armies are so unprepared to battle Xaltotun's sorcery that they are routed on the battlefield and Aquilonia is conquered.

Conan is secretly released from prison by a slave girl who loves him, and he fights his way out of the dungeon catacombs to freedom, defeating a giant murderous ape who blocks his way. In the course of his escape, he overhears a secret meeting and learns that the source of Xaltotun's power is a mysterious jewel, the Heart of Ahriman, which Xaltotun's allies have stolen from him to insure their control over him.

Conan resolves to track the jewel across the barbaric landscape of Hyboria, destroy Xaltotun and regain his kingdom.

Format: 296 pages, E-book (you can find it on my affiliate store)

Review

Strange to read a multiplot story in one go as a book. If you read it as a series over months, the story would flow better. But in this set-up, it felt like a lot of jumping forwards was happening and a loss of time. But as a story, I personally really enjoyed it. It feels like Howard is finding his stride and embracing previous ideas in this tale. People may dislike its similarities to other tales, but I can see how Howard tries to improve upon previous attempts.

With a longer flowing story, we can enjoy events you wouldn't usually get in a short tale. We get full-scale battles, well-rounded villains, and encounters. We also still have plenty of space for creature features and treacherous allies. I enjoyed the quest, as Conan has to move through many personas to seek a magical jewel that will end the reign of the evil wizard. It allowed our kingly Conan to revisit his Barbarian days and his old life as a pirate and polish up on his thieving skills. Pirate Conan is my favourite version of the hero.

Though it is a highlight, it acts as a double-sided blade, and due to so much travelling, we lose the joy of the location. In his short stories, Howard has done a fantastic job of describing a place. But with this constant changing of the site gives us no chance to enjoy this aspect of his writing. But overall a great read that I would happily enjoy again.

Book Review 245 // Shadows in Zamboula by Robert E. Howard

I knew it was coming, but still, it took me a little off guard. I feel this title is by far is the most obvious of Howard's work to showcase racism. Please be aware when reading it that we are entering the end times of Howard, and his views on the world are becoming darker and depressing. Read with caution and do idolize it.

Title: Shadows In Zamboula

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb: Robert Ervin Howard (1906-1936) was an American pulp writer of fantasy, horror, historical adventure, boxing, western, and detective fiction. He is well known for having created the character Conan the Cimmerian, a literary icon whose pop-culture imprint can be compared to such icons as Tarzan of the Apes, Sherlock Holmes, and James Bond. Voracious reading, along with a natural talent for prose writing and the encouragement of teachers, conspired to create in Howard an interest in becoming a professional writer. One by one he discovered the authors that would influence his later Jack London and Rudyard Kipling. It's clear from Howard's earliest writings and the recollections of his friends that he suffered from severe depression from an early age. Friends recall him defending the act of suicide as a valid alternative as early as eighteen years old, while many of his stories and poems have a suicidal gloom and intensity that seem prescient in hindsight, describing such an end not as a tragedy but as a release from hell on earth.

Format: 48 pages e-book

Review

In a landscape of many races, Conan still manages to stand out. Whilst tavern hoping through the city, Conan hears rumours of travellers disappearing and decides to investigate. Here he discovers a cult that enjoys the taste of human flesh.

At this point, the story takes a turn with racist elements coming forth and souring the story. Conan is definitely a product of his writer's worldview and, unfortunately very much a symptom of the age. I have seen people defend it, but I can't understand how as a reader today you can separate the writer from the story.

It pretty much threw the story for me. This is a shame as it starts off intriguing, and even has a scary villain in Baal-pteor. But ultimately I am left feeling urked by it. I recommend missing it and read something else.

Book Review 244 // Beyond the Black River by Robert E. Howard

I think I have to say this aloud. This is possibly my favourite Conan to date. There it is out there for the world to see, judge me as you see fit!

Title: Beyond the Black River

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb: Conan the Barbarian is employed by one of the civilized countries to help in its push to claim lands from the primitive Picts. The Picts are not excited about the idea, however. Old gods and mythical creatures are called up by the Pict witches to contest the invading army, and Conan finds himself battling for his life amid the blood-thirsty hordes that include sabre-toothed tigers, 40-foot-long venomous snakes and a demon from another dimension who is intent on crushing him. The huge dog Slasher appears here and distinguishes himself so well in a doomed battle to delay their forces that Conan openly praises his courage and pledges that 7 Pict heads will roll in his honour. 

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Review

By now you know I have read a lot of Conan back-to-back. And I stand by my announcement that this is my favourite so far (still time for a surprise winner). I found Beyond the Black River to be fast-paced and truly intriguing. The story is captivating and it held me the entire time. Spoilers are coming like all my reviews so be warned.

