So, I was reading the 'Whup Conan' thread, which I just have to say is an awesome piece of work, and noticed Sebastian's comment about his newly peeked interest in reading a Conan book.
I have to wonder if Sebastian every actually read a Conan book.
Sebastian learned how to read???
Original Conan stories are so much better than their re-tellings...
I have to wonder if Sebastian every actually read a Conan book.
I think he keeps this one in the bathroom for reading on his throne.
Bah, Conan is a wuss. Ferguson would whup his arse with one puppet tied behind his back.
I found Conan disappointing after finally reading The Bloody Crown last year. He's more lucky than smart or resourceful, and Howard's fiction just screams GEEKY TEEN WISH FULFILLMENT!!! I've read worse fantasy books [I'm looking at you, formulaic D&D novels], but I'm always surprised at how many fans Conan has.
Is Bloody Crown a novel, or a collection?
I've only read the first few short stories, according to the revised chronology of Conan set out by some Howard scholar, and my expectations were so low, I was actually thrilled with how good they were.
Sebastian is indeed reading books about Conan.
Usually late at night.
...but I'm always surprised at how many fans Conan has.
Does Howard ramble on like Tolkien?
If you own a Kindle, you can have them all for a whopping $.99! Hell of a deal, that.
If you do not own a Kindle, start with The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian.
I dove into the Conan stories according to one revisionist chronology. Hold on and I'll try and find it for you.
BTW, Tolkien said some nice things about Howard, and apparently enjoyed reading what is admittedly quite different from his own output. Few things in life are more personal than taste in literature. The dis-Tolkien folk are an enigma to me.
ADD:
Dale Rippke chronology
Dale Rippke established The Darkstorm Conan Chronology (2003), a completely revised and heavily researched chronology, including only those stories written (or devised) by Howard. The Dark Horse comic series follows this chronology. Its major strength is its well-documented support for its various arguments for story placement, based on the texts as Howard wrote them, which lead him to some of the same conclusions as Marek. Most of his significant differences with Marek come in the middle of their respective efforts. While works completed or revised by other hands and post-Howard works find no place in this chronology they were not intended to, the often erroneous assumptions under which they were written precluding their inclusion. A minor weakness is the seemingly arbitrary disappearance and reappearance of Conan's horned helm from story to story.
Order
1. "The Frost Giant's Daughter
2. "The God in the Bowl
3. "The Tower of the Elephant"
4. "The Hall of the Dead"
5. "Rogues in the House"
6. "The Hand of Nergal"
7. "Shadows in the Moonlight"
8. "Black Colossus"
9. "Queen of the Black Coast"
10. "The Snout in the Dark"
11. "The Slithering Shadow"
12. "A Witch Shall Be Born"
13. "The Devil in Iron"
14. "The People of the Black Circle"
15. "Shadows in Zamboula"
16. "Drums of Tombalku"
17. "The Vale of Lost Women"
18. "The Pool of the Black One"
19. "Beyond the Black River"
20. "The Black Stranger"
21. "Red Nails"
22. "Jewels of Gwahlur"
23. "Wolves Beyond the Border"
24. "The Phoenix on the Sword"
25. "The Scarlet Citadel"
26. The Hour of the Dragon
I took this from Wikipedia.
I'm not sure I'm finding the original site I remember, but if you are interested in Dale Rippke, googling him will find discussions and reprinted articles on various Howard/Conan websites. I didn't go real deep into the matter, but from my off-the-cuff sizing up of things awhile back, his case seemed the strongest to my sensibilities.
Is Bloody Crown a novel, or a collection?
I've only read the first few short stories, according to the revised chronology of Conan set out by some Howard scholar, and my expectations were so low, I was actually thrilled with how good they were.
It's a collection. Most of REH's work was written to be published in the pulp magazines of the era, so are rather short. The only original Conan story that is truly a novel is Hour of the Dragon, which takes place later in Conan's life.
ADD:
Dale Rippke chronologyDale Rippke established The Darkstorm Conan Chronology (2003), a completely revised and heavily researched chronology, including only those stories written (or devised) by Howard. The Dark Horse comic series follows this chronology. Its major strength is its well-documented support for its various arguments for story placement, based on the texts as Howard wrote them, which lead him to some of the same conclusions as Marek. Most of his significant differences with Marek come in the middle of their respective efforts. While works completed or revised by other hands and post-Howard works find no place in this chronology they were not intended to, the often erroneous assumptions under which they were written precluding their inclusion. A minor weakness is the seemingly arbitrary disappearance and reappearance of Conan's horned helm from story to story.
Bah. Chronology is unimportant. The stories were written in sporadic order, they were never meant to follow a timeline. DeCamp tried to make them do so, and others have tried since. I personnaly enjoy them best read in the order in which they were written, but it really doesn't matter.
I haven't gotten around to it yet, still meaning to though. Good intentions, road to hell, etc.
Any recommendations?
Having bought (and read) a collection of all Howard's Conan-stories published by Gollancz, my recommendation would be to get the comic-book version instead.
Sebastian learned how to read???
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word.
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It's true. The original Howard Conan stories are all good, and many of them are absolutely astonishing. They will surprise you how well they're written, especially if when you think of Conan you picture Ahnold.
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I always thought Conan looked better than Ahnold. Then when I saw Ahnold,
I was like Noooooooooo ...........
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Also the shirtless barbarian stereotype is so far away from the Conan stories it's shocking. He always wears armour, relies upon his luck and rugged thews.
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I always thought Conan looked better than Ahnold. Then when I saw Ahnold,
I was like Noooooooooo ............
You mean like the Conan in Marvel's SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN/CONAN SAGA/CONAN THE BARBARIAN comics.
Howard's Conan's are available free on Gutenberg Project along with many others out of copyright
I haven't gotten around to it yet, still meaning to though. Good intentions, road to hell, etc.
Any recommendations?
Hey, Sebastian. It has been over 10 years. Have you read a Conan book?