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 239 // Queen of the Black Coast by Robert E. Howard

This next title in the series is described as one of Howard's most famous pieces. I am hoping this doesn't fall flat and delivers a good read.

Title: Queen of the Black Coast

Blurb: "Queen of the Black Coast" is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard and first published in Weird Tales magazine c. May 1934. During the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age, Conan becomes a notorious pirate plundering the coastal villages of Kush alongside Bêlit, a head-strong femme fatale.

Due to its epic scope and atypical romance, the story is an undisputed classic of Conan lore and is often cited by Howard scholars as one of his most famous tales.

Review

Hm. Guess it had to happen. This one missed the mark for me. It was alright. It just fell wrong. Firstly the positives, Howard's world-building is impressive. The Conan adventures and settings have changed in every book, yet Howard has always managed to set the scene wonderfully. Also, the way he writes a story is effortless and easy to read. This style continues into this story, with me finishing it in one sitting.

The story is set at sea, within my favourite theme of pirates. Howard then sneaks in the makings of early Cosmic Horror within this setting. Now this is where I start having issues. His world-building is impressive, yet this monster/creature feels out of place. We know it comes from a dead civilization, and that's about it. It left what should have been a scary creature feeling flat and 2D. Almost rushed.

Then we have the racism and sexism in this title that you can't ignore. It is disappointing that the only two powerful people had to be white. It could have been amazing to have someone different set-up as the Queen, an opportunity definitely missed (though as I learn more about Howard, I sadly understand him to be narrow-minded in these topics). Then I also felt the Queen character was poorly used. Here we have a character who has risen to rank and power, leads a crew, and is an influential female figure, suddenly losing all control and throwing herself at Conan. What the hell!? If anything, Conan should have been throwing himself at her. And before you complain, I understand the story format of the muscle-bound hero saving the woman. That would still be the same, but damn, how cool would it have been to have them be more equal or even Conan in awe for a page or two.

If you enjoy Pulp stories, you will enjoy this, but don't be blinded to the issues within 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!".

Book Review 221 // The Shadow Kingdom by Robert E. Howard

It's happening, people! Slaine is slowly converting me over to fantasy. Not completely sure of my reasoning, but I picked up the 860-ish page Kindle book of Robert E. Howard - Conan the Cimmerian Barbarian: The Complete Weird Tales Omnibus. This is a book collecting a lot of short stories, so I will be sprinkling these in amongst the book reviews as some light filler pieces. Enjoy!

Title: The Shadow Kingdom

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb: A story of Kull, first published in Weird Tales, August 1929. (wow, that tells you a lot!).

Format: 32 pages, ebook

Buy the whole book on Amazon and read along with me!

Review

A pretty good intro to Howard's writing. Kull, it turns out, is a barbarian from Atlantis. Who has managed to claim the throne of Valusia and is now the crowned King. But soon Kull is discovering it is easier to take a crown than keep it and he learns of a race of shapeshifting reptilian humanoids who are manipulating everyone through guile. A nice build-up to the action and soon we are hacking and slashing like all good Sword and Sorcery stories.

I really enjoyed this opening piece, it was also nice to get an introduction explaining the piece and where it sits within the Conan adventures. It is basically an early Conan draft, building off this idea of a barbarian king and lizardman villains.

You can't help but feel the inner conspiracy theorist come out as you think of Shadow Governments controlling the general population through manipulation and guile. Is this a look into our own future? Hahaha. If it is I welcome our cold-bloodied overlords!

Let me know your thoughts on what many view as a classic.