Conan as mentioned in the blurb is hired by the Aquilonian army as a soldier and a scout in their war against the Picts. Unfortunately for Conan, he is part of an undermanned garrison that is about to be besieged by the forces of Zogar Sag. A Pict Wizard, who through the strength of arms and magic has amassed an army of huge proportions. To make it even more challenging Zogar has also used his magic to control wild beasts and we see the animal kingdom rising up against the Aquilonians as well. As the adventure unfolds, Conan is tasked with killing the wizard, saving his friends and ultimately hating the Aquilonian nobility just a little bit more.

In a surprise twist, there was no damsel in distress and I feel this helped the title. Yes, it is a simple straightforward Sword and Sorcery. But it is excellently crafted and reads like Howard has found his voice and style. I can't help but notice the similarities between this and Westerns, which I assume Howard was inspired by, but I feel it may even go deeper than that. This story has a true "colonizer" feel to it that sadly hits home no matter how you read it.

Let me know your thoughts and thanks for reading.

Book Review 243 // Jewels of Gwahlur By Robert E. Howard

I keep discovering more Conan adventures; just when I think I am done, I get pulled back in. This week's short story is The Jewels of Gwahlur, which weirdly didn't have a cover, so I just grabbed one I liked the look of. So with this intro complete, let's dive in.

Title: Jewels of Gwahlur by Robert E. Howard

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb: "The Jewels of Gwahlur" is a classic short story by Robert E. Howard, the creator of the iconic Conan the Barbarian character. The story was first published in March 1935, in the magazine Weird Tales, and it features a character named Conan. Conan is a fierce and powerful warrior who travels the world in search of adventure and treasure. In "The Jewels of Gwahlur," he comes across a city of ancient ruins, rumored to contain a treasure beyond the fabled jewels of the goddess Yelaya. Conan joins forces with a woman named Muriela, who claims to know the location of the jewels. Together, they journey deep into the jungle, facing countless dangers and obstacles along the way. They encounter hostile tribes, giant snakes, and even a man-eating plant before finally reaching their destination. But when they arrive, they discover that the jewels are guarded by a fierce creature known as the "Garden of Fear," which kills any who attempt to take the jewels. Conan and Muriela must use all their wits and skill to overcome the Garden of Fear and claim the jewels for themselves. "The Jewels of Gwahlur" is a classic adventure story, full of action, danger, and suspense. Howard's writing is vivid and evocative, transporting the reader to a world of ancient ruins, lost treasures, and deadly creatures. The story has been adapted into various forms, including comics and movies, and it remains a beloved work of fantasy fiction. Some possible themes of "The Jewels of Gwahlur" include the allure of treasure, the dangers of greed, the importance of teamwork, and the triumph of courage and cunning over brute force.

Format: 73 pages, Kindle Edition

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Review

Hmmm. Something is wrong here when the blurb is longer than the review... Maybe because of the way I am reading these stories back to back, I am finding this one very by the numbers. Conan hears of treasure and searches, finds a pretty girl, fights a monster and rides off into the sunset. Rather straightforward, if I'm honest.

At the same time, the setting is great. A classic Hack and Slash adventure. Conan seeks jewels and his greed is riding high, only to be left empty-handed. Like many of these short stories, it feels like it would be the beginning of a grander adventure rather than the end of the story. We got great action and fighting, and Conan even escaped with a girl who may be a goddess? One of the saddest parts of these shorts is the feeling of not being fully finished. It is a shame we never got a true full-length adventure from Howard.

So how, to sum up. It was okay. It was definitely a weaker tale in the set, with it all feeling a bit oh, he's done this before. But that is always bound to happen with characters written again and again. I hope you will join me again next week for more Conan, as we near the end with only four more titles to go!

Book Review 242 //A Witch Shall be Born by Robert E. Howard

Really starting to rattle through these titles and reviews. After this one, there are only five tales left! What will I do without Conan? The fear and dread are building. Let us dive into this week's short.

Title: A Witch Shall Be Born

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb: Robert Ervin Howard (1906-1936) was an American pulp writer of fantasy, horror, historical adventure, boxing, western, and detective fiction. He is well known for having created the character Conan the Cimmerian, a literary icon whose pop-culture imprint can be compared to such icons as Tarzan of the Apes, Sherlock Holmes, and James Bond. Voracious reading, along with a natural talent for prose writing and the encouragement of teachers, conspired to create in Howard an interest in becoming a professional writer. One by one he discovered the authors that would influence his later Jack London and Rudyard Kipling. It's clear from Howard's earliest writings and the recollections of his friends that he suffered from severe depression from an early age. Friends recall him defending the act of suicide as a valid alternative as early as eighteen years old. At the same time, many of his stories and poems have a suicidal gloom and intensity that seem prescient in hindsight, describing such an end not as a tragedy but as a release from hell on earth.

Format: 56 pages, E-book

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Review

What a great story that was focused on something other than Conan, for a large part. The story starts with twin sisters, the first a Queen and the other a witch. The witch has ideas of grandeur and soon removes her sister from power and assumes the throne in her name. While the ousted sister is left wandering the desert, seeking aid to reclaim her throne. A simple enough sword and sorcery tale, but where is Conan?

Well, it turns out Conan is Crucified in the desert. In fact, it takes a whole chapter for him to be finally rescued. It is strange reading about him in this manner because though I know he will survive, I can't help but worry that Howard will just kill him for the sake of the story. This leads to a rather tense read early on. But now Conan is free, and we all know how it will end.

As the story unfolds, you can't help but feel for the witch. Due to a birthmark, the young child is thrown into the desert to survive on her own, ultimately leading her to hatred and magic. A self-fulfilling act, I assume. And though you can't condone deception and the overthrow of power, you can at least understand the reasons behind it. 

As long-time blog readers will know by now, I love a good villain, especially a believable one, and this story has it. I really enjoyed this adventure and highly recommend it.

Book Review 241 // The People of the Black Circle by Robert E. Howard

I must be closing in on the end of the Conan Adventures? How many otherworldly adventures of swords and magic can our hero go through?

Title: The People Of the Black Circle

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb:

The People of the Black Circle" is a gripping tale of adventure and intrigue, written by the legendary pulp fiction writer Robert E. Howard. Set in the mystical world of Conan the Barbarian, the story takes the reader on a thrilling journey through the mountains of Vendhya and the dark, foreboding forests of Afghulistan. The story centers around Conan, a mighty warrior who is hired by the queen of Vendhya to rescue her brother, who has been kidnapped by a mysterious cult known as the Black Circle. Along the way, Conan encounters a wide array of fascinating characters, including the beautiful Yasmina, who is also seeking the help of the Black Circle to achieve her own goals. As Conan makes his way through the treacherous terrain, he discovers that the Black Circle is much more than just a simple cult. Its members possess powerful magic, and they are willing to use it to achieve their own ends, no matter what the cost. Conan must use all of his strength, cunning, and courage to outwit the Black Circle and rescue the prince before it is too late. "The People of the Black Circle" is a classic tale of adventure and heroism, filled with exotic locations, vivid characters, and thrilling action sequences. Howard's masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions bring the world of Conan to life, immersing the reader in a rich and detailed universe that is as fascinating as it is dangerous. This book is a must-read for fans of fantasy, adventure, and sword and sorcery fiction, as well as anyone who loves a good old-fashioned tale of daring and heroism. It is a timeless classic that has stood the test of time, and remains just as thrilling and exciting today as it was when it was first published nearly a century ago.

Format: 131 pages, Kindle Edition

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Review

Well, it's definitely a Conan adventure! We start the adventure with the passing of King. Unfortunately, his death is due to an evil, mustache-twirling Wizard. Now it falls upon the ousted King's sister to seek revenge and free her kingdom. Here enters Conan rather conveniently, and through a series of errors and misjudgements, he kidnaps the ousted sister! Now thrown into the middle of a civil war, Conan must face off against the wizard and end the tyranny.

Overall a very standardized Conan adventure, which I so enjoyed. You just know what to expect from a Conan adventure, and it is nice to let yourself go and just fall into a tale of fantasy.

Book Review 238 // Shadows in the Moonlight by Robert E. Howard

Wow. Ten Conan Adventures in the series. I think I am going to miss the tales. I may even have to try out other authors in the setting to see what it is like.

Title: Shadows In The Moonlight

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb: On the run from the army of Turan, Conan and fellow fugitive Olivia hide out on a small island in the Vilayet Sea. They soon find themselves stalked by an unseen terror in the jungles and threatened by a group of pirates belonging to the Red Brotherhood, which is led by Conan's sworn enemy-Sergius of Koth! However, those may be the least of Conan's concerns, because when the moon rises on this island, the ruins of a lost civilization stir and an ancient, deadly curse awakens! Conan will be pushed to his limits as he and Olivia fight to survive!

Format: 60 pages, Paperback

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Review

Classic-themed Conan. After saving a princess, Conan and his damsel escape to a secluded island that turns out to have its own inhabitants. But who or what is the biggest threat, the Island or the pursuing Pirates?

This for me had the making of a full novel, we could have had a 400-page adventure story here. There were major plot aspects not filled out or even explored. Sometimes you have to enjoy the short story for what it is and not what it could have been. Ultimately this is my favourite Conan story to date. Go try it.

Book Review 237 // Gods of the North by Robert E. Howard

Continuing our quest to read all the Conan adventures in one go! It has been easy going so far, and we can continue this trend with the following short: Gods of the North.

Title: Gods of the North

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb: "The Frost-Giant's Daughter" is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard, but not published in his lifetime. It is set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and details Conan pursuing a spectral nymph across the frozen snows of Nordheim. Rejected as a Conan story by Weird Tales magazine editor Farnsworth Wright, Howard changed the main character's name to "Amra of Akbitana" and retitled the piece as The Gods of the North.

Format: 11 pages, ebook

Review

Wow, seven stories into Conan already! So far, I think my favourite has been Conan the Pirate or the only one where he faces an Elder God/Beast. But this time, we have Conan in the Mountains, facing some very similar feeling Gods (based on Norse Mythology).

Sadly the story reads like filler and has some issues. Firstly the title length, 11 pages, is truly short and a bit disappointing, to be honest. The next issue I had was the uninteresting and straightforward narrative. It all felt very much like a copy-and-paste formula was used.

The story itself sees us joining Conan as the only survivor in this harsh cold land. As he lies dying he is tempted by Atali the daughter of Ymir a Frost Giant. If he had accepted he would have died and passed over, but due to his resistance, he survived to be found by companions searching for battle survivors.

Overall a rather lacklustre tale. Nicely written by a bit dull for me sadly.

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Book Review 236 // Rogues in the House by Robert E. Howard

I'm continuing my run of Conan adventures. I am really enjoying this way of reading and watching the progression of the writing and the character happen in quick secession. This weeks read was a cheeky 40ish pages and was easy to hammer out.

Title: Rogues in the House

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb: Howard's most famous character, Conan the Cimmerian, was a barbarian-turned-King during the Hyborian Age, a mythical period of some 12,000 years ago. Conan featured in seventeen Weird Tales stories between 1933 and 1936 which is why Howard is now regarded as having spawned the 'sword and sorcery' genre. The Conan stories have since been adapted many times, most famously in the series of films starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. 'Rogues in the House' is a story in the Conan series where he becomes embroiled in a battle between two men who are attempting to rule over a city.

Format: 48 pages, Paperback

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Review

We kick off this adventure with Conan chained in a dungeon! But soon, Conan is pulled into a web of political intrigue as Murilo, a city noble/councilor, is threatened by the sinister Red Priest to flee the city. Turns out Murilo has also been up to no good, not as bad as the Red Priest but enough for concern.

Rather than flee to a life of poverty Murilo takes a risk by hiring Conan to kill the Priest, in exchange for his freedom, a horse and a bag of gold. Unable to refuse Conan sets off on the task. Now of course this is a sword a sorcery tale so we have to have a twist! This comes in the form of a deadly pet Gorilla who no longer wishes to play pet. This intelligent and strong beast is almost the better of Conan and for once we have to see Conan using his guile and wit to escape rather than brute strength.

Another well-written and very enjoyable tale, highly recommend it if you have not read it already.

Book Review 235 // The Pool of the Black One by Robert E. Howard

We are hacking and slashing our way through these Conan adventures now. I am also happy to announce that I am rewatching the classic 1990s Conan the Adventurer cartoon, which is genuinely a blast back to my childhood. With a real buzz about it all, I am happy to be reviewing Book 5 in the Conan Adventures.

Title: The Pool Of The Black One: Conan the Barbarian #5

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb: "The Pool of the Black One," which appeared in Weird Tales magazine the month after "The Slithering Shadow," is a piratical adventure story and occurs in the Western Sea of the Hyborian Age. The story begins with Conan the Cimmerian adrift at sea, having had to escape from rivals in the Barachan Isles. He clambers aboard The Wastrel, a ship belonging a different pirate order, bitter rivals of the Barachan ones. After a terse conversation with the captain and a brawl with a Zingaran bully, Conan is begrudgingly accepted as a lowly member of the crew and is allowed to remain on board.

Format: 34 pages, E-book

First published October 1, 1933

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Review

This was a nice twist; Conan the Barbarian has become Conan, the Pirate. Looks like we are headed for some High Seas Adventure in this tale. As the newest crew member, Conan has to earn his spot, and it takes our hero only a short time before he catches the eye of the ship captain's lady - which always leads to trouble. But with Conan's strength, he can stay above everyone and is soon a welcomed part of the crew.

Seeking fame, glory and wealth, the crew spots an island and soon are headed a shore to plunder. Discovering fresh fruit on land, the crew set about eating the mysterious fruit to discover too late that it contains a sleeping property. Luckily Conan didn't partake, and neither did the captain, leading to an awkward tension that ends in a duel to see who would be the captain of the slumbering crew. Ultimately the winner is never questioned, but now Captain Conan has a more significant issue to worry about. The island is home to a race of Giants who are highly territorial! Soon the hacking and slashing take over the story, and we get a genuinely brilliant ending, a great short read, I highly recommend it.

Book Review 234 // The Slithering Shadow by Robert E. Howard

Continuing our dive into the world of Conan. With this next short story. I'm enjoying these quick reads and it has finally pushed me back into watching the cartoon show as well (how far have I fallen?). Anyways more on the cartoon soon, until then, let's get into this title.

Title: The Slithering Shadow: Xuthal of the Dusk

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb: The Slithering Shadow (also known as Xuthal of the Dusk) is one of the original short stories starring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard and first published in the Weird Tales magazine. It is set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan finding a lost city in a remote desert and encountering therein a Lovecraftian-esque demon known as Thog.

Format: Ebook, 107 pages.

Review

This isn't a continuation of the previous story (if it is, please let me know), and we join Conan and his new companion in a desert. Of course, the companion is a helpless woman named Natala, who doesn't seem prepared for where they are. With little background, all we know is that they have fled into the desert and stand on the verge of death from lack of water. 

Lucky or unlucky, the duo discovers what almost appears to be a ghost town. As they explore deeper into the city, the pair discover sleeping citizens. The city has a drug problem, and everyone is in a deep sleep from ingesting too much locus smoke. People who stay awake too long have a habit of disappearing, which is the last thing you want to happen in this city!

Of course, as we have to expect, there is a villain; in this case, a woman called Thalis, who, with her monster pet, is hounding the city and causing problems for all. But when Conan fails to accept her advances, the villain, Thalis, attempts to kill Natala and have revenge on Conan. Leading us into a classic hack-and-slash adventure, ending with our heroes fleeing once more into the desert.

I rather enjoyed this. Very classical pulp-style adventure, with no big surprises but plenty of joyful moments and a memorable read.

Book Review 233 // Black Colossus by Robert E. Howard

My goal of completing some of my backlog novels is failing completely. Instead, I find myself absorbed by Conan and ignoring the bowing shelves of books. Maybe if I read enough Conan I will flip back to Gaunt and his Ghosts soon.

Title: Black Colossus

Author: Robert E. Howard

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Blurb: "Black Colossus" is one of the original short stories starring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard and first published in Weird Tales magazine in June 1933. Howard earned $130 for the sale of this story.

Set during the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age, Conan leads the army of Khoraja against an evil sorcerer named Natohk, "The Veiled One".

Review

What an adventure! We have a young princess stalked in her dreams by a demon wanting to have its wicked way with her. While wracked with this torment, her kingdom crumbles around her due to civil unrest. With her and her country weakened, a desert cult has grown and focused on dominating this realm. Then into this, we throw Conan, who, through an act of fate, soon becomes commander of the princess's forces, much to the joy of the Lords within the kingdom.

Soon the battle is joined, and we have a wonderfully described battle full of violence. Ultimately this tale doesn't grow Conan as a character but helps fill in details of the lands and people within. Not the most exciting Conan tale out there but still an enjoyable read whilst lounging on a sofa.

Book Review 232 // The Tower of the Elephant by Robert E. Howard

We are back with another fantastic Conan adventure! I am getting into the flow of these, and they pair well with my Slaine adventures. I am excited about this tale as we enter the city of thieves, which is the title of my favourite Chose your own Adventure book, which I can only assume was inspired by Conan. But enough waffling on from me. Let's dive in!

Title: The Tower of the Elephant (Conan, #3)

Author: Robert E. Howard

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Blurb: Conan infiltrates a perilous tower in the City of Thieves in order to steal a fabled gem from an evil sorcerer. A classic of Conan lore, often cited as one of Howard's best tales.

Format: E-book 48 pages

Review

During Conan's early phase, Howard has already found his style for Conan's adventures. With rumours of a rather tempting gemstone reaching his ears, our Barbarian heads off to "retrieve" the Heart of the Elephant locked away in the Elephant Tower. The only problem is the tower's owner happens to be a dangerous Sorcerer, and of course, there have to be traps and dangers at every turn.

It is a significant expansion into the world of Conan, giving us dark magic, Cosmic Horrors and dare I say Eldritch beasts from beyond. It was a surprisingly dark tale toward the end, and it really got me pumped to read more. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a good run of stories and not the peak of his writing. Time will tell.

Ultimately you know what you are getting with a Conan adventure, but damn was this fun and entertaining. I am genuinely excited to get into the next story!

Book Review 231 // The Scarlet Citadel by Robert E. Howard

With my Slaine adventures closing for now, these Conan adventures keep me engaged with Sword and Sorcery's worlds. With this sparking my interest, for now, we dive into the next title by Robert E. Howard.

Title: The Scarlet Citadel

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb: Robert Ervin Howard (1906-1936) was an American pulp writer of fantasy, horror, historical adventure, boxing, western, and detective fiction. He is well known for having created the character Conan the Cimmerian, a literary icon whose pop-culture imprint can be compared to such icons as Tarzan of the Apes, Sherlock Holmes, and James Bond. Voracious reading, along with a natural talent for prose writing and the encouragement of teachers, conspired to create in Howard an interest in becoming a professional writer. One by one he discovered the authors that would influence his later work: Jack London and Rudyard Kipling. It's clear from Howard's earliest writings and the recollections of his friends that he suffered from severe depression from an early age. Friends recall him defending the act of suicide as a valid alternative as early as eighteen years old, while many of his stories and poems have a suicidal gloom and intensity that seem prescient in hindsight, describing such an end not as a tragedy but as a release from hell on earth.

Format: E-book

Buy now off Amazon.

Review

In this short story, Conan is king, and as part of his kingly duties, he rallies his forces and marches forth to aid allies' call for help. Unfortunately for Conan and his forces, it was a trap. Soon, Conan's troops are dead, dying or fleeing the battlefield. With no force to protect him, Conan is captured and placed in the Dungeons of Tsotha. Tsotha is a villainous classical wizard with the goal of world domination.

It is a tremendous feeling of adventure, leaning heavily into the fantastical worlds of Sword and Sorcery vibes as it should. This is the type of story I needed, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Book Review 229 // The Phoenix on the Sword by Robert E. Howard

We have finally reached the age of Conan. As you may know, having read this blog, I am attempting to read a huge chunk of Robert E. Howard tales, and in an exciting turn of events we have finally reached the ages of Conan. Now as a product of the 90s, I have fond memories of the cartoon show Conan the Adventurer. So I am keen to see how these compare (I also remember Arnies version too).

Title: The Phoenix on the Sword

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb: Robert Ervin Howard (1906-1936) was an American pulp writer of fantasy, horror, historical adventure, boxing, western, and detective fiction. He is well known for having created the character Conan the Cimmerian, a literary icon whose pop-culture imprint can be compared to such icons as Tarzan of the Apes, Sherlock Holmes, and James Bond. Voracious reading, along with a natural talent for prose writing and the encouragement of teachers, conspired to create in Howard an interest in becoming a professional writer. One by one he discovered the authors that would influence his later work: Jack London and Rudyard Kipling. It's clear from Howard's earliest writings and the recollections of his friends that he suffered from severe depression from an early age. Friends recall him defending the act of suicide as a valid alternative as early as eighteen years old, while many of his stories and poems have a suicidal gloom and intensity that seem prescient in hindsight, describing such an end not as a tragedy but as a release from hell on earth.

Format: 48 pages, E-book (buy on Amazon using my sweet affiliate links)

Review

Okay, this is what I wanted, some classic hack-and-slash adventure! The strange thing about this tale is that Conan is an old man and already king. He has seemingly overthrown the old kingdoms' rulers and installed himself as king. Such a simple but effective story as Conan is visited in his dreams by a long-dead wizard called Epemitreus. This Wizard warns Conan of a plot to assassinate him and when he awakes he is beset by his foes. 

A great amount of fighting and bloodshed happens as Conan fights for his life and faces off against the leader of the conspirators and the monsters they summon. At no point did there feel like a dip in the action, great pacing, and the characters were intriguing. Ultimately a short, punchy, tale but by Crom an impressive first outing for Conan. I can't wait to read more.

Comic Review 235 // Slaine: The Brutania Chronicles - Book 3

Sad to think our time with Slaine is drawing to an end. There have been some spectacular highs in the series, along with lows. But no series has divided the crowd as much as the Brutania Chronicles. I've enjoyed the pace change, but I can see how this new/older Slaine is upsetting the fans. A broken hero in a world that no longer wants him is a step away from the young heroic barbarian of the 80s. Now I remember reading this series, so I am excited to revisit it; I remember the artwork being great.

Title: Sláine: The Brutania Chronicles Book Three

Author: Pat Mills

Illustrator: Simon Davis

Blurb: UNLEASH THE BEAST!

Overpowered by the fury of the Primordial, Sláine is on the brink of defeat. 

Cyth Lord Gododin attempts to break him by summoning memories that he would rather forget… 

Confronting the demons of his past, the Celtic Hero must cut through the Drune Lord’s twisted minions and reunite with Sinead to rescue Zana, the ape-woman, one of the last remnants of humankind before they were ‘improved’ by the Cyth. As their attempts to suppress humanity fall before Sláine and his axe, the Cyth must answer to their master and jailer – the Archon Yaldabaoth!

Format: 105 pages, Kindle Edition

Buy now on Amazon 

Review

Yep, stunning artwork as I remember. Simon Davis produces some beautiful panels. I also like how the colouring of the artwork helps us to know when we are in the present vs the past. The classic sepia filter really does help. 

It was a great read and we got to rediscover Slaine and the emotions that drive him. We basically get a Slaine with depth finally. This volume continues to build on the theme of isolation that Slaine has found himself in, no family, no tribe and no Ukko. These combine together to lead us to a self-doubting Slaine alone in the world and this weakness is punished by enemies who attempt to tap into this trauma to finally break Slaine's spirit.

Cyth Lord Gododin forces Slaine to relive parts of his childhood in an attempt to manipulate the warrior, and we take a back seat and join the ride as we watch the death of Slaine's mother, and attempt to solve the mystery of who Slaines father is (lots of fun twists here). Whilst this is happening Sinead with a weakened Slaine also attempts to rescue Zana, the ape-woman. Possibly the final survivor of the pre-Cyth races of earth. But with all the death and battling an older more scary power has woken and it would seem in book four that Slaine will have to face the Archon Yaldabaoth.

Everything is now nicely set for the final volume and I for one am excited to read it.

Book Review 227 // The Hyborian Age by Robert E. Howard

I enter a title I wouldn't traditionally read as part of my completionist ways. More of an encyclopedia of the stories' lore than an adventure tale. I've tried reading one similar about the Lord of the Rings and saying it bored me would be an understatement. Here's hoping this one goes better.

Title: The Hyborian Age

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb: Nothing in this article is to be considered as an attempt to advance any theory in opposition to accepted history. It is simply a fictional background for a series of fiction-stories. When I began writing the Conan stories a few years ago, I prepared this 'history' of his age and the peoples of that age, in order to lend him and his sagas a greater aspect of realness. And I found that by adhering to the 'facts' and spirit of that history, in writing the stories, it was easier to visualize (and therefore to present) him as a real flesh- and-blood character rather than a ready-made product. In writing about him and his adventures in the various kingdoms of his Age, I have never violated the 'facts' or spirit of the 'history' here set down, but have followed the lines of that history as closely as the writer of actual historical-fiction follows the lines of actual history. I have used this 'history' as a guide in all the stories in this series that I have written.

Review

Yeah still rather dull. I am sure there is a lot here that people would love if they enjoyed a deep dive into a character's world and timeline. A highlight for me was the Hyborian World map. This is going to be open on the iPad whilst I read so I can reference locations etc as Conan adventures across the known world.

There is a lot to take in, turns out Howard has crammed a lot into his little section of the world. So many countries, nations, and race names getting mentioned can be rather overwhelming at times. It soon all started to blend in with each other, and I found myself drifting away more than once, entering more of a studying daze than an enjoyment of reading. And by the end, I was happy to move on with my life.

Overall it's not a needed piece of writing if you are hoping to enjoy Conan yourself. If you are weird like me and have to complete everything all I can say is "Good Luck!".

Comic Review 233 // Slaine: The Brutania Chronicles - Book 1 by Pat Mills

Continuing my adventures into the Worlds of Slaine. This title is the beginning of something new. The series is called The Brutania Chronicles and is spread over four books (I believe). It is also a change in art styles as we get treated to Simon Davis's version of the world. So let us dive in.

Title: Sláine: The Brutania Chronicles - Book One

Author: Pat Mills

Illustrator: Simon Davis

Blurb: THE CELTIC WARRIOR RETURNS!

ANCIENT ALBION. Celtic barbarian warrior Sláine united the tribes of the Earth Goddess and became the first High King of Ireland. After ruling for seven years, he fought for the Goddess, travelling through time to battle her enemies before returning to save his people from the Fomorian sea devils. Now, he's crossed over onto the isle of Monadh in an attempt to rescue Sinead from the evil clutches of the Drune Lords...

This brand-new chapter in the life of Sláine is the perfect jumping-on-point for new readers as writer Pat Mills (Marshal Law) transports the Celtic warrior to the ancient world of Albion. This book also introduces the fully-painted art style of Simon Davis (Ampney Crucis) to the strip for the first time.

Format: 112 pages, Kindle Edition

Buy now via Amazon

Review

Wow, a change of pace with this title. Slaine is a changed man, older, wiser, disgruntled and grizzled. The wars and deaths have taken their toll, and now Slaine wanders Albion alone, almost a shade of his former self. This is a depressed Slaine; the world has changed, and his people have gone to a new dimension to live in peace with the Earth Goddess. The temples of old now lie abandoned and cold, many being plundered by raiders. Whilst the few Fomorians still left alive have carved out a new empire where they impose their fearsome nose tax!

It does feel like Slaine has lost his spark, finally beaten by the constant fighting and loss. He isn't the hero of old, but that makes this title interesting. He fights only when he has to; he no longer seeks out adventure. This is a true insight into what happens to the hero who lives for too long. What happens when you become broken and disenchanted by the world around you. It is an exciting direction to take Slaine, and it also feels like a point many reviewers miss.

I am a big fan of Simon Davis's work; it feels like proper fantasy artwork, which you would have seen in the 70s and early 80s. The creatures are genuinely fantastical, with a hint of realism still about them, whilst the large panel artwork keeps you focused on the story. But the problem you have is this is following on from such an epic story arc, "Invasions," that it is hard not to compare. Our heroic saviour of his people being broken and depressed will not please everyone. But this arc promises to be great and seems very fitting for the times it was written in.

Let me know your thoughts. Are you reading these as well?

By far a highlight!

How to Paint Warlord Games & 2000 AD Sláine MacRoth miniature

Following on from the Slaine Starter set unboxing, and the Skull Swords (link: YouTube link) comes my quick and easy guide to painting Sláine MacRoth from inside the box. I use Army Painter Speed Paints over a white primer in this video. Super simple to copy and gives quick results that look great on a tabletop.

But who is Sláine MacRoth? A classic shamelessly stolen off the internet description.

Sláine MacRoth is the eponymous hero of the long-running 2000 AD strip Sláine. His mother, Macha, was a deadly warrior who gave Sláine his first solid food on the tip of a sword blade. The first significant event in Sláine's life occurred when he was seven, and Macha's drunkard husband, Roth Bellyshaker, boasted that she could outrun the king's chariot in a race. The king forced her to run, and she was trampled to death by the horses as Sláine watched. Roth may have made his boast deliberately as a way of getting rid of his wife because she had been unfaithful to him many times and Roth suspected that she was lying when she said that Sláine was his. The usually obtuse and unperceptive Roth was correct about this. Sláine's true father was Duban, a druid who taught Macha magical secrets and liaised with her in subterranean tombs.

When he was sixteen, Sláine was cast out by his tribe, the Sessair, for an unauthorized liaison with the King's bride-to-be, Niamh. He spent years exploring Tír na nÓg in the company of his unscrupulous servant, the dwarf Ukko, and occasionally aided by the druidess Nest.

He eventually became embroiled in a war between earthly mystics, led by Myrddin, and the aliens called Cythrons, who were harvesting humanity's negative emotions. Sláine and his companions (including Calgacus, Mogrooth, Oeahoo, Murdach, Giya, Tlachtga and Pluke) had to strike a decisive blow in the conflict, venturing into the tomb of the dark god Grimnismal. Despite most of them dying, Grimnismal was eventually killed, to the chagrin of the Cythrons' abhorrent leader, the Guledig.

After completing this mission, Sláine finally returned to his people to become their king, leading them against the demonic Fomorians. Blessed by the Earth Goddess, he became a living incarnation of her consort, the Horned God, and eventually the first High King of Ireland.

He later gave up his title (after several adventures in other periods of time as the servant of the Goddess) to Gael, the founder of the Gaelic race. Having lost his wife, Niamh, murdered by the evil Moloch, Sláine eventually left his homeland to find his missing son, Kai, finally encountering him in a travelling circus owned by Ukko. He is currently fighting the evil Drune Lords (a metaphor for the Catholic church and/or the British Conservative Party, depending on how Pat Mills feels this week) with the help of his new companion Sinead.

Slough Gododin, the son of Sláine's dead foe, the Lord Weird Slough Feg, taunted Sláine by saying that he was a "bastard," as Roth had not been his real father, which made him "Sláine Mac Nobody." Sláine responded by using magic to let Sinead possess the ghost of his dead mother, Macha, so he could ask her who his true father was. He was briefly horrified when he thought Macha might have been raped by an El Lord (a supernatural monster from another dimension), which would make him only half-human. However, further questioning revealed that Macha and her lover Duban the druid, had fought off the El Lord together before fathering Sláine, who was pleased to discover that he was the son of a priest of the Earth Goddess who had shared forbidden knowledge with the laity.

I hope you enjoyed the story and will stop by soon for more!